PERFECT 3-Day Coron Travel Itinerary For Beach Fiends (2 + 5-Day Alternatives)

Coron (Palawan) has some of the BEST island-hopping and snorkelling you’ll ever do.

We spent a few months travelling around the Philippines and the island-hopping there topped our list—it’s that good.

So if you are like us (can’t see a beach because you’re already itching to go in the water), this itinerary is for you!

There are heaps of snorkelling and swimming in this itinerary, including Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, and even the shipwrecks.

You’ll also check out all the main spots, including some on land like Mt Tapyas or the hot springs!

That said, Coron Town itself isn’t super touristy. For us, three days is the perfect amount of time to soak up the best spots without feeling rushed.

That’s why this Coron travel itinerary is 3-days long. But we included shorter and longer alternatives depending on how much time you have available!

You’ll also have our recommendations on where to stay, how to get there from Australia, and, most importantly, how to make the most of your time in this tropical paradise.

Let’s dive in!

Get your bathers on and put on lots of sunscreen (reef-safe, please), you’re in for a massive tropical treat:

Day 1: Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Barracuda Lake, Skeleton Wreck, Siete Pecados

Book an island-hopping tour to visit some of the most popular spots in Coron right off the bat:

• Kayangan Lake, also known as the cleanest lake in the country. There are limestone formations under the water, and the water is so clear you can see them from the surface!

• Twin Lagoons, a gorgeous place with crazy thermoclines that change the water temperature as you swim. Visit it last if possible so you can have it to yourself (most group tours go midday).

• Barracuda Lake, another beautiful lake with crazy thermoclines. We LOVED free diving in there! There’s the odd barracuda in the depths but they’re completely harmless.

• Skeleton Wreck, one of the easiest and most accessible shipwreck dives in Coron! It’s 5 to 22 metres under the surface, so it’s perfect for snorkellers of all levels.

• Siete Pecados, a snorkeller’s paradise. The reef is healthy and surprisingly shallow so you don’t need to be a seasoned swimmer to enjoy it.

• Mt. Tapyas, if you still have energy left after the island-hopping tour. It’s the best place to watch the sunset, but it’s a steep 700-step climb (40 min) to get there. Worth it!

We recommend booking a private island-hopping tour if possible, though. It’s way more flexible, lets you dodge the crowds, and isn’t as pricey as you’d expect.

A shared island-hopping tour usually costs around $20–$30 per person, but a private boat rental is around $50 per person. We think this is well worth it for the extra freedom.

For example, during our private tour, we requested to visit Twin Lagoon last to avoid the crowds. Best decision ever, we had the place almost for ourselves!

Here’s an epic private tour in Coron you can book!

But if you’re on a tight budget, don’t worry. Here are some great shared island-hopping tours that include some of the places mentioned above:

Day 2: Banana Island, Malcapuya Island, Bulog Island

Now it’s time to check out other beautiful spots, maybe not as popular as the ones mentioned on day 1 but just as epic:

• Banana Island, with hammocks under coconut trees and excellent snorkelling right off the beach.

• Malcapuya Island, home to one of the longest white-sand beaches in Coron and a sandbar that reveals itself at low tide.

• Bulog Island, famous for its beautiful sandbar connecting it to a luxury resort. It’s the smallest of the three but has some of the best views, especially if you climb the rocky outcrop!

This tour takes you to all three of them, check it out if you’re keen!

And if you’ve still got energy, wrap up the day with a visit to Maquinit Hot Springs.

It’s one of the only saltwater hot springs in the world, and it’s just a 25-minute drive from Coron Town Proper.

Day 3: Lusong Coral Garden, World War II shipwrecks

For your last day in Coron, don’t miss the gorgeous Lusong Coral Garden and the nearby World War II shipwrecks! These are some of the BEST snorkelling experiences in this area of the Philippines:

• Lusong Coral Garden, one of our favourites. It’s a shallow reef with calm waters, known for its colourful and well-preserved corals.

• Lusong Gunboat Wreck, a Japanese warship from World War II just a few metres below the surface. At low tide, parts of it even break through the water!

• East Tangat Wreck, another shallow shipwreck. The structure is partially broken, which allows for some incredible views of how marine life has completely taken over.

If you’re keen, this tour takes you to all those places!

Short on time? Check this 2-day itinerary!

We think the very least you should spend in Coron is 2 days. Spending a full day there is not really worth it as it’s a bit of a trip to get there!

With that in mind, if you only have 48 hours there, we recommend doing two Coron island-hopping tours:

• Day 1: Do an ultimate full-day island-hopping tour like this one. It covers the main highlights – Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, Siete Pecados, Skeleton Wreck.

• Day 2: Choose either Day 2 of the itinerary above if you’re after relaxation, or Day 3 if you’d rather go snorkelling cool spots.

5-day itinerary if you have more days in Coron

If you have more days in Coron, you can either explore the spots mentioned above at a slower pace, or go exploring off the beaten path!

Here are some unique things you could do in Coron with that extra time:

• Hike Mount Darala

• Check out the historic Culion Island

• Kayak around Coron Island

• Scuba dive Irako Wreck

• Check out the falls – Concepcion Falls, Kilien Falls, Guchi Falls…

Where to stay in Coron?

Definitely stay in Coron Town proper. This will give you easy access to the island-hopping tours plus food, ATMs, etc.

Keep in mind this is on Busuanga Island, NOT Coron Island! We know it can be confusing, so to keep things clear:

• “Coron” is the name of the municipality, which covers half of Busuanga Island and Coron Island, among other smaller islands.

• “Coron Town proper” is where you’ll be staying, which is a small settlement south of Busuanga Island. It’s a 30-minute drive from the airport, it’s home to Mount Tapyas, and most island-hopping tours depart from there.

