After Padre Burgos, we took a flight towards Busuanga, the gateway to Coron. The initial idea was simple: spend a few days there before starting the expedition to El Nido, a very well-known route in the Philippines that can be done in both directions. We chose Coron towards El Nido.
Before leaving, we had often heard the same thing: many travelers arrive the day before departure, sleep there and leave the next day without really seeing anything. But several people also told us that there was ultimately much more to discover than it seemed. We decided to stay a few days. We absolutely did not regret it.
Coron itself is a fairly simple little town. Few activities directly on site, no large beaches within walking distance, a few small restaurants and cafes, a quiet atmosphere. In the middle of the day, the heat quickly becomes overwhelming, so we don't hang around the center for hours.
What makes Coron truly exceptional is everything around it. The region is known for its turquoise water lagoons framed by karst cliffs, but also for being one of the best diving spots in the Philippines thanks to the Japanese wrecks from World War II that lie beneath the surface. Mythical wrecks that divers come to look for from all over the world.
Our days were mainly organized around island hopping, a must here. To access the most beautiful places, you almost always have to get on a bangka, these traditional Filipino boats with outriggers. Even Coron's only public beach is only accessible by boat. All others belong to resorts or private properties.
During our first excursion, we discovered the most famous spots in the region: Twin Lagoon, Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake. Between the steep cliffs, the hidden lagoons and the translucent water, we were amazed at every turn. The kind of landscapes that are hard to believe are real until you're actually there.
Another day, we opted for a more beach-oriented excursion. White sand, crystal clear water, calm atmosphere. Several stops, each with its own personality. This is exactly the image we have of the Philippines before leaving, and the reality lived up to it.
In the end, staying several days in Coron before the expedition was clearly the right decision. The town itself remains small and without many surprises, but everything that surrounds it is of a beauty which alone justifies the detour. A place that it would easily have been wrong to cross too quickly.