PHOTOGRAPHY ....MY LIFE, MY PASSION: CORON PALAWAN ADVENTURE

Coron is a first class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it had a population of 32,243 people in 6,264 households.

The municipality covers part of Busuanga Island and all of the nearby Coron Island. Both islands are part of the Calamian Group of Islands in northern Palawan. The main industries of Coron are fishing andtourism, being a popular diving location.

The aquatic views from the sunken Japanese warships off Coron Island are listed in Forbes Traveler Magazine’s top 10 best scuba diving sites in the world. (Wikipedia)

I’ve been to Coron four times and it is always a different experience every time I go there. I get to meet new people, go to different places and islands and tried different kinds of food. My first trip was with my husband. We went there for the Sony Ericsson project. Seair was the only plane that can land in the short runway in Busuanga. We were the only Filipino in the plane and it is so costly to go there. That was 2007. After a year we went back with my friends , this time we were three couples and we booked at Airphilexpress we already checked in at Terminal 3 and the new airport in Busuanga is already open. We went to a different islands and sshipwrecks. My other friends saw our photos and wanted to go there too. And so, we went back to Coron last 2009. Cebupacific added Busuanga as their new destination that is why the airfare is much cheaper now. We are 15 couples all in all and lucky there is a new hotel so we stayed in Mt. Tapyas hotel.

DIVE SITE NEAR THE SHIPWRECK

Coron Palawan is a must-visit place in the Philippines. It's a haven for divers all over the world with its famous World War II underwater shipwrecks surrounded with magnificent coral reefs making it as one of the best dive spots in the world. For beach bum who wants to get their sun kissed tan, the powder white sand beaches of Coron Islandis something you cannot resist. Its crystal blue water is ideal for swimming, snorkeling, diving and deep-sea fishing.

Coron is the largest town in the island of Busuanga in the province of Palawan, Philippines. It covers part of Busuanga Island including all the nearby Coron Island. The municipality has a population of 40,007 people according to the 2007 census. Fishing and tourism, being a popular diving spot, are the main means of living. To get around, tricycles are everywhere downtown and there are also motorcycles available for rent. If you're looking for something to eat then head to Coron Market, Market Pier and numerous bake shops around town. You can either travel by plane into Busuanga from Manila and Cebu through domestic airlines or travel by ferry to get to Coron

(http://www.triptophilippines.com)

overview of Coron Palawan from plane

CLOWNFISH AT TWIN LAGOON

Best Time To Go Visit Coron Island

Most travel guides would say that the best time to go is late March until June because it is generally summertime in the Philippines. BUT, you would have to contend with a bigger crowd descending into the islands then, and obviously rates will go up. If you are feeling a little bit anti-social- head to Coron during the months of September-December – not only you will be getting lower rates because it is towards the end of the low season, your chances of getting a quieter and more relaxed vacation is higher. Just make sure that you check the weather if you are going to Coron on those months as you run the risk of smacking into the middle of typhoon season.

MALCAPUYA ISLAND

BANOL BEACH

I got back to Coron last March for a magazine assignment. I went there with my new friends Gibbs Cadiz and Floy Quintos. It was a bit rainy because the weather there is so unpredictable. We met few natives there, the “Tagbanuas” who weaved baskets and take care of the different islands there and was able to see how cashew nuts was cut and cooked. It is also a must to try the food in Kawayanan Grill. The food there is so great. I was able to meet Governor Baham Mitra and he said that there is a 300% increase in tourist in Coron. But the problem is they cannot handle all the tourist and they cannot even accommodate the AD Congress event. As much as they want to, he said they need more investors and they are working on the electricity problem there.

COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH GOV. BAHAM MITRA

KAWAYANAN GRILL

A Must-Do

Island hopping

Enjoy Coron Island and the neighboring islands it covers; Siete Pecados, Culion Island, CYC Island, Sangat Island, Malcapuya Island , Banana Island , and Black Island.

Diving

Being listed as one of the top scuba diving site in the world in many travel magazines, diving the renowned sunken shipwrecks is something you should not miss.

Snorkeling

Barracuda Lake, Kayangan Lake, Skeleton Wreck are among the most visited snorkeling areas.

Other activities

· Mangrove kayak tours, trekking Mt Lunes Santo with bamboo cooked lunch, and starry night mangrove firefly/plankton cruises are offered in Kingfisher Park.

· Take a dip in Maquinit Hot Spring, a beautiful place to hang out in the evening after a long day of activities.

· The Mt. Tapyas hike is reportedly is a 700+-step stairs to the top, the entrance is found at the side of community basketball court. Experience a breathtaking view of the sunset, recommended to start setting out at 4pm.

Coron Island Palawan surely lives up to a traveler’s fantasy being a picturesque paradise with a wide array of activities you can indulge. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, comfortable clothes, swimming or scuba gear, camera and spare cash. Either you want to have an organized and convenient trip or you just don’t want to miss on anything, you can check out some Coron Palawan packages.

Stay Away From

1. Mosquitoes! Some of them are just plain huge, and Palawan is not exactly Malaria-free. Take anti-Malaria tablets with you as well heaps of insect repellent, even if you just plan to head out to some secluded beach.
2. Stray animals: dogs and monkeys – rabies is prevalent all over the Philippines, and the closest best hospital is back in Manila.
Touts and vendors that continually harasses tourists are conspicuously absent in Coron unlike in most of the other places. Coron Town has the trappings of a sleepy fishing village, thus, prostitution, if there is any, is not immediately visible.

GOING TO KAYANGAN LAKE

KAYANGAN LAKE

How to get to Coron & Busuanga? Fly away!

From Manila to Busuanga Island daily, just 45 minutes flight's!

Philippine Airlines’ budget version PAL Express flies to Coron from Manila via Busuanga Airport – newish planes, efficient staff. Cebu Pacific is another hit or miss – airport delays have been pretty common in the past year, but they do offer some of the best rates in the industry. Refunding your ticket with Cebu Pacific will take months if ever you will actually get refunded in the end. Both airlines fly via the new Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. Zest Airways (formerly Asian Spirit) and Southeast Asian Airlines (better known as SEAIR) also fly to Busuanga. Please check their respective websites for more details like flight frequency, schedules, and fares.

All flights go to the Busuanga Airport at the north side of the main island of Busuanga, from there, one can hire van or a jeepney to go down to Coron Town on the south side of the island. Ride lasts for approximately 1 hour. Going back, jeepneys or vans are available in front of the offices of airline companies (make sure to confirm this with your hotel or at the airline office just to be extra sure.)

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