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Panoramic of the bay from my hotel |
Coron is located in the northern most island of the
Palawan island chain and is amongst the most visited areas by tourist in the
Philippines. The town itself is a sleepy
little town with not a whole lot to offer in the food/nightlife/tourist scenes,
but the tours outside of town are first-rate and are why Coron should be on
everyone’s to-do list.
Beds on the ferry to Coron |
There are two ways to get to Coron from Manila, by
plane (expensive but quick) or by boat/ferry (cheaper and much longer). If you go by sea you have two options, 2GO
travel boat that takes you directly there or the ferry system which
doesn’t. We took the ferry system which
caused us to travel by two ferries and a van totaling about 17 hours and 1325
pesos ($26.50). The final ferry had
individual beds for each passenger which were comfortable enough for the long haul.
The most
prominent experience in the town is the hike up mount Tapyas; the second
highest point on the island. The trail
leading up, located towards the center of town, consists of 700+ steps and ends
with a great panoramic view of the area. Although Coron doesn’t have a lot to offer in
town there are some noteworthy options close by to look in to; notably Bali
Beach and the Maquinit Hot Spring. Both
are just a short 30 minute tricycle (think motorcycle with side car) ride down
a windy dirt road east of town.
Bali Beach is a small stretch of
rocky beach over looking the bay and the Siete Picados, large rock formations
towering out of the water. The water at
the beach is warm and shallow allowing you to wade deep into the bay and enjoy
the scenery. The whole area is relaxing
and is a nice get away. There is a cover
to enter the area of 50 pesos ($1) and you can also rent a ‘cabin’ to sleep in
for 150 pesos ($3). There isn’t much in
the way of food and drinks though so make sure you bring water and snacks if
you are hungry. When we were there they
only cup of noodles and one beer.
Maquinit Hot Spring, just a ten
minute walk from Bali Beach, is an oasis for relaxing and worth the 200 pesos
($4) entry fee. One of the very few
saltwater hot springs in the world, Maquinit Hot Spring will give you an
experience like none other. It is said
that the sea water is heated by the volcano and springs up there in the three
pools that have been created. The water
at first touch seems as if it may be to hot to bare, but as you slide in you
quickly get used to the water. The pools
are created by stacked rocks and the bottoms are strewn with pebbles and the
whole area is surrounded by mangroves. The
area is open from 6am to 10pm, so whether you wish to soak in the hot water and
sun while you look out into the bay or stay into the evening and watch the
stars above, this is truly a place to experience and relax.
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