Coron Island: A Mesmerizing Paradise

the picture that first comes to mind when anyone talks about Coron

The aerial view of Coron was fantastic! As our propeller plane touched down Busuanga airport, infinite mountain ranges welcomed us. No other structure but the airport. And we were like “umm.. how do we get to Kayangan Lake?” It was a 45-minute ride from Busuanga Airport to Coron Town, passing wooden bridges, vast green fields and herds and herds of cows, then we realized we were at that time far from home and a great adventure is about to begin.

vast land

herd of cows

Coron town is very laid back, lifestyle is very simple, and people are nice; plus it is just a boat ride away from Coron Island where all the magical places are tucked in carefully behind amazing rock formations and limestone walls. Coron Town is that kind of place where you can stroll in the morning in your pajamas or and walk alone at night with no worries. It’s one of the friendliest place in the country.

Coron Town

At Day 2, we  explored Coron Island the whole day. I’d run out of adjectives to describe the island. I was mesmerized, enchanted… I felt like I could stay there forever. Haha!

off to explore Coron Island

For non-swimmers like us, the life vests were our best friends the entire day since there’s not one snorkeling site where our feet could still touch the sea floor (as in Balicasag in Bohol where snorkeling site is non-swimmer friendly :)). Nonetheless, we enjoyed playing with the fishes that frenzied over the bread we brought. Siete Pecados has the most number of various colorful fishes and corals among the snorkeling sites we visited that day. We even encountered a sea snake here. Scary, I must say, because I read somewhere that it is one venomous snake. Funny though that our adrenalin got us extra fast to hurry our asses up to get away from it.

The only major let down in this trip was that we didn’t have an underwater camera to capture the details of the fantasy-like world underneath.

 entrance to Kayangan Lake

I think the highlight of every Coron Island Tour is the visit to Kayangan Lake. And it is true for us. The change in the color of the water was noticeable when  our boat reached the entrance to Kayangan Lake. From deep blue, the water slowly gets emerald green to turquoise. A short (but still tiring) trek was needed to reach the viewing cliff. The trail was rugged and uneven. From the cliff is where you can see the most photographed spot in Coron, it is also where you can see boats coming and going, and anyone can tell, more and more people are really getting mesmerized by this island.

turquoise waters of Kayangan Lake

row, row, row your boats 🙂

jaded mountains and turquoise waters of Kayangan Lake

After a few souvenir shots, we descended to experience the lake’s pristine waters. I can say it is the cleanest body of water I’ve ever swam to (or floated, with life vest on). I almost forgot I cannot swim as we explored the lake from here to there. The water is very clear. Thin, blue fishes and shrimps are plenty. There are sharp rock formations under water, some form caves that look creepy; at some point, my imagination got me thinking that some creature might pull me down any given moment. The lake is very tranquil. It was such a perfect day—the weather, the sun, the water, the jaded mountains, the people enjoying the lake, life and nature at its best. Paraiso! It’s no wonder why the Tagbanuas consider this a sacred place. It is very peaceful and mysterious at the same time. We stayed here the longest among the other destinations of the day. I actually didn’t want to leave.

thin, blue fishes

We never bothered to check the time. Time doesn’t exist in such a place. But nature calls, and our stomachs started to complain. So off we went to Banol Beach to have lunch, prepared by our boatmen. It was a gastronomic meal on a gorgeous tiny beach with amazing rock formations. I liked the feel of fine white sand beneath my feet while enjoying my seafood. Right after meal, I grabbed my camera to take pictures of the place.

rock formations at Banol Beach

one summer day at Banol Beach

Next stop was a sunken vessel, the Skeleton Ship Wreck from World War II. I am now really getting hooked with real-life feeding frenzy than the wrist-tiring computer game. The water here is deep, but the foremost part of the battle ship is still visible. And do I need to say it again? Fishes and corals are oooh! plenty!

a tiny summer place spotted while on our way to the Skeleton Shipwreck

The look of the ship gave me goosebumps because I was thinking if there were human skeletons left  inside the sunken vessel. Ah! my craze imaginations. After exhausting ourselves snorkeling and feeding the fishes, we went to yet another breath-taking destination.

beneath us is the sunken battleship from WWII

Our last destination for the day was the Twin Lagoon. The stretch of rock formations here are longer, quite darker and more jagged than the earlier ones we’ve seen. We’re just in time for low tide because we can see the tiny entrance to the lagoon. Come high tide and our chances to experience entering the lagoon through the tiny cave-like opening  would be gone, as one would have to go through the ladders instead when water is covering the opening. I prefer to enter swimming through the cave than climbing up the ladder.

the Twin Lagoon

And so I finally understood why people who have been here said that this part has weird waters. As we were passing through the small cave-like opening, we started to feel the weird waters. From my waistline up to my neck, the water is cold;  below my waistline down to my feet the water is warm. As we go further, we felt sudden currents of cold, sometimes warm, water beneath our feet. Like Kayangan Lake, this is also that point where seawater meets freshwater.; it’s a bit salty. Behind the limestone walls is another calm and serene atmosphere. I just let my self float, look up at the blue skies, and thanked God for a marvelous day that we have in this enchanting island. Later that day as we retreated to our hotel room in Coron Town,  before I finally succumb to sleep, I remembered the beauty and tranquility Coron Island generously offered us that day. And I could not just imagine how differently beautiful and unspoiled the other parts of Coron Island are, as we have explored a only small portion of it. I wonder how many more breath-taking places are tuck behind those gigantic rock and limestone formations? What else is in that island? What IS in that island that makes me want to see more of it? I was hypnotized by some force of nature that’s probably taking care of the entire Coron Island. I was enchanted. It made me want to stay longer. Ah! I’m going back, that is a promise. Tour Coordinator: Leidy de Ocampo GAMAT TRAVEL AND TOURS 09999936639