Coron2015 Series: Where to Eat?

Today, I'm featuring four restaurants that we've tried during our Coron trip. Since our accommodation package included breakfast and the island hopping tour included lunch and snacks, we only get to go out and explore Coron's cuisine during dinner time. However, the town proper itself is peppered with numerous restaurants offering traditional Filipino food, so it wouldn't be difficult to find one that will suit your taste.

Day 1: Winnie's Coron

Winnie's looks like a typical carinderia from the outside, plastic table and chairs, bamboo beams, pawid roof, admittedly I was quite hesitant to try it because it looks so, well, lonely. However, my dad said our hotel receptionist recommended this place so we might as well give it a try. The restaurant is owned by a European man residing here in the Philippines. There was a big board on the front with the restaurant's menu written on it, the first thing I noticed was "wow, food is cheap here in Winnie's". We ordered beef curry, lato (seaweed salad), octopus salad and fish sinigang (only I can't exactly remember what fish it was). The food, as you can see from my photos, may not look very appetizing, but I kid you not, everything was so darn delicious! The fish sinigang was the freshest I ever had. I highly suggest the octopus salad because yolo. Kidding, since you're on vacation already, might as well try the local food, no?

Octopus Salad

Lato - Seaweed Salad

Fish Sinigang

Beef Curry

Day 2: Lolo Nonoy's Food Station

This one, on the other hand is another recommendation. From the outside, Lolo Nonoy's looked inviting, orange lights, open air and the promise of good food. When we arrived, it was indeed packed with people and we were lucky enough to get a table. We ordered Beef Bulalo, Pork Sisig, Rice and Leche Flan for dessert. Pro tip: If you plan to dine in Lolo Nonoy's please bring a ton load of patience because serving time will be 40minutes to more than an hour. So we ended up eating the leche flan first to appease our hungry tummy while waiting for the main course. The food was okay, nothing really special but at least they were yummy. The interior of the restaurant is very homey. Orange lights, wooden table and chairs and open air. The pricelist is also very competitive. Sorry for the blurred photo of the menu though!

Day 3: Sinugba sa Balay

Dinner for our third night was at Sinugba sa Balay which was probably a 5-minute tricycle ride away from our hotel. The interior of this place looked a lot like Lolo Nonoy's wooden furniture, orange lights and open air. They also have a mini stage in which, I presume, live entertainment happens. Food is okay too. Well, worth trying. Photos of the food we ordered are below.

Day 4: Balinsasayaw

Our last dinner at Coron was at Balinsasayaw. We were informed that the restaurant is fairly new, and it it situated right beside Coron's most popular gift/souvenir shop, so we shopped for pasalubong first before dinner. Our "last supper" was a feast! We ordered Lobsters in Lemon Butter sauce, Fish Sinigang (again, I forgot what fish :| ), Grilled Pork Liempo and Ensaladang Talong (eggplant and tomato salad). Of course the star of the night were the lobsters which were cooked to perfection. I thoroughly enjoyed the lemon butter sauce. Everything tasted so fresh, although the price range here is a bit more expensive than the other restaurants. 

Seriously, there are tons of restaurants and cafes in Coron which boasts of their own bestsellers. Be sure to ask locals for recommendations. Happy eating!

Coron Tours: Nice in Paradise Tour Agency

Hi! So here's a list of all the tours and prices offered by our chosen tour agency on our trip to Coron. I hope this pricelist help you plan your trip to this piece of paradise. :)

TOWN TOUR

550/Person

Minimum of 5 pax

DESTINATIONS :

• RECLAMATION AREA/ LUALHATI PARK
• VISIT ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH
• CORON SOUVENIR SHOP
• MUNICIPAL OF CORON
• TREKKING @ MT. TAPYAS (724 STEPS)
• MAQUINIT HOT SPRING

TOUR INCLUSIONS:

• LAND TRANSFER (By Van)
• TOUR GUIDE
• ENTRANCE FEE
• DRINKS AND SNACKS

TOURS START AT 4:00 PM TO 7:30 PM

CALIS TOUR

950/PERSON

MINIMUM OF 5 PAX

6 DESTINATIONS :

• SIETE PECADOS
• BARRACUDA LAKE
• ATWAYAN BEACH
• SUNSET LAGOON
• CYC CORAL GARDEN &
• SKELETON WRECK

TOUR INCLUSIONS :

