Best places to stay in Coron
Mainland
Coron in the south east of the island has by far the largest range of hotels to stay in out of all the islands and is the gateway in and out from the area. The town is easily reachable from other places in the Philippines by ferry or plane with the town itself having mountains of tricycles, buses, Jeepneys and motorbikes for rent that can help you get around the island.
Coron proper is a small and laid back charming fishing town that has quite a busy port area as it is used by fishermen, cruise and fishing tours and ferries that serve the nearby islands as well as ones further away. From the port area, you can arrange some island hopping excursions to a variety of islands as well as diving, fishing and cruise tours around Coron. Just off Coron there are some excellent dive sites and this has to be one of the things that top the list.
Other things to do and see in Coron include the mountain that sits just behind it called Mount Tapyas, which has outstanding panoramic views of the mainland and the surrounding islands. If you want to shop in Coron, the best area is the Market Pier as it contains many stalls and shops that sell a whole host of products as well as karaoke and diners. The best restaurants are found down by the waterfront and have magnificent views looking out to the bay with most offering local Filipino food though there is some European places too. There are also bars here but the main concentration is found along the main strip with some excellent hotels also located here.
Other places to see around the mainland include the mangrove forest, where you can kayak your way through it, Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon and the best beaches are Banol and Beach 69, which have lovely soft sand and clean waters to swim and snorkel in. In the north of the mainland there is a tourist attraction called Calauit Safari Park with the entire area declared as a wildlife sanctuary and game preserve back in 1977, which is where you can see a great range of animals and birds including giraffes. There are also various hot springs, jungle treks, horseback riding, hiking trails and mountain bike tours to check out too.
Popototan Island
Popototan Island is an incredible island to stay in, which offers fantastic diving and snorkelling with the World War II Japanese ship that was sunk here being the major highlight. There are also many other water sports like sea kayaking that you can do, which is a great way to see the island, as is hiking the numerous trails and then rewarding yourself some relaxation on one of the pristine beaches that can be found along the shores and are superbly accompanied by picture-perfect palm trees. The Coral Bay Beach and Dive Resort has around 19 rooms to pick from, which are all found by the sandy shoreline on the doorstep of the mind-blowing waters.
The restaurant has delicious Filipino and Western food and the bar has a great range of alcoholic drinks and there is a store that sells all essentials. The resort offers island hopping, scuba diving, jungle treks and a variety of dive courses too.
Bulalacao Island
Bulalacao Island is another stunning location that is excellent to stay in and is home to heavenly waters, which teems with marine life. There are also shipwrecks that you can dive and snorkel at and there are mesmerizing walks along the limestone cliff formations.
The Two Seasons Coron Island Resort and Spa offer lots of different activities like fishing, windsurfing, diving, snorkelling, fitness centre and spa as well as arranging other tours. This beachfront property boasts some of the most luxurious bungalows that have excellent views with the restaurant and bar serving all sorts of food and beverages.
Dimakya Island
The exceptionally remote and tiny island of Dimakya represents true paradise with Club Paradise Resort conserving the island’s natural look and resources, which makes it an excellent place to stay in. The beaches are top quality and there are a variety of animals and birds to observe with tour guides being available from the resort to take you to the best spots.
The resort also offers dives and snorkelling at World War II wrecks and opportunities to see the Dugong with Dugong Dive Centre, which is a close relative of the Manatee and is the only strictly vegetarian marine mammal in the world. They grow up to 3 metres but are unfortunately endangered with only a few left in the area. The resort has many brilliant types of cottages, from beachfront to hillside views with all of them having outstanding vista.
The restaurant offers al fresco dining, which offer different Filipino and international foods and the bar stays open all day. The resort also has an entertainment room, swimming pool and glow spa as well as kayaking, hiking tours and island hopping.
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