Coron's Major Tourist Attractions

Coron Island – home to the indigenous Tagbanua tribes, Coron Island with its towering gray limestone cliffs, blue-green lakes and numerous coves and lagoons is one of the area’s main tourist attractions. It is among those few places declared as country’s marine reserves thus making the town and its surrounding area protected. 

1.1     Kayangan Lake – adjudged as the country’s cleanest lake for three straight years.  It is a good swimming area. Bamboo raft riding is also sometimes available.   The twenty to thirty minute trek to the lake offers spectacular views and plenty of photo opportunities. A cave near the summit offers more thrills for the adventurous. Another small cave can be found on the lake at water level.  Cayangan is a “must-see” and is often the first stop in many island hopping tours.

1.2     Barracuda Lake (native name Luluyuuan Lake) – named after a barracuda that supposedly resides within its waters. The path is much shorter than Cayangan but a little more challenging for first timers.  Its waters are deeper than its more famous sister. Plenty of photo opportunities. It is also a scuba diving spot.

1.3     Twin Lagoon – two lagoons separated by a wall of rock.  During low tide, an opening at the base of the cliff appears enabling swimmers to cross to the other lagoon. Also ideal for kayaking.

1.4     Banol Beach – perhaps the most well known amongst Coron Island beaches, and arguably the best, Banol actually has two beaches, “Banol nga mabael” (Big Banol) and “Banol nga maite” (Small Banol)  .  Its rock formations are a photographer’s delight.   The natives in it are also a source of Nido or Bird’s Nest (“balinsasayaw” in our native tongue), main ingredient for the Bird’s nest soup found in Chinese restaurants. The best among the “near” Coron Island beaches.

1.5     Atuayan Beach – originally called Katuayan,(a place full of Tuay, a kind of shell) by the natives, Atuayan beach is situated I a cove with a small island near its mouth which makes it child friendly because there is virtually no current. Along with Banol, it has the longest beach among the Coron Island beaches. It also has a decent snorkeling area. Ideal also for kayaking. For the adventurous, Atuayan Lake is located just behind the beach, but one has to scale the cliff first.

1.6     Malwawey Island – a small island located off the Western side of Coron Island across Atuayan Beach.  It features a nice coral reef (on the side facing Atuayan), and a small shipwreck. It has a very small beach with probably the finest white sand among the Coron Island beaches. Also known as Skeleton Wreck.

1.7     Smith’s Point – a small beach located beside Banol.  Nice rock formations. Home to starfishes.  It has a wide swimming area.

1.8     Caliwantay – another small beach. Located between Banol and Atuayan, near Malwawey Island. Also called Beach 91.

Coron Island, has other lakes and beaches aside from those mentioned above.  Some of these are Kalachuchi Beach, Maynuno Beach (also called Sunset Beach and Beach 69) and Twin Peaks. It is also home to two villages (Banuang Daan and Cabugao), of Palawan’s indigenous people the Tagbanuas.  Some parts of the island especially the other lakes are not open to the general public because these are considered sacred ancestral lands. 

Coron Island is about twenty minutes away by motor banca from Coron town.