Saturday, November 17, 2012

Coron, Palawan


Welcome to my dream destination...

Coron, Palawan


Coron is a first class municipality of Palawan
and
considered to be one of the most beautiful islands of the world: 2016


There are 3 ways to reach this paradise:

1. Fly directly from Manila to Busuanga Airport through CebuPacific, PAL and SkyJet.

2. Take the ferry from Batangas to Coron through 2Go.

3. Fly from Manila to Puerto Prinsesa or El Nido then charter a boat to Coron.


I chose the first option.

I had my airline reservation through Air Asia.
(They don't serve this route anymore)

My flight departed Manila at 2 pm arriving Coron around 3 pm.
P2000, round trip. 
I booked it 2 weeks in advance.


There are available vans going to the town for P150.
It will take 20-30 minutes.


It's one of the cleanest and neat airport roads I've been to.


It's a small town with a mountain and hot spring.

I decided to climb the mountain for the sunset.


Mt. Tapyas has this cross at the center.


And some chocolate looking hill at the back.


The most beautiful sunset of my life.


The Maquinot Hot Spring.

After the tiring climb, I found myself in this hot spring near the ocean.

I met 2 lovely girls in the mountain that I shared the trike going here.
P100 each, 1 way.
We also asked the trike driver to wait for us.
It will take 15 minutes to get here.

The entrance fee is P100.


The Krystal Lodge

It was past 9 pm when we decided to go back to the town.

I didn't have a hotel reservation as I want to choose my accommodation.
It was not a peak season.

I just saw a couple going out of somewhere and was pointed to this lodge by the water.
P400 fan room, good for 2
or
 just good for me as I was travelling solo.


There are a lot of hotels and restaurants within this town. 

There are also beach resorts on the nearby island.

My new friends: Ann and Tin 
decided to have our dinner in some local restaurant on the hill.

I can't remember the name, as usual.
P100 for seafood sharing.


I woke up around 4 am with the heavy downpour and strong wind.

Did I tell you that a tropical storm just landed our country the previous days?

I waited until 5 am to find a restaurant to give me some good breakfast.

The only restaurant that was open that time was the Diver's Inn.
My breakfast for P150.


The Maquinit Hot Spring, by day.

All island hopping activities were cancelled.. urg! 

But, instead of crying myself with the storm I returned to the hot spring to keep calm.

I was with the lovely couple that I met in the airplane and another solo traveller.


We had lunch at the Diver's Inn.

Then, we rented a motorbike to go to the waterfalls.
P600 good for 2.

There are 2 waterfalls in this island:  one is near the airport
and the other one is 2 hours away.

We were given a paper map so we decided to take the farthest.

It was one of those most magical evenings I've seen.
There are fireflies in the waterfalls that brightened the entire forest.

*pctto


We also witnessed the first dance of a local wedding.

We had some pizza and shakes for dinner for P250.


Day 3.
The storm had passed.

I had my breakfast again at the Diver's Inn.
I met my other 2 new friends who did food adventure the other day.

They had contacted a boat man for the island hopping.


We had chosen 1 package for P1500, good for 3.


The Kayangan Lake.

It's an island with a huge salt lake inside.
It's also one of the cleanest lakes in the country.

Joy ride!
Solo travelling is so much of an adventure and finding new friends to cherished 
along the way or along the lake is an added bonus! 

The entrance is P40.


The Twin Lagoon.

It has a beautiful lagoon inside.

You can swim or ride the bamboo raft to get to the other side.
Entrance is P70.


Then, the Banol beach.

It has a white powdery sand and we stayed here to swim for some time.

I had to take my flight that late afternoon.


This is life.. never over until the last breath.

Airfare: P2000 round trip
Expenses: P5000.
Companion: Solo