Coron and Busuanga: budget travel guide

A a lot more updated version of this post can be found here: Coron travel Guide

It was like a gigantic bucket of paint spilled into the water that morning. Dazzlingly, the sun showered the world with a whole lot of gold and red. Half-awake, we got up and watched  our boat made futile attempts to scratch the mirror-like surface of the sea. The sun, bursting into full glory, just snatched us out of slumber completely. The day had officially begun and if the view was any indication, it would be an unforgettable one.

We were on the way to Calauit Safari Park on an island-hopping excursion around Busuanga that morning. It was the start of a long, long day as it would be filled with hours of terrific experiences. You see, the islands of Coron and Busuanga have so much in store for adventure-hungry tourists.

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

Understanding Coron and Busuanga
How to get to Coron and Busuanga
Where to stay in Coron
Where to eat in Coron
Places to check out in Coron
Sample Coron Itinerary
Budget Breakdown
More ideas on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:

Understanding Coron and Busuanga

With Culion and Linapacan, the municipalities of Coron and Busuanga make up the Calamianes, a stellar group of islands that speck the waters of North Palawan. Busuanga Island is the largest and is divided into two municipalities: Busuanga and Coron. The town of Busuanga harbors the airport but Coron is the greatest and the main tourism hub of the region. Nestled in one of the nooks of the southern edge of Busuanga Island, Coron town has the most accommodations and tours, and is the normal jump off point to the surrounding destinations including Coron Island, Culion, Linapacan, and even as far as El Nido. Confusing, eh? Here’s a map to help you digest it better.

Map of Busuanga, Coron, and Culion
How to get to Coron and Busuanga

Flying is the easiest and fastest way to reach Coron. The main gateway to the region, Francisco B. Reyes airport is located in Busuanga and is less than an hour away from the town of Coron.

PAL express plane at Busuanga (Coron) Airport
The following airlines operate Manila-Busuanga flights and back.

Cebu Pacific Air

PAL express (Philippine Airlines)

AirAsia Zest (Zest Air)

SkyJet

Additionally, friend express flies to Puerto Princesa from Busuanga and vice versa.

From the airport, you may take a van to the town of Coron for P150 per person or P1500 if you want to hire the entire van.

Where to stay in Coron

Check rates and Availability here
There are so lots of lodging options in Coron but you might still want to strongly consider booking in development specially during summer (April-May). here are some accommodations that my blogger pals recommend but I have tried only Tameta Pension house and Coron village Lodge, which are both fine (not terrific but just okay).

Coron Eco-Lodge

Coron village Lodge

Patrik and Tezz Guesthouse

Tameta Pension House

Palanca Guesthouse Coron

Coron Backpacker Guesthouse

Where to eat in Coron

While plenty of restaurants plank the roads of Coron, you’ll be shocked that a lot of of the well-known establishments are quite expensive with meals ranging from P150-P300. (Based on experience, it’s much much easier to find low-cost meals at a respectable restaurant in El Nido than in Coron.) but if you’re not too picky, you’ll find lots of eateries that serve food at P50 per order.

If you have the budget, here are some of the a lot more popular dining places in Coron.

Bistro Coron

La Sirenetta Coron

Foodtrip Coron

Pink Salmon Coron

WG Diner Coron

Helldivers Bar Coron

Places to check out in Coron

There are so lots of interesting and special destinations in Coron and in nearby towns of Busuanga and Culion. They are normally grouped together in excursion packages that are used by travel agencies and resorts. You’ll find them all throughout the town. They normally require a minimum of 5 pax per trip.

You may also charter a boat for private trips, which is best if you are with a big group. To hire a boat, just check out the office of Calamian vacationer boat association at Lualhati Park. They have standardized the rates of boat trips depending on the size of the boat needed, the number of passengers, and your destination.

The following are some of the most popular excursions in Coron with the normal destinations covered. Inclusions vary so please confirm with the excursion or boat operator first before you seal the deal. I also indicated the normal rates as of March 2013 but bear in mind that these might have already been outdated, and that these prices vary from excursion operator to excursion operator.

