First-time in Coron

Coron is one of the must-see places in my list of destinations within my home country, the Philippines. Together with Busuanga, Culion, and several islands, they form the Calamian group of islands in the northern tip of the Philippine province of Palawan.

Though not as hyped as Bali or Boracay or Phuket or any beach destination in Southeast Asia, Palawan is a favorite among foreigners who come to this tropical country of 7,107 islands because of its beauty and serenity.  Tourists get a close brush with nature, exciting adventures, and a large dose of peace and quiet.

Famous international personalities and celebrities privately sneaked to this part of the globe to get away from the maddening crowd and enjoy the sun and the sand without the threat of paparazzi.

So, off we went to Coron, and tapped the Calamian Travel and Tours as our official guide.  From the plane, the breathtaking view of the islands and transparent reefs got our adrenaline pumping.  Landing at Busuanga, the fresh Palawan air and the sight of rolling brown hills welcomed us.  For 30 minutes we went through paved national highway and dusty roads until we reached the Coron town.

Mt. Tapyas Hotel

The hotel was situated at the foot of Mt. Tapyas.  A breathtaking view of Coron Bay could be seen from where we were staying. The hotel staff members were friendly. Our room was clean and the bathroom has hot shower.

There was a bar and restaurant at the roof deck.  The open air setting gives a natural feel once at the deck.

Although not in the center of the town, it is accessible by tricycle and a good five minutes to the market or the church.

At about 3:30pm, our tour guide, Shynet, met us at the hotel. We were joined by Harold and Dianne, who were also staying at Mt. Tapyas Hotel. We hopped on to the van, driven by a man introduced to us as “Kagawad” (literally means “councilor”), and went away for the start of our four-day adventure.

Bayan (town proper)

Locals call the town proper as “bayan”.  Our first stop at the “bayan” was the souvenir shop, a major takeoff from usual itineraries where souvenir buying is usually done during the last day.  Still, we looked around and found beautiful postcards which I could add to my hundreds of postcard collection.  Wooden faces, which symbolize local beliefs and culture, were hung everywhere in the souvenir shop.

After we filled our plastic bags and emptied our wallets, in the process.  But we went around Coron, passing by Coron Bistro, the Catholic church, the town plaza, and the gymnasium.  A Christmas party was going on at the gym while locals were playing various games at the plaza.

We also passed by the public market, the row of eateries and Coron Gateway Hotel at the reclaimed area.

Mt. Tapyas

We got off at a basketball court and were instantly swarmed by young boys selling bottled water, juices, and Gatorade.  I thought twice of buying but as I saw the number of steps I had to take to reach the top, I resigned to the fact that a bottle at hand would be helpful.

My research generated varying number of steps going to Mt. Tapyas. All of them pointed out that there are over 700 steps to the peak.  The water boy and Shynet said there are 765 steps.  With less time to spare, we ascended this famous hill. Good thing the steps were done just right and were easy to climb.

Brown grass and rich-blue sky filled our landscape as we went up. The sun was shining hard on us.  We made some stops every now and then as there were covered portions along the way.  We’d rest, take photos, chat with Dianne and Harold as our new travel companions, and view the scenery.  And whenever I look out to the bay, the beauty just kept me on and made me anxious to reach the top.  The giant white cross marker beckoned us to continue.  This seemed a pilgrimage act for a believer like me.

Finally, we reached the foot of the cross! The top gave us a scenic landscape of Coron Bay, the islands, and the town below.  The sleeping giant, a set of rock formation that outlined a lying man, came into view.  Two female tourists were at the top, wherein one was sketching the sleeping giant.  After a few snapshots, we decided to go down for the next leg of our tour.

Maquinit Hot Spring

Dipping in a hot spring is the best way to cap a day. I’ve done these with other friends when we went to Camiguin. Off we went to Maquinit Hot Spring, but not without a stopover at a Cashew store.

Women were manually cleaning cashew nuts. Imagine, there are only two nuts in every cashew fruit. No wonder, it was so expensive. We were given free samples to taste and the “bande”, or the sugar-coated cashew nuts, moved me to buy some.

Finally, we were on our way to the hot spring. It was very quiet there and very conducive for relaxation.  Warm water from two small pools cascaded to a bigger pool. A number of foreigners were already. The warm water soothed our tired bodies. A grotto of the Virgin Mary stood on top of the pool as if looking after the bathers.

