Coron Tour Packages

The peaceful town of Coron is located on one of the Calamian Islands at the northernmost tip of Palawan. One of the nearby islands has the same name, but Coron City on Busuanga Island is where most of the hotels are. This area is famous for having some of the best dive sites in the world, as well as one of the most beautiful island settings in the Philippines.

Coron is the best place in Palawan for adventure and stunning scenery, and because it is relatively undeveloped, offers a great escape from the tourist crowds. Find out more about Coron below, then book the items that appeal to you, and we’ll help you combine them in a complete itinerary. Since Coron can easily be coupled with both Puerto Princesa and El Nido, it makes a great addition to a Palawan vacation package.

How to get to Coron?

There are six daily flights from Manila to Busuanga, and sometimes even more. The travel time is only 55 minutes, and since there are many airlines operating the line, finding a cheap flight should be fairly easy. There is also a direct ferry from Manila to Coron, but it takes 14 hours.

Cebu Pacific offers three weekly flights to Coron from Cebu — on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. PAL Express also run this line, with daily flights usually available. However, these flights are often delayed or canceled with very little notice. Since they are more expensive to begin with, we suggest you avoid booking with PAL.

Since the above options could be quite costly, you might consider taking a direct ferry from Puerto Princesa to Coron (16 hours) or a 4-hour van ride to El Nido followed by a ferry from there. A ferry from El Nido should take between 3.5 and 8 hours, depending on the company. The best and quickest are the Fastcraft, operated by Montenegro Lines, or the Phimal Fast Ferry. Alternatively, you could take the regular 8-hour ferry to save some money.

What to do in Coron?

Unless you’re really into diving, you will only need a few nights to see Coron’s main sights and get a small taste of its natural beauty and wildlife. The town also offers a welcomed change from the busy tourist spots elsewhere in Palawan.

Of course, those who are interested in diving might want to stay longer. Below, we provide information on Coron’s attractions. Book the day tours that seem interesting, and we’ll help you plan your entire itinerary.

Diving Packages and Most Popular Dive Sites

Coron is famous worldwide for its incredible wreck diving. Most of the wrecks are huge battleships (up to 160 meters in length) that were sunk during WWII. There are no fewer than 12 Japanese vessels—6 large destroyers and 2 smaller gunboats, all of which were hit during a daring allied forces attack on 24 September 1944.

The ships are all in relatively shallow waters (between 12 and 30 meters), and some can even be seen on snorkeling tours. The wreck dives vary in difficulty — many of them allowing you to penetrate if you have suitable qualifications. It’s a good idea to come to Coron with at least an Advanced Diver certificate, since this will ensure that more of the dives are accessible to you.

Having said that, with so many dive resorts and centers in Coron, it’s possible to take a course during your stay so that you qualify for the more challenging dives. Alternatively, you could get certified in El Nido, then arrive to Coron with your license already in place.

While the wrecks are fascinating, they offer a rather underwhelming experience in terms of marine life. You’re most likely to see small critters and a few fish in and around the ship. One exception is the Kyokuzan Maru wreck, which has been turned into an artificial reef.

An alternative to wreck diving is to visit Barracuda Lake. Located on Coron island, this is one of the most popular tourist attractions. Surrounded by tall limestone cliffs, its waters are separated into fresh and salt water, creating a halocline that causes blurry swirls when mixed together. The temperature changes dramatically as you descend, and the lake bed has a deep layer of fine silt that you can plunge straight into without encountering resistance. Despite its name, you’re unlikely to see barracudas, but there are some tiny fish that will nibble at your fingertips as you preform your safety stop.

There are also several reef systems surrounding the islands. Swimming, snorkeling, and diving are all perfectly safe, as long as you have an experienced guide with you. You’re likely to see beautiful coral reef formations teeming with small fish and marine critters, and there are even dugong (sea cows) feeding grounds along the Busuanga coast.

Free diving courses are also available for those who’d like to explore the shipwrecks without using a tank. Getting the appropriate AIDA license requires 1–3 days. Diving enthusiasts should spend at least one week in Coron to appreciate everything it has to offer. Afterwards, you could continue to nearby Apo Reef or Tubbataha reef for some more amazing dive spots. If this sounds like a good vacation plan, consider booking our diving package. You can customize it as much as you like and enjoy the ultimate diving holiday.

