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Coron

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Coron is in the province of Palawan, Philippines on Busuanga Island. It is the largest town on the island and has the largest share of accommodations.

Travel to Coron & Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Coron

  • Fly into Busuanga from Manila with PAL Express, SEAIR, Cebu Pacific or Zest Air.
  • Get a jeepney (~45 minutes) into Coron (P150 Jun/08). A/C cars apparently available for around P1500.

By boat

  • SuperFerry [1] stops in Coron on their way to Puerto Princesa. Leave Manila on Friday afternoon (4:15pm)and arrives in Coron early Saturday morning (5:30 am). Heads back to Manila on Sunday night (10:45 pm). Wait until a couple of days before it departs to get cheaper tickets. Don't wait too long, though.

Tours & Getting around Coron

  • Tricycles are everywhere downtown. P7-10 for rides around town.
  • Motorcycles are available for rent P500 plus gas to fill the tank.

Coron attractions and sightseeing

  • There is a cross on the mountain above town, Mt.Tapyas. You can look at it from below or climb up the path. The climb up is worth to see the view of the small Coron islands surrounded by glass-like water.
  • Market Pier: home to shops, stalls, slaughter houses, diners, and karaoke. Great for hearing early morning karaoke and picking up supplies. The smell can get pretty bad close to the slaughter houses.
  • The Coron sign. Noticeable from the water is a Hollywood style sign up on a hill overlooking the town.
  • Mangroves in Sangat. Natural mangroves are abundant.

Coron city tours

  • Mt. Tapyas hike - If you are staying in the Coron main town, you can walk to the foot of Mt. Tapyas or grab a tricycle for P7 (May 2008). The hike reportedly is a 900-step stairs to the top, the entrance is found at the side of community basketball court. Experience a breathtaking view of the sunset, recommended to start setting out at 4pm.
  • Island Hopping - Head down to the Market Pier and get a boat captain (P1000-1500) Boats generally handle around 6 passengers. Grab a lunch before you head out. Vivian at the Discovery Bar can arrange it all for you as well. You can also buy meat, fish, veggies from the wet market and request the boat captain to barbecue or cook them for you or your group.
  • Siete Pecados is popularized by the shoot of a local television show of a mermaid love story. Experience swimming in an aquarium, beautiful corals and a great variety of fishes. There is a caretaker who will collect P100 from tourists. Recommended time to snorkle is around 1pm to 2pm. Current can be strong in the morning. This is one of the best sites to snorkel in Coron. Myth suggests that seven kids swam from the main island to escape it and follow their parents. They all drowned and the place where they drowned is where the islands are now present.
  • Barracuda Lake on Coron Island is amazing. Entrance is P100. Bring goggles or snorkles to observe underwater rock formations.
  • Kayangan Lake P200 entrance fee. Before approaching the lake, go over the cave and glimpse at the great view on top of the mountain. This view is the most photographed area in Palawan. It is also judged as the cleanest lake in the country.
  • Twin Lagoon. The water and towering rocks are great photos for poster. On low tide, experience kayaking under the hole of the rock.
  • CYC Island is nice but gets very busy. It's the only free beach in the area. Entrance fees for the other beaches aren't too steep (P100).
  • Skeleton Wreck is a snorkeling destination where you can see a sunken ship even while snorkeling. Around it are beautiful corals. Beware of sea urchins.
  • Banol is very picturesque with its flower trees set against the rocky island. It has sugary fine white sand in its beachline.
  • Beach 69 is not as good as Banol. Free if you come from Kayangan lake (as of May 2008) however seems unmaintained. Beware of jellyfishes (me and my companion had individual encounters).
  • Diving - Lots of wreck diving and some decent coral as well. Discovery Divers (on the beautiful 'Discovery Island') and Sea Dive are the big ones, and Coron Divers the cheapest one in the island.
  • Coron Divers, [2]: Is the only Dive Center owned by a Filipino, and the cheapest option in Coron. Arni is the big boss. Everything makes you feel in a Filipino family (even more if you stay at Chinette's lodge, just 10m away in front of Coron Divers).
  • Discovery, [3]: Tucked away on 'Discovery Island' a 10 minute boat ride from the pier. Talk to Vivian in Coron town located at the Discovery Bar or get to the pier around 8am to catch the boat out. Gunter is a great guy with a lot of experience in the area (18 years? I read that he discovered the Cathedral). Bryan Kim was a fantastic instructor/dive master. Larson and Melody(?) are really friendly as well. Larson seems to be the wreck dive specialty course go to guy.
  • Sea Dive, [4] Located downtown on the water near the pier.
  • Dive Calamianes, [5] Located between the Discovery Bar and downtown
  • ' Rocksteady Dive Center',[6]Located near the hospital
  • Sights - this stuff can be arranged by Vivian at the Discovery Bar
  • Horseback riding
  • Mountain bike tours
  • Jungle Treks
  • Go to the Maquinit hot spring. Beautiful place to hang out in the evening/during storms. Suffers from tourist induced price hikes (P100) with P300-P400 to rent the tricycle (back and forth, including the 1 to 2 hours waiting time for the driver)
  • Go camping on a (somewhat) deserted island. There are a couple of islands to check out. You can find everything you need in town/at resorts. Ask around. Gunter at Discovery seems to know of a couple good spots. All info as of December 2006.
  • Malcapuya Island. Beautiful Island with very fine white sand beach just like Boracay (or better) but without construction. Entrance is P150-200.
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    This page was last edited at 17:54, on 27 December 2008 by James Yolkowski. Based on work by Ara Grengia, Kin Enriquez, Eric Polk and Matt Miklas, Wikitravel user(s) Tensaibuta, Journeyman and Morph, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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