Invading Coron 2: City Town Tour

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, we're off to our city tour. We have used the same van and the same driver who've picked us up from the airport for this activity. We met Kuya Ray, tour guide, and we're off to town. 

Just 2 block away from hotel, we turned left and at the end of the road, we have stopped, that's already our first destination. Ang lapit lang pala! Yet having toured by a van and a tour guide is worthy as you don't have to guess where you're at.

Lualhati Park is also known as Coron Boulevard. Looking at it from afar,  it is like a provincial version of the crowded and populated Manila Baywalk. But this neither has shops nor vendors around. It is just one simple and quiescent part of town where one can relax without any person disturbing you at all. I think this is also best for an early morning jog. This is also where the jump off point to island hopping starts where boats are docked on one end.  

Kuya Ray, our tour guide

The park facing the sea.

Lualhati Park

Coron Souvenir and Gift Shop is said to be the largest and the best souvenir shop you can find in town. This has everything to offer. From key chains to bags. Signatured slippers to hats. Ref magnets to native decorations. Name it, they really can offer you a lot. You can buy something for as slow as P15 and you already have something to bring home as a proof that you have been to Coron. I have not bought anything yet as I am planning to do the shopping on my last day though.

Coron Municipal Hall is similar on what we have in Manila. But this became one of the main attractions of this town as it is good for picture taking in front of it's town signage. Across the street from the Hall, is where you can find the Coron Town Plaza where one can see a huge pot figure which happened to be Coron's symbol of their existence. As per Kuya Ray, it was Don Nicolas Manlave Y. Ledesma, a native of Cuyo, who gave Coron its name. According to him, the bay fronting Barangy Banuang Daan, their first settlement, looked like an earthen pot. Coron is a Cuyonon term for pot. What a fact! ☺

Municipal Hall

Symbol of Coron. The Earthen Pot.

Mt Tapyas offers a spectacular view of coron town and surrounding sea and mountains that this town boast mosts. Kuya Ray said that your vacation in Coron will never be fulfilled if you miss this. Mt Tapyas consists of 700+ steps, which I failed to count, that will make you reach it's view deck where you can also see the giant white metal cross on top of the mountain. This is also called Mt Tapyas because of it's chipped shape from afar.

Mt Tapyas view from Lualhati Park

Stairs over stairs over stairs.

Few more steps.

And here's my reward! the view of the whole town,
mountains and sea. Amazing!

The White Metal Cross.

Me and my friend.

The White Metal Cross.

on our way down.

This is good. Atleast People can see where their money goes to.

  

Coron Harvest is described as the oldest Cashew Nuts Shop in Coron. Owned by Lita Escarda, she sells fresh and good quality Cashew Product made by herself with the help of her family. This shop were featured in numerous TV shows because of it's unique product made only by their bare hands. So if you will go to Coron, buy anything you want in town, and buy Cashew products only in this place. Products would range from P50 (1/4 kg), P100 (1/2 kg) and P175 (1 kg).

Her wall loaded with celebrity photos including our very own Kris Aquino.

Maquinit Hot Spring is our last destination for the day. Located approximately 20-30minutes from the town. Our Van driver brought us here to experience one of the pride of Coron. What makes this place unique is because this is the only known saltwater hot spring in the Philippines and probably the only one in Asia.  It was already dark when we got in here. So I have not able to take good photos of the place. As per Kuya Ray, one can be able to get an egg into a hard boiled by dipping it approximately 15-20minutes. Oh yeah! The water of the Spring is hot yet very relaxing. It is perfect to visit Maquinit after hiking from Mt Tapyas or do visit early in the morning. Pool ranges from 38C-40C during this time. It is not advisable to visit within the day as temperature rises from 45C-50C during normal season or 50C-60C during summer. 

Entrance fee is already included on our tour rate.

One of the small pool.

Our stay in Maquinit Hot Springs lasted roughly about 45minutes as advised by Kuya Ray. We have packed our things afterwards and went back to the hotel. When we arrived, we changed our clothes then together with my firends, we ate dinner and immediately came back to our room to sleep early. We needed the rest as we are scheduled for the most awaited island hopping tour the following day.


You're now on "Invading Coron 2: City Town Tour"
NEXT: Invading Coron 3: Island Hopping Tour part 1

You may also visit:
Invading Coron 1: The arrival
Invading Coron 4: Best part of our Island Hopping
Invading Coron: Free time in town