15 Best Things to Do in Coron 2026: Lakes, Lagoons, Island Hopping and Wrecks
Coron is all about the water: clear lakes inside limestone cliffs, lagoons, white-sand islands, dugongs and some of the world’s best wreck diving. The town is just a base. Give it three or four days so you have time for two boat trips and a spare day for weather.
The best things to do in Coron are a Coron Island boat tour to Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon and Barracuda Lake, a beach day to Malcapuya and Banana Island, wreck diving or snorkelling, and sunset on Mount Tapyas followed by the Maquinit hot springs. Book your boat days for the middle of your stay, so a weather delay doesn’t affect your flight or ferry.
Book these first
Where to stay: Coron town, close to the port. See the options.
Getting to Coron
- By air: flights from Manila and Cebu land at Busuanga airport, about 30-40 minutes from town by van. Book a transfer or take a shared van outside arrivals.
- From El Nido: fast ferries take about four hours, or take a three-day island-hopping expedition. See our Coron to El Nido guide.
- Getting around town: tricycles go everywhere in town; agree the fare first.
When to go
December to May is the dry season and the best time to visit, with calmer seas from March to May. June to November is the wet season, with typhoons most likely from July to October. The coastguard cancels boat trips in rough weather, so keep a spare day in your plans whatever the month.
Choosing an island-hopping tour
Coron tours are named and sold in a confusing number of ways. These are the main types:
- Coron Island tours (Tour A, Ultimate, Super Ultimate): Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Barracuda Lake, snorkel stops and beaches. The Ultimate tours fit in the most stops.
- Island Escapade / beach tours: south to Malcapuya, Banana Island, Bulog Dos and Ditaytayan for white sand.
- Reef and wreck tours: snorkelling and diving in Coron Bay.
Check what’s included: cheaper tours often leave out entrance fees, snorkel gear or the Coron Island environmental fee, which you pay in cash. Group size also matters; small-group and private boats spend less time queuing.
Coron Island boat day
The lakes, lagoons and snorkel stops on the classic tours. Most people do these on their first full day.
Kayangan Lake
Coron’s most famous sight. A steep stair climb over a limestone ridge on Coron Island leads first to the viewpoint that’s on every Coron postcard, looking back over the boats in the cove and the karst islands, then down to a clear, calm lake inside the cliffs, with boardwalks and swimming spots.
Expect a queue for the viewpoint photo in the middle of the day. Tours that leave early, or go to Kayangan last, are much quieter. Wear shoes with grip, not flip-flops.
Time: 1-1.5 hours there. Best for: your first boat day.
See the Coron Ultimate 7-stop tour Or the cheaper Kayangan tour
Twin Lagoon
Two lagoons enclosed by sheer limestone walls, joined by a narrow gap in the rock. At low tide you swim or paddle through the gap; at high tide you climb a ladder over it. Where fresh water from the cliffs meets the sea you can feel layers of warm and cool water as you swim.
Life jackets are compulsory here. Kayaks are sometimes available to hire inside.
Time: 45-60 minutes. Best for: swimming and kayaking.
Barracuda Lake
A lake of incredibly clear water inside jagged limestone cliffs, reached by a short wooden stair climb. Divers come for the strange thermocline: a few metres down, the water suddenly gets much warmer, close to body temperature.
For snorkellers, the underwater limestone walls are the attraction rather than fish. It’s on the Ultimate and Super Ultimate tours.
Time: 45-60 minutes. Best for: clear water and divers.
Skeleton Wreck and Siete Pecados
The Skeleton Wreck is a small sunken ship lying in shallow, clear water off Coron Island, so you can see it from the surface with a snorkel. Siete Pecados, the “seven sins”, is a marine park of seven small islands just outside town with good coral and lots of fish.
Both are regular snorkel stops on the Ultimate tours. Bring your own mask if you can, and don’t stand on the coral.
Time: 30-60 minutes each. Best for: snorkelling.
Banul Beach and CYC Beach
The lunch and swim stops on most Coron Island tours. Banul (or Banol) is a small white-sand cove between cliffs, with huts for lunch. CYC Beach is a little island of sand, mangroves and shallow water close to town.
Many tours pull into these at the same time, so they can be busy around lunchtime.
Time: 45-90 minutes. Best for: lunch and a swim.
A private boat day
The big tours follow the same route at the same time. With a private boat you choose the order of the stops, start early to reach Kayangan before the crowds, and spend longer where you like. It’s good value split between a group of four or more.
The private boat hire with lunch on the beach is rated 4.9 from over 800 reviews. Agree the route, entrance fees and lunch in writing before you go.
Time: a full day. Best for: groups and couples.
See the private boat hire Or the private Super Ultimate tour
Beaches, wildlife and wrecks
Second-day trips to the southern islands, the dugongs and the wrecks.
Malcapuya, Banana Island and Bulog Dos
The “Island Escapade” tour heads south for the beaches rather than the lakes: Malcapuya’s long white sand and clear water, Banana Island’s palm-fringed beach, and the sandbar at Bulog Dos.
It’s a longer boat ride, so it’s a good choice on a second day once you’ve done Coron Island.
Time: a full day. Best for: beaches.
Ditaytayan sandbar and Coco Beach
Another beach day from town: Ditaytayan Island has a long curving sandbar and clear shallow water, and Coco Beach is a quiet white-sand beach backed by palms. Most tours combine them with Malcapuya.
