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Coron is in the province of Palawan, Philippines on Busuanga Island. It is the largest town on the island and has the largest share of accommodations.

[edit] Understand

Coron is both the name of a town on Busuanga, and the name of the island just offshore. The island is famous for its wreck diving, and the site has been named in many lists of top dive spots in the world. In September 1944, a fleet of Japanese ships hiding in the harbour were sunk in a daring raid by the US navy. The result is around ten well preserved shipwrecks surrounded with coral reef.

There are also attractions on Coron Island itself. There are many beautiful bleach white sand beaches, mostly tiny and surrounded by large limestone cliffs and wildlife. Barracuda and Kayangan lakes are both stunning locations, and the island also has a mysterious indegenous tribe who are notably shy of outsiders.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

• Fly into Busuanga from Manila with PAL Express, Cebu Pacific or Zest Air.
• Aiport to town: Jeepney - Fare: P150 / person ; 12 seater A/C Vans P1500 ; shared van P150/person

[edit] By boat

• SuperFerry [1] stops in Coron on their way to Puerto Princesa. Leave Manila on Friday afternoon (4:15pm)and arrives in Coron early Saturday morning (5:30 am). Heads back to Manila on Sunday night (10:45 pm). Wait until a couple of days before it departs to get cheaper tickets. Don't wait too long, though.

Now you can get your coron accommodations thru website by booking to one, two or more accommodations in one contact person just visit the webpage http://zaldyangulo.webs.com without additional charge on your booking or you may txt +639082762553

[edit] Get around

• Tricycles are everywhere downtown. P7-10 for rides around town.
• Motorcycles are available for rent. Look for Boyet's motorcycle rental shop and he will even provide you with a hand-drawn map of Busuanga island inclusive of interesting sites accessible by motorcycle. Rental is P500 for the first 8 hours. P1000 is charged for 48 hours or 2 days, P1500 for 3 days. The rates decrease for long-term rental. Gas is not included in the rental fee. Boyet's mobile phone number: 09282929884

[edit][add listing] See

• There is a cross on the mountain above town, Mt.Tapyas. You can look at it from below or climb up the path. The climb up is worth to see the view of the small Coron islands surrounded by glass-like water.
• Market Pier: home to shops, stalls, slaughter houses, diners, and karaoke. Great for hearing early morning karaoke and picking up supplies. The smell can get pretty bad close to the slaughter houses.
• The Coron sign. Noticeable from the water is a Hollywood style sign up on a hill overlooking the town.
• Mangroves in Sangat. Natural mangroves are abundant.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Mt. Tapyas hike - If you are staying in the Coron main town, you can walk to the foot of Mt. Tapyas or grab a tricycle for P7 (May 2008). The hike reportedly is a 700+-step stairs to the top, the entrance is found at the side of community basketball court. Experience a breathtaking view of the sunset, recommended to start setting out at 4pm.
• Island Hopping - Head down to the Market Pier and get a boat captain (P1000-1500) Boats generally handle around 6 passengers. Grab a lunch before you head out. Vivian at the Discovery Bar can arrange it all for you as well. You can also buy meat, fish, veggies from the wet market and request the boat captain to barbecue or cook them for you or your group.

• Siete Pecados is popularized by the shoot of a local television show of a mermaid love story. Experience swimming in an aquarium, beautiful corals and a great variety of fishes. There is a caretaker who will collect P100 from tourists. Recommended time to snorkle is around 1pm to 2pm. Current can be strong in the morning. This is one of the best sites to snorkel in Coron. Myth suggests that seven kids swam from the main island to escape it and follow their parents. They all drowned and the place where they drowned is where the islands are now present.
• Barracuda Lake on Coron Island is amazing. Entrance is P100. Bring goggles or snorkles to observe underwater rock formations. It is known for having a thermocline, where the water heats up as you decend into the lake.
• Kayangan Lake P200 entrance fee. Before approaching the lake, go over the cave and glimpse at the great view on top of the mountain. This view is the most photographed area in Palawan. It is also judged as the cleanest lake in the country.
• Twin Lagoon. The water and towering rocks are great photos for poster. On low tide, experience kayaking under the hole of the rock. P100 entrance fee
• CYC Island is nice but gets very busy. It's the only free beach in the area. Entrance fees for the other beaches aren't too steep (P100).
• Skeleton Wreck is a snorkeling destination where you can see a sunken ship even while snorkeling. Around it are what were once beautiful corals but now are damaged by illegal fishing. Beware of sea urchins.
• Banol is very picturesque with its flower trees set against the rocky island. It has sugary fine white sand in its beachline.
• Beach 69 is not as good as Banol. Free if you come from Kayangan lake (as of May 2008) however seems unmaintained. Beware of jellyfishes (me and my companion had individual encounters).
• 7 Islands This is a marine reserve, guarded 24/7 by 2 locals. P100 entrance. snorkel or dive to see the amazing coral reefs!

