Ultimate Coron Experience: 6D5N Itinerary [2023]

I have been planning to go to Coron many years ago but I always end up going somewhere else. I know how gorgeous the island is but I just didn’t make any effort to go there. Fast forward to 2022, I had to go to Manila for an errand and decided to go on a side trip to Coron. It was one of the best decisions I made this year, so far.

So, here’s what I did in Coron for 6 Days and 5 Nights:

Day 1: Arrival in Coron + Town Tour

My flight from Manila was around 11:00 AM and I arrived in Coron after about an hour. The hotel has an airport pick-up service so it was convenient. If you have not arranged a pick-up service, don’t worry, there are vans that can take you to Coron town proper or to your hotel for a fee.

I arrived at the hotel past 1:00 PM and had to wait for a little while because the hotel that I booked doesn’t allow check-in before 2:00 PM. By the way, I stayed at Mountain View Garden Inn which is relatively close to the town center.

At 4:00 PM, the tour guide picked us up for the town center tour. We visited the Town Plaza, Lualhati Park, St. Augustine Church, Mt. Tapyas, and Maquinit Hotspring. Book a half-day town tour

Mt. Tapyas

The hike to Mt. Tapyas was quite easy for my tour mates but not for me. I had a hard time reaching the top but I know I would make it. I told our guide to just let me hike on my own terms. Hahaha

We arrived back at the hotel at about 7:30 PM. I had dinner with my friends Gab and Francis at Lobster King.

Day 2: Coron Island Tour A

I am traveling alone so I decided to go on a “joiner” tour. Taking a private tour is quite pricey for solo travelers and I wanted to meet people and make new friends so it was a good idea to join a group tour with strangers.

The van picked us up at the hotel at around 8:00 AM. We arrived at the jump-off point in less than 10 minutes. The boat departed at around 8:30 AM. Book Coron Tour A

Kayangan Lake

Our first stop was Kayangan Lake. It was beautiful. We had photo ops at the famous view deck. It was surreal. I always wanted to see that view. We then had a short swimming session and left for our next stop.

Green Lagoon

Our second stop was Green Lagoon where we snorkel and kayaked. I only did the former because after that hike at Mt. Tapyas I did not have the much-needed energy to row.

We then proceeded to Sunset beach to have our lunch. It was too hot so I just stayed in the cottage the whole time.

CYC Beach

Our last stop was at CYC Beach. It was a nice beach, better than Sunset Beach. It was a short stay though so I just flew my drone and bonded with newly found friends. We left the beach at around 4:30 and headed back to the hotel

I had dinner with new friends at Sharky’s Restobar. The food was good and the vibe was great.

Day 3: Calauit Safari + Black Island

My third day in Coron was basically not spent in Coron town but in the adjacent town of Busuanga. I joined a whole day Calauit Safari + Black Island tour. Calauit is quite far from Coron. It’s about 1.5 hours travel so we left the hotel around 7:30 AM.

Calauit is separated from the main island of Busuanga. We took a 5-minute boat ride from mainland Busuanga to reach Calauit. We’re only two groups on the island we’re able to take as many photos as we could. Book a Calauit Safari + Black Island Tour

Calauit Safari

The main activity in Calauit is feeding the giraffe. I had fewer expectations because I already experienced a real safari in Africa in Masai Mara, Kenya. But, surprisingly, I enjoyed the tour. I got closer to the animals. I love taking photos with the giraffes and zebras.

Joiner Tour at only Php2,300 – BOOK NOW

Black Island

After visiting Calauit, we head back to the town center to take our lunch. After, we took a boat to Black Island. The travel time was around 1 hour. It instantly became my favorite. I love the beach, the crystal clear water, and even the Black Island Cave on the island. I wish we had more time to spend on the island but we had to leave at around 3:30 PM.

Black Island Cave, Busuanga, Palawan — Black Island Cave

We arrived at the hotel at around 6:00 PM and I had dinner at Pacifico. I had their Aussie Burger and I loved it.

Day 4: Coron Island Tour B

The pickup time for the Coron Island Tour B was quite late at 8:30 AM. We arrived at the port after around 10 minutes and had to wait for quite a while. The boat departed at 9:30 AM and our first destination was Twin Lagoon. Book your Coron Tour B

Twin Lagoon

Our group was the first group to arrive in Twin Lagoon so there were no other tourists in the area. But, after around 10 minutes, other boats were arriving. It was still less crowded compared so we were able to enjoy swimming at the lagoon.

