Coron, Palawan: Island Hopping & Best Things to Do
After an awe-inspiring journey to Raja Ampat, Indonesia, we found ourselves drawn to the captivating beauty of Coron, Philippines. Located in the archipelagic Palawan Province, it is consistently ranked as one of the best islands in the world. Though Coron may not have reached the extraordinary heights of untouched splendor of Raja Ampat, it is undeniably a breathtaking location that deserves attention. Not to mention, it's a stunning diving and snorkeling destination. In this post, we want to share the wonders of the Philippines, share our experiences, and highlight the must-do activities in Coron Palawan. Island hopping and other adventurous things to do in Coron are the perfect recipe for an unforgettable trip!
Places to Visit in Coron Palawan
Climb Mount Tapyas
To get the lay of the land, stroll through the charming streets of Coron Town, immersing in the local culture and indulging in delicious Filipino cuisine. Make sure to stop by the local market to peruse the produce and pick up snacks for your adventures ahead.
To gain a different perspective on Coron’s beauty, embark on a short but steep climb up Mount Tapyas. When you reach the summit, you will be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the town, surrounding islands, and the ocean beyond. The other side of the mountain offers spectacular views of rolling hills in the distance. Take photos of the panoramic view, the Hollywood-style sign that reads “Coron” and the cross. If you decide to hike for sunset, you will also be rewarded with beautiful lights that adorn the cross at night.
Relax at Maquinit Hot Springs
It might not be as enticing to soak in hot springs when it’s warm out as well, but after hiking, walking around town and our strenuous travel days in general, hot springs sounded like magic for our tired bodies. So, we took a 20 minute ride outside of Coron to relax at these unique saltwater hot springs. The charming lights around the natural pools, mangroves that surround them, and the view of the ocean were a real bonus to a relaxing evening before setting off on a boat trip.
Take a Boat Trip: Super Ultimate Tour Highlights
Every visit to Coron must include a boat tour! We picked the Super Ultimate Tour, an exciting expedition that took us to the most popular natural attractions in the area. It was a full day of Coron Island hopping, discovering enchanting lagoons, crystal-clear lakes, and coral reefs. Undoubtedly, the most popular places to visit in Coron Palawan, which the tourist crowds definitely reminded us of.
All over town, you will find touters offering Coron tours, the most popular of all are the ones for island hopping. So finding the Super Ultimate Tour is not a difficult task. There was an option to join a group for $67 for two or rent a private boat for $100. We went with the latter since it offered more flexibility to select the places we’d like to visit and how much time we want to spend in each spot. It also helped us avoid being hoarded back and forth from the boat with a group of tourists. If you want to beat the crowds, try to go as early as possible! And if you are after an off the beaten path experience, we recommend taking a live aboard tour of Coron, which almost guarantees you will have the spots all to yourself.
The travel time between stops is less than 20 minutes, so you are not spending a lot of time on the boat but actually experiencing nature instead. Although the snorkeling is incomparable to Raja Ampat, where we’d just come from, the marine life is still rich in Coron, and the rock formations are super impressive.
Make sure to bring enough sun protection and hydration. You can also bring your own snacks, but since it's such a popular tour, there are snack vendors who bring beverages and chips to you on their kayaks.
Pro Tip: It's handy to have water shoes to avoid getting cut on the rock and if you are not a strong swimmer, you will be provided with a life jacket because the water is incredibly deep. For snorkeling and diving, we recommend using flippers. Since the lakes are mostly freshwater, you won’t reach the surface as quickly when submerging, so flippers are helpful for faster travel underwater.
Kayangan Lake
One of the biggest tour highlights is Kayangan Lake, renowned for its turquoise waters and stunning limestone cliffs. Getting to the lake requires tackling a short hike consisting of upward and downward stair climbing through the jungle. But at the halfway point, you can take a break at a scenic outlook that offers picture-perfect views of limestone karsts, turquoise water, and colorful long boats. The number of boats docked in the bay will foreshadow what to expect when you reach the lake. If you arrive during peak hours, the clusters of orange lifejackets are a great indication that Kayangan Lake is one of the most popular Coron tourist spots.
The lake is surrounded by boardwalks and stairs descending into the water, which is so clear you can see straight down to the bottom. The lake consists of mostly freshwater and features jaw-dropping underwater rock formations. The next stop is Barracuda Lake, which is equally as spectacular as Kayangan Lake but less busy with visitors.
Skeleton Wreck
Every diving aficionado should look forward to exploring the Skeleton Wreck the most. The main attraction of this underwater site is the old Japanese shipwreck from WWII that is inhabited by different sea creatures. Its well preserved structure is barnacle-clad, with fish schools swarming in and out, is almost an eerie sight. If you are a snorkeler like us, the great visibility allows you to see the shipwreck even from the surface.
Twin Lagoon
Twin Lagoon is a postcard-perfect spot to access which you first have to swim under a gap in the rock formation. The entryway opens up at low tide and during high tide, you have to hike over the jagged sharp cliffs equipped with a ladder. At first glance inside the lagoon, you don’t know what’s more impressive - the view of the towering cliffs all around or the crystal-clear water beneath you. It is at the Twin Lagoon in particular that you get the feel for the size of the cliffs from the top to their bases below the water's surface.
Atwayan Beach
This beach is where all of the tour boats stop for lunch. The restaurant is humble, but the quality of the food and the breathtaking views of the turquoise water nearly equate it to a rustic resort experience. We enjoyed a buffet of seafood, delicious carbs, and fruit, and explored the beach before climbing aboard to continue the journey to Cyc Beach nearby for more fun in the sun.
Coral Garden
Some of the best snorkeling of the entire boat tour awaits you at Coral Garden. This snorkeling and diving spot truly resembles a garden of thick coral, sponges, and small and giant clams that are so interesting to observe in action. Though the coral is not as vividly colorful and healthy compared to Raja Ampat, it is still a spectacular sight.
Did the unique natural attractions of Coron beckon you to explore its wonders? Use this guide to plan your trip to Coron and create lasting memories amidst the splendor of this Philippine gem.