• Diving - Lots of wreck diving and some decent coral as well. Discovery Divers (on the beautiful 'Discovery Island') and Sea Dive are the big ones, and Coron Divers the cheapest one in the island.

• Sea Dive Resort, [2] Located in the heart of Coron, Seadive is the most popular dive shop in Coron for good reason. Seadive dives with small groups, is the Coron's only PADI authorized dive shop, the equipment is professionally maintained and they own the only recompression chamber in Palawan.
• Coron Divers, [3]: Is the only Dive Center owned by a Filipino. Arni is the big boss. Everything makes you feel in a Filipino family (even more if you stay at Chinette's Coron Reef Pension , just 10m away in front of Coron Divers).
• Discovery, [4]: Tucked away on 'Discovery Island' a 10 minute boat ride from the pier. Talk to Vivian in Coron town located at the Discovery Bar or get to the pier around 8am to catch the boat out. Gunter is a great guy with a lot of experience in the area (18 years? I read that he discovered the Cathedral). Bryan Kim was a fantastic instructor/dive master. Larson and Melody(?) are really friendly as well. Larson seems to be the wreck dive specialty course go to guy.
• Dive Calamianes, [5] Located between the Discovery Bar and downtown
• ' Rocksteady Dive Center',[6]Rock out with Rocksteady! You will find us near the hospital!

• Sights - this stuff can be arranged by Vivian at the Discovery Bar

• Horseback riding
• Mountain bike tours
• Jungle Treks

• Go to the Maquinit hot spring. Beautiful place to hang out in the evening/during storms. Suffers from tourist induced price hikes (P100) with P300-P400 to rent the tricycle (back and forth, including the 1 to 2 hours waiting time for the driver)
• Go camping on a (somewhat) deserted island. There are a couple of islands to check out. You can find everything you need in town/at resorts. Ask around. Gunter at Discovery seems to know of a couple good spots. All info as of December 2006.
• Malcapuya Island. Beautiful Island with very fine white sand beach just like Boracay (or better) but without construction. Entrance is P150-200.  edit
• Visit Culion the former leper colony. The public boat leaves Coron town at 12 noon daily and returns at 7:30 am the next day. Fare is P175.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Water - aquapure can hook you up with large containers of water and you can buy bottles basically anywhere in 500mL, 1L and 4L sizes.
• Drugstores - plentiful. Contrary to what you may hear you can buy sunscreen, Off (bug repellant), shampoo and all that other good drugstore stuff.
• Market - money can be exchanged for goods.
• Cashew Nuts - Hand roasted "kasoy" as this delicacy is called in the local language. A must try when you are in Coron. Better then what you can buy in your local supermarket!

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Bistro Coron Owned by Bruno it is home to French food at reasonable prices. Entrees go from P155-270 for the most part but crab and lobster meals are available for more. Get the onion soup, the apple pie, the coq au vin, the basquaise, the salade nicoise, the cordon bleu...San Miguel will set you back about P30. The good pizza would be excellent if the cheese was better.

• KokosNuss Resort has a good kitchen. They have a Palawan style all you can eat BBQ deal. 6 or more people required at P475 each. They also have a Christmas feast on Dec 24 which is the BBQ and definitely worth going to if you are around (tell them in advance if you are going) San Miguel is P32. Breakfasts are good as well.

• Kawayanan Grill has good food at very reasonable prices. It also has live performances. The menu reminds me of Gerry's grill and the likes.

