Coron is an island in Palawan that is one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines, though it is often overshadowed by the even more famous islands of El Nido, the white sand beaches of Boracay Island, or the palm tree paradise of Siargao. Coron is just as beautiful, and there are less tourists! Just like El Nido, the main attraction is the island hopping and snorkeling in Coron. The towering limestone cliffs, amazingly blue waters, marine life, and beautiful beaches are just a few of the things that make Coron a tropical paradise!
In this Coron, Palawan itinerary, we have highlighted what to do with 3 days on this incredible Philippines island. There are tons of epic tourist spots in Coron, with Twin Lagoon possibly being the most famous! Here is your ultimate 3 day guide for visiting Coron, Palawan.
- Where is Coron, Palawan?
- How to Get to Coron
- Coron Itinerary – 3 Days
- Coron Tours
- What to Expect From a Coron Island Hopping Tour
- Best Restaurants in Coron Town
- Best Place to Stay in Coron
- Best Time to Visit Coron
Where is Coron, Palawan?
Coron is a small island in the Philippines, located between the larger Palawan and Mindoro Islands. It is the third-largest island in the Calamian Islands and is roughly 180 miles south of Manila, the capital city.
How to Get to Coron
Boat From El Nido to Coron
Many people head to Coron directly from El Nido using a high-speed ferry that departs once daily at 12:00 PM. There are 2 companies that operate along this route. The easiest way to purchase ferry tickets to Coron is by going to BookaWay.com and look for the Judy Ferry Travel availability. The trip takes about 5 hours and costs $59/person.
We purchased our tickets 7 days in advance to ensure that we would be able to get on the ferry because it does fill up.
Coron Airport
There is a small airport in Coron, as well, of which you can fly to directly from various locations within the Philippines. This is a good option if you are not coming to Coron from El Nido.
We used this airport to fly to Puerto Princesa after our time in Coron.
Read: A Guide to El Nido Island Hopping & Beaches: A Philippines Gem
Coron Itinerary – 3 Days
The best thing to do in Coron is the different island hopping tours, which each include a handful of incredible locations around Coron. Have we mentioned that Coron is one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines? Yes, I know we have said it, but it’s true! The island hopping tours in Coron are absolutely breathtaking.
Day One
Do the Coron Super Ultimate Tour
The Coron Super Ultimate Tour includes: Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, Skeleton Wreck, Atwayan/Banol Beach, Balinsasayaw Garden, & Coral Garden
The most popular tour in Coron is probably the Coron Super Ultimate Tour because it hits so many of the incredible locations that have put Coron on the map!
Kayangan Lake is an incredible hidden lagoon! You have to do a little bit of a hike to reach the lagoon, as it is tucked away in the mountains. It is not a long hike, but you do have to go up a number of stairs. Don’t worry, it is totally worth it!
First you will come to a breathtaking overlook of the limestone cliffs and clear blue waters below! Then once you continue on a little further, you will reach Kayangan Lake where you can jump into the crystal clear lagoon for a swim! It is absolutely magical.
The Coron Super Ultimate Tour also takes you to the incredible Barracuda Lake! To get to the lake you will have to jump into the ocean and swim to the boardwalk, which takes you to the lake. Barracuda Lake is actually a popular spot for diving due to its depth and incredibly clear water!
The other most famous location included on the tour is the Twin Lagoons. Here, you will pay an extra fee for a kayak and then be guided into the side by side lagoons. Again, the water is crystal clear and the lagoon is a stunning sight!
I could see fish and little jellyfish swimming around in the lagoon waters below our kayak. We could have stayed in the lagoon paddling around all day!
The tour also takes you to a few snorkeling spots where you will witness some incredible coral reefs and marine life! The Philippine islands have some of the best snorkeling and coral reefs in the world! The tropical fish are so beautiful to follow around, as it feels like you have entered a different world.
We ended the tour on Atwayan Beach where you can either enjoy relaxing on the beach, or head out on the kayaks again.
The Coron Super Ultimate Tour is a full day of fun and activities. We had a blast on the tour, and we were pretty worn out from all of the swimming and hours in the sun!
Day Two
Rent a Motorbike & Explore the Surrounding Area
Day two is a great day to rent a motorbike, as you recover from all of the fun and adventure on the Super Ultimate Tour. We always love the freedom of renting a motorbike, so we can explore on our own terms.
Head to Mt. Tapayas and hike up to the Coron sign for some amazing views! The hike consists of 721 stairs to the top. The stairs are well maintained, and it is overall a pretty easy hike depending on your fitness level.
You get an awesome view of the ocean and the mountains from the top! There is also a big, white Coron sign at the top of Mt. Tapayas. It is great to hike Mt. Tapayas at sunset to get a great view as the sun goes behind the mountains. We opted to do the hike in the morning though to avoid the sunset crowds.
Then hop on your motorbike and head to Cabo Beach. I will admit, it is not the most beautiful beach, especially compared to the island tours on Coron, but it was enjoyable to stop at the beach for a couple hours. You will have to drive on some dirt roads to get back to the beach, but they are good roads.
Go to the Maquinit Hot Spring for the sunset. We arrived a little early before all the tourist vans dumped off all the people doing the Coron Town Tour. We sometimes have mixed feelings about “touristy” hot springs, but the Maquinit Hot Spring was really nice! The water was actually hot (we have been to lukewarm hot springs), and there is a little boardwalk where you can enjoy the sunset.