• BOAT TRANSFER
• LIFE VEST
• ALL ENTRANCE FEE'S
• DRINKS AND SNACKS
• TOUR GUIDE
• LUNCH (BUFFET STYLE) W/ COMPLIMENTARY FRUIT

NOTE: MASK & SNORKELS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE. TOURS START AT 8:30 AM TO 5:00 PM

TOUR A

"CORON ISLAND TOUR"

850/PERSON

MINIMUM OF 5 PAX

6 DESTINATIONS :

1. KAYANGAN LAKE
2. TWIN PEAK REEF
3. BANOL BEACH
4. TWIN LAGOON
5. CYC BEACH
6. BALINSASAYAW FLOATING HOUSE

TOUR INCLUSIONS :

• BOAT TRANSFER
• LIFE VEST
• ALL ENTRANCE FEE'S
• DRINKS AND SNACKS
• TOUR GUIDE
• LUNCH (BUFFET STYLE) W/ COMPLIMENTARY FRUIT

NOTE: MASK & SNORKELS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE.

TOURS START AT 8:30 AM TO 5:00 PM

TOUR B

"CORON NXTCAPADE"

1,200/PERSON

MINIMUM OF 5 PAX

DESTINATIONS :

1. BANANA ISLAND
2. ISLA BULOG
3. MALCAPUYA ISLAND TOUR

TOUR INCLUSIONS:

• BOAT TRANSFER
• LIFE VEST
• ALL ENTRANCE FEES
• DRINKS AND SNACKS
• TOUR GUIDE
• LUNCH (BUFFET STYLE) WITH COMPLIMENTARY FRUIT

NOTE: MASK & SNORKELS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE.

TOURS START AT 8:30 AM TO 5:00 PM

TOUR C

"REEF AND WRECK TOUR"

1,200/PERSON

MINIMUM OF 5 PAX

4 DESTINATIONS :

1. PASS ISLAND
2. SANGAT CORAL GARDEN
3. LUSONG GUNBOAT (JAPANESE SHIP WRECK) &
4. EAST TANGAT WRECK

TOUR INCLUSIONS :

• BOAT TRANSFER
• LIFE VEST
• LUNCH (BUFFET STYLE) WITH COMPLIMENTARY FRUIT
• DRINKS AND SNACKS
• ALL ENTRANCE FEES
• TOUR GUIDE

NOTE: MASK & SNORKELS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE. TOURS START AT 8:30 AM TO 5:00 PM

TOUR D

"CALAUIT TOUR BY BOAT"

2,500/PERSON

MINIMUM OF 6 PAX

5 Destinations :

1. CALAUIT ISLAND
2. BLACK ISLAND
3. SANGAT CORAL GARDEN
4. MARILY ISLAND
5. LUSONG GUN BOAT (Japanese Ship Wreck)

TOUR INCLUSIONS :

• BOAT TRANSFER
• LIFE VEST
• LUNCH (BUFFET STYLE) WITH COMPLIMENTARY FRUIT
• DRINKS AND SNACKS
• ALL ENTRANCE FEES
• TOUR GUIDE

NOTE: MASK & SNORKELS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE. TOURS START AT 8:30 AM TO 5:00 PM

TOUR D

"CALAUIT TOUR BY LAND"

2,000/PERSON

MINIMUM OF 6 PAX

3 Destinations :

1. CALAUIT ISLAND
2. OCAM OCAM BEACH
3. WATER FALLS

TOUR INCLUSIONS:

• COFFEE ON BOARD
• BOAT/LAND TRANSFER
• BREAKFAST
• LUNCH
• DRINKS & SNACKS
• ALL ENTRANCE FEES
• TOUR GUIDE
• LIFE VEST
• MASK & SNORKELS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE.

Note: Snorkel & Goggle Mask Rental - Php150.00

          Flippers Rental - Php150.00

WEBSITE:  http://www.niceinparadisetours.com/

E-MAIL: niceinparadisetours@yahoo.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nice-in-paradise-tours/498626350199636?fref=ts

Coron 2015 Series: Micasa Lodge

During our five-day stay in Coron, we opted to check in at Micasa Lodge which is situated right smack in the middle of town, literally walking distance to the popular restaurants and cafes as well as the starting point of Mt. Tapyas and the Catholic Church. Travel time from airport to Micasa Lodge is around 30-40 minutes.

We booked two rooms at the third floor, one for my mum and dad, one for my brother and I. Micasa Lodge looked very basic from the outside but I'm actually surprised that the interior looked very "hotel-like". My brother and I's room had  single bed and a double bed with a ton of pillows each and a comfortable duvet and another fleece blanket. We also had a flat screen TV with cable, a cabinet with a full mirror, a bedside table and another table at the foot of the beds. The room itself is spacious and bright. 

