The Backpacking Ballerina

         My third time back to Coron and my 6th time back in Palawan. I just cant get enough. This time around though it was the most budgeted trip that I had planned out for me and my dancer friends. And this was the first time that I actually toured the island because I knew a local from there. I spent about 13k including all the food, lodging, tours and shopping that I did.

It’s actually pretty expensive in Coron since Its a pretty big tourist spot but it is very safe to go out anytime even in the middle of the night. Coron is truly a great province to visit if you’re looking for fresh air and a short getaway from the buzz of busy Manila. We stayed here for 4 days and 3 nights and we really made the most of all 4 days on this island.

Day 1. Mt. tayapas

The moment we got here our friend came to our hotel and told us that we would climb the mountain. All of us being dancers thought that we could handle it but i guess climbing isn’t really our thing since it took us about an hour to get up this mountain. Climbing 700-800 steps to get a full 360 view of the whole island. It was definitely worth the climb. Then going back down the mountain our friend suggested that we go to their local hot springs. It is called the Maquinit hot springs.

We took a tricycle by quota we paid about 400 pesos back and forth already and you could ask them to wait for you there at the hot springs. The entrance fee differs if you are a tourist or a local but the hot springs was really a nice place to go. Although I would have liked to see it during the day as well since It is right next to the sea! Sadly we went during the night so we had no view. By the time we got home we were all drop dead tired.

Day 2. Tour package A

We booked a tour the day before after the climb up the mountain. We spent 650 pesos each for a tour to 6 locations. This tour included food and the boat ride as well already. We were first brought to the Coral Garden, Kayangan Lake, CYC Beach, Siete Pecados, Twin Peaks and then lastly to the Hidden Lagoon. The last time I went to Coron I remember only going to the Calauit island tour and the snorkeling tour in the sunken ships. So I was really impressed to see how much more there is to see in Coron as compared to the rest of the places that I’ve been to in Palawan. This is a tour that you would want to

take if you enjoy  snorkeling and viewing corals and a different variety of fishes. We spent a lot of time in the Kayangan Lake

because it seemed to be endless. We even swam towards the really deep ends where there were lesser people. It is so peaceful here and quiet. The Hidden Lagoon was also one of our favorites because the temperature of the water here is so interesting. Normally hot water would rise right and the cold water would be at the bottom? But in this case the cold water was on top and the water below us was so warm. It was a very interesting lagoon. Something that should not be missed.

Day 3. Tour package

We were exhausted from the day before and we wanted a more relaxed kind of tour so we booked the Malcapuya Island, Banana Island and Bulog Dos Island tour. This time around we booked a tour that was more relaxed with less things to do. Just more of eating and lounging about at the beach. We spent the whole day taking all kinds of pictures and finding nemo in the process since all these islands are famous for their clown fish. Which is why the tour cost us more, it was about 1500 pesos per person but this also already included breakfast and lunch. Very much worth it as we watched the sunset go down again in the boat. Another day spent well. We got hungry though at night and we decided to eat at a local restaurant there. If you ever do go to Coron please try this place called Sinugba sa Balay. Their food is amazing a the chef is a friend of my Local friend there. If you would go here please do try their Fresh Lumpia and their Banana Ginger Smoothie. Big servings, great food, very worth it.

Day 4. Swimming in a river

We swam in a river today and we were able to get here by tricycle again. What I noticed about Coron is that its really expensive to get around especially since they know that most people who go to these attractions are tourists. So if you are to go somewhere such as the river we swam with which was sadly short lived because we only had the morning to go around. Make sure to go with a lot of people so that if you quota the tricycle you wouldn’t spend so much.

We also went to the local market today to buy tons of pasalubongs (gifts and souveneirs) for our families because buying things in the morning market is cheaper. So we woke up early and we walked all the way to the market which was not far since everything in Coron is pretty much walking distance except the big resorts and the airport.

In the end I fell in love with Palawan even more. I love it here because its so beautiful, so simple and I just feel so at home here. Besides going to Japan, I would definitely go to Palawan as an escape every year. You should definitely consider coming here too and be it with a friend or just by yourself. You would definitely love Coron if you are a very adventurous person such as myself.