Paolyn Houseboats is one of our favourite places we have ever stayed. It offers the perfect balance of unique location, exclusive experiences and comfortable touches.
Located in a series of lagoons, these houseboats are a short boat ride away from Coron and offer unmatched privacy and access to some of Coron’s most highly sought after tourist attractions. Coron itself is a vibrant town is known for boat tours that bring you to some of the most stunning lagoons in the world (attracting thousands of tourists every year).
BUT a stay at these houseboats means that you get access to these places without the crowds and massive tour boats.
In this blog post we are sharing everything you need to know about Paolyn Houseboats.
What to Know Before You Stay at Paolyn Houseboats
Location
As we said above, the houseboats are located in a small lagoon which happens to neighbour one of the most famous lagoons in the region..Twin Lagoon! So close in fact that you can Kayak there.
The houseboats itself are run by Paolo and his wife April Lyn. Paolo spent a good portion of his life sailing around the world on his sailboat and ended up settling down with his wife in the Philippines.
If anyone is an expert about living on a boat, it would be him, which is why we believe this place is so magical. You can tell that the two of them care about this business very much, as they spend the majority of their days here chatting with guests.
HOW TO GET THERE
To get to the houseboats, you will need to get yourself to Coron.
FLY: You can reach Coron by a short direct flight away from Cebu or Manila. There is also a newly introduced airline that flies directly between El Nido Town and Coron. While it may be a bit pricier, we highly recommend this route as it saves a lot of time.
FERRY: You can also get here via Fast Ferry if you are coming from El Nido. This is a budget friendly option, and we took the Ferry our first visit to the Philippines. We highly recommend being prepared with motion sickness medications.
The team organized a transfer bus from the airport to the port for us. You will need to notify them of your flight information at least a few days prior. From the Coron Airport, it is about 15-20 minutes to the Coron Port. You will get on a boat transfer (shared with other guests) and enjoy a 20 minute boat ride to the houseboats.
What To Expect During Your Stay
Accomodations
There are multiple different houseboats, all located within a few lagoons of each other. Each houseboat has different configurations and allows for a different numbers of guests. Each room has their own full bathroom and an additional outdoor shower.
Every houseboat comes with kayaks or paddle boards to explore the area. You will also have a large deck and outdoor eating area.
Meals
Because you are staying in a remote location, you are limited to their restaurant for meals.
The great news is, their food is fantastic! You can enjoy meals at their floating restaurant or have it delivered right to your houseboat. The prices are reasonable and their menu offers a variety of Filipino and Italian dishes. They also have a wide variety of drink options, including liquor, wine, tea, coffee, juices and purified water.
THINGS TO DO
The location of this houseboat is incredible as it allows you to have access to some of the most sought after destinations in Coron, before any other tourist boats.
Snorkeling
There is a massive coral garden located right at the entrance to the lagoon that the houseboats are in which you can easily kayak to. There is also some pretty amazing tropical sea life to see right around the houseboats too if you did not want to venture too far.
Twin Lagoon
Twin Lagoon is one of the most visited lagoons in Coron. And for great reason.. it is insanely beautiful! We visited here via kayak provided by the houseboats.
We left at 7AM and arrived there before any other people. It was the most surreal experience! This place is absolutely incredible.
Tip: If you arrive at low tide, you will be able to kayak from one lagoon to the other! Otherwise you will have to climb the stairs separating the two, or swim through the small limestone tunnel!
Book a Boat Tour
The houseboat provides their own private speedboat tours to places that are further away from their lagoon for your convenience as it is too far to Kayak!
These tours also arrive to these typically tourist packed places well before the crowds and tour boats. There are a variety of half day options that include some of the famous lakes and lagoons as well as white sand beaches and further snorkelling opportunities!
Here are just a few of the options:
Kayangan Lake
Kayangan Lake is a short speedboat ride away from the houseboats. When you arrive, you will have a short climb of some stairs leading you away from the ocean so ensure you pack some shoes you can walk in.
After you reach the lookout point, you will follow the staircase down to this unbelievably clear lake. The lake itself is part fresh water and part salt water and offers an amazing place to snorkel.
We arrived here before any tourist boats did and had about an hour there by ourselves.
Barracuda Lake
This is a must visit site during your time in Coron. Barracuda Lake is great for snorkelling, scuba diving and free divers. The water here is incredibly clear and you can see all the way to the bottom in some places.
We highly recommend bringing a GoPro or a DJI Action Camera to take some photos and videos of the experience.
Banul Beach
This is a magnificent white sand beach that is a very popular destination for boat tours. We highly recommend talking with your guide to time a visit during a break period or visit at sunset when no other tour boats are around.
Tip: Paolyn Houseboat tours typically arrive here after other tour boats have left for a beautiful sunset. They have a close relationship with the local tribe that allows them to run these tours before and after their normal hours.
Final Thoughts
Coron is a true paradise and it is easy to see why it attracts the masses from all over the world.
The Paolyn Houseboats are a hidden gem. They offer you a tranquil piece of paradise in this usually busy place. We love to experience places in unique ways!
Let us know if you end up staying here! We would love to hear your experiences. We hope that you love this place as much as we do!
Read More About The Houseboats and Book A Stay Through their Website Below!
Book A stay at Paolyn Houseboats Here
See More Of Our Stay on YouTube Here:
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