Coron Island in the Philippines is one of the largest in the Calamian Islands group, which are located north of Palawan. It is an ideal place for diving, great holidays with picnics and incredible views of tropical landscapes.
Coron Island is widely known for diving tours to the wrecks of the Second World War. It’s a perfect family holidays destination with many beautiful beaches, castra landscapes, lakes with crystal clear waters and coral reefs that can be found even in shallow water.
If you’re looking for the ultimate guide on things to do in Coron, Palawan, keep reading this post. We’ve tried to collect all necessary information, so you can take the most out of your trip to this island.
Best Time to Visit Coron Island, Palawan
There are two distinct seasons in Coron island: the dry season, which lasts from November to May, and rainy season from July to September. Coron island in the Philippines has a tropical climate, making it a great dry season getaway.
If your goal is to enjoy best of the things to do in Coron, Palawan, which are mostly water activities, it’s better to come to Coron island during dry season. Snorkeling or diving tours will not be canceled due to sudden weather changes.
The probability of rain and storms in the summer is practically zero. The hottest months are March, April and May, the average temperature is +29 degrees, and the coolest weather is in October. The temperature drops to +22-23 degrees.
Be sure to have an umbrella with you in case it rains.
How to get to Coron, Palawan
The island has a difficult mountainous terrain, so there is no airport or helipads. From Manila, the capital of the Philippines, you’ll have to fly to the island of Busuanga, adjacent to Coron. Planes fly daily – these are local airlines or private carriers.
From the airport to the center of Busuanga you can go by using shared transfer for 150 pesos (3 euros) or by taxi for 1500 pesos. The trip will take about half an hour.
Further, you need to take a boat to get to Coron island. It can be rented at the pier for 2000 pesos (price is per day). Another option is to join a group tour to Coron from a tour operator. It includes transfer, sightseeing, lunch and entertainment. Prices vary per operator, on average it costs about 3500 pesos.
You can get around Coron, Palawan by tricycles. The cost of this type of transport is the cheapest, regardless of whether you are traveling in a group or on your own. To get to some locations, feel free to negotiate a fixed price with the driver.
If you have driver license and experience, you can rent a bike. Rental price is super affordable, you can rent a bike in one of the hotels.
Top Things to Do in Coron Palawan
Kayangan Lake
Crystal clear water lake. You can see the bottom and rock formations even at 20 meters depth. This lake is the cleanest in all the Philippines and the most popular place on Coron island. It is curious to note that the most photographed and iconic place is the view of the sea, which opens from the cliff on the way to the lake, and not the reservoir itself.
Click here to join Lake Hopping Tour and visit Kayangan Lake, Green Lagoon and many more.
Barracuda Lake
The lake got its name because of the elongated shape, but baracudas are quite rare here. Barracuda lake was formed on the site of a former volcano, and diving is common here. Tourists dive to see the outlandish bottom of the lake. There is a small area for jumping into the water. It is recommended to bring an underwater camera with you, as the marine life around the sunken fishing boat is very rich.
Twin Lagoon
One of the must-visit place in Coron, Palawan are azure lagoons connected to each other by a tunnel. At low tide, you can swim through it above the water. People come here to watch how fresh waters mix with salty ones. Various shades of turquoise and blue shimmer like gems in the sun.
Green lagoon
An ideal place for photography and diving, with a sunken Japanese liner at the bottom of the lagoon. When swimming in these waters, stay away from the caves. Sea urchins live there and their needles can dig very hard into the legs and cause burning pain.
Calauit Safari
For those who prefer land-based entertainment to deep-sea activities, one of the recommended things to do not in Coron, but Busuanga is to take part in safari tour. Giraffes, gazelles, zebras, brown deer and other animals live in the this sanctuary.
The reserve is located on a small island, 70 km from the city of Coron. Get there as early as possible to see more animals before the heat. You can even help the staff of the reserve to feed some animals, for example giraffes.
Click here if you want to join Calauit Safari Adventure Tour.
Diving
Diving enthusiasts will find Coron island in the Philippines full of true deep sea treasures. The channels between Busuanga and Culion island are littered with the wreckage of sunk Japanese shipwrecks.
Places for diving can be found at different depths, from 3-10 meters to 35-42 meters. Some of the wreckage is in shallow water, so you can easily see it even when snorkeling. Check our guide on other popular diving sites in the Philippines.
Coron Island is a unique place. Here, sharp rocks are surrounded by the clearest waters. Take a boat and explore locations untouched by people: you will definitely remember such a vacation for a long time.
Prices for visiting the island
This island belongs to a tribe of aborigines who decided to make money on visitors. Therefore, figuratively any step on the island costs something. For example, leaving the boat near the shore costs about 150-200 pesos, driving to the lake – 300 pesos, having picnic on the beach – 100. But the money spent is worth what you see.
