Top things to do on your trip to Coron
Coron will likely end up on your itinerary either as a first stop or as a final destination before you return to the Manila airport. I really enjoyed my time in Coron. The city center is quite small, but there are numerous dining options within walking distance of the many hotels and hostels in the area. There seems to be a debate online about whether Coron or El Nido is better, and I think that ultimately comes down to personal preference. Coron definitely feels smaller and there might not be as vibrant of a nightlife scene, but it feels like a cozy fishing/island-hopping village and is not to be missed in my opinion.
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Hike to the Mt. Tapyas view deck
Depending on what time you arrive in Coron, you should make plans to hike to the Mt. Tapyas view deck for sunset. The 722 steps to the view deck will quickly help you get ready for the heat and humidity of the Philippines and get the jet lag out of your legs for the rest of your trip. Fortunately, there is also a lot of shade along the stairwell to the view deck, so you can rest as much as needed and cool off briefly in the shade. The views from the view deck are absolutely worth the hike to the summit and the views of the sunset are amazing! You will be sharing the views with lots of other people and quite a few drones, but the crowds really do not detract from the panoramic views you will experience.
Take the Super Ultimate Island-Hopping Tour
This tour will take up a full day of your time in Coron, but it is absolutely worth it! Depending on your tour operator, stops will include some mix of sites including Twin Lagoons, various coral reefs, a beautiful beach for lunch, Barracuda Lake, Kayangan Lake, and Twin Peaks Coral Garden. This is a great way to experience swimming or kayaking in the fresh/saltwater mix lagoons, snorkeling coral reefs in the ocean, and relaxing on a beautiful beach during lunch (click here for island-hopping tour options).
Most of the tour companies charge extra to rent fins, a snorkeling mask, or a kayak so be sure to bring extra money for these items. You can also purchase fins and a mask at a number of streetside vendors throughout Coron. I brought my scuba diving mask and a snorkel but purchased a pair of fins in town that I was able to use in Coron, on a 4-day/3-night island-hopping tour, and on my island-hopping trips in El Nido before donating them to a local in El Nido. For the equivalent of about $18 USD, this was much easier than trying to bring fins on an airplane and meant I did not have to rent them for each individual expedition.
Scuba dive on WW2 shipwrecks
If you are a certified scuba diver, you definitely need to book some diving while you are in Coron. There are numerous Japanese WWII shipwrecks around Coron that are in amazing condition and provide really great opportunities for penetration dives on historical shipwrecks instead of the typical artificial reefs that many divers are used to diving. I spent three days diving with Reggae Divers and would absolutely recommend booking your diving expeditions through them.
Quite a few of the wrecks will require at least and Advanced Open Water Diver certification, but you can also obtain this certification through Reggae Divers while getting to dive on the historical shipwrecks. Do keep in mind that these shipwrecks are war graves of the Japanese sailors that lost their lives in WWII and remember to take only photos and leave only bubbles when you visit these amazing memorials to the War in the Pacific (click here to see reggae dive center’s diving options).
Take the Reefs and Wrecks tour if you do not scuba dive
If you are not a scuba diver, you can still experience a couple of the WWII shipwrecks around Coron. The Lusong Gunboat and the East Tangat Wreck have sections that are easily accessible to snorkelers. This provides an amazing opportunity for those that do not scuba dive to get to visit actual WWII shipwrecks, which is a rare experience as most WWII shipwrecks rest in deep water inaccessible to snorkelers. This is an unique opportunity to view historic shipwrecks, amazing corals, and vibrant marine life without needing to be scuba certified (click here for reefs and wrecks tour options).
Take in the sunset and sip cocktails at Sunburn Rooftop Lounge
After a long day of island-hopping or scuba diving, head on over to the Sunburn Rooftop Lounge to grab a cocktail and get some amazing views of the sunset over the beautiful Coron coastline. Be forewarned, however, that the trek to the Sunburn Rooftop Lounge takes you up quite a few flights of stairs. If you hiked up to Mt. Tapyas previously, your legs might quickly remember those 722 stairs as you climb more stairs to the lounge. The hike is definitely worth it though once you reach the rooftop and get to experience more amazing sunset panoramas with a cold beverage in hand. You can also book rooms here as well if you are interested in staying somewhere with stunning sunset views (click here for room options at Sunburn Suites).
Visit one of the only saltwater hot springs in the world
Hot springs throughout the world are not necessarily rare, but saltwater hot springs on the other hand are extremely rare. The Maquinit Saltwater Hot Springs in Coron are the only saltwater hot springs in the Philippines and just one of a handful of saltwater hot springs in the world. I did not visit the springs because I was plenty hot already and had a limited amount of time in Coron, but the uniqueness of these springs definitely makes them worth consideration when you are in Coron (click here for Maquinit hot springs tickets).
Grab a craft beer at the Coron Brewery
If you are into craft breweries, be sure to check out the Coron Brewery while you are in Coron. They serve delicious craft beers that are brewed in Coron, and their food menu is quite exceptional as well. One of the owners and brewers was also a longtime dive instructor in the area, so he has some great stories about diving the shipwrecks and reefs nearby. They are also in the process of expanding the brewery, so be on the lookout for them to distribute craft beers throughout the Philippines in the future. (Click here to find out the happenings at the Coron BrewHouse).
If you go to Coron:
I had a wonderful stay at the Princess of Coron Resort (click here for room options at Princess of Coron). The room was comfortable, the air conditioning was adequate, and the staff was very friendly and helpful. The hotel was also within walking distance of everything in town, and I got direct pickup for island-hopping tours and scuba diving. They helped me arrange transportation from the airport to the hotel and even helped me book my tuk-tuk ride to the Coron marina for my multi-day island-hopping tour with Big Dream Boatman.
If you are looking to scuba dive, I cannot recommend Reggae Divers enough for your diving packages (click here for Reggae Divers). For the island-hopping tours, you can find numerous options on Klook (check out island-hopping options here). As you are looking at options for departing Coron, consider the 4-day/3-night island-hopping tour to El Nido through Big Dream Boatman (click here for Big Dream Boatman tour options and dates).
