Coron Revisited: The Coron Loop

I was in Coron last October with the ISD divers and friends for a dive trip and tour, my third time to visit the place known for great underwater scenery, wreck diving, beautiful white sand islands and islets, lakes and other natural spots. Coron is in fact one the places I love and a visit will always never be complete without island hopping to its amazing spots.

Coron
Our Coron Loop ended at sundown

The entire Calamianes Group of Islands where Coron belongs cannot be toured in a day so there are few packages being offered. From the usual tour of Coron’s nearby islands, beaches, coral gardens, lakes, caves and wrecks to the more adventurous trips to the farther islands of Banana or Dicalabuan, Malcapuya, Culion, Calauit, Dimakya, Dibotunay, El Nido or even Apo Reef in Mindoro.

Coron
Atuwayan Beach

With majority of the group as first timer in Coron, our itinerary the day after a whole day of dive was the tour to its nearby spots, commonly called “Coron loop”, the usual and a must trip for every tourist, first timer or frequent visitors alike. Our tour handler this time was Cheap Travel Coron owned and operated by Jun and Emily Yong, P4500.00 for a whole day Coron loop for 15 of us, inclusive of lunch and merienda, life vests and free use five snorkel sets.

It was a whole day of fun and amazement to the wonders of Coron, its inland and underwater treasures that we usually read in publications or online, see in pictures and TV, or hear from our friends.

Coron
The most photographed view of Coron

Siyete Pecados, a marine park teeming with marine life, is a spot I don’t get tired of visiting. It feels great swimming with the oversize Angelfish, friendly Sergeantfish and colorful snappers, groupers and other tropical fishes, much more feeding them. Not to mention the vivid corals underneath. Environmental fee is P100.00.

Kayangan Cave and Lake is one of the seven enchanting lakes of Coron considered sacred by the Tagbanuas. It was acknowledged as the cleanest lake in the country. A short trekking is required to see the lake surrounded by limestone cliffs. Meanwhile, the cave that is overlooking the cove reveals the picturesque and most photographed view of the Coron. Entrance fee is P200.00.

Coron
Fish feeding in Siyete Pecados is fun

Atuwayan Beach is a lovely small strip of white sand beach; this is where we had our sumptous lunch – fresh crab, grilled liempo (pork) and talong (eggplant), deliciously prepared by our boatmen. Thanks Kuya Jun. The water of Atuwayan Beach has a good population of corals, fishes and other marine life. Entrance fee is P100.00.

Skeleton Wreck is an old submerged wreck just in front of the Atuwayan Beach. It provides a creepy skin diving or snorkeling experience. The top of the wreck is at six meters deep, the area where the wreck lies is surrounded by live and colorful corals with a good population of fishes. Environmental fee is P100.00.

Coron
ISD divers and friends in Twin Peaks

Twin Lagoon is an enclosed lagoon with the opening submerged in water during high tide. The water is a combination of salt and spring water, making it looks oily when disturbed. Experience swimming with the large congregation of white non-stinging jellyfish inside, it is a surreal feeling. Environmental fee is P50.00.

Twin Peaks is another place for a good snorkeling experience. The place is called such due to two islets sitting in the water. The good thing about this place is – it’s FREE!

We chose Atuwayan Beach over Banol Beach and dropped Barracuda Lake from our itinerary since we ran out of time and to save cost, I have been to Barracuda two years ago, and if I remember it right, the trek to the cliff was a real challenge due to sharp pointed rocks. The lake is almost similar to Kayangan Lake, and it is called Barracuda Lake because of a freshwater Barracuda that resides there. For divers, the thermocline is another interesting thing about the place. Entrance fee is P100.00.

Coron
Vivid clouds of Coron

If there’s one reason that discourages me to visit Coron, it is the fee for almost every place, and it will eat up a large chunk of your budget. I find El Nido’s one-time payment scheme of environmental fee better and cheaper. Don’t get me wrong, I love Coron, I am just hoping that they find way to make the place more tourist and budget friendly.

So if you will be heading to Coron soon, be sure to put these must visit places in your itinerary, because as cliche as it is, you have never been to Coron if you haven’t done the Coron loop.