We ended up having the hot springs almost to ourselves for about an hour!
An alternative to renting a motorbike would be to do the Coron Town Tour. If you do not want to drive a motorbike on your own, the tour hits Mt. Tapayas, some other spots around town, and ends with a beautiful sunset at the hot springs.
Day Three
Schedule Another Coron Island Hopping Tour
Surely being out on the water in Coron will leave you wanting more, so why not do another one of the island hopping tours around the beautiful islands.
We opted to do the Island Escapade Tour as we were ready for a more relaxing tour to spend some time enjoying the sunshine and sandy beaches.
The Island Escapade Tour includes: Malcapuya Island, Banana Island, & Bulog Dos
The tour only consists of three locations because they are further away from Coron, which means there is more boat time, and it is meant to be a tour where you get a little more time to enjoy each beach.
We started the tour on Banana Beach which is a crazy and beautiful sand bar. Unfortunately, it was so windy while we were there that it was hard to enjoy due to the sand blowing in our faces.
The next spot was supposed to be Malcapuya Island, but our boat captain asked if he could take us to a private island that none of the other boat tours would be at instead. Turns out, he is friends with the person who lives on the island, and he lets him bring his tours there for lunch, as long as he shares some food with him!
It was an amazing spot to have to ourselves and eat lunch at.
After lunch on the island, the owner let us walk up around his property, where he had steps and a sidewalk built up to a beautiful overlook!
The last beach we stopped at on the Island Escapade Tour was Bulog Dos, again a beautiful beach with crystal clear water!
You will find that the Philippines is full of the friendliest people! Our boat crew was happy to pose for the camera after returning from the tour.
Read: The Best of Bohol and Panglao, Philippines
Coron Tours
There are many different tour options to choose from depending on what you are looking for, and each varying in price range. The tours may vary slightly from company to company, but they all pretty much have the same tours and pricing.
Coron Island Tour A- Kayangan Lake, Green Lagoon, Quin Reef, Sunset/Atwayan Beach, CYC Beach, Las Isla de Coral- $900 PHP
Coron Island Tour B- Barracuda Lake, Smith/Banol Beach, Skeleton Wreck, Reef Garden, Twin Lagoon- $1,200 PHP
Coron Ultimate Tour- Kayangan Lake, Balinsasayaw Garden, Twin Lagoon, Skeleton Wreck, Coral Garden, Atwayan/Banol Beach, CYC Beach- $1,500 PHP
Coron Super Ultimate Tour- Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, Skeleton Wreck, Atwayan/Banol Beach, Balinsasayaw Garden, Coral Garden- $1,700 PHP
Island Escapade Tour- Malcapuya Island, Banana Island, Bulog Dos- $1,500 PHP
Reefs and Wrecks Tour- Pass Island, Lusong Gunboat, Lusong Coral Garden, East Tangat Wreck- $1,500 PHP
Calauit Safari Tour- Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary, Salvacion Town Proper, Black Island- $2,500 PHP
Busuanga Island Tour- Salvacion, Black Island, Panlaitan Island, Debotunay Island- $2,300 PHP
Coron Town Tour- Lualhati Park, Souvenir Shop, Centennial Shrine, Mt. Tapayas, Cashew Factory, Maquinit Hot Spring- $700 PHP
Glittering Fireflies Tour- Fireflies inside the mangroves, touching small plankton, kayaking- $950 PHP
What to Expect from a Coron Island Hopping Tour
Of course, you can expect the insanely beautiful locations of the Coron island hopping tours, but there are a few things you should know before heading out on your first trip.
All of the island hopping tours will arrange pick-up at your hotel from around 8:00-8:30 and drop you off at the boat for the tour.
Extra Costs to Expect
The overall cost of the tours will get you on the boat, access to each of the locations, and a provided lunch. There are a few things that cost extra that you will definitely want to pay for. The kayaks, snorkeling gear, and water shoes are all extra expenses, so make sure to bring plenty of cash along.
Lunch Buffet
There is a lunch buffet included on the tour, which is actually pretty good. It consists of fish, meat, rice, fruit, and more. You will either stop on a beach to eat, or maybe even eat on the boat.
You Will Have to Get in the Water
This should probably go without saying, but you will have to get in the water. Sometimes the boats will have to park pretty far offshore and you will have to jump in the water and swim up to the beach. The only way to enjoy the lakes is also to jump in the water and swim. If you are not a confident swimmer, don’t worry, they provide life jackets, which are actually required to be worn in the lakes.
Read: The Perfect Place to Begin Your Philippines Vacation: Moalboal, Cebu
Best Restaurants in Coron Town
Of Course you will need to eat on your trip to Coron, so here are some of the best restaurants that we tried on our trip.
- Trattoria Altrove
- Umamikusina
- Le Voyage
- Poco Deli
- Epic Island Cafe
- Pacifico Coron
- Get Real Bar & Restaurant
Best Place to Stay in Coron
If you are traveling on a budget, we enjoyed our stay at Happy Camper Hostel.
Best Time to Visit Coron
The best time to visit Coron for great weather is November through May. On average, Coron is hot all year round, but you will see the most rain in July and September, so it is best to avoid those months if you want to enjoy your time on the islands.
Coron is seriously one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines and it should be added to your trip itinerary! Three days in Coron was the perfect amount of time for us to enjoy the town and tours. The islands and beaches around Coron are simply magical.
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