All The Things to Do in Coron for a Marvelous Vacation

On top of every tourist’s must-see destination in Coron is Kayangan Lake (entrance fee: PhP200/head). After around 20 minutes from the port, we took an uphill climb of 150 steps to get to the exact spot where pictures of this natural beauty are usually taken.

Dubbed as the cleanest lake in Asia and a Hall of Fame awardee for the Cleanest and Greenest Inland Body of Water in the Philippines, Kayangan Lake is surrounded by karst formations where boats dock below them. After being led to a spot where we could spend some time enjoying the view, we went ahead and had a dip underwater and saw large granite rock formations too.

Our next destination was Banol Beach, a common stop for all tourists where lunch is served. That day we feasted on crabs, inihaw na bangus and liempo, eggplant salad, and bananas for dessert.

After our delish lunch, we proceeded to CYC Beach, short for Coron Youth Club, the only beach without any entrance fee in the area. Locals frequent this place especially on weekends when they can spend quality time with their loved ones.

Next we went to an area near Balinsasayaw Resort, a high-end resort in Coron with comfortable beachside cottages. Our guide definitely wasn’t kidding around when he said that for him, that is the perfect location for snorkeling. Despite not knowing how to swim, and armed only by my life vest and snorkel set, I went underwater with a friend and marveled at everything that moment had to offer. Aquariums and marine parks will honestly pale in comparison with the real deal. The feeling is just exhilarating!

Our final stop is the Twin Lagoon, another famous spot in Coron. Surrounded by karst walls, a small tunnel separates the entry point to the other lagoon. You have to hold your breath down the water to reach the other side. Unlike our underwater adventure in Kayangan Lake and Balinsasayaw Resort, we were advised to just relax here and take in its beauty.

Two other renowned spots in Coron are Siete Pecados and Skeleton Wreck. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see them due to limited time. Siete Pecados or Seven Peak is a group of seven islands surrounded by limestone karst formations. Legend has it that there were once seven sisters who went swimming in the area despite their mother’s disapproval. They all drowned as a consequence, and seven small islands appeared thereafter.

Skeleton Wreck, meanwhile, is a sunken Japanese ship visibly seen upon close look at the water. A rope is connected from the shipwreck to guide divers.

A must-visit place in Coron is Maquinit Hotspring. One of the few natural saltwater springs in the world, Maquinit boasts of one main pool and two smaller pools. For some people, it would take about 10 minutes to get used to the water’s temperature, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll want to savor the feeling as long as you can. It is also the closest thing to Japan’s onsen. To get to the place, you’ll have to hire a tricycle and pay PhP300 for a round-trip where the driver will wait on you for an hour. You’ll have to negotiate with your driver thereafter if you want to stay longer.

For the hikers and the adventurous types, you can try climbing Mt. Tapyas. With more than 700 steps of paved surface, this is not recommended for those who easily tire or have a medical condition.

Another place worth visiting is the Saint Augustine Church located in Cuyo, Palawan. Founded in 1901, the Church has undergone several renovations through the years, the last being in the year 2012.

For all your souvenir needs, head on to Coron Souvenir and Gift Shop. They have a wide range of t-shirts to choose from, plus the usual ref magnets, key chains, bags, woodwork, etc. A pair of small earrings made from freshwater pearls can be purchased for as low as PhP150, whereas the cheapest South Sea pearl is at PhP3,000 per piece. They also sell cashew nuts, Coron’s staple food, for PhP700 per kilo. Other pasalubong food items are cashew tarts, butterscotch sweets, banana chips, and others.

If you’d love to bring home dried fish, go to Coron Public Market very early in the morning and check out their wide selection. You can even buy fresh “danggit” (PhP150/pack) and have the seller wrap them well so you wouldn’t have to worry about it upon checking in your baggage.

Also, if you happen to pass by Don Pedro Street in Barangay Poblacion 2, be sure to check out ECO Cashew Store for cashews sold in snack packs. At PhP50 and PhP100 per pack, they are perfect giveaways for family and friends. You can also drop by at an optical shop, the only one in the area, that sells products from Baker’s Hill. Products such as hopia, choco crinkles, and ensaymada are delivered there straight from Puerto Princesa twice a week.

Despite being a non-swimmer, in this trip I managed to go underwater with the help of our tour guide and my trusty snorkel set and life vest. What I experienced in this trip is way beyond my expectations. For a budget of PhP10,000 or less, including airfare, tours, accommodation, meals, and pasalubong, trust me when I say that a trip to Coron is worth every cent as you will bring home with you memories that can last you a lifetime.

And who says I need to be in a hurry to get to Maldives or Bali? I have enough good memories with me right now. And besides, those two islands will require lots of research, not to mention a hefty budget. For now, I’m all good. For now.

Go to Yoorekka to discover more things to love about Palawan!