How to Spend Two Days in Coron: Travel Guide and Best Things to Do

Coron is almost always included in any Philippines itinerary. If you’re planning a trip and thinking of adding Coron to your list, you’re in the right place. In this travel guide, you’ll discover the best things to do in Coron if you have just two days on the island. We’ll also cover essential tips on how to get there, how to get around, where to stay, and more.

First Time in the Philippines? Read our ultimate guide to prepare a trip to the Philippines with essential and useful tips: How to Plan a Trip to the Philippines: 33 Essential Travel Tips

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Table of Contents

In this guide, we cover the following subjects:

Coron and Busuanga Islands

Before continuing with this guide, it’s important to understand the difference between Coron and Busuanga Island. What most people commonly call “Coron” is actually Busuanga Island, or Coron Municipality, which includes part of Busuanga and the nearby Coron island.

In Busuanga island is where the airport (Francisco B. Reyes Airport) is located, where the main town, Coron Town Proper, is located, which is the main tourist hub.

On the other hand, Coron Island is a separate island located just off the coast of Busuanga. It’s uninhabited by locals and it’s where many island-hopping tours go, and where you’ll find some of the most famous spots like Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, and Barracuda Lake.

So, when people talk about “Coron,” they might be referring to either Coron Town on Busuanga Island or Coron Island itself, depending on the context.

How to Get to Coron?

There are several ways to reach Coron—by plane or ferry—depending on where you’re coming from and your budget.

By Plane

Coron has its own airport, Francisco B. Reyes Airport (Busuanga) , located just a 30-minute van ride from the main tourist area. There are direct flights from several islands in the Philippines, including Cebu, Manila, and El Nido. The airport is super small and basic. One of the smallest we’ve been to.

• Manila (MNL): served by Cebgo and Philippine Airlines.
• Cebu (CEB): operated by Philippine Airlines.
• El Nido (ENI): served by AirSWIFT.

If you’re coming or leaving Coron by place, don’t forget to look out of the window. The landscapes are out of this world.

By Ferry

You can also get to Coron by ferry. There are frequent routes from Manila and El Nido. We went by ferry from El Nido. This was the route that we did. As this is a popular route, it’s best to book your ferry in advance. We booked via the 12GoAsia website.

The ferry ride was smooth but long, taking nearly 6 hours. But, we’ve read that sometimes the sea is rough, and the journey can get quite bumpy. If you get seasick easily, it’s a good idea to take motion sickness pills before boarding.

• Manila to Coron: approximately 12 hours (overnight)
• El Nido to Coron: 3.5 to 6 hours (depending on the tour operator)

Expedition From El Nido

Instead of going to Coron with a direct ferry, you can go on a 3-day 2-night expedition.  On this trip, you’ll spend your days exploring remote paradise islands with beautiful beaches, snorkeling in amazing coral reefs, and sleeping in wooden huts where there is no electricity or running water. A lot of people love this kind of adventure, but it’s definitely not for everyone. However, it’s something you’ll always remember and definitely a unique experience. This is also available from El Nido to Coron.

Recommended reading: How to Spend Four Days in El Nido: Travel Guide and Best Things to Do.

We really wanted to do it, but during the expedition there’s no internet, and we can’t be offline for more than two days because of work.

How to Get From Coron Port to Coron Center?

When you get out of the port, there’s a long line of tricycles waiting outside. The best way to get to your accommodation is to get one of those tricycles. Make sure to ask for the price and bargain a bit. Usually, for a 15-minute ride, you’ll pay 300PHP.

Alternatively, some accommodations, specially more high-end hotels, can sort out that for your and send you a specific tricycle or a van.

How to Get From Busuanga Airport to Coron Town?

There are regular shared van transfers from Busuanga Airport to Coron town. Vans usually depart once they’re full and will drop you off at your hotel or nearby. The price is fixed, typically around 250PHP to 300PHP per person, which is quite reasonable. The ride takes about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on road conditions.

You can book your transfer in advance through platforms like Klook or GetYourGuide, or simply arrange it on arrival at the airport.

