Coron

Overview

Coron sits at the northern end of Palawan, where steep limestone karsts drop straight into calm, green-blue water. Most travelers base themselves in Coron town on Busuanga and head out by boat each day to swim in brackish lakes, drift over coral gardens, and explore a bay full of World War II shipwrecks. The scenery is vertical rather than beachy: cliff walls, hidden inlets, and viewpoints that reward a short, hot climb.

Standout experiences

• 01 Kayangan Lake

  A famously clear brackish lake reached by a short climb over a limestone ridge, with a viewpoint over the bay on the way down.

• 02 Twin Lagoon

  Two basins divided by a rock wall, connected by a narrow opening you swim or paddle through as the tide allows.

• 03 Coron Bay wreck diving

  A concentration of Japanese warships sunk in 1944, now coral-covered sites for divers and snorkellers at shallower depths.

• 04 Maquinit Hot Springs

  A saltwater hot spring set among mangroves a short ride from town, popular after a day on the water.

• 05 Mount Tapyas

  A hilltop viewpoint above Coron town with a wide look over the bay, the islands, and the sunset.

Getting there

Coron is served by Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU), also called Busuanga Airport, with frequent flights from Manila. Fixed-rate vans meet arrivals and reach Coron town in about 30 minutes. By sea, 2GO Travel runs ferries from Manila and Puerto Princesa, and large outrigger boats cross from El Nido in seven to eight hours. A fast ferry from El Nido takes about three and a half hours.

When to go

Coron's west-facing waters are calmest during the amihan, or northeast monsoon, roughly December to May, when island-hopping boats run almost daily and visibility is good for wreck diving. The habagat, or southwest monsoon, from June to October brings rain and choppy seas, and the coast guard suspends boat trips when the swell is too rough.