Melo Villareal
A few weeks ago, I joined the Skyjet Marketing team on a visit to the island of Coron in Palawan. I was in Baler when I learned that our Coron trip was still on, so I had to cut my stay short to catch the flight the next day. Coron is one of the best island-hopping destinations in the Philippines and is included on SkyJet Airline’s Route Map.
Boat Docking Area outside Barracuda Lake
I was so happy to be back in Coron, Its been more than 10 years since the last time I visited the island and from the moment we arrived at the airport till we reached our hotel, I noticed a lot of developments in Coron.
Group Shot near Siete Picados
Apart from the new, well-constructed airport, there are many new hotels and resorts in Coron, but despite these developments, Coron has maintained its charm and simplicity. It’s still the same Coron I fell in love with.
Islet in Coron Palawan
On our second day ionthe island, we left our hotel early and proceeded to the centralized jetty port for our island hopping activity. Unlike before, boats used by tour operators for Coron island-hopping packages are now centrally located at the jetty near the Coron Public Market.
Barracuda Lake Wooden Ladder
Our first stop was at Siete Picados, one of the closest to Coron Jetty Port, famous for its crystal-clear waters, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Siete Picados is a small protected marine sanctuary located near the famous Makinit Hot Springs — another well-visited tourist spot in Coron.
Limestone walls at Barracuda Lake
After our short stop at Siete Picados, we proceeded to Twin Lagoon. The first lagoon is located outside the hidden lagoon ,which has a small opening lnder a huge rock formation. Once you enter the small crevice, you will enjoy the brackish waters of the second lagoon.
Grilled Pork and Steamed Prawns
Our third stop was at Barracuda Lake. Barracuda Lake is one of Coron’s primary island hopping attractions. Like Twin Lagoon, Barracuda Lake has brackish water, but the temperature rises as you swim deeper. Reaching the lake involves a short but tricky 25m climb over a jagged rocky wall, but a well-constructed wooden ladder is in place for the convenience of tourists visiting the area. If you prefer not to swim, you can sit on the wooden bench built right beside the lake.
Ensaladang Talong
As we moved to Kayangan Lake, we made a brief stop at the famous Twin Peaks, another destination for those who love snorkeling and want to see the area’s well-preserved marine life.
Upon reaching Kayangan Lake, we proceeded to a floating hut light beside the boat docking area for lunch. We had grilled pork, grilled fish, prawns, and eggplant salad with salted eggs. For dessert, we had watermelon and sweet Palawan Mangoes.
Kayangan Lake
After having a fresh lunch, we started the short hike to Kayangan Lake. The climb is much easier now than before, since the local community that manages the area has paved the trail that used to be muddy, particularly during the rainy season.
View from Kayangan Viewpoint
Visiting Kayangan Lake will not be complete without taking mandatory souvenir photos and “selfies” at Kayangan Viewpoint, where you can see the nearby islands and the beautiful bay. The viewpoint is also the location of a cave entrance, which is now off-limits to tourists due to a lack of tour guides.
Swimming in Kayangan Lake
From the viewpoint, we walked together down the paved trail till we reached the beautiful lake. The trail was challenging for some, but the view of the lake is really rewarding. The crystal-clear turquoise waters of Kayangan Lake, surrounded by towering granite rock formations, offer an amazing, postcard-perfect view.
Group Shot in Kayangan Lake
Unlike Barracuda Lake, Kayangan has a wider wooden platform for tourists who want to enjoy the view. Swimming and snorkeling are two of the most popular activities in the lake. I don’t swim, so I spent most of my time at the wooden platform taking photos of the lake and its surroundings.
Island Hopping in Coron
Our Coron Island Hopping tour was actually just a half-day tour since we needed to get back to the hotel for Skyjet Team’s activity. It was short, but we had fun:) I will definitely go back soon:)
Skyjet Airlines flies to Coron every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For Bookings and Inquiries, call Tel. No.: (632) 823 3366 / (+63) 917 8537431.
Want more updates about new package tours and tourist attractions in Coron, Palawan, that you can add to your itinerary? Follow the Out of Town Travel Blog on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest if you want more travel and food-related updates.
Read:
