Coron is undoubtedly the most surreal and pristine part of Philippines, and, it has to be on your To-Do List for that precise reason! As is with its neighbor, El Nido, Coron has logic-defying natural wonders that make you question reality.
Coron has everything for your typical “Hollywood” island adventure movie - Hidden lagoons to explore, underwater mountains to swim through, beautifully alien-seeming reefs to snorkel over, and quiet beaches to relax on!
Until recently, Coron used to be a sleepy fishing town. But it has made its appearance on the traveler radar & is slowly waking up to welcome tourists to explore. Coron is less ravaged, fairly inexpensive and less crowded than almost any other South-East Asian Island.
One of the most hauntingly beautiful things about Coron is the handful of WWII shipwrecks that are permanently entombed off the shores of Coron. Equally breathtaking are the majestic landscapes above the surface making Coron one of the most photographed spots throughout the Philippines.
The best (and the most scenic) way to get around in the Philippines is the AirJuan flight. I flew to Boracay from there and highly recommend it! Just take a look at these gorgeous pictures I took while in air!
Here are my 5 most favorite beaches in Coron!
Banol Beach
Banol Beach is a small, quiet, white sand strip perfect for lazing around in the sun, getting tanned and splashing about in the cool blue water! If you’re lucky, you may make a few four-legged friends while visiting.
It’s best to come to Banol Beach in the mornings as it is a popular lunch spot for many of the boat tours. This quiet beach has the perfect setting for beautiful photo-shoots!
Malcapuya Island
The stunning Malcapuya Beach is a short boat ride from Coron Town. One of the best ways to get to this beach is through the Beach Tour bookable from Coron Town (all part of the beach tour #1, 1200P)
This picture-perfect stretch of sand is mostly quiet except for a few small hotels on the ocean. With bright blue-green waters and white sands, this place has seriously some of the most beautiful scenery we have encountered.
Bulog Dos Island
Bulog Island has perfectly powdery and white sands, beautiful ombre water that fades from a clear crystal to a bright turquoise, and the sceneries that will take your breath away!
(Photo-Booth Moment) - When the tide is low, a fresh sandbar appears where you can take those Instagram-worthy jumping photos!
The catamarans lined up on the beach make Bulog a “Cover Picture” worthy place.
Atwayan Beach
Atwayan Beach has a stunning backdrop of limestone karst characterized by ravines, sinks and underground streams. What makes Atwayan a perfect place to unwind is the fact that it is much less crowded than Banol. This is the perfect place for some great, quiet and peaceful snorkelling and for appreciating the beauty of the beautiful palm trees if you enjoy being close to mother nature.
Atwayan is a small and cute island with tiny shacks and huts for lunch during tours. (Yes, the island-hopping tours). Also, there are locals living here.
Towards the southern end of the beach is a cool bar and restaurant serving delicious seafood, local and international dishes. If you climb up the restaurant steps, the view looks really great with all the boats being docked here.
Marcilla Beach
Marcilla beach is like the lost paradise, undeveloped and wasted beach. It is hard to get to but is located on the main Busuanga Island and is reachable by scooter within an hour.
Marcilla beach is beautiful and has a sandbar with peaceful ambiance. The main island, Busuanga happens to be the largest Island of the Calamian archipelago in Northern Palawan.
WWII shipwrecks of the hauntingly beautiful Japanese warships make wreck diving a huge attraction here. I was transported back in time at the sight of the majestic ruins waiting patiently under the sea for wanderers like us...Waiting to tell their mysterious stories.
Overall, Coron is a beautiful tropical island offering WWII-era wreck diving, shallow-water coral reefs for snorkelling, clear-blue freshwater lakes, and alien-like limestone karst landscapes. It has found a permanent spot in heart and I'm sure it'll do the same to you. So, when are you heading to Coron next?