Alternatively, you can ask your accommodation to help arrange transportation. Some hotels have their own designated vans, and higher-end places may even offer complimentary airport pick-up.

Best Time to Visit Coron?

The best time to visit Coron is during the dry season, from December to May, when the weather is generally sunny and the sea is calm—perfect for beach trips and island hopping. This is also the best time to visit El Nido. So, we recommend visiting both places on the same trip.

We visited in February and were lucky with the weather—sunny skies every day with light rain during the night.

One thing you’ll quickly learn about the Philippines is that the weather forecast is almost never accurate. Most of the time, it’ll show rain every day, but in reality, you might only get a quick 15-minute shower. That’s exactly what happened to us. The forecast looked bad, but we ended up having mostly sunny days with barely any rain, which was nothing like what was predicted.

How Many Days in Coron?

Two full days in Coron are enough to cover most of the highlights and join the most popular island-hopping tour.

If you want to do more tours, consider adding extra days. Coron is well known for its diving tours, especially for exploring World War II shipwrecks. There is also another popular tour that goes to beautiful beaches on nearby islands—the Island Escapade Tour.

You might also want an additional day just to relax—especially if you’re staying at a nice hotel. Alternatively, you can buy a day pass at a resort to enjoy their pool and other facilities.

Add more days if you want to explore beyond the usual highlights and see more of the island.

Keep in mind that there aren’t many good beaches on Busuanga Island itself. To visit beautiful beaches, you’ll need to join an island-hopping tour or hire a private boat or driver to take you to nearby islands.

Where to Stay in Coron?

The best and most convenient area to stay in Coron is in Coron Town Proper. It’s where you’ll find more options for accommodation, cafes, and restaurants. It’s also quite close to the port and the departure for the island hopping tours.

If you want something more luxury, you’ll usually find better options a bit further from the town.

There are also some incredible dreamy resorts and unique accommodations in nearby smaller islands.

We stayed at Bailabinda Lodge, a simple accommodation with a beautiful interior garden. Breakfast was included, but it wasn’t great.

Luckily, there are plenty of places in Coron nearby that serve good Western-style breakfast. Still, it was very well located, on a quiet street yet close to the busy town center and most of the main attractions.

Here are some other suggestions of places to stay (budget to mid-range options):

• The Ridge Coron: located right in Coron Town, with great views of the ocean.
• Bay Area Lodge: located in Coron Town with many restaurants nearby. It also has a great view of the sea and nearby islands.
• Kokosnuss Garden Resort: a place with beautiful gardens, cozy cottages, swimming pool for guests, and unique picturesque rooms. Right next to MacDonalds.
• Nomad Yurts: unique and beautiful yurts with great views in an eco-friendly place.
• Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel: modern and beautiful rooms with view to the sea. Highly rated, luxury and located right next to the port.

How to Get Around Coron?

The best way to get around Coron is by renting a motorbike or taking a tricycle. Most hotels and guesthouses can help you with that. But keep in mind, the streets in Coron Town Proper can be a bit busy and chaotic, especially if you’re not used to riding a motorbike. But, once you’re out of the busy area, it should be easy.

Many places are not very far from town, so riding a tricycle is also a good option. A short ride (about 15 minutes) usually costs around 300 PHP, but the price can change depending on the time or how many tricycles are around. Always ask the price first and try to agree on it before you get in.

How to Get Internet in Coron?

There are two main internet providers in the Philippines: Smart and Globe. You can get a SIM/eSIM card from one of those companies at the airport when you arrive at the Philippines.

In our case, when travelling to foreign countries, we always opt for an eSIM to get internet data. We had good experiences with airalo, Maya, and Holafly. Check several providers to see which one offers the best package.

If you decide to go with airalo, you can use the referral code below on your first purchase to get a a 3$ credit:

SARA0837

As we were also travelling to Bangkok on the same trip, we bought an eSIM card from Maya covering multiple countries in Asia.

How’s the Internet in Coron?

