Coronicles: Island Hopping in Coron

'I Love Coron' pose at Kayangan Lake

Aside from climbing the famous 724-step Mt. Tapyas, island hopping would have to be the highlight attraction of Coron. There are already some pre-arranged packages available but we wanted to visit all of the Coron highlights. So we booked a private boat tour at Coron Galeri originally priced at 1300 per pax for 3 persons inclusive of the following:

- entrance fees (all destinations are priced 100 pesos per pax except for Kayangan Lake which charges 200 pesos per pax)

- private boat

- 2 boat guides

- PFD/life vests

- buffet lunch

- environmental fees

But then, we met a couple while we were booking who were willing to come along with us, so the price went down to 750 per pax (for 5 persons) plus the additional 300 pesos entrance fees for the additional destinations we'd like to cover. So our island hopping fee was only 1050 per pax. We rented 150 pesos worth of snorkeling gear at the shop before we boarded the boat.

The original destinations included in the tour are:

- Kayangan Lake

- CYC island

- Bulongan island

- Coral garden/calachuchi
- Giant Clams Sanctuary

- Hidden Lagoon

We added Barracuda Lake, Siete Pecados and the Twin Lagoons, and removed CYC island in our itinerary.

There are lots of stores around town offering different packages. So you can just canvass and look around first before you choose the package that suits you. We opted for this package because after comparing the prices between having a tour package versus hiring a private boat at the pier, we found that the latter was cheaper by only 200 pesos or so but entails much more effort on our part:

i.e. the boat alone is priced at around 1500 depending on your haggling skills, which if divided by 3 would be 500 pesos, and then we have to pay for the entrance fees per destination, which was 900 (since we wanted to go to 9 destinations), and then we still have to buy all of the ingredients for our lunch (which the boatmen should have already agreed that they will cook the food for lunch). The total is 1300 per pax with much more effort and time consumption.

I recommend such plan to be much more suitable for bigger groups (4 or more persons) so as to save money when you divide the price of the rental fee for the boat. But again, consider the effort and time to be consumed as well.

Our group met at Coron Galeri at around 8 in the morning, and luckily the sun was high above the sky. We walked for around 10 minutes to the pier where our boat was docked. Whenever on board, you'd be advised to always wear your PFD.

Tour Hugot

Since our group is a special tour package, we can choose the order of visiting the destinations, as well as the amount of time we wanted to spend per site.

We first headed to Siete Pecados.

Spot the Siete Pecados sign

This site became famous because this was where, allegedly, one tourist 'stepped' on some sea urchin causing him to have an anaphylactic shock resulting to his death. The site has a legend in which there were seven sisters who disappeared while crossing this body of water after disobeying their parents and secretly attending a dance in town. After their supposed disappearance, 7 limestone formations began to grow on the site representing the fallen sisters.

4 of 7 in Siete Pecados

Coral reefs and marine life surround each limestone formation, and thus this site is good for snorkeling. Recommended length of stay: 30 minutes

Next stop was the Hidden Lagoon.

Groupie at Hidden Lagoon

We had the lagoon all to ourselves. The water was about 7-8 ft deep, and its color is powder blue with some hints of being green. The water was a mixture of salt and fresh water with some parts being cold and other parts being warm; it is a good place for swimming. You won't be needing your snorkeling gear here because you won't be seeing anything here. Recommended length of stay: 30 minutes.

Cyan-colored water of Hidden Lagoon

We then headed to the Twin Lagoons. 

Here we had to pay for our entrance fee because this was one of the sites we added on top of the original 6 tour destinations.

Line up and go under

You'll leave the boat at Lagoon 1, and then during low tide, your group can form a line and float in a lying down position to pass underneath the small opening to enter Lagoon 2. During high tide, you would have to climb a ladder to go over some rocks connecting the two lagoons. Here the water is deep and is dark green, and is also a mixture of cold and warm water making it a good place for swimming. Recommended length of stay: 30 minutes.

It started to drizzle but we weren't hungry yet, so we decided to head to Barracuda Lake. 

Entrance to Barracuda Lake

We payed the entrance fee, and then proceeded to climb the steep wooden steps to the lake.

Steep stairs to Barracuda Lake

Here, supposedly, you can spot some barracudas at the bottom if you have a diving gear. The water here is fresh water and is dark blue. You can try to use your snorkeling gear to view the limestone formations on the side of the planks, but other than that, there's nothing much to see. Nonetheless, it's a good place to swim. Recommended length of stay: 30 minutes.

It was already past noon, so we went to have our buffet lunch at Bulongan Island.