Sandbars change shape with the tide, so they’re at their best at low tide.
Time: a full day. Best for: beach days.
Dugong and sea turtle watching
The waters off northern Busuanga are one of the best places in the Philippines to see dugongs, the rare, gentle sea cows that feed on seagrass. Tours take you snorkelling with a guide, with turtles and a coral garden as well.
Sightings aren’t guaranteed. Choose a tour that keeps groups small and stays at a distance from the animals.
Time: a full day. Best for: wildlife lovers.
Wreck diving
Coron Bay holds a fleet of Japanese supply ships sunk by US aircraft in September 1944, now covered in coral and fish, and it’s one of the world’s best wreck-diving sites. Some wrecks, like the Lusong Gunboat, are shallow enough for snorkellers and new divers.
The deeper wrecks, like the Akitsushima and Irako, are for experienced divers. Choose a well-reviewed dive shop in town, and tell them honestly about your experience.
Time: a half or full day. Best for: divers.
Coron town
Easy things for your arrival day or the evening after a boat trip.
Mount Tapyas
Around 700 steps lead up from town to a huge white cross with a view over Coron town, the bay and the islands. It’s the classic sunset climb.
Start about an hour before sunset and bring water: the steps are steep and it’s hot. There’s lighting for the walk down.
Time: 1-1.5 hours. Best for: sunset and your arrival day.
Maquinit Hot Springs
Saltwater hot springs by the mangroves, about 20 minutes from town by tricycle, with pools of warm water around 40°C. Go after Mount Tapyas or a boat day, when it’s cooler in the evening.
Agree a return fare with your tricycle driver, or book a town tour that includes it.
Time: 1-1.5 hours. Best for: an easy evening.
Coron town and the market
Coron town isn’t pretty, but it’s where you eat, sleep and book tours. The public market and the streets around it have fresh seafood, fruit and cheap local food, and the waterfront has bars and restaurants.
ATMs often run out of cash, especially at weekends, so arrive with enough pesos for tours and fees.
Time: 1-2 hours with a meal. Best for: a cheap evening.
Longer trips
Calauit Safari Park and Black Island
In the 1970s, giraffes, zebras and other African animals were brought to Calauit Island in northern Busuanga, and their descendants still live there. Day trips combine it with Black Island’s beaches and caves.
It’s about three hours each way by road and boat, so it’s a long day. Only do it if you have a spare day.
Time: a full day. Best for: a different day out.
Island-hopping expedition to El Nido
Instead of the ferry, travel between Coron and El Nido on a three-day boat expedition, camping or sleeping in huts on remote islands, with snorkelling stops and meals cooked on board. It’s one of the best experiences in Palawan.
Book ahead in the dry season. The Coron to El Nido trip is rated 4.8, and the El Nido to Coron direction 4.8 from over 600 reviews.
Time: 3 days, 2 nights. Best for: backpackers with time.
How to spend 3 or 4 days in Coron
Where to stay in Coron
Most travellers stay in Coron town, where tours pick up and the restaurants and boats are. See our guide to where to stay in Coron.
| Area | Best for | Why stay there |
|---|---|---|
| Coron town | Most travellers | Tour pickups, food, bars and the cheapest stays. |
| Hills above town | Views and quiet | Resorts with bay views, a short tricycle ride from town. |
| Island resorts | A splurge | Private beaches and quiet, but far from tours and restaurants. |
Before you go
Mobile data
Signal is patchy on the islands but fine in town, which is where you’ll message tour operators and drivers.
Check Saily Philippines plansTravel insurance
Boat trips, diving and typhoon-season cancellations are good reasons to have cover. Check that your policy covers diving to the depth you plan.
Get a SafetyWing quoteWhat to pack for boat days
- Dry bag: keeps your phone and cash dry on splashy boat rides.
- Waterproof phone pouch: for photos in the lakes and lagoons.
- Reef-safe sunscreen: you’ll be in the sun all day.
- Your own snorkel mask: tour masks are often worn and leaky.
Mistakes to avoid
- Booking a boat day on the day you leave: weather delays are common.
- Booking the cheapest tour without checking inclusions: fees and gear can add up.
- Arriving without enough cash: town ATMs often run dry.
- Wearing flip-flops to Kayangan: the steps are steep and slippery.
- Only staying two nights: one bad-weather day leaves you with nothing.
Plan your Coron trip
Book your Coron Island boat day first, then your stay in town and your onward ferry or flight.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Coron?
Three to four days. That’s two boat days plus a spare day in case the weather cancels a trip.
Which Coron tour is best?
For one day, an Ultimate tour, which covers Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon and Barracuda Lake. With a second day, add the Island Escapade to the southern beaches.
Can you swim in Kayangan Lake?
Yes, in marked areas, and life jackets are usually required.
Do I need to know how to dive for the wrecks?
No. Some wrecks, like the Skeleton Wreck and Lusong Gunboat, are shallow enough to see while snorkelling.
Coron or El Nido?
Coron for lakes, lagoons and wrecks; El Nido for beaches and a livelier town. Many travellers do both, linked by ferry or a boat expedition.
Do I need mobile data in Coron?
It helps in town for maps and messaging tour operators. Compare Saily Philippines data plans before you fly.
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