Things to do in Coron, Palawan: tours, beaches and diving

The best time to visit Coron is between November and May, during the dry season in the Philippines. In these months the weather is sunnier and more stable, ideal for enjoying its crystal-clear lagoons, its beaches and the best dive sites.

• ☀️ November to May: dry season. Temperatures between 27 °C and 32 °C. The busiest months for tourism are January, February and April.
• 🌧️ June to October: rainy season, with a higher chance of tropical storms and typhoons, especially in July and September. Even so, you can still do some activities if you get lucky with the weather.

Although the destination is known as Coron, the tourist town is on Busuanga Island, not on Coron Island (which is wilder and uninhabited). You have two ways to get there:

✈️ By plane

The fastest and most comfortable way to get there is to fly to Busuanga Airport (USU).

• There are flights every day from Manila (about 1.5 hours), and also connections from Cebu, El Nido and other major cities in the Philippines.
• The most common airlines are Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

🛫 You can search for flights to Coron on Kiwi.com.

⛴ By ferry

If you're traveling from El Nido, you can take a fast ferry to Coron:

• Duration: between 3 and 4 hours.
• They leave from the port of El Nido and arrive at the port of Coron Town.
• We recommend booking ahead, especially in high season.

🎟️ You can book your ferry here.

1. Island hopping on Coron Island

Coron Island is the jewel of the area. We did this tour and it's spectacular: hidden lagoons, towering karst formations and clear water.

Main stops:

• Kayangan Lake: An impressive place with crystal-clear water and rock formations all around. You have to take a short walk to reach the lake, where you can enjoy one of the most famous views in Coron.
• Barracuda Lake: One of the wildest diving and snorkeling spots in Coron. What makes this lake special is its thermocline, a phenomenon in which the water temperature changes abruptly at different depths. When you dive or swim, you can feel the temperature go from about 28 °C at the surface to more than 38 °C as you descend. This variation is unique and makes for a strange but impressive experience for divers. The lake is also surrounded by karst rock formations, and it's truly incredible. Today it's known for its incredible diving conditions in fresh water mixed with salt water (a halocline), which gives crystal-clear visibility and unique visual effects where the layers of water mix.
• Twin Lagoon: Another incredible stop is this pair of connected lagoons, which you can only reach at low tide through a passage under a rock. It's one of the most magical and peaceful places if you visit outside peak tourist hours.
• Skeleton Wreck: A shallow wreck where you can snorkel and see the ship's structure surrounded by marine life.
• Banol Beach: A white-sand beach, perfect for relaxing or snorkeling close to shore.
• Siete Pecados: A reef made up of seven islets, ideal for snorkeling and seeing turtles and colorful fish.

💡 Tip: if you can, do this tour privately so you can leave earlier and avoid the big groups.

🎟️ Private tour → Book here | Group tour → See options

🛏️ Bonus: we slept on a houseboat at Coron Island. Further down we tell you what it was like.

2. Escapade Tour: Malcapuya & Ditaytayan

This tour takes you to some of the most idyllic islands in the area. We badly wanted to do it, but the coast guard didn't let any boats out because of the wind 😢.

Tour stops:

• Malcapuya Island: The prettiest, with a wide beach, turquoise water and lots of palm trees.
• Banana Island: Ideal for lunch, hammocks and a little beach.
• Ditaytayan Island: Famous for its white sandbar.

💡 You can also include Bulog Dos, another photogenic island with white sand.

🎟️ Private Escapade Tour → Book here | Group tour → Book here

3. Reefs & Wrecks Tour: Pass Island & Calumbuyan Island

If you love snorkeling, you're going to love this tour. Nature, living coral and the remains of sunken ships.

Tour stops:

• Pass Island: A white-sand beach with water that's ideal for swimming.
• Calumbuyan Island: Excellent for snorkeling.
• Lusong Gunboat Wreck: A shallow wreck full of marine life.
• Lusong Coral Garden: One of the best reefs for snorkeling.

🎟️ Private tour → See options | Group tour → Book here

4. Black Island

Known as the "little Coron Island," it's wild, less touristy and perfect for anyone looking for adventure. It has unspoiled beaches, caves and a wreck you can snorkel.

How to get there:

• From Coron Town: 2.5 hours by bangka (local boat), ~11,000 PHP (up to 4 people).
• From Concepción: cheaper (~5,000 PHP). Ideal for combining with other islands.
• From Salvación: a bit closer; it costs 3,500–4,000 PHP if you include other islands.
• From Ocam-Ocam: the closest option. You get there by motorbike from Coron Town (2 hours). Bangka prices run between 1,500 and 2,000 PHP.

