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Voykit pocket guide · Philippines

Coron

Give Coron 3 nights minimum: one full day for the lakes, one for a wreck dive or reef, one spare for weather. Skip it if you want a beach resort town.

Coron is a town on Busuanga Island in northern Palawan, and the name also belongs to the limestone island just offshore that holds Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake and Twin Lagoon. The draw is two-part: shallow World War II Japanese shipwrecks sunk on 24 September 1944, and black limestone lakes and reefs reached by outrigger boat. The town itself is a working port with no real beach, so you sleep in town or on a nearby island and spend your days on the water.

Alona BeachAndaAngelesBaclayonBacolodBacolorBanaueBatadBostonCavite CityDipologDonsolGeneral SantosIlaganCoron500 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Philippines
Best months
Jan–May
Avoid
Jul–Sep (southwest monsoon, boat trips cancelled), peak Christmas and Holy Week crowds
Stay
3 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
PHP
Money
Philippine pesos (₱) in small notes for jeepneys, market stalls, tips and taxis; malls and hotels take cards.
Daily spend
Budget ₱1,800–3,000 excl. bed · Mid ₱3,000–6,000 excl. bed · High ₱6,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Globe and Smart sell SIMs at airports; SIM registration with passport is required by law.
Emergency
National emergency 911
Plugs
Types A, B, C · 220 V · 60 Hz · US flat pins common; check your devices for 220 V.
Tipping
Restaurants: 10% if no service charge.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Boat crew: ₱100–200 per tour.; Massage: ₱50–100.
Water
Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations cheap.
Toilets
Called 'CR' (comfort room); bring tissue; many lack toilet seats.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Tricycle ride in town₱30 per person
Bottle of water (500 ml)₱20–40
Local meal (rice and grilled fish)₱150–300
Beer in a bar / can from a shop₱80–150 / ₱50–80
Maquinit Hot Spring entrance₱300–400
eSIM or data SIM, about a week₱500–1,500

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

USU · Francisco B. Reyes Airport (Busuanga)
Van transfer to Coron town about 30 min, ₱250 per person or ₱2,000 per van; vans leave when full

Typical fares

Busuanga airport → Coron town, shared van
₱250 per person, about 30 min
Tricycle in town
₱30 per person
Coron → El Nido, public bangka
about ₱1,200–1,400, 7–8 h (check)
Coron → Culion, ferry
about ₱280, 1.5 h (check)

Get around

No taxis. Tricycles cover town at about ₱30 per person; motorbikes and vans can be rented. Island hopping is by bangka (outrigger boat) from the port, either a joined group tour or a private charter with a licensed guide. Buses and jeepneys to other parts of Busuanga run about once a day.

See and do

Known for

  • World War II wreck diving
  • Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon
  • Barracuda Lake thermocline
  • Siete Pecados snorkelling
  • Tagbanua ancestral waters

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Busuanga Island (Calauit, Black Island, Ocam-Ocam)Van or motorbike overland, or a boat from the west coast2–4 h
Culion IslandMontenegro ferry from Coron port, about 1.5 hAbout 2 h
LinapacanExpedition bangka, usually 3 days/2 nights via CulionMulti-day
El NidoPublic bangka from Coron port, 7–8 h, about ₱1,200–1,4007–8 h

Sleep

Coron town centre
Walk to the market, dive shops and the port. Tricycles everywhere, ₱30 around town. No beach.
Along the national road east of town
Quieter guesthouses and small resorts, 5–15 min by tricycle from the port; agree the fare first.
Island resorts (Sangat, Chindonan, Malcapuya area)
Boat access only, closer to wrecks and reefs, meals usually included. Check transfer times and weather policy before booking.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Good morningMagandang umagama-gan-DANG u-MA-ga
Thank youSalamatsa-LA-mat
How much is it?Magkano ito?mag-KA-no i-TO
Where is the boat?Nasaan ang bangka?na-SA-an ang BANG-ka
I have a reservationMay reserbasyon akomay re-ser-BA-syon a-KO
Help me, pleaseTulungan mo akotu-LU-ngan mo a-KO

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Smile, handshake; 'po' to elders; avoid: Loud confrontation
  • Beckoning: Palm down, wave; avoid: Palm up (used for animals)
  • Invitations: Accept food offered or decline politely; avoid: Refusing bluntly
  • Time: Expect 'Filipino time' socially; avoid: Lateness for flights and boats
  • Churches: Covered clothes; avoid: Loud tours during Mass

Scams and watch-outs

  • Boat trips are cancelled in rough weather; build one spare day into the plan.
  • Lake and lagoon tickets must be bought in town before you sail — you cannot pay at the site.
  • Only open-water certified divers should enter wrecks; penetration needs advanced training.
  • Jellyfish at some beaches; ask the boat crew before swimming.
  • Bring cash. ATMs in town are few and can be empty or offline.

Coron is a small-town, low-crime destination; the real risks are boat weather, sun and reef cuts, and cash running out. Check your dive operator's certification and insurance before you book.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Coron yet. Suggested stay: 3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • World War II wreck diving
  • Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon
  • Barracuda Lake thermocline
  • Siete Pecados snorkelling
  • Tagbanua ancestral waters

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Coron

Sa address na ito, pakiusap

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

  • National emergency911

No embassies in Coron; the US, UK, Canada and Australia have embassies in Manila. Most nationalities enter visa-free for short stays — see the Philippines visa and entry requirements page.

English is widely spoken in tourism businesses.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/coron). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.