The reason you visit Coron is probably not for the town itself, but for the breathtaking islands surrounding it. In the area you’ll find blue-green lagoons, white sandbars and idyllic beaches full of palm trees. These beautiful islands have become incredibly popular, so keep in mind that you won’t be alone here. It’s still absolutely worth boarding a traditional bangka, which takes you to the most beautiful spots in northern Palawan. There are many different day tours to choose from, each with their own route and highlights. To help you choose, I’ve listed the most popular tours and highlighted the most beautiful places and islands.

The different tours to choose from

You can choose various day tours to go island hopping from Coron. It’s good to know that you’re not guaranteed to visit the places below. The places you visit always depend on weather conditions.

Tour A – Classic highlights

Tour A focuses on Coron’s iconic spots. You’ll visit the beautiful Kayangan Lake, go snorkeling and visit two beautiful beaches.

• Kayangan Lake – Known as the cleanest lake in the Philippines, surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs.
• CYC Beach – A beach with white sand and clear water, perfect for relaxation.​
• Las Islas de Coral – A beautiful spot with vibrant coral reefs.
• Sunset Beach – A secluded bay with golden sand and calm waters, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the view.

Check the availability of Tour A.

Tour B – Adventurous lakes and lagoons

Tour B is a bit more expensive, but you also visit more places. You’ll go snorkeling at multiple beautiful spots, visit both Twin Lagoon and Barracuda Lake, and a beautiful beach.

• Barracuda Lake – A crystal-clear lake with both fresh and salt water sections enclosed by dramatic limestone cliffs.
• Atuayan Beach – A picturesque beach with white sand, surrounded by green hills. The calm surf makes it a wonderful place to swim or relax in the shade of palm trees.
• Skeleton Wreck – A shallow Japanese shipwreck, ideal for snorkeling.
• Twin Lagoon – Two lagoons separated by a limestone wall; accessible through an underwater opening or a ladder.
• Coral Garden – A colorful reef with diverse coral species and tropical fish.

Check the availability of Tour B.

Tour C – Tropical islands and beaches

Tour C is perfect if you love white beaches and want to do a lot of snorkeling. These spots are located further away and are less crowded than the spots on Tour A and B.

• Malcapuya Island – An island with powdery white sand and crystal-clear water, ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
• Bulog Dos Island – A small island known for its sandbar.​
• Banana Island – An island with lush vegetation and a beautiful beach, perfect for relaxation.

Check the availability of Tour C.

Super Ultimate Tour – A combination of Tour A & Tour B

The Super Ultimate Tour is for everyone who wants to see as many beautiful places as possible in one day.

• Barracuda Lake – A crystal-clear lake with both fresh and salt water sections enclosed by dramatic limestone cliffs.
• Kayangan Lake – Known as the cleanest lake in the Philippines, surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs.
• Twin Lagoon – Two lagoons separated by a limestone wall; accessible through an underwater opening or a ladder.
• Skeleton Wreck – A shallow Japanese shipwreck, ideal for snorkeling.
• CYC Beach – A beach with white sand and clear water, perfect for relaxation.​
• Coral Garden – A colorful reef with diverse coral species and tropical fish.
• Banol Beach – A small but charming beach with fine white sand, limestone cliffs in the background and typical nipa huts.

Check the availability of Super Ultimate Tour.

Tour D – Wrecks and coral gardens

Tour D is a good choice for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts as you’ll snorkel at shipwrecks and coral reefs.

• Lusong Gunboat – A Japanese shipwreck from World War II, popular with snorkelers due to its shallow location.​
• Lusong Coral Garden – An extensive coral reef full of marine life.
• Pass Island – A serene island with white sand and clear water.

Check the availability of Tour D.

Four-day expedition Coron – El Nido or vice versa

During the expedition from Coron to El Nido you don’t sail to the above-mentioned places, but visit uninhabited islands where day tours don’t go. This way you have the most beautiful spots to yourself and avoid the crowds of day-trippers. This four-day expedition is for travelers who aren’t looking for luxury, but for experience. For those who won’t get stressed by a few days without wifi. You spend a large part of the day on the boat, sailing from one idyllic little island to another. You sleep in simple huts on the beach of uninhabited islands under a clear starry sky.

Read more about the four-day expedition from Coron to El Nido

Highlights of island hopping around Coron

Below you can read about some of the most beautiful places you can visit during island hopping in Coron.

Twin Lagoon

Twin Lagoon is a hidden paradise, surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and crystal-clear water. The lagoon consists of two parts, separated by a narrow opening in the rocks. At low tide you can swim right through it, while at high tide you climb over the rocks via a wooden ladder to get to the other side. It feels like stepping into a secret world. For those who want to get on the water, it’s possible to rent a kayak and paddle along the impressive rock formations.

Twin Lagoon is a regular stop on Tour B and the Super Ultimate Tour.

Kayangan Lake

Kayangan Lake is often labeled as the cleanest lake in Asia. The lake has crystal-clear water, which is a mix of fresh and salt water and is enclosed by dramatic limestone formations. Before you reach the lake, you climb up a short but steep stairway to an iconic viewpoint over the bay. Once below you can swim wonderfully in the deep blue water, floating between the rock formations.

You visit Kayangan Lake with Tour A and the Super Ultimate Tour.

Barracuda Lake

Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake are somewhat similar, as Barracuda Lake is also a lake of fresh and salt water. It’s formed by a collapsed limestone sinkhole, and despite the name, the chance of actually encountering a barracuda here is small because underwater life is very scarce here. What makes this location truly unique are the towering rock walls and deep limestone crevices that extend far below the water surface. This makes the lake popular among freedivers.

Barracuda Lake can be visited with Tour B and the Super Ultimate Tour.

Tip: Barracuda Lake is also a popular dive site. You then go further into the lake than during an island-hopping tour, and you get the chance to experience the unique ‘thermocline’. This natural phenomenon creates a clear separation between fresh and salt water, leading to temperature changes of up to 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) as you move through the water. This creates a magical, visually distorting underwater experience that makes this spot a special dive location in Coron.

Malcapuya Island

Malcapuya Island is located about 1.5 to 2 hours sailing south of Coron Town, and is known for its powder-white sand beach that’s so soft it squeaks and chirps under your feet. The water is super clear and slopes gently, ideal for swimming or just floating in the shallows. You’ll also find beautiful coral reefs a bit further from the beach. Here you can snorkel beautifully and see colorful fish, reef sharks and sea turtles.

You visit Malcapuya Island with Tour C.

White sand beaches

During all tours you visit one or more beautiful beaches. Often you get a delicious lunch served here that you can then eat with your feet in the sand. Which beach you’ll visit depends on the weather and which tour you book. I visited Banol Beach and the adjacent Smith Point Beach. You can also visit CYC Beach, Sunset Beach or Atuayan Beach.

Skeleton Shipwreck

Skeleton Shipwreck is one of the most famous shipwrecks in Coron. The remains of this Japanese warship lie diagonally on the seabed at a depth ranging from about 5 to 22 meters (16 to 72 feet). While snorkeling you can look down from the water surface at the contours of the wreck, where coral and fish have gathered around.

You visit Skeleton Shipwreck with Tour B and the Super Ultimate Tour.

Coral Garden

Coral Garden is a popular snorkeling spot in Coron, known for its clear water and vibrant coral gardens. There are different Coral Gardens, one on the west side and one on the east side. This  is the place for snorkelers because of the colorful coral and large schools of fish.

Coral Garden is a regular stop on Tour B and the Super Ultimate Tour.