Coron Island Tour
Private boat: P1500 per 4 pax, P2000 per 8 pax, P2500 per 15 pax
Group tour: P650 per pax
This excursion may also include Atuayan Coral garden and Maquinit hot Springs

Twin Peaks and hidden Lagoon (NOT IN THE PIC)

Kayangan Lake

Barracuda Lake

Siete Picados

Coron town Tour
Grouptour: P550 per pax
Other Destinations include Cashew Nut producers and Coron Gallery
Alternatively, you might want to do this by yourself because all these are easily accessible by tricycle and even walking (except Maquinit)

Mt. Tapyas

Maquinit hot Springs

Lualhati Park Zipline

Calauit Safari Park Tour
Private boat: P7500 per 4 pax, P9000 per 8 pax, P15000 per 15 pax
Group tour: P2400 per pax

Calauit Safari Park

Black Island

Lusong Wreck and Coral Garden

Pamalican Island

South Cay (Pagbinit Island)

North Cay (Pagtenga Island)

Culion Island Day Tour
Private boat:  P3000 per 4 pax, P3500 per 8 pax, P6000 per 15 pax
Group tour: P1150 per pax
You might also want to check out my Culion travel guide if you want this trip do-it-yourself (DIY) style.

Culion town Tour

Culion museum and Archives

Fort Culion and Culion Church

Aguila Viewpoint

Sangat Shipwreck Tour: Sangat Gunboat Wreck, Decalve Marine Park, Sangat hot Sprints, Kalitang White Beach
Private boat: P3000 per 4 pax, P3500 per 8 pax, P6000 per 15 pax
Group tour: P950 per pax

Malcapuya Island Tour: Malcapuya Island, Malaroyroy Island, Banana Island
Private boat: P3000 per 4 pax, P4000 per 8 pax, P6000 per 15 pax
Group tour: P950 per pax

Sample Coron Itinerary

The best thing about Coron is that the neighboring islands — all equally mesmerizing — are just a boat ride away. Thus, a trip to Coron will never be complete without a check out to the other destinations surrounding it. because boat rides and excursions are all organized into day tours, it is very easy to build an itinerary.

Below is a sample travel plan if you will be spending 4 days and 3 nights in Coron. For this sample, I’m assuming that you will be taking friend Express.

Day 1: ARRIVAL, CITY TOUR
07:30 am – Check-in NAIA terminal 3
08:30 am – ETD NAIA terminal 3 – Busuanga (via friend express flight 2P 31)
09:30 am – ETA Busuanga Airport
10:30 am – Arrival in Coron by van, check in at hotel
11:10 am – Lunch
12:00 pm – start CITY TOUR
04:00 pm – Climb to Mt. Tapyas Viewdeck
06:30 pm – Maquinit hot Springs
08:30 pm – Dinner

Day 2: CORON ISLAND TOUR

Day 3: CALAUIT SAFARI PARK excursion or CULION TOUR

Day 4: DEPARTURE
06:00 am – wake up call
07:00 am – Breakfast
08:20 am – ETD Coron (travel by van)
09:20 am – ETA Busuanga Airport
09:30 am – check in
10:45 am – ETD Busuanga airport (via friend express flight 2P 32)
11:45 am – ETA NAIA terminal 3, Manila

As always, please make the needed adjustments to fit your flight schedule, duration of stay, or excursion preferences.

Photo by Irene Ladignon
Budget Breakdown

Here’s a sample budget breakdown for a 4D/3N stay in Coron. note that this computation is based on 2 people sharing the cost of accommodations and some fares. This sample also uses a fan room for 3 nights. This does not include airfare and terminal fees.

P300 – Van fare from airport to Coron and back (P150/way)

P1050 – Tameta Guesthouse fan room (P700/night, 3 nights, divided by 2 pax)

P150 – Maquinit hot Springs entrance Fee

P150 – Trike to Maquinit hot Springs (P300 divided by 2 pax)

P650 – Coron Island Tour

P1150 – Culion historical Tour

P1250 – Food Budget

P4700 – TOTAL

Of course, you can minimize this cost further, specially if you are part of a bigger group and you opt with small eateries instead of mid-range restaurants.

More ideas on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Related Posts:

CULION, PALAWAN: budget travel guide

Tameta Pension House: Where to stay in Coron, Palawan, Philippines

CORON PALAWAN travel guide with budget travel plan

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA: budget travel guide

Culion, Palawan: To the ‘Island of No Return’ and Back

CALAUIT SAFARI PARK: What to expect

Mt. Tapyas: Chasing Sunsets in Coron, Palawan, Philippines

Lusong Shipwreck and Coral Garden: Shallow Reverie in Coron, Palawan, Philippines