Coron, Palawan 4D3N
3/20/2010
This is the season that you shouldn't missed out on going out for a vacation.."Summer", sky is all blue, sea is very calm and the sun is up and shining. This year's summer, we planned to spend it in Coron, another stunning island in Palawan. After the recommendation from friends who have been there, we finally set our hearts. Though i must say that I have exceeded my budget, nonetheless everything is spectacular.
We arranged our vacation on March 16-19. Roundtrip ticket to and from Busuanga is very cheap costing around Php1200 since we got them on sale and its on weekdays. We also booked our accommodation in Coron Village Lodge and booked also a boat for our 2-day Coron Island tour. It's good if you arrange a travel in group of 6, mainly beacause you can share 2 triple room, a small boat with max of 6 person and tricyle that can ride max of 6 person also. :)
Day 1 - Mt. Tapyas and Maquinit Hot Spring
Busuanga airport only has 2 flight schedule in Cebu Pacific. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. We took the earliest flight on March 16 and reached Busuanga Airport around 10:30am.
view from Mt. Tapyas8:00am - check-in baggage and go straight to gate. Terminal fee costs P200
8:30am - had breakfast. i spend around P100 for food.
9:30am - flight going to Busuanga
10:30am - reached Busuanga airport. ride a van going to town proper which cost P150. If you are staying in Coron Village Lodge, they will arrange a van transfer which you will also be charged of the same price.
11:00am - check-in Coron Village Lodge. Twin sharing room cost P950/day. Triple sharing cost P1250. But recently they increase their prices but not sure by how much. Cost per person for 3nights of stay, P1425.
12:00pm - lunch time. Since we haven't seen the whole place, we decided to have our lunch in Village Lodge. Their food is very good but quite expensive which ranges from P150.00 and above but if you do not eat big time, it can be shared by 2 persons. Their restaurant is also very cozy specially at night. Our lunch is Calamares with butteres vegetable and 2 cups of rice with total of P190. (P95/person)
3:00pm - since we don't have anything to do as of this time, we decided to buy souvenirs already. we went to souvenir shop outside the Village Lodge and also in Coron Souvenir shop which we rode tricycle to go there. Tricycle cost varies, but usually P8 for minimum travel for adult. Souvenirs in Coron is quite expensice compare to those in Puerto Prinsesa. :-\. I spend
P730 for some keychains and few shirts.
4:00pm - climb Mt. Tapyas. you can start as late as 5pm but you must hurry going up if you want to see the sunset on the peak of the mountain which usually sets around 6pm. We bought some snacks and water with us in going up. Cost - P40
6:00pm - we arrange with one of the tricycle we ride on the way to souvenir shop to transfer us to Maquinit Hot Spring. We haggle the cost of the tricycle down to P200 and gave tip of P20.
6:30pm - reached Maquinit Hot Spring and paid P100 for the entrance fee. Its very good to go there during the night where the breeze is cold. But careful to those who have high blood pressure. :-) It might be dangerous to your health.
8:00pm - back to the lodge and eat dinner at Village cost P255 (P127.5/person)
TOTAL COST - P2946
Day 2 - Coron Island
This tour comprises of islands nearby Coron which are Siete Picados (also called 7 islands), Kayangan Lake, Baracuda Lake, Banol Beach, Skeleton Island and Twin Lagoon.
6:00am - had breakfast at Trining Baksa which is located near the market. This is one of the known karenderya in the town. If you don't want to spend too much to those fancy restaurant, go here. We ate total of P110. (P55/person). You can either ride a tricyle or walk if you're not in a hurry.
Kayangan Lake
Banol beach
Skeleton Wreck
Twin Lagoon
7:30am - we ride a boat going to the first island in our itinerary. Boat going to the basic island tour cost us P1500 (325/person). You can still haggle this to a much lower price if you are less than 4 in a group. But of course don't forget the tip. ;-)
8:00am-5:30pm
1st stop - Siete Picados Island which cost P100 if you snorkle. This spot is for snorkeling but unfortunately we have get any chance to see the snorkeling spot because its very windy and the sea is not that calm.
2nd stop - Kayangan Lake. Of all the island in this day, this is my favorite. The water in very clear, there are lots of fishes and it not too hot because the cliff covers most of the water area. But other than that, this island cost the highest of all which cost P200.
3rd stop - Banol Beach. I called it as mini beach as you can walk from one end to another in few minutes. hehe. Cost, P100.
4th stop - Skeleton Island where a wrecked ship is submerged and covered with clams and shells and whatever. Since the parking area (lol) of the boat is too far from the island, we swam almost 10meters just to reach the island even smaller than Banol beach. Be careful, there are urchins here. Cost, P100
5th stop - Twin Lagoon. This is i guess the largest of the lake for the entire day. as the name states there are 2 lakes that are divided by the rocks and you should go underneath the small hole to go to the other side of the lake. Cost, P200
6:30 pm - dinner at Trining Baksa. Afterwhich we also had pizza at Coron Bisto and restaurant. Their pizze esp the "Bistro" is a must try. the medium size cost P299. Total dinner cost P162
TOTAL COST - P1348 (includes tricycle and tips)
Day 3 - Banana and Malcapuya Island
This tour includes 2 far beaches that are travelled by almost 2hours.
Banana Island
Malcapuya Island
6:00am - breakfast. Cost, P90 (P42.5/person)
7:00am - bought food and stuffs for lunch which cost sharing of P130 per person. Pre-arranged boat cost P2500 (tip not included)
8:00am - started sailing.
1st stop - Banana Island. Cost P200. The place is very relaxing. The beach is kind of rocky but there are lots of fishes you can chase under. Here you can cook the food you bought and have lunch.
2nd stop - Malcapuya Island. Cost P150. This place is my favorite of the day. The sand is very white, the water is clear like in Boracay. It also has a long shoreline and a viewing cliff.
6:00pm - be back at the port by this time.
6:30pm - dinner at Kawayanan restaurant. Food and place is good also but price is quite expensive. Food ranges from 150 and above. Cost, P212.50
TOTAL COST - 1442 (including tricyle fee and tips)
Day 4 - Departure
Since you flight schedule is available the latest in the afternoon and also the last day activity will consume your entire day, you really have to leave on the following day either morning or in the afternoon. If you leave early in the morning you have to wake up early to catch the flight but if you want to relax a little bit, take the afternoon flight.
Breakfast - P87.5
Van transfer - P150
Terminal fee - P40
Snacks - P150
TOTAL COST P427.50
GRAND TOTAL P6163.50
I must say that the entire experience is 2 thumbs up except that i feel like everytime i move i have to pay. lol. i will definitely go back here in the near future..
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