I must say just how excited we were when we booked our trip to Coron. We've heard a lot of great reviews about the beach, and we wanted something completely different from the usual Boracay experience. We believe that there are just so many beautiful islands around the Philippines still waiting to be discovered and Coron is one of those that truly surprised us from beginning to end. Looking at pictures online, we were astounded by just how beautifully pure and untouched the island seemed to be. When you book your trip, it's wise to avoid the coron tours from the hotel because it's really expensive. It's better to find a tour when you get there instead, and the most affordable one is the one we got from Coron Galeri.
On our first full day, we paid Php650/pax for the Coron Island Ultimate Tour. It's inclusive of 5 destinations and grilled lunch by the beach. As we hopped on the boat, we were amazed by how breathtaking every view was. Everywhere you looked, you couldn't help but feel a sense of tranquility and calmness.
As we were nearing this view of Coron's famous rock formations, our jaws just dropped by the wonders of this magnificent place. This is marine life at its finest. Our first destination was the Kayangan Lake. You will need to hike all the way up to get to it, and no matter how tiring it was, it was definitely worth every single step. As you descend from the stones, you will be amazed at the sight!
This is the famous view of Kayangan Lake which is often used as a picture for tourism purposes. I know it's already beautiful in the picture, but I must say our pictures doesn't even do it justice. These are the types of sights your own eyes have to behold for itself. There's nothing like seeing something so grand that it just takes your breath away. This is a popular photo op place so be ready to meet a little bit of inconvenience, as you wait for others to finish for you to take your turn.
Our second and third destinations were the Twin Peaks Reef, and the Twin Lagoons, respectively. The Twin Peaks Reef topped Kayangan Lake, no matter how impossible it may seem. The water was crystal clear that you could even see the fishes from below. For you to get to the lagoon inside, you have to ride the balsa, or the improvised bamboo that's tied together. We didn't get to ride it though, since it was high tide when we went so we used the the ladder instead. It's important to be careful when hiking up the ladders since they are made out of wood, and underneath lie sharp rocks.
We had lunch after in Atwayan beach, which offers big huts where large groups of friends can dine. The boatman is the one that grills the food and I must say, they grill it well. We had grilled liempo, fish (an extremely LARGE fish) called bisugo and seaweed salad. By this time, we were all hungry from all the hiking, trekking, and swimming so imagine our delight when we were served with such good and fresh food. The fish which was freshly caught from the sea is definitely one of the most memorable dishes here.
Our last stop is the CYC Is. where we stayed for snorkeling and swimming. The fishes here are so diverse that when you see them, its absolutely nothing short of amazing. Some fishes are even multi-colored that they're just so beautiful to look at. It's like landing right in the middle of the set of Finding Nemo, but even better. This is heaven for most divers! It's important to be careful though as there are numerous sea urchins and jellyfishes that are sneakily situated around the area.
On our second full day, we availed of the Sun, Sea and Sand Eco-Tourism Experience which set us back at Php950/pax. We had a hard time deciding between this or the other tour named as the Las Islas Tribal Eco Tour which also consists of islands similar to our first tour. Since we wanted to experience a chill day at the beach, we decided to go for the Malcapuya Island instead. It takes an hour and a half to get there from the Coron Port so make sure to get to your boat early to make the most out of your day.
Malcapuya Island completely battles the white sand beach of Boracay. The place is undisputed, and the sand is so fine that your feet still sinks in it. It was like living in a postcard, and you will find yourself really wanting to relish every moment. It really is one of the most beautiful islands we've ever been to and we liked the fact that we could just drink, and chill there.
One most important person you will ever meet here is a local named Kuya Chris. He will offer you his boat, to take you to the famous white buoy where there is big coral reef. Snorkeling in this area gives you a great view into the aquarium like paradise where all the beautiful fishes live. When you shift your eyes to any side, you will be astounded by just how numerous the fishes are! He even dives deep into the bottom of the sea just to grab a big clam underneath! We will always remember Kuya Chris for he led us to one of the most Perfect Storm moment of our lives. The heavy rain started pouring as we got on the boat to make our way back to the shore, and for a group of 3 boys and 2 girls, we honestly thought it was the end of us. The boys had to paddle really hard, and us girls had to dispose of the water that was quickly filling up the small boat. The rain was so painful against the skin, that we honestly wondered if we would ever get to shore. Luckily, Kuya Chris was a natural in all of this, having lived in Davao before and led us to safety. The rain lasted for a good 30 minutes as we panted our way back to shore. We were just so lucky we got there safe! Although the experience was scary, it was definitely worth seeing all those beautiful fishes and marine life for.
As the rain poured, we went to our boat and made our way for our last request stop which was the Barracuda Lake. This wasn't originally part of our tour, but we requested Al Linsangan (the owner of Coron Galeri) to bring us there. He was so nice that he didn't even ask for extra payment, only that we had to pay the entrance fee which was Php100 per person. The Barracuda Lake looked like the Kayangan Lake as well but there are rumors that you could actually see a barracuda if you looked hard enough. We asked the boatman if this was true, and sadly, he said it merely just a rumor. We still spent a good hour looking for the fictional barracuda but alas, to no avail! The lake was beautiful, though, so we didn't mind the fact that we didn't see one.
As we made our way back, we were extremely sad that our Coron adventure was over. We felt that there was still so much to see in this beautiful place, such as the zoo, the other tours and the Maquinit Hot Springs to name a few. Our experience here really made each of us marvel at the beautiful nature around us. I can definitely say that there is so much to the Philippines, if one just takes the time to look hard enough. What made our trip even more memorable, was just how accommodating and welcoming the locals were. Never did we once come across a local that was rude. Everyone helped us in their own way to make our experience truly fulfilling. From Orley, our personal butler from the hotel who granted our every need and wish, to Bunso, our personal trike driver who happily agreed to
take us to the best spots in town, to Kuya Chris, our personal life saver who
took us on the adventure of our lives that we will remember forever and lastly,
Sir Al Linsangan, who actually is a marine life advocate and
photographer who made our tours possible. It’s the strangers along the way
that always make the travels worth it. More than the sights, sounds, and taste
of a town, the feelings of meeting strangers that turn into friends are the
most important stories you can tell once you head back home. All the expectations we had about this trip, was met and eventually, was even exceeded. We
will definitely make our way back to this island where every moment has left a remarkable imprint in our hearts.
We suggest you book your next trip to Coron town and we assure you, that you will not regret it. :)
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