Travel: Captivating Coron v2.0

Although I have already been to Coron (circa 2012) I was still excited to go back for 2 reasons: 1. I will be spending time with family and 2. The place is gorgeous and stunning! Who wouldn't want to come back?!

 

Good thing I had a window view so I was able to soak in the beauty while still inside the plane. Seeing the islands from my window made me already excited to explore.

 

Hello Coron

 

From the airport, it'll take you around 30 - 45 minutes to get to town. You wouldn't mind the travel time because you'll pass by gorgeous sceneries anyway of hills and wide open spaces.

 

On our way to Coron town

 

Moo

 

Our accommodations for this trip is Sunz En Coron which had very good reviews at Agoda as well as TripAdvisor (plus I already had friends who stayed there.)

 

 

 

 

Sunz en Coron is a quaint resort (limited rooms) located a away from the town center (which maybe a good or a bad thing for some). Anyway, they have a free tricycle service that can bring you anywhere in town. Going back, you'll need to do it on your own (well all you have to do is hail another tricycle anyway).

 

 

 

Since we'll be staying for 4 days ( and the tours that we got will be 2 whole days), our first day was dedicated to just lounging and swimming in the pool (which is not a bad idea).

 

 

 

The next day was the start of our 2 day tour. I was able to book these tours before hand with Calamianes Tours (www.corongaleri.com.ph). We booked private tours (because we're snobs like that, hahaha. Seriously because we wanted family time plus we're already 7 people so that's like a tour group on its own).

 

Fist day is Coron Island EcoTours which mostly is snorkeling around Coron. All tours packages include van transfers, boat, lunch, life vests, snorkeling gear and a tour guide. Ours was a little more expensive since it was a private tour.

 

We had to wake up and get dressed early since 8AM was the pick-up time. First on the agenda was snorkeling at Twin Lagoon.

 

The funny thing about it when we got there was that we should be swimming in a line, well technically floating on our backs, our feet on someone's shoulder and grabbing it, and our tour guide pulling us inside the lagoon (picture below). Reason being the opening is really small.

 

 

Being pulled inside Twin Lagoon

 

Swimming inside Twin Lagoon

After tiring ourselves with swimming and snorkeling, next stop was Kayangan Lake. As if we weren't tired yet, to reach Kayangan lake, you'll need to hike up and hike back down (word of caution, hold on to the make shift railing as the rocks can be slippery).

 

Once you reach the top of the stairs, you'll be treated to a nice view, which makes the hike up all worth it.

 

View from Kayangan Lake

 

View from Kayangan Lake

Again to reach the lake, you'll need to hike back down. Once you're there (already sweaty and tired) good way to relax is to swim in the lake (you've earned it.)

 

Kayangan Lake

 

To make it more fun, you'll need to do it again to get out, good thing after all that, we were headed to Calachuchi beach for lunch already (all that swimming and climbing made everyone hungry).

 

There are huts at the beach where you can set-up and eat. The beach is aptly called because of the Calchuchi plants growing from the limestone and beach.

 

Calachuchi Beach

 

Calachuchi Beach

Everyone was hungry that we ate quietly (everyone wa sbusy eating and chewing their food). After lunch and while taking pictures, it suddenly rained.

 

 

Nevertheless, we took the opportunity to rest. After 15 - 20 minutes, the sun came back up and we were off again to a new adventure.

 

After eating fish, now we will appreciate live fish at what they call Coron Coral Gardens. It was a nice snorkeling experience because the corals were just gorgeous and the marine life was very abundant. We even saw a clown fish (and all we can think about is Finding Nemo).  

 

 

Clown fish

 

Up close with the fish

Unfortunately, the good times were cut when suddenly my nephew wanted to get out of the water because he said he was stung at the shoulder. We didn't really see any jellyfish so we were thinking maybe a small one did it (because my sister was also complaining something prickly on her shoulder).



Off to our last stop



To ease the prickly feeling, and since we weren't really going to Siete Pecados anymore, we were off to Maquinit Hot Springs. I think it was just what we needed to relax our tired muscles from all that swimming and climbing that we did.

On our way to the hot spring

The next day, our tour was called Expedition Island Escapade. This I particularly liked because now, we'll be going to explore the beaches of Coron. First stop was Malcapuya island. Unlike yesterday's tour (where I was able to do all of them already), I haven't been to Malcapuya beach. I've seen pictures from friends who've been there so I was excited.

The trip would take more than an hour, so you'll have plenty of time to admire the scenery. I didn't get bored since for some reason, in the middle of the sea, I had network coverage. (And to think in the city where I live my network signal is weak.

On our way to Malcapuya beach

The beach is gorgeous and just what I had in mind. White sand, clear turquoise waters and azure skies, what a beautiful day.

Malcapuya beach

With all this beauty, all we did was take pictures, we almost forgot that we can swim and have fun in the water. especially for me, I needed to get that perfect Facebook and Instagram shot.  

Selfie

Looking at the horizon

After all that modeling, I was a little tired, good thing there's a hammock so you can rest, and take more selfies of yourself.




Smile




Selfie



 

Now who liked my posts

 

Now from a different angle

 

 

Now for some coconut to refresh

What I also liked about Malcapuya was that its not crowded. Yes there were other people there (ofcourse we didn't rent the island), but it still felt like you have a piece of the beach that you can enjoy. Notice that on the pictures, there's no accidental photo bombers?

 

Just getting a tan

 

Peace out

We spent the entire morning at the beach and had our lunch there. We left at around 1PM so that we can make the most of our day. Instead of following the itinerary, our guide suggested that instead of another beach, if we wanted to see the shipwreck instead (this I already did the last time), but ofcourse my nephew got excited so the shipwreck it is.

Something fishy is going on

Last stop on our tour was CYC beach. CYC stands for Coron Youth Club, an organization that is maintaining the beach, keeping it clean. The beach is a small stretch of sand but it was still beautiful. The beach was shallow, perfect for swimming with children (and people who aren't really good swimmers, like me). Plus, we had the beach all to ourselves, which was perfect.

Relaxing after a day of touring

 

After 30 minutes, we were on our way back. CYC is near Coron town already (that's why during weekends our guide said that people go there to swim, good thing it was a Tuesday).

 

 

 

 

 

To cap the day and since it was a beautiful night, it was perfect for a swim. Good thing the resort pool is open til' 10PM. You can have some beer, chips and enjoy a relaxing night poolside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunz en Coron pool at night

 

Unfortunately, it was back to reality, it was our last day and we were just waiting for check-out time. Since we still had until 11AM to check-out, what else to do but get a tan.

 



Catching some sun before going home



 

 

Although this was my 2nd time already, I still enjoyed every bit of the trip. Because ofcourse, this trip was with family and regardless of the destination anyway, family time is always a good time.

I'll definitely be back in Coron, I haven't done 2 things yet: 1. Go to Calauit Safari and 2. climb Mount Tapyas.

Goodbye Coron, til next time!

 

Follow me on Instagram at @cjsohot