The Philippines truly has our hearts. This country is full of incredible scenery and Coron is no exception. Coron is located in the Palawan region of the Philippines. Coron is known for island hopping and snorkeling and also is home to some of the most famous lagoons and lakes in the world!
We stayed in Coron for 3 days and we felt it was the perfect amount of time to be able to see all of the must- see places and enjoy the Island.
In this blog post we are going to share things to so, places to stay and where to eat during your visit to Coron.
Things To Know Before You Visit
What Area To Stay
Coron Town
Coron town is the most popular and main place to stay when visiting. There are many hotels in this area at a variety of price points. They are all in close proximity to shops and restaurants as well as the main port for boat tours.
Coron Island
There is only one hotel located directly on Coron island. It is know as Paolyn Houseboats. The houseboat is one of the most unique hotels we have ever stayed at. We will get further into the details our stay below.
Payment/ ATM
Although Coron is becoming a more developed city, most establishments still exclusively take cash. Especially boat tour providers, tricycles and most restaurants.
There are a few ATM’s scattered throughout Coron to take out cash.
How To Get To Coron
By Air
Coron has a well established airport that has flights arriving daily. You can fly directly from many islands in the Philippines. The airport is a short 15 minutes drive to Coron Town. You can arrange an airport pickup through your hotel, or take a taxi or tricycle when you arrive.
By Ferry
If you are traveling from El Nido, you can take the 4 hour fast ferry between islands. There are two ferry operators that operate between Coron and El Nido. They depart on opposite days of the week. You can find the schedules and book your ticket online here.
Upon arriving to Coron port, you will be asked to pay a “tourist tax” once you disembark. It was 250 php per person for us and it needs to be payed in cash.
You can have your hotel arrange a pickup or you can take a tricycle! There are plenty of tricycles available. Make sure to ask the price and agree on a price before getting in.
Health and Safety
For your health and safety do not consume any tap water in Coron. Unfortunately Coron is another island area that has notoriously tarnished drinking water, making visitors very very sick. When visiting a restaurant, ask for bottled water. Also ask what water is used to wash any raw vegetables and to make ice. Make sure to use bottled water to brush your teeth, and do not get any water in your mouth when showering.
Places To Stay
Blue Waters Hotel
We stayed for 1 night in this hotel prior to our transfer to our accommodations on Coron Island. If you are looking for a clean room for a decent price in a great area, we highly recommend this hotel! With its proximity to the boat tour port, this would be a great hotel to stay at if you are looking to stay in Coron Town!
Paolyn Houseboats
Located in a stunning lagoon on Coron Island, the Paolyn Houseboats are the only accommodation option here. There are multiple different houseboats to choose from when making your booking. The Paolyn Houseboats are located in the lagoon next to the famous Twin Lagoons, meaning you can kayak there in less than 5 minutes and enjoy it in solitude without any boat tours.
You can read more about their cause, and our stay with them here!
Things To Do
Island Hopping
The most popular thing to do in Coron is Island hop! There are a few different routes and options for tours that you can choose from. You can book the tours at your hotel in Coron Town or at one of the various tour desks in the downtown area.
The most popular stops are Twin Lagoon, Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake and Banul Beach. We believe these are 4 places you HAVE to see in Coron.
Because we stayed at the Paolyn Houseboats, we booked our tours with them. We had a private speed boat tour of the most popular locations in the Coron area. Their tours leave 2 hours prior to the boat tours from Coron Town meaning you can enjoy places without crowds. Again, you can read more about our experience and our island hopping stops, here!
Manquinit Hot Springs
Located just a short 25 minute tricycle ride from Coron Town, these hot springs are a great place to relax and unwind after island hopping and snorkelling. This is one of the only salt water hot springs in the world. It is a two tier hot spring fed by an underground volcano and is surrounded by a mangrove forest. It feels straight out of a fairy tale.
The best time to visit is in the evening when the sun is less intense. The entry is 250 php per person. We recommend spending an hour here!
Also keep in mind, because it is a popular tourist attraction, it can get quite busy here, especially in the evening.
Hike Mount Tapyas
This short hike leads to a great viewpoint of Coron Town and the surrounding islands. From the downtown area, there are 742 steps that take you to the summit! This is a great place to watch the sunrise and sunset
Places To Eat
Trattoria Altrove
This is one of the most highly rated restaurants in Coron Town! They have a main location which serves their full menu, a small location directly next to other restaurant offering wood fire pizzas only. They have a variety of Italian inspired dishes to choose from. This place is very busy so we recommend making a reservation! Otherwise, expect a wait of 30+ minutes during peak dinner rush.
Pacifico Bar and Restaurant
This restaurant offers some American inspired burgers and pizzas. They have a variety of specialty cocktails and local beers. The atmosphere here is very laid back and the service is friendly.
The BrewHouse
This open air brewery has a variety of craft beers to choose from and some bar snacks and German inspired dishes to curve cravings. This is one of the only breweries we saw during our time in the Philippines!
Hermanos Tapas
This restaurant serves up small plates with big flavour. They have a variety of dishes to choose from to satisfy any palate. It is best to order a variety of dishes and share here.
Final Thoughts
Coron is an island full of adventure and beautiful scenery in the Palawan region of the Philippines. With so many lagoons, secluded beaches and unique snorkelling opportunities, this is a true adventure lovers paradise!
Let us know your thoughts on this blog post and if you have any questions for us in the comments. We would be more than happy to answer them!
