Day 1 – Coron Island Hopping
Spend your first full day in Coron, Palawan, on a boat exploring the stunning islands nearby. The island hopping tours are one of the main things to do in Coron. Private and shared boat tours are being offered all around town and can be booked online as well. Visit Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, Banol Beach, and Kayangan Lake all in one beautiful day trip.
The price to go Coron Island hopping is quite high. Expect to pay 1600 PHP (30 USD) for a shared boat and 3000 PHP (60 USD) for a private boat. On top of that, every location that you visit charges an entrance fee, which varies from 200 – 400 PHP. Read more: Ultimate Philippines Travel Guide
It’s good to keep in mind that the Coron Island Hopping tours are incredibly popular. We recommend you leave the harbor as early as possible to avoid the crowds where possible.
1. Coron Market
Start the day with your guide at the local market, get some fresh fish, veggies, and fruits for your lunch prepared by the boat staff, and some drinking water to keep you hydrated throughout the day.
Have a rich breakfast before heading to the market because the smells of raw meat can be quite intense in the morning.
2. Kayangan Lake Coron
Crystal clear emerald water is only accessible via a short 300-step hike: Kayangan Lake holds the title āCleanest lake in the Philippinesā, all because a group of Filipinos takes care of the lake. Fantastic work, guys! The hike to the top also leads to a viewpoint that has a beautiful view over the boat docks.
3. Twin Lagoon Coron
Twin Lagoon in Coron, Philippines, is a large lagoon accessible via a small swim-through gap between cliffs. Snorkel along the cliff and see the incredible underwater life. Ask your captain to avoid the tourists as much as possible since you donāt want to be in the water with hundreds of others.
4. Banol Beach Coron
Soft white sand, crystal clear water, and a fantastic place to have a delicious lunch with the products you bought at the market and sunbathe afterward. Banol Beach is one of the most stunning beaches in Coron.
5. Barracuda Lake Coron
Snorkel or dive in unreal clear emerald water in Barracuda Lake. The water is so clear that you can see the limestone cliff go all the way down when you’re still standing on the wooden dock. We highly recommend snorkeling here.
Tip: Bring flippers. The water is sweet and unlike salt water, it wonāt takes you back to the surface as quickly.
6. Have dinner at Altrove
Altrove makes delicious pizzas and is one of the few good restaurants in Coron. Thatās why there is a line at the door every single evening. We recommend you to be there before 7 PM so you wonāt be waiting in line for too long.
Day 2 – Things to do in Coron Town
Rent a motorbike in Coron for 500 PHP (9.5 USD) and explore the townās surroundings. We rented a motorcycle at a shop on the corner of the street across the fountain.
Tip: Love tropics? See Siquijor Island.
7. Cabo Beach
The first stop is Cabo Beach, a small stretch of sand with huts where you can relax. The entrance to the beach is 50 PHP per person. Search for Cabo Beach on Google Maps and make sure to follow the path along the waterside. This dusty road takes you through local villages with kids who are very interested in interacting with you.
9. Mt. Tapyas – Viewpoint of Coron
One of our favorite things to do in Coron was hiking Mt. Tapyas. A stair of 750 steps that leads up the hill with Hollywood-like letters saying āCORON’. Start the walk at 4 PM, after the heat of the day. It is not as bad as it looks, and once on top, you will get rewarded with a view over the entire bay.
Donāt forget to explore the hills on the opposite side of the bay; it felt like pure magic seeing the sun go down from here.
Also read: ultimate Philippines travel guide
10. Maquinit Hot Springs, Coron
Relax your muscles from the hike at Mt. Tapyas in the 40-degree water of Maquinit Hot Springs. The natural salt-water hot spring is surrounded by a mangrove forest, has a beautiful view over the ocean, and is a good location to see the sunset as well. The entrance fee is 200 PHP (4 USD) per person.
11. Boat from Coron to El Nido
Picture yourself gliding over crystal clear waters between Coron and El Nido (or vice versa) along some of the untouched beauty of the Philippines.
Embark on a 4-day expedition with Big Dream Boatman to explore crystal-clear waters, hidden lagoons, and abundant marine life. As you traverse the archipelago, you’ll find opportunities for adventure, moments of quiet reflection, and glimpses into the vibrant local culture. With Big Dream Boatman, you’re not just a tourist but a curious explorer. Be sure to book this journey in advance, as it’s a popular way to travel to El Nido.
How to get to Coron
The island is accessible via boat or direct flight from Manila or El Nido.
Getting to Coron by Airplane
A flight takes about 1.5 hours to Busuanga Airport, and it’s another 30 minutes to town by car. A flight in high season should cost you about 90 USD per person.
You can also take a short 40-minute flight from El Nido to Busuanga Airport on Coron. In high season, these flights cost 100 USD per person.
Getting to Coron by Boat
The other option is to take the overnight ferry from Manila. This journey takes 11 hours and only leaves on Thursdays and Sundays.
You can also get to Coron by boat from El Nido, which takes about 4.5 hours, although the ad says 3 hours. The ferry ride costs about 30 USD per person.
Where to Stay
Hotels in Coron are available for every kind of budget; however, traveling on a tight budget limits your choices drastically. The best place to stay is in town, as it has the most options, with the only downside being that you wonāt have any beach near your hotel.
Please note that WiFi is very limited in Coron, Philippines. Itās best to buy a SMART SIM card to have a bit of connectivity throughout the day.
When you purchase something through our links we earn a small fee. However, you still pay the same. Win-win!
- Find Hotels via Booking.com
- Find a Rental Car via Sunny Cars
- Find Flights to Coron via Skyscanner
- Get a Travel Insurance via Heymondo
- Book Tours & Attractions via Viator
- Book a Bus/Train/Transfer via 12Go
Looking for more travel information? Plan a chat with us for personalised travel advice or get an answer from the Salt in our Hair Travel Community on Facebook.
Hey, at first your insights are very helpful for planning a trip to the Philippines!! Maybe you could say which company you used for the island hopping, that we did not choose for our trip? :)
Hi, great to hear that! Thank you. We haven’t used a company that we like to recommend. If you want to be sure of a good option, the ones linked in the guide. These all have been reviewed by people.