💡 Bring water and food: there's nothing on the island.

We couldn't go because of bad weather and because Charo got sick right on those days 😓.

🎟️ Private tour → See options | Group tour → Book here

5. Diving the World War II wrecks

One of the best places in the world to dive on sunken ships. On September 24, 1944, several ships of the Japanese fleet were sunk. Today you can dive 12 of these wrecks.

• We recommend having experience (Advanced or higher).
• Coron has thermoclines, haloclines and changing visibility.
• Important: choose a responsible dive operator.

We missed out on this one: Charo came down with the flu and then the weather didn't help 😭.

6. Climb Mt. Tapyas

A different option right in the town of Coron. It's 721 steps to the top, but the sunset view over the archipelago is worth it. Bring water and comfortable shoes.

7. Beaches near Coron

The town of Coron has no beaches, but you can rent a motorbike to visit some nearby ones. The easiest to reach are Bali Beach and Cabu Beach, about 7 km from the center, around 30 minutes by motorbike. Cabu Beach is the nicer one, and both have a small entrance fee of 50 PHP.

8. Expedition from Coron to El Nido

Another incredible experience is an expedition between Coron and El Nido, or the Coron - Coron one. Over 3 or 4 days, it takes you through idyllic islands, deserted beaches and spectacular reefs, camping in beachfront cabins. If you like adventure and exploring less crowded places, this tour is perfect. It's a one-of-a-kind way to travel between Coron and El Nido, or you can do it touring all the islands of Coron.

🎒 Coron–El Nido or El Nido–Coron expedition → Book here

Here are our recommendations for places to stay in Coron Town:

• The Funny Lion - Coron: Perfect if you're looking for comfort at a 4-star resort.
• Bay Area Lodge: An affordable, cozy option with an 8.9 rating on Booking.
• Hop Hostel: Good, pretty and cheap, with a rating above 9 on Booking.

As we mentioned earlier, you can also stay inside the Coron Island nature park. There's only one place to stay, so if you're interested in this option you have to book ahead. It's called Paolyn Houseboat. We found out about it late, and when we got in touch to book it was full, but we put our names on the waiting list and luckily a room opened up.

Besides the experience of sleeping in one of the most iconic spots in the Philippines, staying here lets you discover the most incredible places on the island without the tourists. They lend you kayaks and paddleboards so you can explore on your own at the times when no one's around. They also offer private tours of the rest of the island at times when there are no tourists.

1. Leave early: Try to leave as early as possible, preferably at 7:00 AM. That lets you enjoy each place without the crowds of tourists who usually arrive later. Consider a private tour for more control over your itinerary.

2. Snorkel gear, water shoes and a dry bag: Many tours provide snorkel gear, but bringing your own is a good idea. We also recommend buying a dry bag, since everything gets wet on the boat rides. And water shoes are really useful for walking on rocky areas. These 3 items will come in handy on every island-hopping tour you do in the Philippines.

3. Talk to your guide: Make sure you tell your guide clearly which spots you want to see, and if they make recommendations, we suggest following them. They know the area well and can offer interesting alternatives.

4. Bring cash: Carry enough cash to cover not just the cost of the tour but also the island entrance fees and any purchases along the way.

Ideally, stay at least 4 or 5 days to do the main tours (Coron Island, Escapade, Reefs & Wrecks), enjoy the town and maybe explore a beach or go to Black Island. If you plan to dive or do the expedition to El Nido, add an extra day or so.

Where exactly is Coron?

Coron Town is on Busuanga Island, while the famous Coron Island is right across from it and can only be reached by boat. Both are part of the Calamianes island group, in Palawan.

How do you get to Coron from Manila?

The fastest way is to fly to Busuanga Airport (USU), where you can take a van to Coron Town (45 min). There are also ferries from El Nido that take between 3 and 4 hours.

Can you visit Coron if you can't swim?

Yes! The tours include life jackets, and you can enjoy many of the activities from the boat or on the beach.

How much does island hopping cost in Coron?

A group tour costs between 1,200 and 2,000 PHP per person, depending on the route. A private tour can cost from 5,000 to 12,000 PHP per boat, depending on the destination and the number of people.

Do you need to book tours in advance?

It's not required, but in high season or if you want a private tour, it's best to book online or as soon as you arrive.

What's the best time to travel to Coron?

November to May is the dry season and has the best weather. Avoid June to October because of rain and typhoons.