| Start: | Aug 28, '11 |
| End: | Aug 31, '11 |
| Location: | Coron, Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines |
Ever since I visited Palawan last year, I said, next time El Nido na..or Busuanga...or basta Palawan!
I missed doing this last April...and though I missed the Php 700 ticket due to some timing and exhaustion...its a good opportunity to try visiting this place...even if its not the peak of summer...
Checklist...sana ma visit in the short time we are there..if I had my way e Saturday pa ako..but I may be sunburned to perfection if I stay too long so near to the beach...
ReplyDeleteTwin Lagoon
(from the internet)
It is nestled in a huge limestone formation in what is known as Calis mountain.
To swim to the place, you pass through a narrow opening on the side of the mountain. Unfortunately, this may mean we have to dive and am not sure if we can unless we get a lesson or something...
Siete Pecados snorkeling!
ReplyDeletefrom the internet
This photo of Siete Pecados is courtesy of TripAdvisor">
Siete Pecados aka Seven Islands is a marine park.
Very popular place for snorkeling.
Another option - visit the many shallow WWII wrecks around Coron. There the East Tangat Gunboat and the Lusong Gunboat which has good corals also.
Visit Culion Town (for the historical side of the visit)
ReplyDeleteI recall hearing that this island was where those with leprosy were placed in (this was during the American period I think).
Visit Calauit Island...
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if we could match whatever image of wildlife reserves we might think of...but it would be nice...however this is a bit far off...
from the internet -
maybe this is more doable...
ReplyDeleteClimbing Mt. Tapyas -
719 steps to the top!
It's great exercise climbing up to the cross and view deck on top of Mt. Tapyas. The views are best during sunset so they say.
from the internet -
To Chito, Sir B/Ms G or other Kayus here..
ReplyDeleteany chance of a Coron reunion?
Would be a dream EB, Cat! But alas, for me, it may remain just a dream (for now), i.e. the dates you planned out for is in conflict with another trip arrangements I've made sometime ago. But we can still have something like it. Our stars will eventually align. And of course, it still may be okay for the the others. So, an August Coron rendezvous is still quite possible.
ReplyDeleteGusto ko ron...Gusto Coron!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been there last year with a client and it's one of the best trips I've ever had...
But then again for me, like Chito, it might remain just a dream for now because of Glenn's condition. Will see, but do keep us posted. HUGS!
Gusto korinronsacoron.
ReplyDeleteits ok, I know for some of us here, very advanced and trip planning..hahhaha..
ReplyDeleteam just putting this out in case...oh di ba? malay nga natin the stars and planets will align perfectly by the time August comes :-)
Thanks Chito
Thanks Choie...
ReplyDeletehonga, hope springs eternal!
how about other parts sa Palawan?
ReplyDeletecome to think of it, dream ko sana na gimik for those interested in the Kayus group is a Cebu hop :-)
there's Mommy Loy for the culture and food (ako rin sa food part) and the beaches and diving spots are there for other folks who might like to try...at may ibang mga lugar din don na out of the usual tripping..
Hmmm...there's an idea.
ReplyDeleteyes, but the big part siguro is more of the time na most everyone will be available to go and can afford to take time to go off (alangan naman 2 days lang ito)
ReplyDeleteMaganda yan pero baka baka. We might be in the US (New York) in August. If not...game!
ReplyDeletehehe..cge, and if mag NY kayo po..and magkita ni Bong, please say hi if ever...
ReplyDeletehay August...ang last week pa naman sana gusto kong 1 week na trip abroad...pero dito muna...
lettuce know *wink*
NOTES (from the internet) -
ReplyDeleteIsland hopping
Head down to the Market Pier and rent an authentic filipino bangka and captain (standardized rental costs vary by destination) Boats generally handle around 6 passengers. Grab a lunch before you head out. You can also buy meat, fish, veggies from the wet market and request the boat captain to barbecue or cook them for you or your group.
* Coron Island - is a black limestone island with breathtaking cliffs cascading down to thirteen magnificent lakes (only two open to public) and powder white sand coral beaches. It is the home to local attractions Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Banol Beach, Twin Lagoon, and numerous snorkeling areas. Bring mask, fins, and snorkel to observe underwater rock formations. There is a pronounced thermocline, as the island's geothermal energy heats up the water as you decend into the lakes and water around the island. Ancestral home of the local Tagbanua people group.
* Siete Pecados is popularized by the shoot of a local television show of a mermaid love story. Experience swimming in an aquarium, beautiful corals and a great variety of fishes. There is a caretaker who will collect P100 from tourists. Recommended time to snorkle is around 1pm to 2pm. Current can be strong in the morning. This is one of the best sites to snorkel in Coron. Myth suggests that seven kids swam from the main island to escape it and follow their parents. They all drowned and the place where they drowned is where the islands are now present.
