quick weekend getaway
Aaaah… where do I begin?
Should I describe Coron as an Island Paradise waiting to be discovered [more], or do I say it's one of the finest beach islands there are in the region, or better yet the best beach weekend for me this year perhaps? I guess I already started and I would definitely say that it’s all of the above.
I started my journey by booking an online ticket for Super Ferry last May 9 "from Manila to Coron and back (4pm Friday) and Coron-Manila (11pm Sunday) for about $70 all in inclusive of meals inside the ferry (taking a plane from Manila would cost about $100 one way).
We arrived 4 am the following day and met with the tour group at the pier, we then took a tricycle to Sea Dive Resort where we were booked for the duration of our stay.
*I found an e-group on the web that organizes tours for Coron; the purpose is to have as many people in a group so we can save by sharing the payment for the boat and the food while island hopping. They charged us about $80 per person for the 2 day trip inclusive of island entrances, a hearty lunch (big fish, pork, bananas and mangoes) and the boat ride… We had to pay another $15 for a 1 and a half days stay in a fan room at Sea Dive (which was clean, I personally liked the simple room).
Overall, the island hopping was an amazing experience. We went to several beaches and lagoons where we snorkeled most of the time. One island where we ate lunch had a Japanese shipwreck near the shore, do couple of wading, look down and you could clearly see the wreck. It was just surreal with all the pristine water that surrounds you and the vast rock formation in between the hops and the bumps. All of the islands have beautiful corals and a rich variety of fish even in shallow waters. We went to Kayangan Lake located inside an island, and the water was so clear you can see rock-bottom 50-100 ft. deep--and it was fresh water... fresh water! in an island surrounded by salt water--again, simply amazing!
I’m planning to go back there again, but this time I want to do my own organizing and I plan to do an overnight stay in one of the islands�"Malcapuya; where the white sand is as fine as flour (i have one shot where I hold the powdery sand of Malcapuya)… hmmm hopefully this July or October after my SEA tour, and you are all invited :-D
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We arrived Saturday morning at the pier via the Super Ferry from Manila around 6am and were scheduled to depart at 11pm the following Sunday, which usually means check in Saturday morning then check out Sunday early evening, hence the one and a half day stay at Sea Dive hehe ;p.
They have clean and cozy rooms, personally I don’t think you should get an a/c room since the resort is very near the sea, again hence Sea Dive resort (double wink ;p) and has a breezy ambience. We were booked on the second floor where there was a balcony and some of the peeps in our group had a couple of beers or was it tequila on the first night…
The place is also strategically located, not only is it in the town center itself, but after a whole day of island hopping like visiting Kayangan lakes and several of the ship wrecked islands in Coron we were docked by our boatman right in front of the resort straight to our room.
I would def go back to this resort, just for the simple reason of value for money and where else could you find a place where they charge you for a half day as their standard?
…and besides, just the mere mention of Coron is already music to my ears.
Supper Ferry skeds:
Manila-Coron
Friday 4pm @ the Manila Pier
Coron-Manila
Sunday 11pm @ Coron Pier
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