5 Best Things to Do in Coron

Kayangan Lake is one of the most famous and photographed spots in Coron. Located in the north of the island, just a few minutes by boat from Coron Town, Kayangan Lake has been dubbed the cleanest lake in the Philippines, despite the ever-growing number of visitors it attracts daily. Upon arrival at the dock, you’ll have to hike between 15 and 30 minutes to reach the lake.

Get to the viewpoint to take photos, visit the cave, swim in the crystal-clear waters of the lake, and discover hidden passages between the limestone cliffs – a tour to Kayangan Lake often results in an exhilarating and adventurous day.

Encrusted with coral, and housing abundant marine life, the Coron shipwrecks offer some of the most popular dive sites in the Philippines. A Japanese convoy (including supply and war ships) was sunk in Coron Bay by the US Navy back in 1944. Seven of these ships now lie on the seabed of the bay, at depths ranging between 10 and 40 metres.

Wreck diving is a thrilling activity that requires special certifications, diving experience, and guidance from a professional diving school. The many dive centres located in Coron Town and on the islands in the bay offer day trips and courses for you to discover these fabulous underwater remains from the Second World War.

The scenery is outstanding at the Twin Lagoon: waters range from a luminescent turquoise to emerald greens. The limestone karst formations blend gray and beige in their shapes that have been twisted by erosion, and many shades of green tropical plants grow in the cracks of the stone, making you wonder how they survive in such an environment. Swimming and snorkelling are popular activities in this area, but beware of the large sea urchins found on the ocean floor.

It takes 20 minutes by boat to get to the Twin Lagoon from Coron Town. Bangkas (local boats used to hop from one island to the other) moor in the largest lagoon in front of the small fault in the limestone cliff, which also serves as the entrance into the smaller lagoon.

Barracuda Lake is a spectacular site located on the north coast of Coron Island, right next to Kayangan Lake. Emerald-green brackish waters surround the impressive limestone karst formation that has been naturally sculpted by years of erosion.

Barracuda Lake offers one of the most unique dive sites in the region. The underwater mountains of Barracuda Lake are famous in the scuba diving community and offer unexpected scenes beneath the surface. Like many exceptional places in the world, getting there requires some effort: a 30-minute hike is necessary to reach the lake from the dock.

The summit of Mount Tapyas offers an outstanding viewpoint of Coron Town, and even further, of the islands that compose the Calamian Archipelago. Located 8 km northwest from downtown Coron, this mountain is unmissable thanks to the huge crucifix that decorates its summit.

Getting to the view deck at the top of Mount Tapyas requires a hike up 721 steps. This 30- to 45-minute-long trek can be challenging, especially at the hottest time of the day, but the effort is well worth it for the spectacular photo opportunities from the top of the surrounding landscape. Heading there for sunset is cooler, but the summit will be more crowded as a lot of people come to enjoy the view. Please note that you should take a bottle of water with you, as there’s no facilities near the viewing deck at the time of writing.