Coron’s Lakes And Lagoons: The Cleanest In Asia

Famous for its turquoise waters and seaside cliffs, Coron is one of Philippine’s top island destinations. It’s the paradise-like getaway I’ve been dreaming for years. Finally, I’ve touched the waters of Coron last week.

Here’s a synopsis about Coron before we start the tour. It has always been a habit of mine to do research and be familiar with the destination before going to a certain place. Apart from knowing the pros and cons of that place, as a blogger, I want to be credible to what I write.

Anyway, the municipality of Coron is different from the island of Coron. The Coron town is comprised of the eastern part of Busuanga Island, which is where the town proper is, and about 50 more islands and islets including the Coron Island. The Coron Island is the home of the famous lakes you see across the internet. These lakes are known to be the cleanest in the world.

What astonishes me more is how untouched this island is! Yep, they may open some parts of the island to tourists but that is just a small portion of it. You won’t believe that this large land is still an ancestral domain of the indigenous Tagbanwa people, which are claimed to be descendants of Tabon Man and one of the original inhabitants of the Philippines. This is why Coron Island may be bigger than Boracay Island yet there are still no developed land transportation in the area. Each spots, even located in the same island, are only accessed through boats.

We usually hear of Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake but in actuality, these are only two of the 11 lakes nestled in the rugged terrain of Coron Island, of which three have underground connections to the sea. Hence, I frequently say that Coron is beyond blessed when it comes to natural beauty. The rest of the lakes are sacred to the said tribe so these lakes are forbidden to outsiders.

For today’s lake hopping, we started with Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake, since these are the only two lakes that tourists can visit, and added the equally famous Twin Lagoon to the trip.

Before diving into the majestic turquoise water of Kayangan Lake, guests have to hike a 15-minute steep trek. Along the way, we were greeted by this view that one will surely recognize. The deck is overlooking the crystal sea where the boats dock, gigantic rocks and plant life. We just see them in postcards and advertisements. I cannot believe that this wonder is right in front of us now!

A few steps downhill led us to the paradise. The lake surrounded by unique rock formations and lush greenery is indeed fascinating. Just sitting on the wooden platform on the bank gives me a moment of calmness. But of course, we spent most of our time snorkeling to witness fishes and more rock formations underneath. Actually, Kayangan Lake is known to have transparent water offering up to ten meters visibility from above. However, since the weather was gloomy when we visited, we weren’t able to perceive the crystal-clear water. But rest assured, the experience wasn’t less rewarding.

Some friends told us that we can ditch Barracuda Lake from our tour since it’s just a copy of Kayangan Lake. Both lakes are mixture of salt and fresh. That may be true but, I guess, they miss the different mood Barracuda Lake was giving. I find it more serene here since the the limestone cliffs were towering, making the lake enclosed. In fact, my boyfriend had more fun here because the formation of limestone rocks above and under the water were more detailed and intricate so it’s still something your eyes shouldn’t miss.

Barracuda Lake is called as such because of the presence of Barracuda fishes. However, they are in the larger portion of the lake so they are rarely seen in the tourist spot. Nonetheless, schools of other kinds may be swimming alongside you. Plus, divers can experience thermocline unlike anywhere else so the lake is considered as Palawan’s best diving spot. As for me, who doesn’t know how to swim, I just enjoyed paddling my kayak across the blue water.

Twin Lagoon has to be my favorite despite of being less popular than the first two. I felt a different kind of admiration upon observing how it is naturally formed. Twin Lagoon is a narrow body of water separated by a wall of karst, wherein the second lagoon can be entered through a small hole beneath one of the cliffs. The hole is blocked during high tide so the residents built a wooden ladder over the cliff.

Climbing the ladder and standing above the cliff will give you the grandest scene of both lagoons at the same time. Take note that these aren’t just simple lagoons. They are two of the world’s most enchanting because of the pristine water embraced by notably beautiful karst that are seemingly carved by an artist. I’m not exaggerating. That’s really how it is!

We wished to stay longer but it was time for us to go and take our lunch at BBH Beach. The private tour we availed is inclusive of lunch. We thought that we will just land on a beach with a restaurant but we were confused when the guides brought us to a wet market before the tour begun and asked us to buy fresh meat, fishes and rice. We were even more shocked to see a grill set in their small boat. When we arrived at the beach, we learned that they cooked the food we bought while the boat sailed. Wow! That was the most awesome island hopping lunch I’ve ever had! The simple gesture made the tour very special.

The beach that’s supposed to be a simple side trip for lunch became another attraction for us because of the fine white sand and equally clear ocean. I can’t believe that this small beach possess such beauty. There may be pebbles scattered along the shore but beneath the pebbles and the water, you’ll feel the sand finer than Boracay’s. Its like I’m touching a bed of flour that gets sticky when mixed with water. Coron’s remarkable limestone cliffs and mangrove forests extends to this place, resulting to a nice backdrop of the beach.

I discovered that not all tours include complementary lunch. That won’t be a problem because a number of destinations in Coron Island contains mini stores that sell snacks. One time, we stopped by kuya’s coconut shop to buy ourselves refreshments after descending a tiring trail from Kayangan Lake. At Twin Lagoon, there were no shores for stores to station but the locals were smart since they bring their small boats into the lagoon and sell snacks while drifting.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Rhano Tourist Boat for making our private tour happy, safe and memorable. Our tour guides were loaded with trivia and jokes so the lake hopping became extra fun and fulfilling. They were more than willing to take our photos and attend to our requests. They reminded us to take caution from time to time. They were great cooks, too! Moreover, safety is guaranteed because it is mandatory for every tour guide in Coron to be professional swimmers and divers. After seeing how deep the lakes are, my mom once asked, “What if we accidentally drown into the lake?” Tour guides answered that they are trained to rescue tourists so there’s nothing to worry.