Bulongan Island

The island has a short strip of beach with 3 nipa huts where you can dine. We chose the one on the far right of the island and had a hearty and serene lunch. The meal was delicious and simply cooked, and consisted of 2 large grilled fish, seaweeds in vinegar sauce, rice, banana, and liempo. They also provided bottled water. Aside from having lunch in the island, you can snorkel or just wade along the waves by the beach. Recommended length of stay: 1 hour.

Simple Lunch

We then had a short stop at Calachuchi.

Calachuchi/Coral Garden

It's just a few meters from Bulongan Island. It's a small limestone formation with a calachuchi tree. But has some coral reef and various kinds of fishes. But the current here is strong. Nonetheless, it's good place for snorkeling. Recommended length of stay: <30 minutes.="" p="">

Save the best for last: Kayangan Lake.

The most photographed view in Coron

Kayangan Lake is considered as the cleanest lake in Asia. The water is crystal clear and is cyan-colored. There are some rafts which you can use to explore the lake.

Kayangan Lake Cave Entrance

It also has a cave on its left side, and you can explore it for a good 10 to 15 minutes. But there's nothing much to see there. 

 

Because the water is crystal clear, you can actually see the bottom of the lake.

Kayangan view deck

Steps to Kayangan Lake

You have to climb approximately 150 steps to get to the lake. But the funny part is that the most photographed scenery in Coron isn't actually the lake itself but the limestone formations on the lake where you will dock. And you will see this spectacular view after climbing some steps towards the real Kayangan lake.

Real Kayangan Lake

This place is good for swimming. Recommended length of stay: 1 hour or +.

The group at a bamboo raft in Kayangan Lake

La Union Food Trip

Aside from surfing, La Union is known for restaurants serving yummy treats. So off we went on a short food trip.

First stop: Lunch at 'Surf Shack'

Ambiance/Place: 4/5

Food: 3.5/5

Service: 3/5

Price: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

Surf Shack Lunch Table

The place is very artsy fartsy, what with very hippie colorful chairs, and surf boards on display. It's an open air restaurant, and the tables have candles. Although the food was served promptly, the service is relatively slow even though they seem to have an adequate amount of wait staff.

Surf boards on display

Surf Shack Bar  

TNT Pasta (Taba ng Talangka) which was basically pasta with red sauce, olives and shrimp. I wasn't able to actually see bits of the crab meat/fat, although it tasted like sauteed mussels.

TNT Pasta

Surf Shack Wings (BBQ flavor): 16 pieces of teeny tiny chicken wings. But the plus side is that the BBQ sauce was very tasty.

Surf Shack BBQ Wings

Bocnotan Longganizza Pizza: 8 slices of basically cheese with a small slice of Bocnotan longganizza. The longganizza was very savory, and it could have been better if they just mashed it and sprinkled the bits over the pizza rather than just having a single piece.

Bocnotan Longganizza Pizza

Lunch at Surf Shack

Second Stop: Coffee at El Union Cafe

Ambiance/Place: 4.5/5

Food/Drinks: 4/5

Service: 4/5

Price: 3.5/5

Overall: 4/5

Chilling at El Union Cafe

Since we got our tummies full, we decided to have a coffee break at El Union Cafe at Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel.

This artist hostel has a very artsy fartsy restaurant and cafe. They have lounge areas that are very instagram-worthy. The coffee drinks were relatively affordable, and they offer the best s-mores in La Union.

We ordered iced coffee and their homemade chocolate chip skillet cookie, since during that time their s-mores weren't available.

Coffee and Homemade Skillet Cookie

It's a very nice hangout place for barkadas or even families.

Third Stop: Halo-Halo de Iloko

Ambiance/Place: 3.5/5

Food/Drinks: 4/5

Service: 4/5

Price: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

Halo-Halo de Iloko facade

A simple restaurant with some hints of rustic feels, Halo-Halo de Iloko is known for their sweet and yummy halo-halo. The restaurant has an air-conditioned area and an open area. It is good for both barkada and families. 

Halo-Halo de Iloko

Pork Ilokano Sisig: classic savory pork sisig spiked with a characteristic hint of sourness. Perfect with rice!

Pakbet with Bagnet: instead of your usual pork bits, this pakbet meal is mixed with Ilokano bagnet. Plus it has a creamy sauce!

Halo-Halo de Iloko Dinner Table

Adobong Pusit: sweet adobo sauce plus perfectly cooked slices of squid. Perfect with rice as well!

Special Halo-Halo de Iloko (Fiesta size): name says it all. You can also try their buko de halo-halo version which is served in a coconut shell. They will even give you the extracted buko juice! Yum!

Fiesta Halo-Halo de Iloko

So if ever you're wondering what else can you do in La Union aside from surfing, try going on a food trip. There are still a lot of food places to choose from. And thus, we will definitely go back for s(ome)-mores.