The internet in Coron wasn’t very good. Some areas had no signal at all, and most of the time the connection was slow. Our accommodation had Smart TV, but we couldn’t get access to any movies or series because the internet data was really bad.

Still, we could do some minimum work from our accommodation like replying to emails.

Best Things to Do in Coron in Two Days

Now, we’ll share the best things to do in Coron if you just have two full days in the island. One of the days should be spent on an island-hopping tour. You can spend the other day exploring Coron town and nearby areas.

Recommended reading: Three Weeks in the Philippines – Our Itinerary

Coron Ultimate Super Tour

The Coron Ultimate Super Tour is a full-day shared tour where you’ll visit some of the most amazing and must-see spots in Coron and nearby. It’s one of the top things to do here, and something you really shouldn’t miss!

These are the places included in the tour:

• Kayangan Lake
• Twin Lagoon
• Barracuda Lake
• Skeleton wreck
• White Sand Beach (for lunch)
• Coral Garden
• CYC Beach

It’s an incredible versatile tour that includes swimming, snorkeling, kayaking at the lagoons, and incredible paradise-like beaches. You can book your tour in advance on Klook or GetYourGuide, at your accommodation, or at any tour vendors in Coron.

Book Your Coron Ultimate Super Tour Here.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t join the tour because we didn’t have much time and my boyfriend got food poisoning. That’s a good excuse to come back! But I’ve seen lots of videos and read reviews—everyone seems to love it.

Other Tours

The Coron Ultimate Super Tour is definitely one of the top things to do in Coron, but if you have more time, or you want to escape the crowds in that tour, there are other options you may like.

Island Escapade Tour: ideal for those who like spending some time at the beach. This usually includes:

• Malcapuya Island
• Banana Island
• Bulog Dos Island

Reefs and Wrecks Tour: ideal for diving and snorkeling. It includes:

• Lusong Gunboat
• Lusong Coral Garden
• Pass Island

Siete Pecados Marine Park

Siete Pecados Marine Park was, without a doubt, my favorite spot in Coron. This protected area is only accessible by a small local boat and offers some of the most incredible snorkeling we’ve ever done. The coral reefs are vibrant and healthy, and the diversity of marine life is just unreal. Along with the Tubod Marine Sanctuary in Siquijor and Apo Island, this was one of the top snorkeling experiences of our entire three-week trip to the Philippines.

The Marine Park is only about a 15–20 minute ride from Coron Town. You can get there easily by tricycle or with a rented motorbike. The road is easy to drive on, but it’s mainly a dirt path once you pass by the port, so drive carefully.

To get to the starting point, you’ll go through some narrow paths that pass through a small local village. It’s a humble area, with many “primitive” houses that seem to be under construction forever, or made with simple materials. You’ll be able to witness their daily lives like women washing clothes by hand, kids playing outside, and dogs wandering on the streets.

It doesn’t look particularly inviting at first. There’s a small shack or hut (I’m not sure what to call it) where you pay the entrance fee and boat, rent your snorkel gear, and change clothes. It’s all very basic. The beach where the boats depart from isn’t pretty either. Honestly, at that point, we were worried we’d made a mistake. But we were completely wrong—this turned out to be the best experience we had in Coron.

They’ll assign you a small wooden typical boat with a local driver/guide to take you to the places that are just 10 minute away from the shore. The boat is for two to three people. Our driver was incredibly kind, and we made sure to leave a generous tip in the end.

Below you can see some of the underwater pictures we took during snorkeling at Siete Pecados Marine Park. You can click on the arrows to slide to the next image.

You’ll get to snorkel in two or three different spots, each with colorful corals, clear water, and a huge variety of fish. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many species in such a small area. We also saw colorful giant clams, and schools of small fish. There are also plenty of sea urchins, so be careful not to touch them. The best part? You can stay in the water as long as you like because your guide waits for you. There’s no rushing like in most island-hopping tours.

There’s also a small floating “pool” in the middle of the sea, perfect for relaxing and sunbathing.

