Small island off the most western part of Busuanga Island. Local name for the island is Malajon…read moreIsland, guess they renamed it for tourist sake. It was about a 5-6 mile boat ride from the main island where my resort was (it's not a straight line there). Took about half an hour to get there. Very relaxing and smooth ride with gentle winds gliding through your hair, boat bouncing a bit but for open sea water about as smooth as it can get. I've been on choppier water in lakes in the U.S. As you approach the island you can tell it is pretty uninhabited. There is a nice beach up front about 500-600 meters long. Pure soft white sand and pretty clear to light blue water. No big waves so it is a perfect place to snorkel right on the beach. There is also the skeletal remains of a big metal boat (war casualty?) super close to the shore that you can view snorkeling so you don't need to scuba for it. It's pretty creepy but lots of fish like to hang out there so worth to cruise on by. On top of the beach there are a row of covered island crafted tables with a kitchen counter of sorts where people, usually locals and/or tour guides can prep meals. I'm sure any garbage has to be brought back with the boat. It was part of my tour for us to eat there, so the guides just finished the final touches and served it on the tables after snorkeling. Such service! There's a huge cave in the middle which I looked into but had no interest in going in deep. During high tide the water can flow right underneath the cave producing dark pools of water. There are also large monitor lizards on this island, many are on the beach. I've never seen a lizard that big...live in its own habitat. When humans get there they kinda head towards the back where the hills and jungle are. But they are not super shy, some run away but others will just sit there with you being just 10 feet away. They are fast and very prehistoric looking. Bonus feature here. It was also slow the day I went just our boat and I only saw 1 other tourist boat. The other 2 groups were locals from the main island I'm assuming and they use the picnic area to gather and let the family have some fun on the beach and water. It was heart warming to see a family unit so happy being together without having the luxuries other countries are accustomed to. Put it this way no kid had an iPad to keep themselves 'occupied'/entertained. All the kids after eating went straight to the beach, swam and jumped off rocks. Even when a heavy rain cloud passed through (it was still warm), they just kept playing with joy. That is something we never see in the US, where rain is something of a deterrent and should be avoided. It was so refreshing to witness this. If I could skip all the touristy areas next time (cuz I already knocked it off my list), I would just rather set up a package with a resort to just come here and enjoy the solitude and the raw beauty and be at the same level with the people who actually live here. Easy Fiver!

Siete Pecados is a marine park surrounded by seven islets. Hubby saw lots of large corals here…read morewhile he was snorkeling; we could see the tops of them from the boat. The water is very deep so life vests are mandatory. There are roped off areas where the waters are rough, so please stay in the designated zone for your safety. Also if you put on sunscreen and intend to get in the water, make sure to wear sunscreen that doesn't have any chemicals that will harm the corals and fish. This was the last stop of our island hopping tour. The majority of my family went snorkeling and kayaking; but since I'm not a strong swimmer, I was perfectly content sitting in the boat with my cousin relaxing and enjoying the beautiful sunset. For those who are curious, here's a little background info. Siete Pecados means "seven sins" in Spanish, if you don't like sad stories, then you can stop reading right here. "There was once a legend about Siete Picados. The story said that there were seven sisters who went swimming against their mother's wishes. As a consequence, they all drowned, and afterwards, seven small islands sprouted from the sea." - vigattintourism.com

Tropical island in the Philippines [PALAWAN Philippines]…read more We dedicated a whole day island-hopping in Coron Palawan. It is one of the most amazing islands in the Philippines, with massive limestone peaks, multicolored lagoons, and great water activities like kayaking, snorkeling or scuba diving. We rented a private boat for a day tour. There were nine of us. Coron town is authentic, rural and cheap! Perfect town with a great balance of delicious Filipino food, shopping, and cheap transport. We used tricycle rides to get around. All the restaurants we dined in had live music entertainment. Filipinos love to sing. We stayed in Bacău Bay Resort for four nights. It was peaceful since it was away from the main town. Our room was spacious and comfortable with modern amenities. Buffet brunch was included with the room. The locals were friendly and felt safe in the island. I absolutely loved shopping here too. Review #3369

