This is part 3 of the series I'm writing for our Coron trip. You may check the other posts here:
CORONicles Day 1: Touchdown Coron
CORONicles Day 2: Coron Island Loop Tour
CORONicles Day 4: What Should've Been An Awesome Calumbuyan Tour
CORONicles Day 5: Wrap Up and Post-Travel Accounting
CORONicles Day 1: Touchdown Coron
CORONicles Day 2: Coron Island Loop Tour
CORONicles Day 4: What Should've Been An Awesome Calumbuyan Tour
CORONicles Day 5: Wrap Up and Post-Travel Accounting
June 01, 2012 , Friday
07:00AM
After a tiring but fulfilling hike on the first day and an "intro" tour on the second, we were excited as hell to see what else Coron had to offer. It didn't help that I've seen Coron three years ago because I was still the most excited among the bunch :)) I was fidgety the whole morning and couldn't wait for for the others to finish breakfast.
After a tiring but fulfilling hike on the first day and an "intro" tour on the second, we were excited as hell to see what else Coron had to offer. It didn't help that I've seen Coron three years ago because I was still the most excited among the bunch :)) I was fidgety the whole morning and couldn't wait for for the others to finish breakfast.
08:30AM
Although it wasn't raining that day, the weather was still grim. Understandable because it was the first week of June, uhm, hello rainy season. But we were still hoping that the sun would come out in Malcapuya, which is approx. 1.5-2 hours away from Coron town.
Although it wasn't raining that day, the weather was still grim. Understandable because it was the first week of June, uhm, hello rainy season. But we were still hoping that the sun would come out in Malcapuya, which is approx. 1.5-2 hours away from Coron town.
10:00AM
We finally had a glimpse of Malcapuya after almost two hours of sea travel. I was still hoping for sunshiny hours ahead because I wanted to at least have some decent tan lines. But tough luck, the clouds wouldn't allow some rays to touch our longing-for-some-sunshine skin. So we decided to have our early lunch first, which was already included in the package that we availed from Gran Vista. They charged us P200 per person for the chicken inasal and grilled fish meal. We also bought fresh buko from the island caretaker for P40 apiece.
We finally had a glimpse of Malcapuya after almost two hours of sea travel. I was still hoping for sunshiny hours ahead because I wanted to at least have some decent tan lines. But tough luck, the clouds wouldn't allow some rays to touch our longing-for-some-sunshine skin. So we decided to have our early lunch first, which was already included in the package that we availed from Gran Vista. They charged us P200 per person for the chicken inasal and grilled fish meal. We also bought fresh buko from the island caretaker for P40 apiece.
11:30AM
YEEEEES! Finally, some sun! We didn't waste any time - we hurriedly ended our siesta and started to walk to the rock formations located at the tip of the island. While walking, I noticed that there were now lounge chairs and tents by the beach. Coron has obviously gained popularity over the years and the owner of Malcapuya has been making some changes to accommodate more guests, i.e. chairs, huts, kayak, etc. As much as I want to keep Coron as untouched as possible (because I'm selfish like that), I can't do anything to shoo away the tourists. You know the feeling of seeing this paradise and just wanting to keep it to yourself?
YEEEEES! Finally, some sun! We didn't waste any time - we hurriedly ended our siesta and started to walk to the rock formations located at the tip of the island. While walking, I noticed that there were now lounge chairs and tents by the beach. Coron has obviously gained popularity over the years and the owner of Malcapuya has been making some changes to accommodate more guests, i.e. chairs, huts, kayak, etc. As much as I want to keep Coron as untouched as possible (because I'm selfish like that), I can't do anything to shoo away the tourists. You know the feeling of seeing this paradise and just wanting to keep it to yourself?
It took us around ten minutes to reach the rock formations. There's nothing really special about the stones aside from the fact that they provided another venue for picture taking! ♥ And by the way, the sand in this part of the island is so much finer.
Then we headed to the viewing deck/cliff at the other side of the island. We didn't mind walking under the 12:00nn sun because that would help me hit my target - to be as dark as possible XD The cliff provided us a panoramic view of Malcapuya and some nearby islands. Breathtaking, just...breathtaking.