The toilet on the other hand has a complete set of toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and toothbrush. You have to ask for toilet paper if you run out since they don't change it everyday. The water pressure is okay and the toilet is spacious as well. 

That's me! Hi guyssss!

If you plan to spend your days hopping from one island to the next, I doubt that you'll need extravagant accommodations, after all you'll just be sleeping in it. 

All rooms do not have balconies, what you get is a common terrace area, wherein you can hang your wet clothes. There are also chairs and tables if guests want to smoke or drink coffee or just chill here. The rooms are non-smoking rooms by the way.

Our room rate plan also includes breakfast, (TIP: pre-order the night before and ask for it to be served at a specific time so you won't wait long). We ordered rice for breakfast for the full length of our stay. Food is okay, typical hotel food, viands are not proportionate with the rice, too much rice, too little viand. The hotel doesn't serve room service by the way, they only have breakfast food. 

You also get unlimited drinking water from their dispenser found near the reception area. Wi-fi only works at the second floor as well, they have couches there so you can comfortably sit. 

The staff are friendly enough to accommodate all our questions and concerns, a major plus point for me, I can't stand people in the customer service industry who are just downright rude or impolite.

All in all, I found my stay in Micasa Lodge very pleasant, it had what I expected it to have, though it would have been better if the wifi connection in the rooms worked.

Prices are so darn reasonable too, you can find their room rates HERE.

MICASA LODGE CORON

National Highway, Baranggay 1, Coron, Palawan, Philippines

Website: http://www.micasalodgecoron.com/index.php

Coron 2015 Series: Coron Nxtcapade Tour

Day three of our stay in Coron was dedicated for another island hopping/snorkeling day. This time, we opted to take the Coron Nxtcapade Tour. Basically there are only three destinations, the islands to be visited here are some Coron's most popular. Again, our tour was handled by Nice in Paradise Travel and Tours.

If you've already read my Coron Islands Tour post, you'd know that I was a bit disappointed with how the locals handled our time, I was also a bit annoyed during the morning of our Nxtcapade Tour since our sundo was late again. As per our hotel's confirmation, we were to be picked up at 8:30am, again, we were ready by 8:15, our sundo arrived a little before 9:00am. Upon arriving at the dock, we waited again for almost half an hour since the boatmen kept telling us that the food wasn't complete yet. If one of the tourists didn't even call the boatmen's attention that our tour group has been complete for the last half hour and that we've been waiting for so long, they wouldn't even rush to start the tour, I was like... "Do we really have to call you pa to start the tour?!". Luckily, among the tourists inside the boat was the manager of another popular hotel in Coron, she patiently explained that everyone in Coron is on island time, meaning everything is much slower as compared to the city. Okay I get that. 

Fastforward to when we actually arrived at our first destination... The islands to be visited are quite far from the town proper itself, I felt as if it took us more than an hour to reach the first destination, also the islands in the itinerary itself are quite far from each other. The destinations were:

Malcapuya Island:

A wide stretch of beach and crystal clear waters will greet you upon arrival at Banana Island, here you can enjoy swimming, basking under the sun and some snorkeling, though there aren't a lot of fishes underwater since the beach itself is very busy, with boats that come and go every so often. There's also a view deck that you can climb that offers a different perspective of the island.

Isla Bulog Dos:

The beach front isn't as wide as Malcapuya's but this island has bamboo huts where the tourists can eat lunch. If you feel quite tired already from swimming, a nice nap in the huts will refresh you with the see breeze lulling you to sleep. There's also a small hut in a nearby sandbar that you can swim to.

Banana Island:

This island is right beside Two Seasons Coron, with only a sandbar separating them. The water surrounding this island is very shallow, perfect for those who's afraid of the open sea. The sand here is extremely fine but the parts near the beach are quite littered with rocks and broken shells which tend to be, not only painful when stepped on, but slippery. You can also climb up a view deck and take pictures above.

The lunch again was a feast, there's adobong pusit, fried fish, fresh lato, rice and chicken, pineapple for dessert and water and softdrinks. We were also served Puto and water as snacks.

View from the boat.

Malcapuya Island

Isla Bulog Dos

Banana Island

You can also rent snorkels and goggles for Php150/set. Flippers are also available but I highly suggest wearing aqua shoes instead. 

