Coron, Palawan: A Trip to Remember

by Maaya Legaspi - December 02, 2016

Coron is actually one of the places that I really want to visit here in the Philippines. It's part of my bucket list, and that never mind I won't be visiting other places so as long I can visit Coron. I categorize places I want to visit into 2 kinds.. the first one are the places I want to visit because it's accessible, because it's easier to travel there, and because it's still a new experience. The second kind are the places I would definitely visit. These places are the ones I need to visit before I die.. the places I am dying to visit.. and Coron is part of the latter. Palawan is home to the best beaches not just in the Philippines but also in the world. Filipinos and foreigners would include this in their travel must visit list because of the majestic and stunning beaches. Out of all the three famous destinations in Palawan, which are namely Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron, Coron as they say is the least urbanized, you can't have those "walwal" night life here. And truthful enough, Coron is a quaint quiet town where life is very simple. Bars can be counted on the fingers of your hand. I would say the town is very laid back and to be honest, the locals are very nice.

At the Busuanga airport

Chillin' at Malcapuya Island :)

Earlier this year, I booked our plane ticket from a seat sale to Coron. And since it was a seat sale, it all happened so fast. All I know is that I booked our roundtrip ticket for only P2366.00, and that amount is for me and my boyfriend already! I was so excited! Because aside from it's Coron, it's also the week of my birthday and I'm celebrating it there! I was thinking of splurging and booking a posh hotel but then I came to my senses and realized that I can still enjoy Coron without being posh and splurging at all.
So fast forward to November, I cannot contain my excitement anymore.. I catch myself day dreaming from time to time the wonders I'll be seeing. There was never a day that I didn't researched about the place. On where we will eat, where to buy this and that. You know the usual stuff.. planning your outfits and stuff. So when the day of our departure is getting nearer and nearer, news about the typhoon is also the rage over social media. It's not a super typhoon but still, it's still a typhoon. And unfortunately for us, the typhoon will pass through Coron the same day of our arrival there! And so while I was excited and researching about the place, I am also checking from time to time the weather forecasts. It's really killing me. Why in the world would a typhoon pass by Coron the exact day we'll arrive there!
I keep on praying our flight won't be cancelled. It didn't. When we landed, it was still cloudy but there are few rainshowers. The sun is still peeking through but come night time, it rained so hard that I was already furious as our island hopping the next day might get cancelled too as the island hopping for that day was cancelled. Although we didn't really have an island hopping scheduled for that day, that day was still kind of sayang because we wanted to hike to Mt. Tapyas but because of the weather, we didn't pushed it through as it might not be safe. What we did on our first day was a relaxing hot spring bathe at Maquinit hot springs. Needless to say, I really enjoyed it despite of the weather.

The clouds on our first day of island hopping. Very gloomy.

Right after visiting Maquinit hot spring, we went to Trattoria Altrove to have dinner. By the way, Maquinit hot spring is far from town center so if you're planning to visit it, the tricycle in the town can be rented for 300 pesos, regardless of how many people you are in your group as long as you can fit in the tricycle. Maximum is 6 persons. The drivers will drive you there and back to the town. They will wait for you while you dip on the hot spring. :) There's a baggage counter inside in the mini sari-sari store so no worries, there are also many cottages you can sit on while chatting with friends.

What I noticed around in Coron is that the food is expensive even in the carinderia's. It's better to eat meals in the big restaurants because the price is almost the same and the servings are more generous. You can even be sure that the preparation is well done.
During our 3 night stay, there was never a night that it didn't had a black out in the town. During our first night where the typhoon was at it's peak and directly above Coron, there was no power supply at all, thank God for generators! Same goes with our second and third night but of course, the black out didn't last for 10 minutes on our second and third night because apparently, the typhoon was already outside Palawan. I just don't know if this is normal to the locals, does it happen every night? Or we are just lucky enough to experience power interruptions during our visit? :) I'm not really complaining, with the beauty of the place, I can tolerate the power shortage. lol!
Luckily, our island hopping was pushed through on our second and third day. Our second day being a little bipolar because it would still rain from time to time. On our third day, it was already sunny as if nothing happened.
We ate our hearts out, we enjoyed the scenery, and we just had fun. One of my memorable birthdays, if you would ask me. This is my first time to travel on my birthday. And it's in Coron. So what else can I ask for?
Coron is just an hour away from Manila so I am definitely coming back. Would also want to visit Puerto Princesa and El Nido so I can compare the 3 top tourist destination in Palawan.