• “Coron Island” is an island a short boat ride from where you’ll be staying. It’s home to Twin Lagoon, Kayanga Lake, Banul Beach, Smith Coral Garden…

We stayed in The Funny Lion and it was excellent! Has great value for money, plus there’s an epic rooftop bar if you want some cocktails after all the island-hopping.

Here are other epic options in Coron Town Proper:

• Best budget-friendly stay: Hop Hostel

• Best for families and groups: Coron Westown Resort

• Best hotel: The Ridge Coron

• Best luxury: Two Seasons Coron Island Resort

If you want to stay in Coron Island itself, there’s only one hotel available – Paolyn Houseboats.

If none of these fill your needs, go here to look for more accommodation options in Coron!

Planning your trip to Coron

Keep these things in mind when planning your Coron adventure:

Best time to visit Coron

We think March and April are the absolute best times to visit Coron (and the Philippines in general).

We’ve been to the country a few times and those months have excellent weather (just like December-February), but without the hectic crowds.

That’s unless you’re there for Holy Week. It will be very crowded during that time as most locals are on holiday, plus accommodations will be pricier and might book out fast.

Don’t visit during the wet season, though. And avoid typhoon season at all costs – tours might be cancelled, flights can be delayed for days, and there’s a risk of power outages.

For the full breakdown of the best and worst times to go to The Philippines, check this article!

Getting to Coron from Australia

You’ll start by flying into Manila from major Australian cities like Sydney or Melbourne.

Direct flights take around 8 hours, and airlines like Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines frequently operate this route.

From Manila, take another flight (1h 20m) to Francisco B. Reyes Airport (Busuanga), which is about a 30-minute drive from Coron Town proper.

It’s another frequent route with daily flights, so you won’t have to stay in Manila for long!

Moving around Coron

Getting around Coron is easy and quite cheap. There are several options:

• Motorcycle Taxis: Short-distance rides cost ₱20–₱50 per person one-way, while longer trips range from ₱50–₱150.​

• Jeepneys: Fares range between ₱10–₱20 per person one-way, depending on the route.​

• Scooter rentals: Renting a motorcycle or scooter costs between ₱300–₱500 per day, providing flexibility to explore the area at your own pace.

Going to El Nido after Coron (or vice-versa)

If you want to continue your Philippines trip to El Nido, know that you can get there from Coron by flying, ferry, or island-hopping.

Flights from Coron to El Nido (quick but expensive)

There are direct flights from Coron to El Nido. They take around 40 minutes, so it’s the best option if you’re tight on time and don’t mind spending a bit more.

But they are hard to book because there’s only one airline offering them – AirSwift.

The other alternative is flying to Puerto Princesa (PPC) and then taking a van to El Nido, which adds another 5-6 hours on the road.

If you want to go to PPC anyway, it doesn’t make much sense to start your trip in Coron. Instead, it would be best to do Manila > PPC > El Nido > Coron.

Ferry from Coron to El Nido (cheap but slow)

There are a few ferry operators that connect both islands and the trip can take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours depending on the vessel (high speed or not) and the sea conditions.

Pretty much all ferry rides cost around the same (₱2,800-₱3,000 / $48-$52) regardless of how long it takes to get there, though.

It’s the most budget-friendly way to get to El Nido, but don’t forget your seasickness tablets!

Island-hopping from Coron to El Nido (our favourite)

This is not the cheapest or the fastest way to get to El Nido from Coron, but it was the highlight of our trip to The Philippines!

We went on a 3D2N island-hopping tour, stopping at the most pristine islands, hidden lagoons, and untouched beaches.

We had the beaches pretty much for ourselves! Plus, Linacapan, the area between Coron and El Nido, is more untouched than the two as it’s harder for most tourists to get there.

It was in-cre-di-ble and surprisingly cost-effective. The whole thing was around $300 and included transportation, accommodation, and all meals (delicious btw).

We did this tour from Coron to El Nido and can’t recommend them enough. Here’s another alternative from El Nido to Coron if you’re keen!

Top Tips

Make sure to bring cash for your island-hopping trips! Some restaurants and even hotels don’t accept cards, so withdraw enough cash before heading to remote places.

We always use this bank whenever travelling overseas, as it has the best exchange rates for PHP and you can withdraw up to ₱12,000 for FREE.

Also, if you plan on renting a motorbike, be extra cautious. Coron’s roads are a mix of well-paved highways and rough, pothole-ridden dirt tracks!

So if you’re not comfortable riding on uneven terrain, consider hiring a tricycle instead. Also, fuel stations are scarce once you leave town, so always fill up before heading out.

Did you know?

Coron was once home to the indigenous Tagbanwa people, who still live in the area today!

They are one of the oldest ethnic groups in the Philippines and have been the traditional custodians of the land and sea for centuries.

Also, Francisco B. Reyes Airport is named after a local aviation pioneer. Francisco Reyes was one of the first pilots in the Philippines and played a big role in developing air travel in the region.

Thanks to him, Coron is now easily accessible, with flights coming in from Manila, Cebu, and other parts of the country.

FAQs

The bottom line

Coron is hands-down one of the best tropical destinations in the Philippines, especially if you’re into crystal-clear lakes, epic snorkelling, and stunning white-sand beaches!

Whether you’re squeezing everything into a jam-packed 3-day itinerary or taking it slow over five days, there’s no shortage of incredible places to explore.

If you love snorkelling, don’t skip the shipwrecks and coral gardens. If beaches are more your thing, those island-hopping tours to Malcapuya and Banana Island are a must.

And for the best experience, consider booking a private tour—totally worth it for the flexibility and avoiding the crowds!

However you do it, you’re in for an unforgettable trip. Enjoy paradise!