What an amazing experience to visit a place that I've only seen in travel brochures. Palawan is…read moregorgeous with clear, blue water; coral reefs teeming with sea life and ship wrecks; white sand beaches; hidden lagoons and numerous islets to explore. My niece was able to get us a cheap 3 day package deal which included airfare, transportation to and from the airport, hotel accommodations with free breakfast, and one full day of island hopping with lunch included. It was an hour flight from Clark International airport and a 30 minute car ride from the Busuanga airport. The road to Coron Town Proper was long and winding. Since we arrived earlier than our check in time, we had lunch at the hotel's restaurant. Afterwards, we bought essentials at the convenience store on the first floor, then walked across the street to get water shoes (a necessity to protect your feet from the corals and to ensure your footing on slippery surfaces), a waterproof cover for our phones, hubby's swim trunks and my niece's sunglasses. My nieces and nephew were so excited to go snorkeling that they spoke to some locals. They introduced them to a boat captain who agreed to take us on a half day tour of Barracuda Lake, Hidden Lagoon and Smith Beach. My favorite spot was Smith beach which had white sand, lots of HUGE starfish and two friendly cats. The sun was setting which gave us gorgeous lighting for our pictures to capture our first day in paradise. The next day on our island hopping tour we went to Twin Lagoons, CYC Beach, Skeleton Shipwreck, Green Lagoon, Kayangan Lake, and Siete Pecados. Hubby's favorite spot was Skeleton Shipwreck with it's many colorful corals, exotic tropical fish, and of course, a 25 meter long Japanese ship that sunk during WWII. My favorite site, however, was the Twin Lagoons. It's best to go there early in the day when the tide is low, because you can kayak through a tunnel beneath the limestone mountain. We had to bend over backwards to be able to pass through, which gave us an opportunity to examine the interesting rock formations above us (please see video). On our last day, before heading home, my cousin and I climbed the looooong staircase to the top of Mount Tapyas. It took us about an hour for us to climb up and then down the 700+ steps. We took multiple stops to rest and take pictures. It was a nice climb, most of which was shaded by trees; it was an ideal spot to take in the width and breadth of Coron. Sadly, we must say our goodbyes. What I'm most grateful about this trip is the time spent with loved ones, and the opportunity to enjoy the simple things in life: the warmth of the sun on my skin, the wind through my hair, waves lapping at my feet, the gorgeous colors of the sunset and the welcoming rays of the sunrise. Life is good! Amen

Postcard picture perfect. Kayangan lake was part of our tour and it requires moderate hiking up a…read moresignificant number of stairs. The hike up is guaranteed to challenge your cardio. The view from the cliff seems to be a hot spot with long lines forming during peak times for photo ops. The line moves quickly but if there is a large group taking group photos expect a significant wait. After you take your photo, you climb down the stairs on the opposite side to get to the lake. Visiting Kayangan, like many other attractions in Coron, will require coming earlier in the day to avoid the crowds. Everyone on tour is required to wear their life vests when entering the lake. Unless you are a strong swimmer, you can remove the life vest but you're going under the conditions of swimming at your own risk.

There are 2 lakes in Coron that if you take the 'island-hopping' tour, will take you to these…read morelakes. We did this lake before we did Barracuda Lake. I will point out a harsh reality about this particular lake experience that some will not mind but could be a deal breaker for others. This lake is quite tucked in one of the smaller non inhabited islands. There is some serious trekking to do in order to get to the lake itself. You have to climb about 160 steps up and 200 steps down to get to the lake. The initial climb is brutal, steep with big steps. And the tropical heat can suck the endurance out of you...it did me. I had to stop once to take a breather and my legs were starting to quiver. But a few more steps I was there at the top but only half way there. At that halfway mark and cuz you are now perched over a mountain, there is a vista point where almost everyone will snap a pic (God Bless Social Media). Your tour guide will control your group and actually snap your pics to how ever many poses you want. So this can take a while but in our out only 1 tour group was in front of ours. I usually pass on this kind of bs but damn is this view worth it. I gave in shamelessly. After the photo op shoot you now descend onto the lake which is easy. But guess what when you're done with swimming in that lake you gotta do it over again. But the consolation is the climb back isn't as steep or hard as the one in the front. YAY. The lake is super refreshing once you take the plunge after running your body into exhaustion. The water is a perfect temp that you could float in it until you prune up. The color is amazing as well, I've never seen a lake of this color, kinda deep greenish/blue. And very clear. I actually liked this lake better than Barracuda Lake but to get here is some serious work for the weather conditions. But ya know what...I'd do it again. The exhilarating dip and reward of memories was worth it.

