Last June 2015, the Palaweña Explorer was given a great opportunity to explore the wonderful creations of God in the municipality of Coron, Palawan. Coron has been a famous tourist destination since I can remember.

It is one of Palawan's greatest prides.

A marine world of Japanese shipwrecks, a unique lake, barracudas, turtles, and a lot more awaits you here in Coron.

So what are you waiting for? Come on, Vamonos. Let the Palaweña explorer take you on a virtual island hopping tour in the Islands of Coron, Palawan Philippines.

SIETE PICADOS

The first stop of our Coron Island hopping tour is a famous snorkeling site known as Siete Picados Marine Park.

Aside from the nice corals and fishes that you can see here, an interesting story behind this Marine Park will surely pinch your curiosity. 

(Siete Picados Marine Park, Coron Palawan---June 2015)

Entrance fee: P50 per person for locals and P100 per person for foreigners

What to see/do: Snorkeling, Swimming and Fish Feeding.

(A Marine Park with an interesting story)

KAYANGAN LAKE

This is the most famous tourist spot in Coron, Palawan. It is considered as the cleanest and clearest lake in the Philippines and in Asia by the tourists who have visited the place. Kayangan Lake is indeed one of Coron's Prides! I, myself has been amazed by the beauty of this place. It's one of the most relaxing places that I've been to. The lake is really spotless and it is very clear that you can see what's underneath it. Of all the islands/places in Coron that I've visited, Kayangan Lake is my top 2 favorite destination next to the Coral Garden.

Kayangan's View Deck

Entrance fee: P200 per person

What to see/do: Mountain Climbing/Trekking, Picture-taking, Swimming, Snorkeling, Riding a raft. You can mostly see rock formations underwater, and there are few fishes too.

(Cleanest Lake in the Philippines and in Asia)

BARRACUDA LAKE

There was once a barracuda seen in this lake that's why it was called as such. It is a very deep lake which makes it a famous diving spot. Some people get scared of this lake not only because of the barracuda story but mainly because of its deep waters. The lake is surrounded by huge limestone mountains and it has a very serene vibe in it.

(Barracuda Lake, Coron Palawan --June 2015)

Entrance fee: 100 pesos per person

What to see/do: Swimming, snorkeling, cliff diving and scuba diving. All you can see underwater are the solid rock formations, some small fishes and shrimps, and the divers (if there are some).

(Barracuda Lake is a famous diving spot)

VIVIAN BEACH

Vivian Beach is a privately owned island which is a perfect spot for picnic lunch :) It is part of the Coron Islands Island Hopping Tour.

(The stunning view of Vivian Beach)

Entrance fee: P100 per person. Cottages can be used for free. There are a total of four (4) huts in the island.

What to see/do: There's a pet monkey in the island which is tied up at the tree in the middle of the beach. There's nothing much to see underwater. You can have your lunch and go swimming or just soak up the sun and bum around at their white sand beach.

(Vivian Beach, Coron Palawan---June 2015)

TWIN LAGOON

Our last stop for the Coron Island Island hopping adventure day 1 is this Twin lagoon that's divided by a limestone cliff. There are two ways on how to get to the other lagoon, first is you can climb up that small ladder and cross over the limestone cliff, another way to get inside is to swim under the limestone formation. To enter the other lagoon, I chose the first option and I quite regretted it because it was tiring and you need to be very careful with your steps because the stairs are quite steep. When I exited the lagoon I chose to experience exiting it under the limestone cliff. All you need to do is to float and go through the small opening. It was easier as compared to climbing up and down the staircase. Our boatman was also the one who helped us go out the other lagoon. All we did was float and he was the one who dragged us out. You cannot do the second option if its high tide as the water will fully submerge that small opening and you are left with no choice but to climb up and go down that wooden staircase.

(Coron Islands' Twin Lagoon, June 2015)

Entrance fee: P100 per person

What to see/do: There's a lot to see underwater as it is blessed with a beautiful marine life but you can't really enjoy its underwater scenery because the underwater view isn't clear due to the water's climate.

(The gateway to the other lagoon)

SKELETON WRECK

Coron has a marine world of Japanese shipwrecks in its different areas. One of these can be found in one of the destinations in the Coron Islands island hopping tour. A Japanese sunken ship from the World War II is the main attraction of this site popularly known as the Skeleton Wreck.

(The skeleton of a Japanese sunken ship)

What is left with the sunken ship now is only its skeleton that's why the site was called as such. Aside from the main attraction of a skeleton ship, there are also a lot of fishes in this area. There are very large fishes such as Suran and many other types of fishes who freely swim around the skeleton wreck.

