Coron’s Soul of Paradise

Coron, Palawan (Saiko3p / Shutterstock)

Pristine white beaches. Crystal clear blue waters. A rich flora and fauna.

Tourists, both local and foreign, have been raving about this paradise, now considered one of the world’s best destinations.

Boracay? Nope.

It’s Coron, located in the province of Palawan, which in 2013 was named as the World’s Best Island by Travel and Leisure Magazine’s “World’s Best Awards.”

According to Wikipedia, Coron is a first-class municipality in the province of Palawan, comprising the eastern half of Busuanga Island, all of Coron Island and about 50 other minor islets stretching as far as Tara Island in the northeast and Canipo Island in the south.

It used to be just one of the world’s best scuba-diving sites, marked by the aquatic views from the sunken Japanese warships off Coron Island and being listed in Forbes Traveler Magazine’s Top 10 best scuba-diving sites in the world. During World War II, a fleet of Japanese ships were sunk by the US Navy, with the remains of the said ships becoming a top attraction for divers seeking an eclectic mix of nature with history.

The view from the trek to Kayangan Lake in Coron, Palawan (shutterstock)

But over time, tourist of all shapes and sizes, not just those hoping to find the best scuba-diving sites, have discovered its charm. Those, who have seen and experienced Coron, are finding it hard to leave. Those who do, have vowed to return.

Here’s why.

Coron is a quiet place to get away from the chaos of the metropolis. If you’re looking for a serene place to energize yourself and be one with nature, Coron is the place to be. Although it is inevitably headed there, Coron is still not as commercialized as other tourist destinations, where fastfood joints, bars and hotels are sprouting left and right like fertilized mushrooms. The local hotels here will bring you the peace you want as you can stay in bed and watch the slow life of local folks flash before your eyes. Or you can go island-hopping, or camp in your chosen island. If these aren’t your thing, you can also experience its hot springs, or dip in its crystal clear lake, or climb Mt. Tapyas to get a panoramic view of the island.

Compared to other beaches, Coron is much cleaner, and way more beautiful because it is untouched by technology and modern times. This is probably because it has less tourists, who litter the place. Its local government must make sure that it stays this way with the looming influx of visitors in the coming years.

Sunset as seen from Banana Island in Coron, Palawan (Ching Dee / PCI)

Furthermore, Coron won’t put holes in a traveler’s pockets. Seafood here is cheap, succulent, and fresh. Even the hotels and the boat rides won’t break the bank.

Lastly, a lovely place such as Coron becomes a paradise only because of its residents. Local folks here have a ready smile for tourists seeking to embrace everything it has to offer. Each one of them has a story to tell to those willing to listen.

So when you head to Coron one of these days, appreciate its beauty. But never ever leave out the local folks, who for hundreds of years, have kept its beauty intact. After all, these folks are Coron’s soul.