Tour Price: Php1,200/head

Inclusions:

Transporation to and from your accomodation

Boat rides to destinations

Life jackets

Buffet lunch

Entrance fees

Tour guides

Coron 2015 Series: Coron Islands Tour

Our island hopping tours were arranged by the hotel staff, there are a lot of tour agencies that offer basically the same island hopping tours, however, it was Nice in Paradise Travel and Tours which handled all our tour activities. 

We actually spent three whole days hopping all over Coron's gorgeous islands. First off the list was Coron Islands Tour, the destinations were:

Kayangan Lake:

You have to hike up a mountain to reach this beautiful lake. Going to the lake itself is around three hundred steps, one-fifty going up, one-fifty going down, you just have to be really careful because some steps are too high while some are uneven, but there's a wooden railing you can hold on to so you won't fall. Half-way to the lake is the view deck wherein you can see the turquoise waters and rock formations surrounding Kayangan Lake. I would highly suggest wearing aqua shoes here because the rocks are quite sharp, if you also don't know how to swim, bring your life jacket. 

Twin Peaks:

Also known as Twin Lagoons, the waters here are so deep it literally appears black, but I asked the boatmen how deep it was and they said it was around seventy feet. You actually have to swim from where your boat 'parked' to the lagoons, so again, I suggest wearing your life jackets, especially since there aren't big rocks for you to rest on when you get tired from swimming. During lowtide, you can swim from one lagoon to the next, however, during high tide, you have to climb up a ladder on a rock formation to reach the other lagoon

Banol Beach:

Third stop is for lunch time. Oh boy this island took my breath away, the water was a beautiful turquoise shade and the sand was pure white and extremely fine, plus it was really quiet here. 

CYC Beach:

This is a large-ish island with a wide beachfront, you can enjoy your swimming and snorkeling here.

Balinsasayaw Floating House:

Last stop is Balinsasayaw, don't be fooled, you won't actually step into the floating house, the main activity here is snorkeling around the floating bamboo houses, while the marine life underwater is really amazing (lots of fishes and corals), the waves during our stop here were overwhelming, so much that everytime I lift my head from the water, I get slapped around by the big waves. 

Though the destinations were really beautiful and the snorkeling spots were full of fishes and corals, I was extremely disappointed with how the boatmen handled the whole tour, we were told the night before that pick up from our hotel would be around 8:30am. We were all ready by 8.15am and we were picked up from our hotel around 9:00am. The boat dock is only around five minutes away. When we got there, we had to wait another 40 minutes for us to leave, the boatmen kept telling us that the food for our lunch was not complete yet, and when we finally left, the boat was literally so slow that other boats kept passing us. We reached our first stop a little before 11:30am so we had to hike up the mountain under the grueling heat of the summer sun. It actually made me feel as if the boatmen were minimizing our time on the tour, AKA their time working. Being a corporate slave in the city, time is extremely valuable to me, so to be kept waiting for so long was not exactly the best start for the tour.

But enough about that, let talk food. It was a feast! We had grilled fish, crabs, ensaladang talong (eggplant, tomatoes and onion salad), grilled liempo, softdrinks and water, even the condiments like soy sauce were complete. The menu was so perfect for a lunch by the beach. Snacks were also served: we had different breads and softdrinks.

Kayangan Lake

Bulungan Beach

Twin Lagoons

The tour ended at around 4:00pm and after dropping you off at the boat dock, the tour agency would also be the one to bring you back to your hotel.

Tour Price: Php850/head

Tour Inclusions:
Transpo to and from your accommodation
Boat ride to destinations
Tour guides
All entrance fees
Buffet lunch, drinks and snacks
Life jackets

Coron2015 Series: Coron Islands Tour

Our island hopping tours were arranged by the hotel staff, there are a lot of tour agencies that offer basically the same island hopping tours, however, it was Nice in Paradise Travel and Tours which handled all our tour activities. 

We actually spent three whole days hopping all over Coron's gorgeous islands. First off the list was Coron Islands Tour, the destinations were:

Kayangan Lake:

You have to hike up a mountain to reach this beautiful lake. Going to the lake itself is around three hundred steps, one-fifty going up, one-fifty going down, you just have to be really careful because some steps are too high while some are uneven, but there's a wooden railing you can hold on to so you won't fall. Half-way to the lake is the view deck wherein you can see the turquoise waters and rock formations surrounding Kayangan Lake. I would highly suggest wearing aqua shoes here because the rocks are quite sharp, if you also don't know how to swim, bring your life jacket. 