You can bring bread or if there is some rice left from your lunch you can use that for fish feeding. In our case, our very thoughtful boatman prepared us some plastics with the leftover rice in it which we used to feed the fishes. It was really an enjoyable activity. The only downside in our experience here at the Skeleton wreck is that during that time the water was very itchy. According to our boat's captain, maybe it was because of the planktons. The wreck is one of the famous diving sites in Coron and maybe there were divers who went diving that day that's why the planktons went into the surface.

The itchiness of the water was really disturbing and it made us really uncomfortable but don't worry because the itchiness subsided after a few minutes.

The place is still a nice place to go to, just pray that there will be no itchy things in the water on your visit hehe.

(Fish feeding at the skeleton wreck)

Entrance fee: P100 per person

What to see/do: Swimming, Sight-seeing (Japanese Shipwreck), Snorkeling and Fish feeding

CORAL GARDEN

A wide array of beautiful corals will keep you entertained in this snorkeling site. All you need are your snorkeling gears and a life vest if you don't know how to swim.

This place has by far the most beautiful underwater scenery that I've seen in all my excursions. The view underwater is really awesome! I have never seen that many corals in my entire travel adventures. El Nido's underwater view is no match with Coron's underwater scenery.

NO WORDS can express how beautiful this coral garden is! It definitely is one of the must-see and must-visit places in Coron, Palawan. Too bad we weren't able to capture its beauty in the camera because the camera's battery was already drained when we got to the area. I guess it only means that you guys should visit and see it for yourselves. I promise you that this place will really leave you in awe. You will definitely be amazed with this creation of God.

There are many coral gardens in Coron and I'm sorry I can't tell you what the name of this one is. I forgot the name of this one because I wasn't able to jot it down and its name is quite hard to pronounce and remember.

The one hundred peso entrance fee is all worth it. This made our Coron trip really unforgettable and it's definitely a beautiful finale for our Coron Islands adventure. Never ever miss out the opportunity to visit this Coral Garden if you happen to be in Coron.

(Coral Garden, Coron Palawan 2015)

Entrance fee: P100 per person

What to see/do: Swimming and Snorkeling.

(The gateway to an epic underwater garden)

For a more detailed article about each island, just click on the names of the island hyperlinked to its corresponding blog post. I hope you enjoyed our virtual island hopping tour in some of the islands of Coron. Till next time!


ADIOS!!


-The Palaweña Explorer ;)

Let the Palaweña Explorer take you on a virtual tour on the islands of El Nido----Island Hopping Package TOUR A! :)

Come on Vamonos, let's explore EL Nido's Tour A group of islands.


The tour A group of islands in EL Nido is composed of the natural lagoons and nice beaches. 


Usually, the island tour package adventures start at 9 in the morning and end at 4 in the afternoon. But if you will be having a private island hopping tour, just like what we did, the time is yours to manage. The time you will spend on each of your destination is in your hands and you can go to anywhere you want (of course that depends on your agreement with your boat operator).

If you will join a package tour, the tour package for the tour A group of islands costs P1,200 per person and that will allow you to be able to visit 5 destinations. Lunch, mask and snorkel, life vests and assisting guides are all part of the tour package. You might also need to bring your own water and towel but it depends on your tour operator if that will be included in your package or not.

This is the group of islands with the cheapest package tour rate because of its proximity from the town proper.

Here's a virtual tour of the destinations under the Tour A Group of Islands in EL NIDO, PALAWAN.

For more pictures and a more detailed article, just click on the names of the islands hyperlinked to its full article. :)

Let's first visit the two beaches of  the Tour A group of islands.

 

SEVEN COMMANDO BEACH

This is by far the longest stretch of white sand beach in EL Nido's Tour A Packages; it is a perfect place for beach lovers like me. Unveil the story of how the island got it's name by reading the full article about this beach called Seven Commando, just click on the hyperlink above.

(Seven Commando Beach, EL Nido Palawan)

 Entrance fee: None.

Things to do: Sight-seeing, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, playing beach volleyball, sip fresh buko juice and sun bathing.

SHIMIZU ISLAND

 Named after a Japanese diver who died in an underwater tunnel in this island, Shimizu has long been considered as one of the nice snorkeling sites in El Nido's Tour A packages.

