Food Glorious Seafood in Coron

Fresh seafood is so abundant and cheap in Coron that it will be a sin not to indulge yourself by eating to your heart's content. On the boat tour around Coron that we took, our party of five gave our boatman P1500 (US$31.00) for our lunch. He went to buy fish, meat, fruits and vegetables from the local market and cooked for us during our lunch stop in pretty Banana Island.

We feasted on a heavenly meal of fresh fish, steamed crabs, vegetable salad, fruits, and grilled pork and chicken. The grilled fish really tasted so good because it was fresh and was grilled in its own juice! Writing about it now makes me crave about eating again this seafood feast.

Another unforgettable meal were the king crabs. We bought king crabs to bring home to Manila from a wholesaler at a shop near the public market. Price tag was P200 per kilo (US$4.00). You have to order 1 day in advance and the store will pack it for you so that you can bring them with you on the plane.

The elderly couple who owns the crab store were so nice. They gave us drinks while waiting and ask us to join them eat crabs which they had just finished cooking.

We could not resist sampling the king crabs which we bought so we went to a nearby restaurant to have some cooked. It was steamed in 7 Up softdrinks, and the taste was excellent and fresh. Truly a satisfying meal!

If you get tired of local food, and your taste buds are after good European and Western food at reasonable prices in Coron, the place to go to is Bistro Coron. This restaurant is almost always full at night with its clientele of foreign and local tourists.

Such are the delights of eating in Coron. I love Coron because it is a complete package... beautiful white sand beaches, amazing natural landscapes and seascapes, nice people, and plentiful fresh seafood. What else can anyone ask for in a tropical paradise destination!

Island Hopping in Coron

There are more than 60 islands around Coron so you can actually have an entire island all to yourself to enjoy the sun, the white sand, and the clear and clean aquamarine waters.

The more popular and accessible ones are CYC, Banol, Banana and Malacapuya Island. Specially nice is Banana Island from where you can cross over to two other islands which are connected by a sandbar. These two small islands ( unfortunately I forgot their names) have beaches on both sides ( front and back). It has also a view of the limestone cliffs of Coron. The scenery is totally awesome that you have the feeling of wanting to make the place HOME!

Getting High on Kayangan Lake

You have to trek up on path carved out of limestones for about 15 minutes to get to Kayangan Lake. It is a difficult climb but mercifully wooden handrails have been provided to make the trek easier.

But what awaits you is a lake so beautiful that makes the climb well worth it. Kayangan Lake has been consistently voted as the cleanest and greenest lake in the Philippines. And deservedly so, because it is truly a pretty and awesome sight. The water which is a mix of blue and green color is so clean and cool that one can not resist taking a dip.

One can stay for hours and enjoy the sight of a lake so serene and pure set against a backdrop of limestone cliffs and green vegetation.

Hot, Hot, Hot at Maquinit

After a hike up Mt. Tapyas or a boat trip around Coron, nothing beats a dip in the warm waters of Maquinit Hot Springs. Its 40 C waters will surely invigorate your tired body and muscles.

Bathing in Maquinit Hot Springs is even more relaxing because the place fronts the passage to Coron Bay and is surrounded by mangroves. Thankfully, its two pools appear to be a natural part of the landscape and the base of the pool is sand and stones.

To get to Maquinit, you can take a 15 minute tricycle ride from the town or you can ask your boatman to bring you there when you take boat tour around Coron.

Mount Tapyas: Stairway to Heaven

Climbing Mount Tapyas in Coron is a tiring but exhilarating experience. You have to go up 700 steps to reach the top of Mount Tapyas. It's a good thing that there are a few shaded rest stops where you can sit and relax before reaching the summit.

Your efforts will be rewarded with a heavenly treat of a 30 feet tall cross at the peak and a breathtaking view of the limestone cliffs, the mountains and sea, and Coron town.

To avoid the heat, best to do the hike after 3 pm. After enjoying the view, reward yourself with a warm bath to soothe you tired muscles at Maquinit Hot Springs.

Twin Lagoons of Coron

Not to be missed during a trip to Coron is a boat ride around Siete Pecados. It is in this area that you will be awed by the towering limestone cliffs that dominate Coron's aquamarine waters.

Exceptionally beautiful are the two lagoons which are separated by limestone cliffs. But you can still swim from one lagoon to the other through a hole during low tide. You will be totally mesmerized by the tranquility of the place, the clean waters, and the tall limestone cliffs. This is what communing with nature is all about.

Coron Captivates

It was in 2001 when I first went to Coron, Palawan. I joined the weekend getaway package of WGA, which leaves on a Friday afternoon on board a WGA ship for Coron and is back in Manila by Monday around 1 pm.

In 2001 there were not a lot of tourists. During this time I shared Coron only with a group of travel agents on fun trip sponsored by the local government. Since there were not too many people, the experience was very relaxing and intimate. Coron, with its towering limestone cliffs, beautiful white sand beaches, and pristine mountain lakes, totally captivated me. I promised to go back.

So I grabbed the opportunity to visit Coron again when a US based friend invited me to join him on a holiday in Coron last year. This time, since 4 airline companies ( Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Seair and Zest Air)were flying from Manila to Busuanga, gateway to Coron, it was easier and cheaper to get there.

There were also more tourists, both locals and foreigners. Nevertheless, the holiday was still enjoyable because of Coron's natural and unspoilt beauty.