We arrived in Coron having just our plane ticket and hotel accommodation. No tours were booked in advance as I have read on other blogsite that it is better to do everything right when you arrived there. And I am glad I have made the right choice! Someone offered us an exclusive tour for four people amounting to 1400.++ each person which I thought is already a bargain. But a person we have met in our city tour, named Daddy Dennis, have seen an endorsement from one of the tour offices based in town offering a cheap rates of island hopping tour. Each will only costs P650 for a group of 5 that includes everything already. Pretty reasonable, huh?! Me with my group have decided to grab the offer and Daddy Dennis with his wife Mommy Alice have joined us to take the package for everyone's sake. ☺
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| offered by Coron Galeri. owned by Mae and Al Linsangan. Email: corongaleri@yahoo.com Website: www.corongaleri.com.ph Mobile #: +639193054363, +639202546553 |
Our meet up point is in their office located 2 blocks away from our hotel. We signed our waiver and paid each individual's fee for the tour. There we met Our boatman, Kuya Rocky with his assistant Kuya Edwin, and they lead us to the docking area just right off the market. When we reached the market, Daddy Dennis, asked us if we could stop so he can buy fish from the market and two bottles of 1.5L softdrinks to add up on the meal that is included on our package. Afterwards, we went to the port area where our boat is docked.
As we walked to the docking area, I was amazed on how clean the sea on the market-side is. Unlike Manila, rivers can be seen full of garbage and there are rivers where you can no longer see the water itself, just tons of plastics and all craps. Here, I have not seen any single litter floating. One will also see that the water is crystal clear and emerald in color, which is really impressive. How I wish people in Manila were this responsible to keep our surroundings clean.
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| View from the market's edge. Water is clear from up-close. |
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| Me, Looking from the market-side with amusement. |
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| The Docking area |
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| Our Boat. |
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| Coron hollywood's look-a-like sign. |
The weather is not so perfect that morning. Wind blows really hard, waves were making our boat quaver strong as the typhoon is currently affecting the monsoon which was the reason why. But it never ruined our tour. I believe that danger is identical on having a perfect adventure. So our boatman conquered the wind and waves and we voyage through an open sea. The boat brought us to paradise. ☺
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| First glimpse of an island. |
My manager was right when she said to me before my trip that I will fall inlove with Coron. And I did, it was love at first sight indeed. Everything my eyes can see from where I stand makes me fall deeper. Makes me ache for more. Makes me hungry to see everything. That is how amazing this place is. I couldn't even hear how our boatmen describes each islands and islets we passes by. I am so busy staring across our boat throughout the sail. Air is fresh, water turns from turquoise in an open sea to emerald if we get closer to an islet. We have indeed reached the last frontier of the Philippines, the pride of Busuanga, the amazing Coron Islands! ☺
We have first arrive in Hidden Lagoon. We asked Kuya Rocky why it is called such and he could not answer. Unfortunately, we forgot to request for a tour guide (sayang!) so no one can explain why or debrief us about this place. We stopped in the middle and they said we can start to swim. We put on the sunblock, wore our lifevests and jump off the boat. Water is cold and chilly but no one cared. We swam the whole 1 hour in the water. As per Kuya Edwin, it is best to rent kayak from the town and bring it here. You can use the kayak towards the mangrove area located in the inner part of the Hidden Lagoon. Sayang na naman!
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| Facing the Hidden Lagoon. |
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| The Hidden Lagoon. |
My partner (when we left): Bakit kaya siya tinawag na
Hidden Lagoon?
Kuya Rocky: Hindi ko po talaga alam. Ang alam ko lang po,pag low tide, buhangin lang yan tapos may
nakaharang na bato kaya bawal na punatahan kapag hapon.
Us (sabay-sabay): aaaaaah! Kaya pala Hidden Lagoon! Toinkz! =D
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| Calachuchi Reef |
We went next to Coral Gardens a.k.a. Calachuchi Reef, an islet which is described as where Calachuchi Trees grows and underneath where bunch of corals can be seen. Sadly, we were not able to get off our boat to witness it as the waves are high and current underneath maybe strong and could be dangerous for us.
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| Bulunagn Beach from afar. |
Bulungan Beach according to Kuya Edwin is named after Tagbanuas (natives of Coron) ritual for medication. This is said to be where sick people is brought to cure their sickness. As per my friend, the word "Bulungan" came from the word "bulong" which is similar to Bicol's term for "healing".
This is supposed to be the place to spend our lunch. Unfortunately, due to the rough waves, we cannot get near to dock the boat. So we just passed by here and went next to Kayangan Lake instead.
You're now on "Invading Coron 3: Island Hopping part 1"
NEXT: Invading Coron 4: Best part of our Island Hopping
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Invading Coron 1: The arrival
Nice blog and that's why I'm following you here. Grabe kaka gutom ang mga food haha!
ReplyDeleteReading your blog gave me an idea on how i really can save in visiting Coron. I really appreciate the details you have provided - the cost, the links and the places and its descriptions. I was planning to get the service of a travel agency but then i stumbled upon your page and there it goes! thanks much!
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