* Culion Island - the former leper colony. Offers a medical museum and presentation of the old leper colony highlighting the cure of leprosy. The public boat leaves Coron town at 12 noon daily and returns at 7:30 am the next day. Fare is P175.
* CYC Island - is nice but gets very busy. It's the only free beach in the area. Entrance fees for the other beaches aren't too steep (P100).
* Sangat Island - black limestone island with white sand beaches near most of the major WW2 wrecks in the area.
* Malcapuya Island - Beautiful Island with very fine white sand beach just like Boracay (or better) but without construction. Entrance is P150-200.
* Banana Island - A longer boat trip from town is beautiful Banana Island, with it's white sand beaches and numerous Pacific Giant Clams (local accommodations recommended as it is far from Coron)
* Black Island - another limestone island with white sand beaches located far from town. Nearby are tourist attractions North Kay and Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary (local accommodations recommended as it is far from Coron)
NOTES
ReplyDelete(from the internet) -
Diving
Lots of wreck diving and some decent coral as well. Discovery Divers (on the beautiful 'Discovery Island') and Sea Dive are the big ones, and Coron Divers the cheapest one in the island. There are 6 wrecks, sunk in 1944 by the US, and they are well worth diving on!
* Sea Dive, Downtown,
Located right on the water, this is one of the biggest dive centers in Coron and the only PADI dive resort. Established in 1985, everything is run by Patrick from Texas. While Patrick is a very nice man and the price for 3 wreck dives (2,900 peso including lunch and gear) cannot be beat- this dive center is a little reckless. It's very common for them to take groups of newly certified Open Water students into 39m wreck. They do have some excellent divemasters who have been there for 15 years who work hard, but unfortunately the newer divemasters are incredibly reckless and have been known to pretty much ditch the above mentioned Open Water divers while in the wrecks. If you're able to take care of yourself though (i.e Rescue diver, DM, Instructor) there's no problem.
* Coron Divers, Is the only Dive Center owned by a Filipino. Arni is the big boss. Everything makes you feel in a Filipino family (even more if you stay at Chinette's Coron Reef Pension , just 10m away in front of Coron Divers). Reported to use broken equipment and some boats not build for diving. It's the only dive outfit in town run by Filipinos and also the cheapest.
* Discovery Divers, Tucked away on 'Discovery Island' a 10 minute boat ride from the per. Talk to Vivian in Coron town located at the Discovery Bar or get to the pier around 8am to catch the boat out. Gunter is a great guy with a lot of experience in the area (18 years?).
* Dive Calamianes, Located between the Discovery Bar and downtown,
* Rocksteady Dive Center, Rocksteady is professionally run by a friendly and very competent German instructor. Located near the hospital.
* divingworld, (divingwelt@gazeta.pl), exclusive located in mangrovedschungel on island Popototan some 30 minuts boat ride out of town and offers ADP/CMAS and PADI in the middle of a privat bay (only accessible by boat). The staff can help you arrange things to do around the island, own house reef and house wreck (35 m). It is diving base of divingwelt-group (international scuba school with German, English, Russian, Ukraine, Polish and Czech advising)
NOTES -
ReplyDelete(from the internet)
Eat
There is food available for purchase at Coron Market and numerous bake shops around town. It's also recommended to buy fruits from the town market and have them prepared at the lodge you stay at free of charge (feel generous to provide a tip). Recommended to try local fruits such as mango, watermelon, jackfruit, coconut, but they are all seasonal.
* La Sirenetta Beautiful waterfront restaurant on stilts offering international food with entrees ranging from P200-400. Recognizable on the water as sculpted mermaids adorn the posts supporting the roof of the open air dining area. (accessible through alleyway beside Coron Divers and Coron Reef Pension House and also by boat)
* Bistro Coron Owned by Bruno it is home to French food at reasonable prices. Entrees go from P155-270 for the most part but crab and lobster meals are available for more. Get the onion soup, the apple pie, the coq au vin, the basquaise, the salade nicoise, the cordon bleu...San Miguel will set you back about P30. The good pizza would be excellent if the cheese was better.
* Trining Bacsa Locally owned and operated restaurant located around the corner from Coron Market. Offers authentic Filipino cuisine.
* KokosNuss Resort has a good kitchen. They have a Palawan style all you can eat BBQ deal. 6 or more people required at P475 each. They also have a Christmas feast on Dec 24 which is the BBQ and definitely worth going to if you are around (tell them in advance if you are going) San Miguel is P32. Breakfasts are good as well.
* Kawayanan Grill has good food at very reasonable prices. It also has live performances. The menu reminds me of Gerry's grill and the likes.
* Singapore Restaurant & Bar Located in the Sea Breeze Lodge, 25 meters up from Sea Divers. Has great Singaporean and Asian food at very reasonable prices. They currently have P140 dinner specials. It is a very chill and relaxing place to eat or drink at anytime of the day.
