Coron Island Hopping Guide: Lakes, Lagoons and Shipwrecks

Coron island hopping comes in three flavours: the lakes and lagoons tour to Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon, the reefs and wrecks tour for snorkelling over coral and a sunken gunboat, and the beach tour to Malcapuya, Banana Island and the Ditaytayan sandbar. With three days you can do all three; with one, choose the lakes.

Unlike El Nido, Coron has no official lettered system, so names and exact stops vary between operators. The structure below reflects how most tours are run as of 2026.

Before you go: fees and rules

Many of Coron's most famous sites, including Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon, lie within the ancestral domain of the Tagbanua people. Each site charges its own entrance fee, usually collected on the day. Some tours include them, many do not, so ask. You will also often pay a small environmental or municipal fee. Carry cash in small notes and keep it dry.

Rules are strict and sensible: no sunscreen in some lakes (to protect the water), life jackets mandatory in certain areas, no single-use plastic, and no fishing or touching marine life.

Tour 1: lakes and lagoons of Coron Island

This is the tour almost every visitor does first, sold under names like Ultimate, Super Ultimate or Coron Island Tour.

Kayangan Lake

The boat docks in a cove, and a stairway of a few hundred steep steps climbs over a ridge. Halfway up is the viewpoint over the cove's limestone towers, the image you have probably seen on every Coron poster. On the other side, a wooden boardwalk leads to the lake: cool, brackish water so clear you can see rock formations metres below. Swimming is with life jackets in designated areas.

Twin Lagoon

Two lagoons separated by a karst wall. At low tide you swim through a gap under the rock; at high tide you climb a short ladder. The water has noticeable layers where warm seawater meets cooler fresh water, which makes the surface shimmer.

Other stops

Depending on the operator: Barracuda Lake, mainly for divers, with a dramatic thermocline; Skeleton Wreck, a small shallow wreck for snorkelling; CYC Beach, a tiny island with mangroves; Coral Garden; and beaches such as Banol or Atwayan for lunch.

Our Coron Ultimate Island Tour with Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon and lunch covers the essentials of this route.

Tour 2: reefs and wrecks

Coron Bay is famous for the Japanese supply ships sunk by US aircraft in September 1944. Most lie too deep for snorkellers, but a few are accessible from the surface.

• Lusong Gunboat: a small wreck lying so shallow that parts of it break the surface at low tide, with coral growing on the hull.
• Skeleton Wreck: the ribs of a small boat in clear, shallow water.
• Siete Pecados Marine Park: seven small islands with dense coral and plenty of fish close to town.
• Coral gardens along the coast of Coron Island, with turtles occasionally sighted.

This tour suits families who snorkel and anyone curious about the wrecks without diving. See the Coron reefs and wrecks snorkelling tour with gear and lunch. Certified divers should book wreck dives with a dive centre directly; dives on the larger wrecks such as the Okikawa Maru or Irako need experience and, for penetration, specific training.

Tour 3: beaches and sandbars

The beach tour heads north and west of Busuanga to the islands that have the softest sand in the area. Expect a longer boat ride, around one to one and a half hours each way.

• Malcapuya Island: white sand, a short hill with a view, clear water.
• Banana Island: a small resort island with good snorkelling off the beach.
• Ditaytayan Sandbar: a long strip of sand exposed at low tide, best in the morning.
• Bulog Dos or Coco Beach, depending on the route.

It is the most relaxed of the three and the best for couples and children who prefer sand to stairs. Book it as the Coron beach day to Malcapuya, Ditaytayan Sandbar and Coco Beach.

A three-day plan

If you have only two days, combine the reef stops into a private boat day with the lakes.

Shared or private?

Shared tours are economical but fixed. Kayangan Lake is busiest from late morning to early afternoon, when most shared boats arrive. A private boat lets you reach Kayangan early, skip stops you do not care about and spend longer where the snorkelling is good. For groups of four or more, the price difference per person narrows considerably.

Practical tips

• Wear water shoes: the Kayangan stairs are steep and the lagoon entrance is rocky.
• Bring a dry bag, a towel, cash in small notes and a refillable bottle.
• Mornings have calmer water and fewer boats.
• Rent fins if you plan serious snorkelling; masks are usually included.
• In the wet season (June to October) the beach tour is the most likely to be cancelled because of open-water crossings.

Where to stay

Coron town is the practical base: most tours pick up there and restaurants are within walking distance. Resorts on outlying islands are quieter but add boat transfers. If you only stay two or three nights, town makes the most sense.

Coron town and Mount Tapyas

Tours usually return by mid or late afternoon, which leaves time for Coron's two easy land sights. Mount Tapyas rises behind town, and roughly 700 concrete steps lead to a large cross and a view over the bay and the islands you visited during the day; go about an hour before sunset and bring water. The Maquinit Hot Springs, a short tricycle ride away, are a saltwater hot spring by the mangroves, best visited after dark when the air has cooled.

FAQ

Which Coron tour is the best?

The lakes and lagoons tour with Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon. It contains the sights that make Coron unique.

Can non-swimmers do Coron tours?

Yes. Life jackets are provided and are mandatory at several sites. The climb to Kayangan Lake is the most demanding part.

Are entrance fees included?

It depends on the operator. Many Coron sites charge their own fees on the day, so check what your booking includes and carry cash.

Can I see the shipwrecks without diving?

Yes. The Lusong Gunboat and Skeleton Wreck are shallow enough for snorkelling. The larger wrecks require scuba diving.

How many days do I need in Coron?

Three full days let you do all three tour types. Two days are enough for the lakes and one other tour.