PHILIPPINES: Coron, Palawan Trip

Trip to CORON, Palawan
June 25 to 28, 2009

Our flight was scheduled Wednesday but due to the typhoon Feria, it was moved to Thursday morning. Nothing would stop the group from having a sweet vacation in Coron. Definitely, I’ll be heading back to this paradise next year. Spent a total of 6900 pesos for this trip including airfare and pasalubong.

Day 1 - Thursday:
This is a squeezed itinerary and very challenging first day.

· 9:05 AM Flight Departed Manila NAIA Terminal 3 Airport thru Cebu Pacific
· Arrived at Busuanga Airport then took the van headed to Coron town proper (150 per person)
· Arrived Coron town proper and headed to SeaDive Resort (Perfect view of the bay as resides on top of it. Near the Coron market)
· Had brunch at SeaDive
· Went to Mt. Tapyas – a 726-step hill that will test your legs and endurance.
· Boat ride and snorkeling at Siete Picados – Nice place to snorkel but watch out for Sea Urchins
· Head back to the resort Merienda
· Tricycle ride to Maniquit Hot Spring – This will sooth and relax your body. This salt water hot spring has a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius. I think that is enough to make hard boiled eggs. =D
· Headed back to the resort and had dinner in a nearby carenderia plus videoke.

Day 2 - Friday: Coron Island Hopping
It’s another physical and tough day for the group.

· Kayangan Lake – Cleanest Lake in Asia. You need to treck your way to this lake. 200pesos entrance fee.
· Skeleton Wreck – The tip of the wreck is about 10 to 15 meters from sea level. Nice spot for snorkeling.
· Unknown Beach for lunch – No entrance fee
· Twin Lagoon – During high tide, it will test your snorkeling and diving skills.
· Barracuda Lake – Very scary lake as it is so deep. Sharp lime stone formations will meet you along the way. According to our tour guide, no one had ever reached the floor of the said lake as the temperature rises to 40 degrees Celsius or more as you go deeper.

Day 3 – Saturday: Beach Bumming
Relax Mode!

· Banana Island
· Malcapuya Beach
· Kasuy House of Nanay Lita Escarda

Day 4 – Sunday: Home
· 10:05 AM: Flight to Manila thru Cebu Pacific

Tips:
1. Accommodation wise, try SeaDive Resort for their clean and affordable rooms ranging from 300 to 1000 per day.
2. For food, try to buy fresh seafood in the market during morning and ask the resort’s cafeteria or a nearby canteen/carenderia to prepare it for your lunch or dinner. Try also the Nido Bird’s Soup for 250.
3. If you are planning to go to Coron, I suggest that you take the 650 per head Coron Island Hopping with free entrance fees, lunch and drinks instead of getting the tour package from resorts and hotels. If you tend not to take this, you’ll end up paying 100 to 200 pesos per destination.
4. For other beach and island destinations, look around the market place. Try to bargain and also ask if the person you are talking to owns the boat. Definitely, you’ll get a bigger discount if you are dealing with the owner. Another good question to ask is if their boat is fast enough to travel from one location to another.
5. For the tricycle ride, minimum fare is 8pesos only. Heading to Maquinit Hot Spring it’s 300 per tricycle back and forth. Once you arrive, don't pay right away and tell the driver to wait for you.
6. Use our friendly website Google for other destinations in Coron.


Other Tourist Spots:
Banol Beach – part of the Coron Island
CYC Beach – part of the Coron Island
Calumbuyan Island – Calamianes Group of Islands
Malcatop Island – Calamianes Group of Islands
North and South Cay – Calamianes Group of Islands
Debutonay Island – Calamianes Group of Islands
Black Island – Calamianes Group of Islands
Ship Wrecks – For SCUBA Diving
Cathedral Cave – For SCUBA Diving
Dynamite Reef – For SCUBA Diving
Calauit Nature Reserve – Africa or Safari like experience


Contact Details:

SeaDive Resort – affordable accommodation (ranging from 300 to 1000)
0918-4000448
0920-9458714
www.seadiveresort.com
Louie Navarro – boat for hire (650/pax for the Coron Island tour with free entrance fees and lunch)
0909-9382788
0920-3345592