• The Old House has friendly staff and cheap food. No knowledge of it's quality.

• There is a Vietnamese place as well as a Chinese restaurant somewhere around town both of which are reported to be good.

• You can get food at all the resorts. The breakfast at Discovery always looked good.

• The Chicken Grill looked promising.

• Buy fruits from the town market and have them prepared at the lodge you stay at free of charge (feel generous to provide a tip). Recommended to try local fruits such as mango, watermelon, jackfruit, coconut, they are seasonal.

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Bistro - you can also drink and play billiards at this amazing eatery.
• Discovery Bar - chill on the beautiful balcony over the water and overlooking the bay. Relaxing atmosphere complete with hammock. Great place to get your dive theory out of the way at. One billiard table. In Coron
• Ottos - Rock out to some AC/DC and enjoy spying on the hustle and bustle of Coron's main street.
• The Old House - happy hour 5-7pm all you can drink rum and Coke for P50. Beer came with a coozie. Nice view of Coron's main street from the balcony.
• Sea Dive A nice and lively seaside bar. It is full of interesting artifacts from the Coron wrecks that were placed there by the national museum.
• "Helldiver's Bar" - their signature drinks are great for the adventurous drinker, all for reasonable prices.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Busuanga Island Paradise,[7] is a forest resort 10 kilometers from Coron town, peaceful and private.

• Dive Link Resort (Gateway to the Palawan WWII ship wrecks, tropical jungles, caves, and volcanic lakes), Uson Island, Coron, Palawan, [8]. US$88 and up.  edit

• Coron Reef Pension, [9] is a few steps from Coron Divers. Aircon rooms for 2 pax with toilet and bath seaside Php900, other rooms Php600, Php 100 for an extra bed. Mobile Phone number 09198877151 and 09194501606

• Coron Village Lodge, [10] twin room P950, triple Php1200,Deluxe room 1300, extra bed P200. All rooms can accommodate one extra bed. They are all airconditioned, with hot and cold shower, TV, private toilet and bath.

• KokosNuss Resort,[11] is outside of town a 10 minute walk up the main road. The rooms all surround a beautiful garden great for lounging around on less adventurous days. The staff can help you arrange things to do around the island.

• Krystal Lodge. A humble lodge situated in the mangrove area of Coron Town.  edit

• Mommitas Place, National Highway Bgy. Pob. 3 Coron, Palawan, ☎ +639082762553, [12]. checkin: 12 pm; checkout: 12 pm. Looking for cheapest and affordable lodge? Mommitas Place located along national highway bgy. pob. 3 coron, palawan with 6 rooms own and manage by Mommitas or ate esther your friendly lodge. 300. (subject to change without prior notice,) edit

• Nipa hut rooms good for 2 or 3 at Php450, 14USD (shared bathroom) and 32USD (private bathroom) with fans. Large rooms built in the local style which means quite open to the air. Private bathrooms are clean. You may even acquire some gecko friends.

• Sandoval lodge,[13]- with six (6) function room aircon rooms two (2) rooms capacity of two (2) person per room, One (1) big room capacity of five to six (5-6) person and two (2) rooms capacity of three (3) persons per room with one (1) fun room capacity of (2) person with cable TV with free (WI-Fi) Internet connection on board. But don’t have private T/B in individual room two (2) common T/B. Sandoval Lodge located at the center of the town of Coron, Palawan (corner Real St. and San Agustin St.) beside Calamian Planet Online and Corongaleri and very close to Coron Municipal plaza, hall, Market and Market Seaport. visit the webpage

• Sea Dive, [14] - Downtown. You should book early to get a place at Seadive. This seems to be the centre of coron activity and the place that everyone wants to dive and stay.

• Shirl Baywalk Pension House, bgy. pob. 3 coron, palawan, [15]. checkin: 12pm; checkout: 12pm. A newly built lodge beside coron bay and newly reclamation area of coron, palawan with 6 function aircon room, room rate from P 1,200.00 common cr aircon with tv minimum of 2 person + extra bed, room for 2 person with private cr aircon with tv P 1,500.00 + extra bed, room for 4 person aircon with tv and private t&b P 2,500 + extra bed contact +639082762553 750.  edit

[edit] Get out