Shimizu Island is also home to a variety of marine life. There are a lot of different fishes that you will see here. I really enjoyed the fish feeding activity that we did. It's so entertaining to see the fishes gather around us to eat the food that we're holding.

 

(The towering limestone cliffs of Shimizu Island)

Entrance fee: None.

Things to do: Sight-seeing, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, fish feeding and having picnic lunches.

Our next stop, the lagoons!

SMALL LAGOON

Adjacent to the Big Lagoon, our third destination is the most famous place in El Nido to do kayaking.
There's a kayak rental spot in the area where you can rent a kayak for an hour. The turquoise-green waters of the small lagoon is very inviting and the changing temperature of the water inside the lagoon is very entertaining and interesting as well. Also, the area where the boats are parked is actually a nice snorkeling site; the underwater scenery is very nice and there's a nice coral garden too.

(Small Lagoon, EL Nido Palawan)

Entrance fee: None.

Things to do: Sight-seeing, swimming, kayaking and snorkeling.

BIG LAGOON

Famous for being one of the locations for the shoot of the Hollywood film "Bourne Legacy", this next destination of our island hopping tour offers a breath taking view of the surrounding limestone cliffs. Because of the unique serenity that the place has to offer, many weddings are being held in here. Due to the increased number of weddings being celebrated here, a platform was placed at the middle of the lagoon to serve as a stage for the ceremonies.

(Entrance to the Big Lagoon, EL Nido Palawan)

 Entrance fee: None.

Things to do: Sight-seeing, swimming and kayaking.

SECRET LAGOON

Inside the secret lagoon is a pool which has shallow and deep parts. To be able to get inside the lagoon, you need to go through a hole in the limestone. This is the close up view of the hole. You need to pass through it for you to be able to get inside the lagoon.

(At the entrance of the secret lagoon)

Entrance fee: None.

Things to do: There's a nearby beach in the area where you could swim and just lay at the beach to soak up the sun. In the lagoon you can have your photos taken in there while taking a quick dip. Appreciate the beauty of the natural lagoon.

You might notice that not a single island in El Nido has an entrance fee. Only a 200 pesos ETDF (Eco-Tourism Development Fee) per person is being collected before the start of the island hopping tour. This fee is good for up to 10 days of your stay in El Nido. The accumulated fund is used by the government to maintain the islands and manage the tour operations in the municipality.

And that's all folks, that's the end of our virtual island hopping tour in the TOUR A Group of El Nido Islands. Come and experience the beauty of El Nido, the most beautiful island in the world! 

ADIOS!


-The Palaweña Explorer ;)

An exquisite private island which is a venue for a private lunch or dinner exclusive only for El Nido Resorts' residents. The people who cannot afford to stay at El Nido resorts need not worry because we still have a chance to enjoy a part of this gorgeous island.

(The view of the island from afar)

The island is an hour away from El Nido town and it's 15 minutes away from Miniloc Island. It has a 250 meters stretch of white sand beach. There's only a part for the public since the main beach is utilized by the El Nido Resorts. The eastern most part of Entalula Island is the only part of the island which is open for public. Before, everyone can still enjoy the whole island but when the Fernandezes sold this property to the Ayalas, the island became private already.

(One of the whitest beach I've ever seen!!)

The beach of the island has dazzling white and powdery sand. From afar, it looks immaculate.

(The area of the island which is open for public)

When you're on the island however, the place is still clean but it's not as spotless as the other islands in El Nido. I'm just talking about the area in the island which is open for public because I can't say anything about the private part of the island as I was not able to check it out. But for sure, that area is well maintained and spotless.

(Entalula Island, May 2015)

I was just saddened by an instance where I checked out the place and found some trash in the small caves in there. Some of the trash that I was able to pick up were cigarette buts, plastic bottle caps, plastic cups and some more plastics. I was really really sad to see such a beautiful place trashed out by some vulgar visitors.

(El Nido Palawan's Entalula Island)

But even though some areas have some trash, the place is still beautiful and clean. Please keep in mind the golden rule for nature every time you visit any place, especially the ecologically and environmentally gifted areas. And also keep in mind that if you trash a place out, what then will be left for the next generation to enjoy? Don't you want your kids or grand kids to enjoy such pristine places like this? Please help us protect and preserve the environment. Let's not just think about ourselves.

Going back to the story:

So after witnessing the beauty of Snake Island, we went to Entalula Island to have our picnic lunch.

(Upon arrival at the island)

It was during the month of May 2015 when we had our island hopping tour in El Nido. Summer season is the best time to visit the islands because of the good weather conditions during those times.