02:00PM
Our tour guide, Kuya Bobby, snapped us out of our take-hundreds-of-pictures-of-me-here moment when he announced that it was time to leave for Banana Island. The island is just 10 minutes away from Malcapuya. I didn't remember anything spectacular about the island when we visited years ago. Turned out to be the biggest lie of the century. I instantly fell in love with the island the moment I stepped my fat feet on its shores. Banana Island was beyond spectacular - it has everything that I want in a place. Very fine, powdery sand? Check. Green landscape? Check. Fantastic snorkeling spot? Check. Isang malaking check para sa Banana Island! √
Our tour guide, Kuya Bobby, snapped us out of our take-hundreds-of-pictures-of-me-here moment when he announced that it was time to leave for Banana Island. The island is just 10 minutes away from Malcapuya. I didn't remember anything spectacular about the island when we visited years ago. Turned out to be the biggest lie of the century. I instantly fell in love with the island the moment I stepped my fat feet on its shores. Banana Island was beyond spectacular - it has everything that I want in a place. Very fine, powdery sand? Check. Green landscape? Check. Fantastic snorkeling spot? Check. Isang malaking check para sa Banana Island! √
04:00PM
Alas, it was time for us to leave Banana Island :( We actually had more fun here than in Malcapuya. We should have left Malcapuya earlier :| But oh well, at least we enjoyed every bit of this paradise. Off to the Bulog Dos sandbar, which is just a few tumblings away from Banana Island. I would have enjoyed the sandbar if we went to the cliff to have an overlooking view of the sea and the islands but our tour guide said it's too dangerous and we were running out of time. We had to go back asap because the waves are bigger and more dangerous in the afternoon. So we only stayed for a few minutes to have our pictures taken. And then I noticed that there's now a private resort in the closest island. It wasn't there three years ago. Our tour guide said it's Two Seasons, like the one in Boracay. Again, I felt sad and betrayed and gaaaaaahd (OA lang? Hihi).
Alas, it was time for us to leave Banana Island :( We actually had more fun here than in Malcapuya. We should have left Malcapuya earlier :| But oh well, at least we enjoyed every bit of this paradise. Off to the Bulog Dos sandbar, which is just a few tumblings away from Banana Island. I would have enjoyed the sandbar if we went to the cliff to have an overlooking view of the sea and the islands but our tour guide said it's too dangerous and we were running out of time. We had to go back asap because the waves are bigger and more dangerous in the afternoon. So we only stayed for a few minutes to have our pictures taken. And then I noticed that there's now a private resort in the closest island. It wasn't there three years ago. Our tour guide said it's Two Seasons, like the one in Boracay. Again, I felt sad and betrayed and gaaaaaahd (OA lang? Hihi).
05:15PM
We arrived at the Coron wharf just a few minutes past five. We were all tired but very happy. Very happy because we got to see how blessed Philippines is with natural wonders. Very happy because we got to hear local stories about the place. Very happy because I got to experience paradise with my loved ones. Ayyyyy, ang cheesy lang? :D
We arrived at the Coron wharf just a few minutes past five. We were all tired but very happy. Very happy because we got to see how blessed Philippines is with natural wonders. Very happy because we got to hear local stories about the place. Very happy because I got to experience paradise with my loved ones. Ayyyyy, ang cheesy lang? :D
Day 3 expenses per person:
P120 - Breakfast in Gran Vista
P20 - Tricycle fare to wharf
P667 - Boat rental
P84 - Tour guide fee
P200 - Malcapuya entrance fee
P250 - Banana Island and Bulog Dos fee
P200 - Picnic lunch
P20 - Tricycle fare back to Gran Vista
P30 - Coordination Fee
P200 - Dinner
P1,608 per person for day 3
P120 - Breakfast in Gran Vista
P20 - Tricycle fare to wharf
P667 - Boat rental
P84 - Tour guide fee
P200 - Malcapuya entrance fee
P250 - Banana Island and Bulog Dos fee
P200 - Picnic lunch
P20 - Tricycle fare back to Gran Vista
P30 - Coordination Fee
P200 - Dinner
P1,608 per person for day 3