Why Honeymoon in Coron
Coron gives you swims you will talk about for years. Kayangan Lake is brackish, glass-clear and ringed by sheer rock. Twin Lagoon has you climbing a ladder over a rock wall, or swimming through a gap at low tide, into a second lagoon where cold fresh water meets warm salt water and the surface shimmers.
It is also the best wreck site in the Philippines. Certified divers can explore ships like the seaplane tender Akitsushima. Snorkelers have the Skeleton Wreck and the Lusong Gunboat, both shallow enough to see from the surface.
For couples, Coron feels more adventurous and less polished than El Nido. That suits people who like a little grit with their beach days and want evenings away from crowds.
When to Go
Come between December and May. January through April is the most reliable stretch for calm seas, which matters because nearly everything here involves a boat. March to May brings the best visibility for diving and the hottest days.
The southwest monsoon brings rain from June, with July usually the wettest month. Boat tours still run on many days, but swells can close routes to the outer islands and the fast ferry to El Nido is often suspended. Typhoon risk is highest from about July to October.
The wrecks are diveable year-round because they sit in sheltered bays. If diving is your main reason to come, the wet season is less of a problem than for beach days. Book well ahead for Christmas, New Year and Holy Week.
Where to Stay
Coron town is where most budget and midrange hotels are. It is convenient for tours and has restaurants within walking distance. It is also hot, noisy with tricycles and without a real beach, so it works best as a base for one or two nights.
For the honeymoon part, look at the island resorts off Busuanga. Club Paradise on Dimakya Island has a white beach, a house reef and seagrass beds where dugongs feed nearby. Huma Island Resort has overwater villas on a small island in the bay. Several smaller dive resorts sit in coves along the coast, with simple cottages and their own boats.
Island resorts are a boat ride from the main sights, so ask how they handle tours. Many run their own private trips to Kayangan and the wrecks, which is worth paying for.
Romantic Things to Do
Hire a private boat for the Coron Island loop: Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Barracuda Lake, a reef stop and lunch on a beach. Start early to reach Kayangan before the tour boats. Climb to the viewpoint over the cove for the photo everyone takes, then down the other side to the lake itself.
A second day can be all beaches. The southern islands of Malcapuya, Banana Island and Bulog Dos have white sand, shallow reefs and very few people on weekdays.
In town, climb the roughly 700 steps of Mount Tapyas in the late afternoon for sunset over the bay, then take a tricycle to Maquinit Hot Springs. It is a saltwater pool by the mangroves, best after dark when the air cools off. For something unusual, take a full-day trip to Calauit Safari Park, where giraffes and zebras brought from Kenya in 1977 roam northern Busuanga.
Getting There and Around
Fly into Francisco B. Reyes Airport on Busuanga (USU), which has direct flights from Manila, Cebu and Clark. The Manila flight is about an hour. Vans meet every arrival for the 30–40 minute drive to Coron town. Island resorts send their own transfers and boats.
From El Nido, a fast ferry runs in about four hours in calm weather. It is a scenic ride past the Linapacan islands but can be bumpy, so take something for seasickness if you need it.
In town, tricycles cover short trips cheaply. Tours leave from the public pier and include hotel pickup. There is no need for a car unless you head to Calauit, which is a long drive best arranged through your hotel with a driver.
Food and Drink
Coron town has a growing restaurant scene for a small place, from Filipino grills to wood-fired pizza and coffee shops near the pier. Seafood is fresh and cheap, especially grilled fish, squid and seaweed salad. Try cashew nuts, a Palawan specialty sold everywhere in bags and as cashew brittle.
On boat tours the crew prepares lunch, usually grilled fish and pork, rice, tomatoes with salted egg and fruit. Ask if they can add crab or lobster for an extra fee; many can.
On island resorts, meals are usually included or semi-included because there is nowhere else to eat. Ask about a private beach dinner, which most will set up with lanterns on the sand.
Keep drinks simple. A cold San Miguel Pale Pilsen or a calamansi juice suits the climate. Drink bottled or filtered water only.
Honeymoon Tips
Bring cash. Coron Island's lakes and beaches each charge entrance fees collected by the Tagbanua community. Private boat crews expect a cash tip.
Expect to wear a life vest when swimming at some of the lakes, including Kayangan, even if you are strong swimmers. Guides enforce it. A snorkel mask lets you see the shelves of rock underneath.
If you dive, book with an operator that briefs wreck penetration carefully. Many wrecks are deep and some are for advanced divers only.
Wear water shoes. Boardwalks are slippery and the limestone is sharp. Finally, allow a buffer before your international flight. Flights out of Busuanga are often delayed and occasionally canceled in bad weather, so spend the last night in Manila.
