CORON, PALAWAN 
Some tips on exploring Coron

I suggest you try  Coron's danggit for breakfast or lunch coz it's really  yummy, tasty, sarap (i missed the danggit). When going home remember to buy a few kilos.  It's 300 pesos per kilo there for the semi dried and fresh danggit, you can buy in Coron's small market place near Lualhati park.  In Manila, one seller in the trade exhibit (occassional) sells danggit  from Palawan (not Coron's danggit) but the price per kilo is 700 plus.

Mount Tapyas - a few minutes of climbing depending on your speed.  From here you can watch the sunset around 4pm and get a view of Coron. 

Places to stay -  Shirl Baywalk Pension ,GLC lodging house  , Sawali,  Coron Gateway Hotel(nice but expensive).  Coron is quite small just walk around or ride a tricycle  to find the room just right for your budget.  

 

Island hopping is the main tourist activity in Coron.  Most  motored  banca/boats are stationed beside Lualhati Park & Coron Gateway Hotel. Just ride a tricycle. To get a reasonable rate for the island hopping just talk directly to the bangkeros look for Mang Clark ,he is kind and helpful. Just clarify if the rate is inclusive of food - meaning the bangkero will be the one to buy food from the market and they will be the one to cook the food in the island. It is cheaper and more convenient for you if they will buy and cook the food. Sometimes, the wet market don't have much fishes. Fruits are also expensive in Palawan as compared to Manila. And also,clarify w/ the bangkero who will pay for the  entrance fee on each island.  Most of the islands has entrance fee averaging 100 to 200 pesos per person.  The rent of the banca is more or less 2,000 pesos excluding food and entrance and depending on how many islands you will visit. Snorkels, goggles has extra charge too. 

To sum it all, Island hopping is quite expensive in Coron however, the proceeds of some  entrance fee go to the natives of Palawan -the Tagbanua. If you have a giving heart you could also donate some items to them.  They will surely appreciate your generosity.

 It's not in the photo Maquinit hot spring can also be included in the island hopping. I suggest include Maquinit in your island hopping. It is therapeutic, to take a dip in  the hot spring  although Maquinit is not as developed like the hot springs in Laguna. By land you can go to Maquinit from your hotel  by hiring tricycle , fare is  around 300 pesos back and forth. The tricycle driver will wait for you . Entrance fee is 150 per person. Last June 2012, It was  open up to late  evening maybe 9pm said tricycle driver. We were there 3pm , just few minutes of dipping the body in the hot spring .Make sure you have normal blood pressure. However , if you plan to go there by land,tricycle ride is bumpy  need to pray for safety. Road is steep & not cemented in some areas. There are picnic huts also so bring your food & water.  As i said earlier, the place is under developed  but still close to nature and  that's wonderful enough for me.

Kayangan lake - the best place to see among all the islands,  you need to do a little trekking going up to reach enchanting kayangan lake. Children and adults enjoyed swimming there wearing their vest. Just be careful because  going up and down is a bit slippery.

 Maybe, it was not God's will but we were not able to go to Calauit island where there are giraffes , zebras and other animals.  I suggest if you are coming from Busuanga airport just inquire from the people there how to go to Calauit by land.  If you are  all ready in Coron  it is quite expensive to go to Calauit Island and when it is raining most bangkeros won't travel going there.

Enjoy Coron Be there during summer  not during rainy months.  Cheers. Happy vacation!