Things to do in  Coron

Banul Beach is an idyllic strip of pale gold sand backed by soaring, jagged limestone cliffs. Shady palm-thatched huts provide a spot to eat lunch and a shack sells cool drinks. It’s a great jump-off point for a kayak adventure, with caves, coves, and a mangrove forest to explore.

Powder-soft white sand, gently swaying coconut palms, and gin-clear turquoise waters make Malcapuya Island something dreams are made of. Apart from a viewpoint, caves, hidden coves, and a fresh coconut stand, there’s not a great deal to this little islet in Coron’s Calamian archipelago. So it’s perfect for lazy afternoons of sun, sea, and sand.

A pair of lagoons divided by a limestone wall you can swim through at low tide or climb over at other times, Twin Lagoon is one of the signature sights on Coron Island. The inner lagoon feels tranquil, unspoiled, and wild, with rugged cliffs descending to turquoise waters that change temperature as cool fresh water mingles with warm seawater.

Jagged mountain slopes and tropical greenery descend into the fresh waters of Kayangan Lake, one of Coron Island’s most popular locations. Moor at a pristine reef on the shore, hike a few minutes up to the viewpoint for ocean views, then walk down to the lake. Eerie underwater cliffs and a dark cave make for spectacular snorkeling.

A series of geothermally heated pools framed by mangroves and the ocean, Maquinit Hot Springs is a popular trip from Coron Town. The warm salt water, similar to hot tubs, is particularly appealing in the evening when the air is cooler, providing more contrast with the water. On hot, sunny days, the heat can feel too much.

With swaying coconut palms, lazy hammocks, and clear waters from which a crescent-shaped sandbar emerges at low tide, tiny Banana Island is the tropical paradise of cliché. There’s snorkeling off the fringing reef, a volleyball net, and a simple convenience store where you can buy drinks and snacks, however most travelers come here to simply soak up the sun.

Coron’s top sunset viewpoint, Mt. Tapyas looms over Coron Town, adorned with a Coron sign and a giant crucifix that lights up after dark. As the sun sinks into the Sulu Sea and tints it bronze, rolling hills and offshore islands shade into silhouette. You can also hike up before dawn for a less crowded trek, and a mellow, ambient light for photos.

Despite the name, you’re unlikely to encounter a barracuda in Coron’s Barracuda Lake. Beyond the sculptural rock formations and flickering light, what makes this limestone lagoon so special is the temperature variation: Cool fresh water gives way to geothermally heated brackish water then neutral salt water, creating a series of shimmering thermoclines.

Not far from the coral-encrusted Lusong Gunboat Wreck, the bright hard and soft corals of Lusong Coral Garden glisten in the warm water. Butterflyfish, damselfish, shy clownfish, and more flicker amid sponges, anemones, and staghorn coral, with excellent visibility even as you descend the steep drop-off on the ocean side.

At the heart of the Calamian Islands, Coron Bay lies between Busuanga Island, Culion Island, and Coron Island. Travelers know it for island-hopping adventures, but scuba divers come from around the world to explore the Sunken Japanese Wrecks, the remains of a supply fleet sunk by US bombers during World War II.

Nestled amid jagged limestone, tropical forest, and clear azure waters, Smith Beach—also known as Smith Point Beach—is the type of tiny white-sand gem for which the Philippines is famed. A couple of simple beach shacks provide space to eat lunch, while the pretty Smith Coral Garden reef awaits not far off shore.