How to Go Island Hopping in Coron, Philippines
Coron ranks high on my list of “most gorgeous places i’ve ever seen in my life,” and it is so worth the effort to get there.
That said, it’s also extremely crowded (at least it was, pre-COVID). While I was island hopping in December 2018, there were hundreds of orange life jackets bobbing around at most of the sites, but there were also a few places that we were able to visit ahead of the crowds. Regardless of whether there were people there or not, though, I still found island hopping around Coron to be incredibly valuable.
The area boasts jaw-dropping limestone formations, turquoise ocean waters, jade-green lakes, and a handful of lovely beaches. Having been the site of various battles during WWII, it’s also home to dozens of shipwrecks lurking just beneath the water’s surface.
Coron is similar to El Nido in that they’re both part of Palawan “Island,” and are both home to relatively small towns that serve as the departure points for island hopping tours. I island hopped in both Coron and El Nido, and while both are gorgeous, I greatly preferred Coron — in part because I opted for a private tour in Coron (vs. a shared/”joiner” tour in El Nido), but mostly because I found the natural landscape to be more beautiful in Coron.
All of that leads us to logistics…
types of tours: shared or private?
You can go on a shared boat tour, or a private tour. I highly recommend doing a private tour in order to customize your itinerary and change times up so that you can beat the crowds. It also lets you decide how long you want to spend in each location, so that you can move on quickly if you aren’t feeling the vibe or linger for hours if you feel like you’ve found paradise.
Shared tours are roughly 1,600 PHP ($30USD) per person, and you can get a private boat for up to six people for roughly 3,000 PHP ($60USD). In addition to those fees, you’ll need to pay entrance fees (in cash!) for every location, which run from 200 — 400 PHP.
You can typically organize either a shared or private tour from your accommodation, but you can also go down to the pier and negotiate it yourself there (make sure to do that before 5PM the day prior).
Where to go?
My favorite places were Kayangan Lake, Banol Beach, Twin Lagoon, and Barracuda Lake.
Kayangan Lake is a gorgeous, and extremely popular, jade green lake that you reach after hiking up and down 300 steps. At the top of the hill, before you head down, you’ll find a nice viewpoint… but in my opinion the photos aren’t worth the typically long line you’ll wait in.
Me being artsy after waiting in the photo queue for 30 minutes.
The ocean-side view from the lookout at Kayangan Lake.
Banol Beach seems almost designed to take photos at, with its crystal clear water, silky white sand, and rustic thatched huts. A lot of tours stop here for lunch, but we went closer to sunset and were the only ones there.
My gorgeous, badass Portuguese dream of a travel companion, Rita.
Beautiful hut on Banol Beach, with our Brazilian boat-mates strolling in the water.
Twin Lagoon is a gorgeous lagoon that you can reach by swimming through a gap between cliffs. We hung out here at sunset and it was lovely.
Look at that water! Absolutely out of this world.
And me rocking my bikini body on the front of our boat.
Barracuda Lake is one of the coolest places I’ve ever been — the water is so clear it feels like you’re looking through air. You can see the limestone cliff that rises high above the lake go deep below the surface, and you’ll even see divers exploring around some 30 meters below. Make sure you go with a snorkel and flippers! The water is brackish here so you don’t float the way you do in saltwater.
Final Tip: There are loads of other places you can visit on your island hopping tour, and I definitely didn’t get to all of them, so check out the great post on Be My Travel Muse to learn more about some of the other options.
The nitty gritty
How to Get to Coron | There are two main ways to get to Coron: by ferry, or by plane. You can take a ferry from El Nido to Coron (3.5 hours, 1760PHP or $35USD, book at 12Go) or from Manila or Puerto Princesa on slower boats. You can also fly from Manila and Cebu to Businga, and then take a van for 150PHP into Coron Town. I took the ferry from El Nido to Coron and then flew to Cebu on my way out of town.
Where to Stay | I loved Hop Hostel, perched on top of a hill near the center of town. The rooms are immaculate and the rooftop is a happening place to meet fellow travelers once the sun sets. They also have decent wifi, a movie room, free dinner, and lots of other amenities (including queen sized bunk beds!). I highly recommend staying here.
Where to Eat in Town | Altrove is a chain with an outlet in El Nido, as well, and it’s rightfully famous, serving up delicious pastas, pizzas, and other yummy Italian fare. It does usually have a pretty long wait, though, so be prepared or go at non-peak hours.