You also stop at a small cave with a small lagoon where you can take a dip. The water inside the cave was surprisingly warm, and the color was just beautiful.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to explore all the possible stops because my boyfriend wasn’t feeling well. Still, this was one of the most amazing experiences we had in the Philippines. No big tour boats, no big crowds, no rushing, just a few people enjoying snorkeling (at least during the morning when we went). It was amazing. If you love snorkeling, don’t miss Siete Pecados Marine Park. It’s an unforgettable experience. I’m surprised that I haven’t heard much about it before.

Mount Tapyas

One thing you can’t miss when visiting Coron is climbing the 720 steps to Mount Tapyas. You’ll easily spot it from town, especially at night when the “CORON” letters are lit up.

At the top, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful panoramic views over the town and the nearby islands. The best time to go is just before sunset. It’s cooler, and when you arrive at the top you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful sunset.

I thought the 700 steps would be tough (given the feedback I’ve read from some people), but it was actually easier than expected. If you’re reasonably fit, you shouldn’t have any problems, and there are several spots to stop, catch your breath, and enjoy the view along the way. Every 10 steps are marked to give you a little extra motivation.

If you’re riding a rented motorbike, double-check your route. We had a bit of trouble finding the entrance. Make sure to enter “Mount Tapyas View Deck” in Google Maps so you don’t end up at the wrong place. Then, park next to the basketball court. As a reference point, you can add “Good Grind Coffee Coron”.

Maquinit Hot Springs

The Maquinit Hot Springs are small pools of saltwater heated by geothermal activity. There are three different pools where you can ou can soak in water ranging from around 38°C to 41°C (100°F to 106°F)—even though it felt hotter. There’s a small entrance fee, but the facilities include changing rooms, bathrooms, and a little shop selling drinks and snacks.

The water is very hot, especially considering the warm outdoor temperatures. So it’s best to ease in slowly with your feet first, and let your body adjust. Once you’re in, it’s incredibly relaxing.

The best time to go is late afternoon or early evening, when the outside temperature is a bit cooler, making it more pleasant to enjoy the warm water. It’s perfect after a full day of exploring or island-hopping. However, be aware that the hot springs close at 8PM and the last entrance is at 7PM.

The hot springs are located in a mangrove area, surrounded by nature. There are many birds around, and if you’re lucky, you might see some interesting species. We also saw a few monkeys in a tree nearby.

To get there you can go by rented motorbike, or tricycle. The road is not very good, it’s mainly a dirt road, so be careful when driving there. Alternatively, you can go via an organized tour that visits several spots in the island including the hot springs.

Mt. Talapay View Point

Mt. Talapay is a bit off the usual tourist route and located farther from the town center, but it’s a nice spot to visit if you have some extra time. The roads are in good condition, so it’s an easy ride if you have a motorbike (even though a bit long).

At the viewpoint, you’ll find picnic tables, swings, wooden huts, and several spots designed for taking pictures. The views of the bay and the surrounding mountains are quite nice. The place is very quiet, without many tourists, ideal to relax for a bit.

We also saw several cashew trees there, which was pretty interesting since we had never seen them in real life before. There were also some local kids catching them to sell them later in town.

A few kilometers from this place, there’s a floating house, which is also a nice place for taking pictures, soak up the views and relax.

I really enjoyed visiting these places—but if you’re short on time, don’t worry too much about skipping them. They’re great if you have time to spare, but not essential.

Other Things to Do in Coron

If you have extra time in Coron, or if you’re looking for different things to do, here are some more suggestions.

Dugong Watching

I hadn’t heard about the dugong until I arrived in Coron. Basically, they are sea animals, similar to manatees, and are sometimes called “sea cows.” It seems that Coron is one of the few places in the Philippines where you can see them in the wild. However, the tour to see them is quite expensive and not always successful (there’s no guarantee that you’ll see one), but it definitely seems a unique experience.

Calauit Island Safari

We also heard about the Calauit Island Safari while in Coron. It’s a wildlife sanctuary located on Calauit Island, a few hours away from town. The place is known for having giraffes and zebras, as well as native animals that roam freely on the island.