Twin Peaks:

Also known as Twin Lagoons, the waters here are so deep it literally appears black, but I asked the boatmen how deep it was and they said it was around seventy feet. You actually have to swim from where your boat 'parked' to the lagoons, so again, I suggest wearing your life jackets, especially since there aren't big rocks for you to rest on when you get tired from swimming. During lowtide, you can swim from one lagoon to the next, however, during high tide, you have to climb up a ladder on a rock formation to reach the other lagoon

Banol Beach:

Third stop is for lunch time. Oh boy this island took my breath away, the water was a beautiful turquoise shade and the sand was pure white and extremely fine, plus it was really quiet here. 

CYC Beach:

This is a large-ish island with a wide beachfront, you can enjoy your swimming and snorkeling here.

Balinsasayaw Floating House:

Last stop is Balinsasayaw, don't be fooled, you won't actually step into the floating house, the main activity here is snorkeling around the floating bamboo houses, while the marine life underwater is really amazing (lots of fishes and corals), the waves during our stop here were overwhelming, so much that everytime I lift my head from the water, I get slapped around by the big waves. 

Though the destinations were really beautiful and the snorkeling spots were full of fishes and corals, I was extremely disappointed with how the boatmen handled the whole tour, we were told the night before that pick up from our hotel would be around 8:30am. We were all ready by 8.15am and we were picked up from our hotel around 9:00am. The boat dock is only around five minutes away. When we got there, we had to wait another 40 minutes for us to leave, the boatmen kept telling us that the food for our lunch was not complete yet, and when we finally left, the boat was literally so slow that other boats kept passing us. We reached our first stop a little before 11:30am so we had to hike up the mountain under the grueling heat of the summer sun. It actually made me feel as if the boatmen were minimizing our time on the tour, AKA their time working. Being a corporate slave in the city, time is extremely valuable to me, so to be kept waiting for so long was not exactly the best start for the tour.

But enough about that, let talk food. It was a feast! We had grilled fish, crabs, ensaladang talong (eggplant, tomatoes and onion salad), grilled liempo, softdrinks and water, even the condiments like soy sauce were complete. The menu was so perfect for a lunch by the beach. 

The tour ended at around 4pm and after dropping you off at the boat dock, the tour agency would also be the one to bring you back to your hotel.

Coron2015 Series: Getting There and Getting Around

Last Holy Week, my family and I went to Coron, Palawan for our summer trip. 

Coron is a quiet town found north of Palawan and is popular because of its abundance in pristine islands and thriving marine life. Getting there by plane is fairly quick. From Manila, Busuanga Airport (Francisco B. Reyes Airport) is about 45-60minutes by plane. There are flights to Busuanga everyday, though the airfare is a bit more expensive as compared to Puerto Princesa, Palawan since flights to Busuanga are via a twin-prop airplane.

We booked our flights via Cebu Pacific which was scheduled at 4.15pm, April 3, 2015. As expected, NAIA Terminal 3 was packed Well anyway... Some of the other airlines that fly to Busuanga from Manila are Philippine Airlines, SkyJet and AirAsia.

It was my first time to ride a twin-prop plane, admittedly I was bit anxious and felt a wee bit claustrophobic since it is such a small plane. Glad that the flight only took about forty five minutes, I'm not quite sure but I felt that we were flying lower than usual. 

Busuanga Airport is situated in the middle of nowhere, all I ever saw before landing was land. The runway is short that's why only Cessna and ATR planes are allowed to land and take off from there. The airport itself is extremely small, its more of a hangar converted to an airport actually, the airport staff manually carries your luggage from the plane to the arrival area where you can pick it up.

Transport from the airport to your chosen accommodation can be pre-arranged by your hotel or loding, but there are also passenger vans that can take you to your accommodation, fare is at Php150 per head, one way. It takes roughly 30-40 minutes land travel to reach the town proper itself. Meanwhile, you can busy yourself by drinking in the amazing views that unfolds right in front of your eyes during transit. The greenery and mountain views are so beautiful and serene and very relaxing too. I was seated at the front and wished I had eight more eyes so I can properly see everything, the land trip, for me, was just charming.

Since we were checked in right smack in the middle of town, getting around was fairly easy, there are tons of tricycles that you can hail to take you to restaurants or other attractions. Our hotel was also just walking distance to the Catholic Church and Mt. Tapyas, as well as Coron's most famous restaurants.