The Philippines is the second largest archipelago in the world with more than 7,000 islands. Its wildlife and beaches make it an absolute paradise.
Best time to travel in the Philippines
November to March is the best time to visit the Philippines. The southeastern islands have opposite seasons.
Philippine Currency
The currency in the Philippines is Peso. 1 USD is equivalent to more or less 50 Philippine Pesos.
Best Things To Do in Coron, Palawan
Coron in the Philippines has jaw-dropping limestone formations, surrounded by pristine white beaches and a number of clear, turquoise, sweet-water lakes at its center. Like El Nido, Coron is part of Palawan Island. The town itself is small and used as a port for island hopping. Find out what to do in Colon, Philippines with our 2-day guide.
Coron Island Hopping
Spend your first day in Coron, Palawan, exploring the stunning nearby islands by boat. Island hopping is one of Cologne’s main activities. Private and shared boat tours are available throughout the town and can also be booked online. Visit Barracuda Lake, Double Lagoon, Banor Beach, and Kayangan Lake on a beautiful day trip.
The prices for island hopping in Colon Island are quite high. Expect to pay 1600 PHP ($30) for a shared boat and 3000 PHP ($60) for a private boat. On top of that, every location you visit will be charged an entrance fee of 200 – 400 PHP. Read: More Personal Blog by Steven Sunyich
Keep in mind that Coron island hopping tours are very popular. We recommend that you leave the port as early as possible to avoid crowds as much as possible.
Coron Market
Start the day with your guide at the local market and grab some fresh fish, vegetables, and fruit from a lunch prepared by the ship’s crew, as well as drinking water to keep you hydrated throughout the day.
Eat a hearty breakfast before going to the market, as the smell of raw meat can be strong in the morning.
Kayangan Lake Coron
Crystal-clear emerald waters can only be reached by a short 300-step hike: Lake Kayangan has the title of “the cleanest lake in the Philippines”, all because a group of Filipinos take care of the lake. Great work guy! The hike to the top also includes a viewpoint with a beautiful view of the dock.
Banol Beach Coron
Soft white sand, crystal clear water, and a great place to have a delicious lunch and sunbathe with your market-bought products. Banol Beach is one of the most stunning beaches in Cologne.
A delicious Filipino lunch will be prepared fresh on board by the ship’s crew. It usually includes eggplant salad, fish or chicken, fresh fruit, and rice. A delicious thing to do in Cologne.
Barracuda Lake Coron
Snorkel or dive in the unreal, clear emerald waters of Barracuda Lake. The water is clear and you can see the limestone cliffs all the way down while you are still standing on the wooden pier. We highly recommend snorkeling here.
Bring flippers. The water is sweet, unlike salt water, it won’t bring you back to the surface any time soon.
Mt. Tapyas – Viewpoint of Coron
One of our favorite things to do in Cologne is hike Mount Tapias. A staircase of 750 steps leads up to the hill with the Hollywood letters “CORON” written on it. Start walking at 4pm after a hot day. It’s not as bad as it looks and once you get to the top you’ll get a view across the bay.
Don’t forget to explore the hills across the bay; seeing the sun go down from here feels like pure magic.
Maquinit Hot Springs, Coron
Relax your muscles on a hike on Mount Tapias in the 40-degree water of Marquinite Hot Springs. Surrounded by mangroves, the natural saltwater hot springs overlook the sea and are a great place to watch the sunset. The entrance fee is PHP 200 (USD 4) per person.
How to get to Coron
The island is accessible by boat or direct flight from Manila or El Nido.
Manila to Coron flight
The flight to Busuanga Airport takes about 1.5 hours and the drive to town is another 30 minutes. High-season flights will cost you around $90 per person.
From Manila to Coron by Boat
The overnight ferry from Manila takes 11 hours but sails only on Thursdays and Sundays.
El Nido to Cologne by Air
From El Nido, Busuanga Airport in Colon is only a 40-minute flight away. During peak season, these flights cost $100 per person.
El Nido boat to Coron
The fast ferry from El Nido takes about 4.5 hours, although advertised as 3 hours. The ferry fee is approximately USD 30 per person.
Best place to stay in Coron
Hotels in Coron can suit every budget, however, traveling on a tight budget can greatly limit your options. The best place to stay is in town; this is the most option, the only downside is that you don’t have any beaches near your hotel.
Please note that WiFi in Coron, Philippines is very limited. It’s best to buy a SMART Telecom sim card to maintain some connectivity throughout the day.
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