Reef Garden

Our second stop was Reef Garden where we did snorkeling. Our tour guide did a “caterpillar” where he brought us to Reef Garden and showed us the life underneath the crystal clear waters. The short snorkeling activity leads us to our lunch stop – Smith Beach.

Skeleton Wreck

After lunch, we headed to our third stop – Skeleton Wreck where we had another round of snorkeling activity. It was fun! Aside from seeing the shipwreck we also enjoyed swimming with zebra fishes. It was a tiring activity but it surely was worth it.

Barracuda Lake

Our last stop for Coron Tour B was Barracuda Lake. I was hoping we’d see barracudas but unfortunately, we didn’t. We still enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the lake. The view underwater was fascinating. It feels like there’s a castle below the surface.

Day 5: Island Escapade (Coron Tour C)

The last tour that I availed in Coron was Island Escapade where we visited three islands: Bulog Dos, Banana Island, and Malcapuya. It was quite a long boat ride, about 1.5 hours. Joiner tour at only Php1,550 – BOOK NOW

Bulog Dos

Our first stop was Bulog Dos Beach located very close to Two Seasons Coron Island Resort & Spa. There was nothing much to do there aside from swimming and photoshoot. There’s a view deck and a sandbar going to Two Seasons but of course, it’s prohibited to go to the resort. Hahaha

Banana Island

The second stop of the Island Escapade tour was Banana Island where we also had our lunch. You can swim on the beach or go snorkeling but it was too hot so I just decided to stay under the trees after lunch.

Malcapuya Island

The final stop was at Malcapuya Island – the best among the three. I wanted to stay longer on the island but since it’s a “joiner” tour, I had to follow the schedule. We left at around 3:40 PM. Actually, everyone was already on the boat and they realized I was missing so the guide returned to the beach area to fetch me. I honestly thought we were leaving at 4:00 PM. I felt so sorry for delaying our departure from the island. I lost track of time. But, it was only for around 10 minutes. The guide assured me that it was okay. Hehehe

Day 6: Departure from Coron to Manila

I had to fly back to Manila on my 6th day in Coron. I had to book the 9:40 AM flight because I had to catch a flight back to Davao on the same day.

Coron is amazing. I highly recommend for you to go there if you haven’t done so.

Where to Stay in Coron

Mountain View Garden Inn

This is where I stayed and it was okay. The room rates come with a plated breakfast. The rooms are small but clean. The room where I stayed doesn’t have 3G/LTE service so I had to get out of the room whenever I need to connect to the internet. Free WiFi is only available in the lobby and in some rooms close to it. Check rates and availability

Vienna Hotel

Located very near to Mountain View Garden Inn. It is situated close to the entrance of Mt. Tapyas. Check rates and reviews

Luis Bay Travel Lodge

If you are on a budget and want to stay in the town center, then Luis Bay Travel Lodge may just be the right place for you. Check rates and reviews

Acacia Garden Inn

It’s a highly-rated accommodation establishment in Coron. It’s a budget hotel with comfortable rooms and basic amenities. Check rates and reviews

MO2 Westown Lagoon and Coron Westown Resort

Both of these resorts are relatively far from the town center but their rates are very competitive. Check rates and reviews

Two Seasons Bayside Coron

If you want a luxurious stay in Coron, then you might want to book at Two Seasons. It has clean, spacious rooms with many amenities you can enjoy. Check rates and reviews

Where to Eat in Coron?

Food in Coron is relatively pricey but there are plenty of options to choose from depending on your budget. Check out this list of 6 Best Restaurants in Coron.

Where to Buy Pasalubong in Coron

Cashew nut or kasoy is the most popular pasalubong item in Coron. The price usually ranges from P1,000 to P1,200 per kilo but I found a souvenir shop near the pier that sells kasoy for only P800 per kilo. I went to several shops and it’s the cheapest I could get. You can also buy half a kilo at P400 or taste it first with their 50g pack for P50. The shop is called ECO Souvenir Shop located at Don Pedro St., Brgy. 2, Coron, Palawan. It is beside Farmaciaco.