Surf's Up: La Union Day Trip

Think that La Union is too far away from Metro Manila? Think again. With the near completion of the TPLEX (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway), this surfer's haven is now just a mere 4-hour drive from Manila! Having said that, it is now possible to have a day trip in San Juan, La Union without being too stressed or exhausted. Don't think it's possible? Read on below to know more!

Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa swimming pool

How do I get there?

A. By car/private vehicle:

Route/estimated travel time (with minimal to no traffic, and a speed of 80-100mph): NLEX (1hr) -> SCTEX (30min) -> TPLEX (40min) (exit on Urdaneta) -> turn right at MacArthur Highway (pass by the following: Binalonan, Pozorrubio, Sison, and Rosario) -> turn right at Pangasinan-La Union Road (pass by Santo Tomas, Agoo, Aringay, Caba, Bauang, San Fernando, and finally, San Juan) (1.5-2hrs)

Total travel time: more or less 4 hours

We drove a Hyundai car and it took us ~20L of gasoline to reach our destination (one way). During that time, the full tank was worth 960 pesos, which we divided by 5, so basically, it only took us around 300 pesos per person for the gas contribution (round trip).

B. By commuting
Bus/Van

Fare is around 400 pesos (one way)
Travel time: ~5-6 hours

Partas Transport (Cubao) - Manila to Laoag (ask to be dropped off in front of the resorts)
Autobus Transport Systems Inc. (Dimasalang)
Farinas Transit Company (Laong-Laan cor. M. Dela Fuente)
Genesis Bus Lines (Avenida)

Alternate route: board a bus bound for San Fernando, La Union and then ride a jeep to San Juan (they are just adjacent towns)

You can also board buses bound for Vigan and just be dropped off along MacArthur Highway (where the beach resorts are).

What do I do there?

Surf's up!

Number one in the list is SURFING. Next would be Food tripping. And then of course, there's relaxing by or swimming in the beach. Here's what we did during our San Juan day trip:

Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa dining area overlooking La Union beach

Time of arrival at Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa: 10 am. We could have arrived earlier, but our driver wasn't able to wake up to her set alarm, so we were only able to enter NLEX by 6 am.

We talked to the guards and told them that we're just there for a day trip. One of the guards then escorted us to the beachfront where the surf schools are located (they were only nipa huts with surf boards). We negotiated with the owner of one surf school (that which is exactly in front of Kahuna Beach Resort) to have an hour's worth of surf lessons for only 350 pesos inclusive of the following:

- rental of surfing board
- one-on-one lesson with a trainer
- borrowing of rash guard (optional)

We then headed to Surf Shack to have our lunch because there were practically no swells at noon time, so it would be pointless to try to learn to surf.

Surf Shack Lunch

We spent about an hour and a half for lunch, and then headed to El Union Cafe in Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel. You could walk from Surf Shack to Flotsam, but it was a very hot day then, so we rode a jeepney and got dropped off in front of Flotsam. There, we ordered some sweets and had coffee while enjoying the afternoon lounging on bean bags assembled on their grounds. Flotsam is an artist hostel and has sights very good for your IG account, while El Union is known for their yummy and affordable smores.

El Union at Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel

We spent another hour and a half there, and then rode a jeepney again to go back to Kahuna by 2 pm. We changed into our surf clothes using their bathroom and then learned to ride them waves from 2:30 pm to 4 pm. It was off season during our visit, so we practically have the beach all to ourselves, which was pretty nice so that there aren't a lot of people surfing alongside you.

Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel

After around 4 frustrating tries, I was able to stand and balance myself while riding a swell! It felt so amazing! And then after several practice trials, it feels like it is only natural to ride a wave.

Riding that swell

By 4 pm, we then took some shots with out trainers and then hit the shower of Kahuna for free. We changed inside their bathroom and then headed to Halo-Halo de Iloko in San Fernando to have our dinner.

Trainee + Surf board and Trainer

We left the restaurant at around 6:40 pm, and then we arrived in Manila by 11:30 pm. We had 2 stopovers along the way, and it also rained and had some traffic in NLEX so it added up to our travel time.

Halo-Halo de Iloko

Costs:
Toll: 1,075/5 = 215
Gas: 1,925/5 = 385
McDo Breakfast: 59
Surf Shack Lunch: 955/5 = 191
Jeepney fare (2x): 16
Surf School: 350
El Union Cafe: 250/5 = 50
Halo-Halo de Iloko dinner: 1135/5 = 227

Total: 1,493 pesos

For a budget of only 1,500, we were able to surf, go on a food trip, and relax by the beach. I think it's a good enough deal for me, don't you think?