Siete Pecados

Siete Pecados Marine Park was named as such because of the seven islets found in this area.  Rich coral gardens and marine species abound in Siete Pecados.

Our guide gave us breads so we can feed the species, a first for a snorkeling enthusiast like me. I haven’t fed fishes underwater and I must say that it was an exciting way to interact with fishes of all kind and color.

We roamed the area and found various corals.  One particular coral that stood out for me were the blue branchy corals which have light blue tips that seem to glow.

Kayangan Lake

As we left Siete Pecados, we traversed the sea and zigzagged through isles and islets. Shallow waters appeared green and light blue and corals became discernible even from the boat.

Finally we arrived in a clear lagoon that looked very inviting. We climbed up a rocky entrance and climbed down to a magnificent view of the Kayangan Lake.  A green pool of still water greeted us with tiny fishes swimming at the edge where white large rocks could be seen below the surface.

We swam towards the other side of the lake.  There was a tiny opening that could fit about six to seven people. It seemed scary because of the sharp rock edges and narrow entry way.  With Rico assisting us, I volunteered to go in first.  Inside was like a small room with an opening at the top that brings sunlight and air for anyone who is inside the little cave.  Others swam in for picture taking.  But for a claustrophobic like me, I felt I had to swim out into the open for more breathing space.

After we have drunk the beauty of Kayangan Lake and as more tourists arrived, we got out of the lake towards our next stop.  As I climbed up, several butterflies flying in circles followed me.  The sound of the insects and the sway of the branches were like a lullaby.

When we reached the top, Rico showed us a spot where we viewed the most photographed area in Coron.  It was breathtaking and so picturesque.  Picture-frenzy as we were, we all snapped our cameras away taking various angles of the view.  Behind us was a cave which was bigger than the one we entered at the lake.

Twin Lagoon

The twin lagoon was like a contrast.  When we reached the big lagoon, we dipped into the water.  I noticed the greasy look at the water and thought that gas might be leaking from somewhere.

Others had swam beneath a small tunnel while others climbed a bamboo raft towards the small lagoon.  It was a good thing that it was still low tide and we had plenty of head room as we swam through the tunnel.

Rico was pulling the raft with the two Chinese girls on board.  He advised me to keep my feet underwater so I won’t feel cold.  He explained that the water beneath was warm while the water on the surface was the opposite, thus, the mix of such produces a greasy look.  I told him that that was my observation as well.

When I entered the small lagoon, I felt so peaceful as we were surrounded by tall rock walls and greens. But with noontime already around the corner, we hastened to go back to the boat so we could have lunch at our next stop.  All the while, Shynet and her companions were cooking at the boat and the whiff of the food made us all the more hungry for lunch.

Banol Beach

Sand bar at the edge of a rock mountain covered by the sea came into view.  Colorful flaglets waved at us.  We docked at the white sand beach and headed to the covered bamboo tables for our lunch.

The beach and the pristine water were very inviting that all we could say were “oohs” and “aaahs”.  To shield myself from the scorching sun, I floated at the side of the boat and enjoyed a relaxing moment.

Lunch was like a fiesta as large grilled fish, crabs, sea weeds, chicken and rice were prepared before us. Everyone dived into the table, obviously famished after a morning filled with swimming and climbing activities.

Skeleton Wreck

The next stop was something my friend dreaded.  There were about 40 or more ships sunk at the area but only nine were seen in Coron.

Curious about the wreck, I went into the water to take a look.  I couldn’t find it at first because the water was too deep.  Finally, I saw a white rusty object underneath surrounded by dark blue water. I didn’t want to explore any further afraid of the deeper waters. I opted to view the corals nearby but found the one at Siete Pecados much better. It was disheartening to see several dead corals.

CYC Beach

The Coron Youth Club Island seemed like an abandoned place. It was no longer well-maintained. Good thing mangroves abound at the area.

After being told that there were several sea urchins and jelly fish, some of us decided to stay in the boat or wade nearby and enjoy our sandwiches prepared by Shynet.

The sun was setting and we headed back to Lambingan bridge. With an early activity the next day, we rested a bit before we enjoyed a delectable dinner of pizza, chicken and beef at the talked-about Coron Bistro.  And it was an awarding way to end our Coron Bay adventure.

This is a contribution to the Lonely Planet blogsherpa blog carnival #11 on “Your Favorite Place” hosted by Annie-Sophie of Sophie’s World.