Entalula island is the most popular lunch stop over spot in the El Nido Island Hopping Tour B Group of islands.

(Upon arrival at Entalula Island)

There are many shaded areas in the island and there are even some small caves in there just like the one in the picture below that's perfect for picnic lunch stopovers.

(Our picnic spot)

We chose this spot to have our lunch. Luckily when we arrived at the island, this area was not occupied yet.

(Mini mermaid caves hehe)

After all the cooking and eating, we just stayed there to enjoy the place, relax and rest our full stomachs.

(Mermaid Cave)

There was also a lot of mini caves and mermaid holes in the island. Of course, I didn't miss the photo ops. :)

The activities which you may do in the island are just the basics, swim, snorkel, take a lot of photos or just soak up the sun. I wasn't able to check out the underwater scenery that the island has to offer that's why I can't tell you guys about the interesting stuff which is in there. I guess you just have to check it out and see it for yourself.

(Mini cave at the Entalula Island)

There's no entrance fee being collected in this island. But you are not allowed to go beyond the border line separating the private area of the island. If you're thinking of sneaking out to go beyond the line, for your information there's a security guard posted in there who makes sure that part of the island stays private.

Take advantage of the opportunity to visit the island while it's still free! Visit this island now because who knows, the area open for public might not be as such anymore. Make sure to include Entalula Island on you island hopping tour list on your next visit in the island of El Nido, Palawan.



ADIOS!!

-The Palaweña Explorer ;)

What's the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear the word "snake"?

That poisonous and scary crawling reptile might come first into your mind. But if you're in El Nido, the word snake will make you think of a nice island. Originally known as "Vigan Island", Snake Island is very popular for having a  long sand bar which connects the island to another. If you're thinking that the island is infested with snakes, it's not. That might not be a good island to go to if that's the case hehe.

(Island hopping with my favorite cousin)

This island was the first destination of our private island hopping tour last May of 2015. A 45-minute boat ride will bring you here in this unique island.

(Approaching the island)

Snake island is part of the El Nido Tour B Group of Islands. And it's the most popular island in the said group.

(We're here!)

It's been dubbed as snake island because of its unique sand bar. The shape of the curving sand bar which the island has is undoubtedly the main reason why this island was called as such.

(Playing with the wooden stairs)

The sand bar is not the only attraction that this place has to offer. The island also has a view deck which offers a 360-degree view of the ocean and its surrounding islands as well.

(This way going to the view deck)

To get to the view deck, you will have to climb up a small mountain. And to get there you will have to climb a few steps, approximately a hundred steps going up.

(The way going up the view deck)

Just be very careful while trekking up the mountain specially if you are only wearing slippers as it might get quite slippery.

(Hurry up, Couz!)

After a few steps I can finally see the small hut which means I'm almost at the top.

(Almost there!)

And after a few more steps, here's my welcoming view! This is the view from the left side of the cliff from the view deck.

(Finally at the peak of the small mountain)

On the right side of the view deck is the epic view of the sand bar connecting to the next island.

(This is the view of the sand bar from the view deck)

The view was spectacular. It was worth trekking and climbing up the small mountain. I have recently developed my love for sand bars because they're simply mesmerizing for me. It is one of the most amazing creations of God.

(Photo ops!)

When we went there it was still high tide, and the sand bar is still submerged under the water and it's not that visible.  The water above the sand bar is still knee high during that time. And as you can see in the photo below, even though the water is still knee-high, from afar it's as if the people are walking on the water.

(Some tourists walking on the sand bar)

It's best to visit Snake Island if it's low tide so you that can see the sand bar more clearly and you'll be able to appreciated its beauty more.

(They walked to the other island)

We didn't have a lot of time to stay on the island because we still have a lot more to visit. I wasn't even able to check out its underwater landscape and I was not also able to swim in its waters so I could not tell you what more the island has to offer when it comes to the marine life in there and the island's seascape. The water in the island however is very clear and the beach as well as the sand bar has a powdery and white sand. There are not much shaded area in the island which I think makes the island not a good choice for you to have your picnic lunch stopovers. But unlike any other islands in tour B, this island has a comfort room.

(My Niece's first dip in the sea)

So after spending approximately 45 minutes in the island, we decided to go to our next island destination.

(Me with my sister and niece)

Snake Island is worth the 45-minute boat ride. It was really beautiful. I just wished we had stayed a little bit longer. But it's okay 'cause there's still a next time. Until then!


ADIOS!!

-The Palaweña Explorer