Arriving at Banana Island

It's always summer somewhere <3

Snorkeling at Skeleton Ship wreck

The majestic sunset at Coron, Palawan. No filter. ;)

On this trip was also the first time I got bitten by a territorial fish. We went snorkeling and right after, I just saw my right knee had big red spots. It's not itchy and the pain is tolerable. I've tried snorkeling numerous times already but it's in here that I saw corals so close it's almost scary. Don't get me wrong though, it's very pretty. The clams and the fishes are so beautiful.
This trip looks like it had a lot of mishaps but there are a lot of happy and funny moments too. Like our tour guide kuya Bernie and some of the people we met during our island hopping. The weather might not be cooperating but it was still loads of fun because of the people we were with. And how can I forget the yummy lunch prepared by our tour guides too? This trip isn't just about exploring and seeing new places, I learned how to deal with situations you can't control and how to stay calm even if events doesn't go the way you intended it to go. I learned that sometimes all you can do is be patient and trust that everything will be fine. :)

Island hopping, the beaches, activities, and cost breakdown on my next blog post. :)

Tags : Coron, featured, it's more fun in the philippines, Maquinit Hot Spring, Mt. Tapyas, Palawan, Philippines

20 comments

Anonymous12/02/2016
Add some underwater photos! :)
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Unknown12/03/2016
Coron will always be close to my heart. I have been there many times, and mostly for diving. I have also been to Cullion, tama ba ang spelling, the old leper colony, a few times. All the times I was there was for diving, and I believe I have dove all the wrecks in the area. Nice to see you have a good time there.
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Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag12/03/2016
I love the photo of the palm/coconut tree leaves! I really hope to visit Palawan someday. I hope it would happen sooner than the deterioration of new hotels in the area. :) And I certainly hope what happened in Boracay would not happen in Palawan.
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Kylie12/04/2016
I've been considering visiting the Philippines for a while now! I'm grateful to have stumbled across blogs like this because it gives me another reason to plan and get ideas for my next trip!

Your images look sublime, and I simply can't wait to visit! Thank you so much for sharing! :)
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Betchie Abrenica12/04/2016
Ive been to Puerto Princesa but never been to Coron yet. Would love to visit Coron someday too. The pristine water is just so inviting! I love that round mat you have there, where did you get that by the way? I love it!
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alyssa tuangco12/04/2016
Inspiring! I love what you said at the end, that it taught you to stay calm even if things don't go the way you planned it. There are a lot of mishaps as I read the post but still the photos seems nice and you had fun! That's important :) by the way what airline did you book?! It was really cheap!!!!
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Curly Sue Review12/04/2016
This place looks like heaven on earth! You are so lucky to have visited such a beautiful place. I know mishaps can be a pain at the time but I find when you look back a year later they are the moments you remember and smile / laugh about!
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Unknown12/05/2016
Looks like Coron is gorgeous! I visited Thailand last summer and had an amazing time. I can't wait to go back to South East Asia and will add the Philippines to my list :)
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Thelittlelai: Beyond limits12/05/2016
Coron has long been penned on my bucket list and I can't wait to visit it the soonest. I went to Palawan last September and I was supposed to visit Coron, but I was not granted to have a leisure time. This is such a great post and indeed a must visit paradise.
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Unknown12/05/2016
Coron is the place next we would visit hopefully this year, if schedule permits. I know this is has one of the most expensive meals in the PH. I dunno why, maybe because most people coming here are tourists? Weird but that maybe right. It's one beautiful island full of wonder!
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Mr. X12/06/2016
It's the kind of places I always dreamt about visiting. A bit like everyone I guess. It's very gloomy with the clouds but when it's sunny it looks so amazing. Some of the picture are stunning. Banana Island looks amazing and I love the name Haha. I hope the bite will feel better, I only know jellyfish from where I lived and I hate them. I don't know how comfortable I'd feel in those places with territorial fishes
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Unknown12/13/2016
Hi Maya,
This is Joanne from Manila too. I have read your blog about your Coron Tour.
I agree with you that Coron is really a "trip to remember". I am just wondering if you have a contact number of Kuya Bernie? He was our boatman when we went there last 2013 and I am planning to go back there in Feb 2017 with my family. :) If you can help me, that would be much appreciated. Thanks Maya!
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