Exploring the Islands of Coron

DAY 1 - OCT. 2, 2009

After an endless search for an affordable but nice place to stay in Coron, we ended up not having any reservation when we got there. Here we go again..doing it backpacking style..but what the heck, this is a part of the adventure anyway.

By the time we arrived the airport, Kuya Richard of Mt. Tapyas Hotel offered us a ride to the town. We asked him to drop us off at Coron Village Lodge or Darayonan, two of the inns that we researched from the net. Good thing these two resorts are next to each other and offer rooms at a reasonable price. We chose to stay at Coron Village Lodge for a cheap price of Php 750/room/night with AC and cable TV.

Since we’re still not sure whether we’ll hike Mt. Tapyas or go swimming at the Maniquit Hotspring, we decided to just start our activities the next day and just plan things over dinner at one of the recommended restaurants in Coron – the Kawayanan Grill. There’s really nothing to rave about the grilled food of this place. The Php6 bbq infront of Seadive is way tastier than Kawayanan’s Php 120 liempo. The Bicol Express is a surprise though. Instead of using meat, they used finely chopped squid which tasted good.

yummy Bicol Express

After eating early dinner, we went around town to look for Al Linsangan, the guy that Kuya Richard said was offering the cheapest island hopping packages. But we weren’t able to see him or his shop, and instead met Kuya Allan and his wife Ate Vangie while walking around town. For a price of Php5k, he offered us a Coron Island Hopping Tour and a Malcapuya-Banana Island tour and we agreed.

The only thing we have to pray hard for is a GOOD WEATHER. A sunny one would be perfect. Typhoon Pepeng go away!

DAY 2 – OCT 3

It was raining hard on our first night in Coron and even on the following morning, that we  thought that the rain won’t stop for the whole day. But at around 8am, God blessed us with a bright and sunny weather. We bought packed lunch at Binalot and headed off to our Coron Island Hopping trip. I was so excited to see the crystal clear waters of Palawan’s beaches and lakes which I only get to see in postcards before.

Our itinerary for the day was:

1st stop – snorkeling fun at Skeleton Wreck
2nd stop – photo op at Atwaya beach
3th stop – lazing around the amazing Kayangan Lake -
4th stop - passing by Siete Pecados
5th stop – relaxing afternoon at Maquinit Hotspring

Amazing rock formations around the cove

rafting at the picturesque Kayangan Lake

Maquinit Hot spring - 40 degrees temperature

Mangrove-filled area at Maquinit Hot spring

Better be prepared with extra money while touring the islands of Coron.  Since their beautiful spots  are protected by Tagbanuans, entrance fees ranging from Php100-200 (per spot) are collected. Giving back money for the maintenance of the place isn't so bad.  We even saw how the caretakers of the place were sifting sand and collecting every bit of trash lying around. 

It was a blissful and tiring day for us and we’re definitely looking forward to another exciting day in Coron. We had dinner at a nearby carinderia and bought cheap but delicious barbeque  infront of Seadive and a melon Zagu.

Off to see the white sand beaches for the following day!
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Breathtaking Calaguas

I was looking for a beach that's not too commercialized and somewhere that me and my friends haven't been too, and we found Calaguas -  a group of islands in the province of Camarines Norte.  A place that most bloggers tag as one of the best beaches in the Philippines.  

It was time for us to see it for ourselves.

Though I wasn't really keen on availing group tours on any of my trips (Pinatubo being only of them) and prefer to do it DIY style, i can still say that it was a wise choice for us to book via Melvic Brinas.  Their group package worth Php3,000 (2 Days, 1 night) was highly recommended by a friend of mine and rightfully so.  They were very accommodating but not to the point wherein you're pressured to mingle with others. 

Despite it being an early rainy season for the year 2011, we were blessed with the perfect sunny weather during our Calaguas trip last June 4-5.  We followed the itinerary which the Calaguas Island Tour set for us and left for Manila around 9pm on a Friday and arrived back in Manila at 4am, Monday.  I was prepared for a long and strenuous trip to Calaguas but I still felt battered nonetheless.  The Amihan bus is old and their air conditioning is cruelly cold.  So no matter what the weather is, better wear a thick jacket and bring a blanket. 

view from inside the bus

After breakfast at Daet, we rode a tiny boat from Vinzon's port to the island. (Just my two cents on the boat, perhaps it wouldn't hurt for the group tours to rent a boat with real seats since it's 2 hour ride.)

While we were nearby our destination, we couldn't contain our excitement.  More so when when we saw the crystal clear water and how fine the sand is. 

In unison, Boracay what?!

We spent the day taking endless pictures, drinking booze, skimboarding, swimming and topped it off with nonstop laughter and pure fun. 

photo by www.moniquedejesus.com

Come nightime, memories of Anawangin came rushing in.  Bath time also took place in a poso that is shared with the other campers.  After bathing, we were greeted with a blanket of stars :)  It was a natural high.★

We played the "association" game over a concoction of melon-3in1 coffee-GSM blue and my friends surprised me with a bday thingie.  Happy to have celebrated my 26th with them. 

I woke up early in the morning on our following day in Calaguas with the wind furiously shaking our tent.  It was already bright in the morning that I thought it was already past 9am.  But to my surprise, it's just past 5.  With my friends still sleeping soundly, I took the chance to take a few pictures of the island.

At around 930 in the morning, we left the island to head to Bagasbas - a famous surfing spot.  I wasn't really up for surfing at that time so I opted to take pictures of them.  Too bad I didn't have the lens to capture them close-up.  But I did enjoy watching them and told myself to maybe try it next time.

To sum up our Calaguas trip, I must say it was a love at first sight.  The island's crystal clear water is worth the long and arduous trip and I wouldn't hesitate to experience it all over again.  

So if you're planning your next trip, make Calaguas a must in your bucket list!