Town · Philippines · Southeast Asia
Island hopping, clear lakes and wartime wrecks in northern Palawan
Photo: SHARMAINE MONTICALBO / Pexels
Coron is a town on Busuanga Island in northern Palawan, used as the base for island hopping, lake visits and wreck dives. Hostels are concentrated around the town proper.
You’ll complete your booking with Hostelworld. We may earn a commission from qualifying bookings.
Best for: Walkable tours, food and boat departures
The main centre, with tour operators, dive shops, restaurants and bars along the streets near the waterfront. Boats for island hopping leave from the nearby piers. Many hostels are within a short walk of each other. It is busy by day with vans and tricycles, and can be noisy near the main bar streets in the evening.
Best for: Views and quieter evenings
The hill behind the town has a viewpoint reached by a long flight of steps, popular at sunrise and sunset. Accommodation on the slopes is a short walk or tricycle ride from the waterfront and often quieter at night. Expect some uphill walking, which is worth keeping in mind if you arrive with a heavy pack.
Best for: Calm stays with a tricycle ride into town
A smaller number of hostels sit along the shore outside the main centre, with more space and less traffic. You will usually need a tricycle or hostel transfer to reach town and tour piers. Check how late tricycles run and whether the hostel can arrange transport after dark.
Live rooms and prices
See live dorm beds, private rooms, prices and cancellation terms for your dates on Hostelworld.
You’ll complete your booking with Hostelworld. We may earn a commission from qualifying bookings. You’ll choose your dates and guests there.
Coron is the main town on Busuanga Island in the Calamian group, in the north of Palawan. Most visitors come for boat tours that visit limestone islands, lagoons and lakes, plus diving on Japanese Second World War wrecks. The Department of Tourism highlights Kayangan and Barracuda lakes, whose clear water has distinct temperature layers, and nearby islands with white sand and snorkelling.
The town is compact and runs along the waterfront and up the slope behind it. Tour desks sell shared boat trips, with itineraries often labelled by letter or number; most hostels can book these for you. Environmental fees apply at many sites, so keep your receipts. Rain and sea conditions can change plans, so keep a spare day in your schedule, particularly if you are connecting with a ferry or flight.
Most travellers fly to Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU) on Busuanga, with domestic flights typically from Manila (MNL) and Cebu (CEB). Vans take passengers to Coron town in around 40 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic and the road. Boats also link Coron with El Nido and with other parts of Palawan, usually taking several hours, and long-distance ferries run from Manila on some schedules. Sea conditions affect timetables, so confirm times with the operator and allow a buffer.
Northern Palawan is typically driest from around December to May, which is the usual window for island hopping and diving, with March to May getting hot. The wetter months run from around June to November, bringing rougher seas that can cancel boat trips and delay flights. Typhoons mostly affect the area from around August to November. Sources describe the shoulder months slightly differently, so check the forecast shortly before travel.
Coron is a town on Busuanga Island in the Calamian Islands, in the north of Palawan. It is served by Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU), which is on Busuanga and is typically around 40 minutes to an hour from town by van, depending on traffic. Direct domestic flights usually come from Manila (MNL) and Cebu (CEB). Many hostels can arrange a transfer if you tell them your flight.
The two towns are linked by boats that typically take several hours, with schedules depending on the weather and the operator. Some travellers prefer to fly or go by land via Puerto Princesa, though that takes much longer. Check the latest timetables locally, since boat services can pause in rough seas, and keep a little spare time in case of cancellations.
Most people join shared boat trips to limestone islands, lagoons and lakes such as Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake. Others dive or snorkel around the Japanese Second World War wrecks. In town, you can climb Mount Tapyas for views over the bay and eat at local restaurants. Your hostel can usually book tours, but compare itineraries and check what is included.
Northern Palawan is generally driest from around December to May, which is when island hopping is most dependable, though March to May can be very hot. From around June to November, rain and rougher seas can cause trip cancellations. Typhoons mostly affect the region between August and November. Check PAGASA forecasts shortly before you travel.
Yes. Environmental or entrance fees apply at many lakes and islands, and the Department of Tourism advises keeping your receipts. Whether these are included in a tour package varies, so ask the operator before you book. Fees and permit rules can change, so confirm current arrangements with the local government unit or your tour operator.
Coron has a steady flow of solo backpackers, and shared boat tours are a straightforward way to meet others. Hostels often organise group trips and share information about conditions. As with anywhere in the Philippines, read the current gov.uk FCDO travel advice before you go and take sensible precautions with belongings and on the water.
Reviewed by the HostelConnect editorial team on 8 November 2026. Check entry rules, transport and conditions with official sources before you travel.
