If you are reading this, you’re either planning a trip to Coron, or are probably sitting in a café somewhere in Coron town trying to add some action to your holiday. Either way, we’ve drawn up a list of things to do in Coron that we think you shouldn’t miss – or at least should tick a few off your list while you’re there.
Climb the 700 steps up to the top of Mt. Tapyas
Take an hour – or two if you include the rest and panting along the way – to climb up Mt. Tapyas and get a stunning view of the town and Coron Island. It’s 700 steps to the top with markers at each 100 steps so you know how much further you have to go before your legs can give in. The best part, it’s FREE! Bring plenty of water (and maybe a beer) and watch the sunset from the top of the town. For those feeling a bit more adventurous, you can hire a guide and hike up Mt. Dalara, about 20 minutes from Coron town. It’s a 3-hour hike to the peak through tropical rainforest. The summit gives you an unparalleled view of the surrounding Calamian Islands.
Take a dip at Maquinit hot springs
Slightly on the more touristy side of activities, but it is well worth it. The hot springs are only 10 to 15 minutes from the center of Coron town. It is all natural geothermal heated water that flows into man-made pools that are right on the coast. Go on a weekday to avoid the crowds and grab a cool drink while you soak – the contrast of the hot and cold is unreal and really relaxing.
Rent a kayak and explore the island
Coron Island has insanely stunning lagoons and rock face cliffs, so don’t just admire them from afar. Get on a kayak and get up close to explore the ins and outs of the rock formations. With a kayak, you can get closer and maneuver into places that the local motor boats can’t access, such as little caves, shallow mangrove forests, and the rock cliff undercuts. You can do an ultimate Coron day tour and see all the tourist highlights of the island, or do a kayak tour with support boat to explore beautiful uninhabited beaches. If you have, are feeling adventurous and want to explore for a bit longer, try circumnavigating Coron, camping on the white sand beaches and meeting the locals.
Rent a motorbike and explore Busuanga
Many get blinded by the hype about Coron that they forget to explore what Busuanga has to offer. As public transport around Busuanga is limited and hiring a private van to take you around can be pricey, the best way to get around independently and on a budget is to hire a motorbike. Rent one from Coron Town and head north. A good halfway point is Palawan SandCastes in Cheey. It’s about an hour and a half from Coron Town and is and jump-off for some activities which are part of our list of things to do in Coron. For budget travellers, Camp Calauit is rustic and affordable option, located within Palawan SandCastles.
Dugong spotting
Once you are in northern Busuanga, take the chance to go Dugong Spotting. We say “chance” as it’s not guaranteed that you will see them as they are shy creatures and move around to feed. However, if you do get lucky, they are beautiful and graceful animals and the experience to swim with them is nothing short of amazing!
Mountain bike the awesome single tracks
As you travel further north of Coron town, the roads turn from wide concrete highways to small dirt roads that then split off into single tracks through local communities. With a mountain bike, you can go just about anywhere. Take a relaxed ride to go through the villages and meet the locals, or go for an exhilarating cross-country ride through rivers and streams. You can rent mountain bikes from Tribal Adventures and choose to have a bike tour with a 4×4 support car to shadow or meet you at the end of a trail – so you don’t have to bike all the way back after having fun on the tracks.
Feed the giraffes at Calauit Wildlife Park
Lastly, a fun and educational experience is a trip up to Calauit, which is at the northern-most part of Busuanga. The wildlife park has some local wildlife but is highlighted by its giraffe and zebra population. You get to meet the African animals up close and feed the giraffes, who bend down to your head height to munch on branches of leaves you hold. Seeing the giraffe tongues come to grasp and then yank the branches out of your hand is an experience will put a smile on faces both young and old. For a bit more adventure, check out our Calauit wildlife safari trip, that includes some kayaking into the mangrove channels at Calauit.
That puts an end to our list – for now. There are lots more things to do in Coron, but these are a few highlights that you can do on a quick visit. We’ll put together a list of things to do in Coron and the neighboring islands for travelers staying a bit longer and looking for even more adventure! Check out the day-trips Tribal Adventures offers as well as some of the longer expeditions.
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