NOTES - from the internet -
ReplyDeleteOther activities
* Kingfisher Park, offering guided mangrove kayak tours (P500), trekking Mt Lunes Santo + bamboo cooked lunch (P500), and Starry Starry Night mangrove firefly/plankton cruises (P200). visit the website for tour booking details.
* Maquinit Hot Spring. Offering large pools warmed by the geothermal water spring in the area. The hottest pools cascade into a large pool that empties into the ocean. Beautiful place to hang out in the evening after a long day of activities. (entrance P100) Accessible by boat or by tricycle from town (4 peeps - 250 peso for a trike roundtrip, including an hours wait.)
* Banol Beach accessible by boat from Coron, features picturesque limestone cliffs going down to this beautiful white sand beach adorned with numerous large Kalachuchi flower trees. Nipa huts for lunch are located in the shade of the Kalachuchi trees. (entrance P100)
* Skeleton Wreck is a snorkeling destination near Banol Beach off the coast of Coron Island where there is an old fishing boat wreck. Around it are beautiful corals. Beware of sea urchins. (entrance P100)
* Atwayan Beach located on the backside of the Skeleton Wreck island near Banol Beach, Atwayan Beach features Nipa huts to have lunch, and a beach volleyball court. (entrance P100)
* Beach 69 is not as good as Banol. Free if you come from Kayangan Lake however seems unmaintained. Beware of jellyfishes.
* Horseback riding
* Mountain bike tours
* Jungle Treks
* Calauit Wildlife Sanctary An island inhabited by imported African wildlife living in harmony with Palawan wildlife. Safari tours available. (local accommodation is required as it is about a 4 hour boat trip from Coron)
Hope to see your own photos. Good luck and enjoy the trip. Stay safe.
ReplyDeletehi Tochie...
ReplyDeletethank you...am back, if a bit frazzled :-)
weird how it spiralled...started with a sore throat due to too much ice in my lhassi on Saturday
aggravated by only 4 hours sleep before the flight, my tonsils started inflating...
upgraded into a migraine and stuffy nose on Sunday, the day of our arrival....probably due to the hunger pangs and heat of the sun while we wandered around looking at the fiesta scenes (Coron was at least sunny when we arrived and it was a good day for their different group performances),
a bit improved by exertion of climbing Mt. Tapyas (724 steps) that afternoon
reached a peak of fever and some mild chill on Monday, the day we were to do our wreck diving
(and knowing me, you can bet I continued with my first ever dive...I asked the divers they said I could cough underwater..hahaha!)
puked into the shallows after the wreck dive (nutrients para sa fishes!)
naka-general malaise na ako at this time...
tried to eat a good dinner even with the electric fan swinging and I felt cold instead of my normal self
luckily, the fever lowered down on Tuesday and I was in a better position to splash in Siete Pecados, Twin Lagoons, Kayangan Lake etc.
you know how it is - they say going to visit the sea and swim in it cures coughs and colds daw...hmmm...
so am back in Manila with my germs...wracking cough, clogged nose, but...
I've done my wreck diving up to ~8 meters even while sick!
You won't believe it probably, but am happy...hehehe..or as I said in FB...am either happily sick or sickly happy...
Hi Cat. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the trip inspite of the fever. I think you were just exhausted. I suggest you take another trip and this one is a trip to the doctor. It's a good practice to do that once in a while afterwhich you can do a sidetrip to your favorite spa and have a nice massage and a warm bath (while doing some meditation). Then you can top it off with a trip to you favorite Japanese restaurant. And when you get back home, hot tea would be great for night cap. Or you can take the cheaper option - rest and relax on your bed for a day listening to your favorite relaxing music on your mp3 player. I'm sure you'll feel healthy, refreshed, re-invigorated and re-energized afterwards.
ReplyDeleteeto nga gusto ko gawin eh....I know its a failing, but am one of those people loath to make use of their sick leaves unless nasa hospital :-) ngeh..
ReplyDeletethanks Chito for the suggestion...baka nga another enjoyable, stressfree activity involving just sleeping would be good...
Yes Cat, that's the idea.The operative word is "stressfree." By the way, unless di naman convertible to cash yung sick leave mo, it's good to use them. Take it from me who been there (done that). Because in the end, it's your wealth (and memories) that you'll really treasure.
ReplyDeleteang gusto ko is yung sick leave convertible to vacation leave...hehehe
ReplyDeleteYou can actually use your SL as VL. Just say you've got tamaditis or may sakit ka sa bato (as in batugan), hahahaha....
ReplyDeletewe just pile up yata our sick leaves, sana dapat consumable ano?
ReplyDeletepero ano yang batugan?
Pinsan ng tamad, hehehe...
ReplyDeleteamen!
ReplyDeleteso si Juan Tamad at Pedo Batugan...
Exactly!
ReplyDelete