Island Hopping Tours

There are dozens of different island-hopping tours available in Coron, each consisting of between three
and seven locations. Customized itineraries are also possible. Instead of overwhelming you with itineraries that don’t say much about the places you’ll visit, we discuss each popular tourist spot below.

Make your choice of islands and beaches based on your preferred activities — snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, sunbathing, and more. If there’s already an existing tour that fits your needs, we’ll book it for you. Otherwise, our agents can build a customized itinerary just for you. All island-hopping packages include hotel pickup, licensed guide, free lunch and snacks, as well as all the necessary permits and fees.

The most popular island-hopping tour revolves around Coron Island. Besides Barracuda Lake, the main highlight is the Twin Lagoon — one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines.

It’s easy to enter the first lagoon by boat, but to reach the second you have to dive in and swim. It’s only a short distance, and with life vests and a professional guide, it’s perfectly safe. The waters inside the lagoon are deep, but very clear, making it the perfect spot for swimming and snorkeling.

Coron Island is also home to Kayangan Lake, which offers one of the most spectacular views in the world. You have to endure a short hike in the sun, but once you reach the top of the cliff you’ll feel it was definitely worth the effort. Afterwards, you can take a refreshing dip in the lake, visit the cave and do some cliff jumps.

Other nearby destinations include Malacapuya, Banana, and Bulog Dos islands. While each has its unique style, they all have beautiful, secluded white sand beaches and crystal clear waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Malacapuya is probably the nicest, but also the most crowded. Since they are all close to one another, you can visit all three as part of the same tour.

There are more islands on the other side of the bay. Although they’re more difficult to reach and require a separate day tour, they offer the best private beaches, making the extra effort worthwhile. The North and South Cay islands are simply amazing, and nearby Pass Island is considered the best snorkeling site in Coron.

For a complete list of available island hopping tours, visit our Coron island hopping catalog. We’ve put together detailed itineraries, comparisons between group and private tours, and a complete price list for everything we offer on the island.

Coron’s Best Beaches

Most of the beaches are accessible as part of an island-hopping tour, but you might want to spend more time at one location. Day tours have packed itineraries that don’t really allow you to experience the beaches to their fullest. If you want to relax on a quiet beach, book a boat transfer instead.

Busuanga, the main island, also has a large number of quiet, empty beaches. If you rent a motorbike and set off along the coastline, it won’t take you long to find the perfect beach to enjoy by yourselves. Most beach resorts also have a secluded area of sand they like to call a “private beach”, but we recommend avoiding these and taking a short trip instead. The more remote beach locations simply offer a much better experience overall.

Coron Island’s beaches are probably the best you’ll find within a quick boat ride from your hotel. Again, there are plenty of secret spots here for you to explore. If you’re feeling adventurous, contact us and we’ll help with directions. Otherwise, you could always just go to one of the popular beaches on the island, such as Beach 91, Banul Beach or Smith Point.

Just across from Banul Beach lies the small CYC island. This is where you’ll find CYC Beach, one of the most popular stops on most island-hopping tours. This is a truly beautiful white sand beach that’s usually completely empty. If you want to visit this island, try to time it so you avoid the groups stopping by during their day tours. It’s better to have lunch on Busuanga before catching a boat to CYC Island in the afternoon.

How Does Coron Fit Into My Travel Plan?

Coron is the perfect island for an adventure in paradise. It’s especially recommended for couples who wish to enjoy the amazing nature and beaches of Palawan, away from the crowds of El Nido.

If you’re into diving, you could easily spend a month here, since it’s one of the best diving spots in the world. Otherwise, 3–4 days in Coron should be enough to get a good sense of what it has to offer.

Since Coron is so close to El Nido, it makes a lot of sense to combine them both in your Palawan vacation itinerary. If you must choose one, check our detailed comparison between the two. You could also easily add Puerto Princesa for a complete Palawan tour package . Coron is also a great standalone destination, since there are plenty of direct flights from both Manila and Cebu.

If you’re still unsure how to allocate your days in Palawan, our travel agents can help you build your itinerary, based entirely on your preferred activities and budget limitations.