It sounded interesting, but we decided not to go because it’s quite far (so, we needed an extra day), and because I haven’t done much research I didn’t know how “ethical” it is. I always like to do a lot of research about visiting places that involve animals. So, if you’re interested, do your own research and decide for yourself.

Resort Day Pass

If you want to add an extra day just to relax by the pool, sunbathe, and enjoy some cocktails, you can get a day pass to one of the resorts in Coron and use their facilities. One example is the Tag Resort Coron. I’m sure there are also other options. Make sure to check and ask at your accommodation.

Things No One Tells You About Coron

Even though Coron is an amazing destination for island-hopping, snorkeling, and stunning landscapes, there are a few things you should know before you go—so you won’t end up disappointed. A lot of what you see on social media highlights only the beautiful parts, but not the raw, real side of the places people visit.

For example, many things in Coron are still quite basic. There are no large supermarkets, most roads are in poor condition or unpaved, and sidewalks are practically non-existent. The main forms of transportation are motorbikes and tricycles. There are almost no cars. You’ll see rats passing by in the streets, specially at night. There are many stray dogs.

The internet is quite slow, and some areas don’t have any signal at all. Power outages also happen regularly. Many locals live in very simple homes, often without running water, proper showers, or other comforts we’re used to. Still, the people we met were genuinely warm and welcoming, and we never felt like anyone was trying to take advantage of us.

Accommodations are quite simple for the price you pay—especially when compared to other places in Southeast Asia like Thailand or Vietnam.

That said, Coron was actually the place in the Philippines where we found the most variety in food, including some spots that served Western-style breakfasts with real bread—something we didn’t come across on other islands. There were also several pharmacies within walking distance.

When we travel, we like to experience the local culture and don’t mind giving up a few comforts from home. But that’s not the case for everyone. So, it’s better to have realistic expectations, so you end up disappointed.

Where to Go After Coron?

After Coron, many people proceed to El Nido. You can take a direct ferry, but a lot of travelers choose to join a 3-day, 2-night expedition instead (you can also do this from El Nido to Coron). On this trip, you’ll spend your days exploring remote paradise islands with beautiful beaches, snorkeling in amazing coral reefs, and sleeping in wooden huts where there is no electricity or running water. A lot of people love this kind of adventure, but it’s definitely not for everyone.

We really wanted to do it, but during the expedition there’s no internet, and we can’t be offline for more than two days because of work.

Coron was our last stop in the Philippines before returning to Manila to get our flight back home. But, if you’re just getting started your journey, we really recommend going to El Nido. After, that, you can get a flight to Cebu or Panglao (Bohol) and from there explore Siquijor. Or even getting back to Manilla and explore other islands in the Philippines like Boracay, or Siargao.

Another great idea is to fly to Boracay. We actually regret not including it in our Philippines itinerary, but we didn’t have enough time.

If you’re ending your trip in the Philippines, you can get a flight to Manilla, and then get your flight back home.

More Philippines Travel Guides

If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines, make sure to check out our other guides:

• Three Weeks in the Philippines – Our Itinerary
• How to Plan a Trip to the Philippines: 33 Essential Travel Tips
• How to Spend Four Days in El Nido: Travel Guide and Best Things to Do
• El Nido Island Hopping Tour A – Is it Worth It? What to Expect?
• El Nido Island Hopping Tours A, B, C, D — Which One to choose?
• Siquijor 3-Day Itinerary & Travel Guide: Best Things to Do
• Moalboal Travel Guide: Best Things to Do & 3-Day Itinerary
• Bohol 3-Day Itinerary & Travel Guide: Best Things to Do
• Apo Island Snorkeling Tour — What to Expect
• Manila One Day Itinerary (or Less) — Ideal for a Layover or Short Stay

Also, check our three-week itinerary for the Philippines:

• Three Weeks in the Philippines – Our Itinerary

We hope you find this Coron travel guide useful.

Finally, you can use our links to book your accommodation, and activities and find cheap flights. You won’t pay more for it and you’ll be supporting our work.

Thanks for reading.

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