I was very much looking forward to my Coron trip with my high school friends. First, it was going to be a time to relax with some of the closest people in my life. Second, the destination was going to be a new discovery. Lastly, it was an opportunity to shoot. I enjoy taking photos of the sea and its wonders as I've been inlove with it since I was a little boy. I hope that these photos give justice to Coron's beauty. The first highlight of the trip was Kayangan Lake. I could say that this would be my favorite of all the places Coron has to offer. After docking on the island, we followed a mountain trail that leads to the actual lake. At the midpoint of the climb, it offered a perfect vantage point for a perfect scenery. I have seen this type of photo before but I just had to have one that I can call my own.
After that, we continued with the descent and finally reached the lake. The blue lake is surrounded by limestone cliffs and it was breathtaking. We swam our hearts out and had photos underwater. Thanks 2ts for bringing your camera by the way. This is also where we had our lunch. The next part of the trip was the Twin Lagoon. The reason behind the name is that it's like 2 separate salt-water lakes which is separated by a cliff that has a narrow opening. We also enjoyed this part but this was also very tiring. Life vest is a must because the boat would anchor on one side and you would have to swim through the narrow opening to get to the other side. I know it's easier to swim without a life vest but considering the distance that you would have to cover, it's better to be safe.
Our next stop was Banol Beach. This time, we simply had fun by the shore and enjoyed the crystal clear water. This also where we had our merienda. Suman (rice cake) with coke baby.
Banana Beach was our next stop and this is where we spent our 2nd night. It was about an hour and a half boat ride from Banol Beach. If you're tired from the busy and stressful life that Manila brings everyday, I would recommend you spend some time in Banana Beach. It doesn't have the amenities of a 5-star hotel, but it's a quiet place where you can really relax and just listen to sound of the waves. On daytime, you can simply chill on a hammock and kill time. Electricity is not always available but the cottages are equipped with solar panels so that you can charge your iPods or cellphones. Yes, Globe and Smart signal is available on the island and the people are very friendly. On nightime, I would also suggest that you bring mosquito repellent lotions as the rooms are not air conditioned. The residents on the island were very friendly as well.
The following day, we were scheduled to go back to the main town of Coron. Before that, we stopped by at Malcapuya Island which is about a 15 minute boat ride from Banana Beach. I wasn't able to take any photos here as we had to stop away from the the shore due to shallow waters. I hope a panoramic view of the island will do.
Upon arriving in the main town, we went straight to the hotel to leave our baggages. We then proceeded the viewing deck of Mt. Tapyas. To reach the peak, you would have to conquer a total of (I hope my memory serves me right) 724 steps. Kayangan Lake was easy. This was a serious challenge and I am happy to say I did survive. People have different opinions about Mt. Tapyas. Some will say the climb is worth it and some would disagree. I could say it was worth the experience as the view of Coron was stunning. It's just too bad that we arrived late and I only managed to take a couple of shots.
After that, we continued with the descent and finally reached the lake. The blue lake is surrounded by limestone cliffs and it was breathtaking. We swam our hearts out and had photos underwater. Thanks 2ts for bringing your camera by the way. This is also where we had our lunch. The next part of the trip was the Twin Lagoon. The reason behind the name is that it's like 2 separate salt-water lakes which is separated by a cliff that has a narrow opening. We also enjoyed this part but this was also very tiring. Life vest is a must because the boat would anchor on one side and you would have to swim through the narrow opening to get to the other side. I know it's easier to swim without a life vest but considering the distance that you would have to cover, it's better to be safe.
Our next stop was Banol Beach. This time, we simply had fun by the shore and enjoyed the crystal clear water. This also where we had our merienda. Suman (rice cake) with coke baby.
Banana Beach was our next stop and this is where we spent our 2nd night. It was about an hour and a half boat ride from Banol Beach. If you're tired from the busy and stressful life that Manila brings everyday, I would recommend you spend some time in Banana Beach. It doesn't have the amenities of a 5-star hotel, but it's a quiet place where you can really relax and just listen to sound of the waves. On daytime, you can simply chill on a hammock and kill time. Electricity is not always available but the cottages are equipped with solar panels so that you can charge your iPods or cellphones. Yes, Globe and Smart signal is available on the island and the people are very friendly. On nightime, I would also suggest that you bring mosquito repellent lotions as the rooms are not air conditioned. The residents on the island were very friendly as well.
The following day, we were scheduled to go back to the main town of Coron. Before that, we stopped by at Malcapuya Island which is about a 15 minute boat ride from Banana Beach. I wasn't able to take any photos here as we had to stop away from the the shore due to shallow waters. I hope a panoramic view of the island will do.
Upon arriving in the main town, we went straight to the hotel to leave our baggages. We then proceeded the viewing deck of Mt. Tapyas. To reach the peak, you would have to conquer a total of (I hope my memory serves me right) 724 steps. Kayangan Lake was easy. This was a serious challenge and I am happy to say I did survive. People have different opinions about Mt. Tapyas. Some will say the climb is worth it and some would disagree. I could say it was worth the experience as the view of Coron was stunning. It's just too bad that we arrived late and I only managed to take a couple of shots.