Actual Budget for Coron Loop (October 2010)

P300.00 – boat share (P4500.00 / 15) – meals, merienda included
P100.00 – Siyete Pecados fee
P200.00 – Kayangan Cave/Lake fee
P100.00 – Atuawayan Beach fee
P100.00 – Skeleton Wreck fee
P50.00 – Twin Lagoon fee
—————————————————-
P850.00 – Budget for Coron Loop

Standard Island Hopping Tour Rate in Coron

Coron implements a standard rate for island hopping, but tour organizers offer discounted rates and packages inclusive of meals and other add-ons, so try to haggle first 🙂

Here is the standard tariff (boat only) as of October 2010:

Destination : 1-5 pax / 6-9 pax / 10-15 pax

Coron Island Loop : P2000 / P2500 / P3500
Sangat/Lusong : P2000 / P2500 / P3500
Banana/Malcapuya/Malaroyroy : P3500 / P4000 / P6000
Culion : P2500 / P3500 / P6000
Dibatok : P2500 / P3000 / P4500
Calumbuyan : P3500 / P4500 / P6500
Diwaran : P3500 / P4000 / P6000
Tara : P7000 / P9000 / P15000
Linapacan : P7500 / P9500 / P15000
El Nido/Taytay : P14000 / P18000 / P25000
Mindoro : – / P25000 / P40000
Coral Bay/Evergreen : P3500 / P4500 / P6500
Calauit : P7500 / P9000 / P15000
North-South Cay : P4000 / P5500 / P8000
Panlaitan/Dibutunay/Black Island : P5000 / P6500 / P10000

Tour Operators

To date, these are the tour organizers I have tried in Coron and I’m happy to say that my experience with them were good:

Comments

  1. […] Coron Revisited: The Coron Loop […]

  2. Catherine Co

    Hi! First of all, thanks for this helpful blog!!

    Also, I just wanted to get your thoughts regarding Jun and Emily Yong. How were they? Were they accommodating, did they look out for everybody’s safety, were they honest, etc.? Was already supposed to book them but I came across a bad review on TripAdvisor so I’m a bit on the fence.

    http://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/ShowTopic-g729733-i12570-k5636527-Inquiries_on_Coron_tours-Coron_Palawan_Island_Palawan_Province_Mimaropa.html

    Hope you can help me 🙂 Thanks!

  3. ruth

    hi,

    im recommending mommita’s place in downtown coron near the bay area..
    pwede na din iarrange from land transfers up to food complete with all trips.

    sobrang sarap nila magserve ng food and sobrang accommodating ng mga tao..

  4. […] October – Tomato, onion, garlic, bell pepper, ham, cheese and a freshly cracked egg topped in a whole pizza, perhaps only Bistro Coron serves that. One of the best pizzas I have ever tasted at P199.00 (S), P299.00(M) and P499.00(L) for the whole pizza. Make sure to drop by here after a day in the water […]

  5. Awesome pictures!
    Kailangan ko na talaga bumisita sa Coron.
    Nangangati na paa ko. 🙂
    Thanks sa info, super loaded post mo!

    1. Thanks Brenna 🙂

  6. I’ll take note of this. I’m excited for my Coron trip but I am more excited to go to Culion – you know why 😛

  7. no ones owns the beach and the lakes pero lahat may entrance fee (at ang mahal ha, hindi lang bente!)

    hundred islands.. hehe every island you need to pay 1 hundred..

  8. toni protacio

    same sentiments! i like coron but i love el nido.. we hated the entrance fees.. yung mga naniningil pang mga natives eh masyadong mukhang pera.. kahit yung bata same rates. kahit hindi ka bumaba ng bangka sisingilin ka.. tumatawad nga kami na sana wag ng singilin yung bata kasi hindi naman nag-swimming eh.. pero ang sungit nung katutubong naniningil.. inaway nga siya nung boatman namin eh.. pero deadma pa rin.. very unpleasant experience since pare-pareho naman kaming Pinoy.. besides, i learned from DOT that they don’t have tourism guidelines for Coron.. even the charges are not standard unlike in El Nido..plus, we also had a bad experience with those people who handled our Calauit tour, that’s DIYCoron..they messed up our whole itinerary.. overall, Coron is still a must visit.. we might be back maybe after 3-5years… (“,)

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