Two days ago, my husband told me that Nickelodeon is planning to build an underwater resort and theme park in Palawan. Yesterday, I started seeing a lot of posts about it, and I’m one of those people who do not agree with the idea of building an underwater resort or theme park in Palawan.
Coron, Palawan is a gem—please don’t destroy it. We visited this place 12 years ago, and we’re planning to go back so our son can also experience the beauty of Coron. But not anytime soon, since most of the activities here involve island hopping. #CoronIsNotBikiniBottom
Because of this, I suddenly found myself reminiscing about our trip. Coron, Palawan, remains one of my most memorable vacations, and I consider it one of the best places I’ve ever been to. Honestly, I wasn’t familiar with the place when my ex-boyfriend—now husband—first suggested it.
I’m happy that I was able to visit this place 12 years ago because today, the rates are quite expensive. Imagine—almost all the places we visited back then had no entrance fees, but now, the entrance fee is around ₱200 or less.
The main disadvantage back then was the airfare. There were no promo fares, and only two airlines offered flights to Busuanga: Sea Air and Asian Spirit. In 2005, they were the only ones flying that route. The planes were small, with only 19 seats, so you could really feel every movement. (Those airlines don’t exist anymore)
We visited Coron with no preparations at all. We just booked our flight and off we went—with no room reservations and no itineraries. There were so many first-time experiences and unforgettable memories from that trip. It was truly an adventure for all of us.
Sharing with you our adventure. #AdventureInCoronPalawan
Day 1: Off to Coron, Palawan
It was our first trip by airplane—just me, my friend, and my ex-boyfriend (now husband). Level-up na kasi may work na! We were a little nervous since it was also our first time flying on a 19-seater plane. Thank God we landed safely at Francisco Reyes Airport. I was surprised to see how small the airport was!
From the airport, we rode a jeep to get to the city proper—₱100 per head.
We didn’t book any accommodation, thinking it wasn’t peak season. Unfortunately, Sea Dive Resort was already fully booked. They suggested we try Darayonan Lodge, so we took a tricycle to get there. Sadly, the lodge was also fully booked, but they told us that a room would be available by evening. It was only lunchtime, but we had no choice but to wait. The room with a private bathroom was ₱300 per head, plus an additional ₱50 if you wanted a TV.
Lesson learned: Always book your accommodation in advance.
We also asked where we could rent a boat for our tours, and they referred us to Calamian Geo Eco-Culture Expedition Travel and Tours. Not wanting to waste any time, we left our baggage at the lodge and went to the travel agency. They offered several packages, and we booked the Coron Tour (₱1,200) and Culion Tour (₱1,800).
Maquinit Hot Springs
We hired a tricycle to go to Maquinit Hot Springs for ₱100—round trip, with the driver waiting for us. This was our only itinerary for the day. We truly enjoyed the hot spring; it helped relieve the stress of not having a place to stay. Hehehe!
We returned to the lodge, and we were so glad we finally had a place to rest.
Day 2: Coron Island Tour
We woke up early because our tour was scheduled to start at 8 AM. We headed to Calamian Travel and Tours to rent a kayak, snorkels, and fins—and of course, to meet our boatmen for the day.
The seaport is just beside the market, so before hopping on the boat, we bought cooked rice, bread, and ingredients for grilled liempo—enough for five people (3 of us + 2 boatmen).
Itinerary for the day:
Banol Beach, Twin Lagoon, Skeleton Wreck, CYC Island, Barracuda Lake, and Maquinit Hot Spring.
(Since we already visited Maquinit Hot Spring on our first day, we decided to skip it.)
First stop: Banol Beach
A small and peaceful beach, perfect for relaxing and unwinding. It’s also great for kayaking and snorkeling. This was our first time trying kayaking, and we really enjoyed it!
While we were enjoying the beach, our boatmen cooked our lunch—and we ate right there on the beach. What a treat!
Next stop: Twin Lagoon
This place was absolutely beautiful! There were so many fish, so we even tried fishing—and we were so happy because we caught several! We gave the fish to the boatmen. Apparently, they were all edible. Yay!
Then we went to: Skeleton Wreck
Here, you can see a Japanese shipwreck underwater. Honestly, I got scared. I had this weird feeling that something might pull my legs—so I didn’t stay in the water too long.
LOL! But if you’re a diver, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this spot a lot.
Next stop: CYC Island
It was too crowded when we arrived, so we decided to move on to the next destination.
Barracuda Lake
To get to the lake, we had to trek a bit. On the way, we saw a lot of sea urchins—so be careful! The lake itself was crystal clear and so beautiful, but we were the only people there. It felt a bit eerie, so we didn’t stay long. We joked that if something happened to us, even if we screamed, the boatmen might not hear us.
Hehehe!
Last stop: Siete Pecados (Marine Park)
We were too tired from swimming all day (even with life vests!), so only my ex-bf went for a swim here. Unfortunately, he lost our ring in the water. Good thing we weren’t married yet—at least it wasn’t the wedding ring that got lost.
LOL!
Day 3: Culion Tour
This was our last day of island hopping since we had an early flight the next day. Just like the previous days, we bought cooked rice and fresh fish from the market for our lunch.
Itinerary for the day:
Culion Tour, Sangat Island Resort, Gunboat, Coral Garden, Culion Church, and Culion Museum.
Culion Island is a bit far from Coron, so the boat ride took a while. But since Palawan is so picturesque, you won’t get bored during the trip.
First stop: Gunboat
While we enjoyed the beach, our boatmen grilled our fish. We had lunch here before heading to the next destination.
Sangat Island Dive Resort
This is a private resort, so we just stopped by briefly to take some photos.
We went to Sangat Island Dive Resort, it is a private resort. We just took some pictures.
Next stop: Coral Garden
A beautiful snorkeling spot with vibrant marine life. Perfect for underwater photos and a relaxing swim.
Last stop: Culion Island
You’ve probably already heard or read about this place. Culion was once known as “The Land of the Living Dead” because it was where people with leprosy were relocated during the American colonial period. It was only in 2006 that the World Health Organization officially declared Culion leprosy-free. So when we visited back in 2005... hindi pa siya leprosy-free—waaah!
We didn’t have a tour guide, so we did our own walking tour. We visited La Immaculada Church, Fort Culion, and the Culion Museum. At the museum, there was a guide who gave us an overview of Culion’s history, which was both informative and touching.
We didn’t stay too long since we had to travel back to Coron Island—about a two-hour boat ride.
Day 4: Back to Manila
Three amazing days were over—time to go back to reality.
When I returned to the office, my officemates were surprised. “Negra ka na!” they said, thanks to all the island hopping. đŸ˜…
I still dream of visiting Coron again. And when we do come back, I hope we finally get to visit Mt. Tapyas View Deck, Banana Island, Malcapuya Island, and Calauit Safari.
I’ll definitely take more photos next time! If you notice, our pictures aren’t that great—this was still the time we were using film cameras, so we were super tipid with our shots. Hehehe!
Read: 3 Days in Puerto Princesa Palawan with Kids