Three words best describe Barracuda Lake. It's simply breathtaking, gorgeous and screensaver…read moreworthy. The lake was part of our tour itinerary for the day. I kept hearing about it in travel blogs but didn't think much of it until we saw it in person. It's a short hike from the landing dock with the route leading you up a set of rickety stairs. The stairs had rubber tires nailed in for additional traction. Despite the haphazard construction, that didn't deter us from going. You just need to move with caution. If anything, the stair's construction does two things. #1.) The optics give the place character and #2.) It builds an element of risk for adventure seekers. The waters are a rich turquoise blue reaching 30 meters deep. This picturesque blue lake contrasts against towering, jagged limestone cliffs sprawling with lush vegetation. These cliffs emerged underwater by geological forces formed from skeletons and shells of marine life dating from the Jurassic period. It is truly a spectacle to behold. Barracuda Lake depending on perspective can be a multifaceted prism of experiences. Despite being surrounded by beauty there are dangers that lie below. One particular danger is the possibility of encountering a barracuda. I did not encounter a barracuda but given the vastness of this lake, I might have been in the company of one. The lake also has a thermocline providing a unique swimming environment for divers or free divers. Barracuda Lake is one not to miss and if you can get there early enough, I would encourage it. Tourism to such sites needs regulation in order to preserve the natural environment for generations to come.

Very unique lake that they took us to, from a tour package. It is crazy deep like over 100 ft…read more There is also geothermic activity as very warm water comes from the deeper depths. So if one is able to go deeper (like a scuba diver) then water could get to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit which is like a hot tub. Up near the surface where everybody is at because nobody is allowed to go in without a life jacket, the water is a mild 80 degrees. You have to walk single filed down some steep wooden steps, I'd say maybe a 100 yards. Once you get to the secluded lake it can get busy due to all the tours passing through. There is also not a lot of room lakeside as it is basically a lake surrounded by towering sheer cliffs. So they say not to lounge around near the lake. Either get in the water, and once out go back up the stairs. You can bring your snorkeling gear here, and if you want to get the full immersion (pun intended), you should try and view what is below you. It will BLOW you away. Once you pull away from the lime stone edge, and look down with goggles the depths just drop that you can't even see a bottom. Eerie AF but real exhilarating as well. There's no fish or plant life to view, just jagged limestone near the edges. We just floated around for about 20-30 minutes and besides getting spooked out by the abyss below, the other half of the time I just floated on my back and faced the sky and watched these cliffs go up about a hundred feet. One of the most unique experiences I've ever done. And it's not like just staring at an object or landmark. You are actually inside this thing, absorbing it from all angles and depths. What an adventure!

Malcapulya Island was the last stop on our island hopping excursion in Coron, Palawan, Philippines…read more It was our first time walking through a grassy hillside, which eventually brought us to the beautiful beach side with a nice flat camping area complete with hammocks, picnic tables, snacks for sale, like Carioca and suman, and a basketball court! We befriended our tour guide from the beginning of our trip, so he'd give us a few insider tips along the way. One of them being basketball at the last stop. After he guided the group to the beach, he pulled us aside to grab some coconut water and to play ball. Within 5 minutes he rounded up the locals and my nephew and friend ended up playing two rounds. This was one of the best experiences throughout our stay. The guys on the court were hilarious!! On top of that, they were either playing bare foot or tsinelas (slippers)! The beach was just gorgeous and felt just as amazing as the other islands. Looking forward to returning someday as I heard you could bring a tent and camp overnight. It was definitely less crowded, too. I heart you, Macapulya Island!!

Lunch at Dimanglet Island [CORON, PALAWAN Philippines]…read more Part of our island-hopping tour in Coron was lunch in one of the beaches. We went to this island to have our lunch and relax during the afternoon of our second day. Originally, the plan was to go to Smith Point Beach but we weren't the only ones island-hopping out there that day and Smith Point Beach was crowded with other tourists so our tour guide diverted us to Dimanglet Island. Wow, yes, a real island... our tour package included lunch so we set up our picnic table while food was brought to shore from the boat. The island is peaceful. No one lives on the island as I understand. Picture perfect with pristine waters. This is a beautiful spot to enjoy the amazing clear waters when sailing in Coron. Just note that there are no proper restrooms. There is an outhouse which is not the cleanest. Review #3368

Brutal 'hike' but I want to clarify what others are calling a hike and reaptly call this a straight…read moreCLIMB. This is not a meandering trail goes in different directions which I define as a hike. This is a straight concrete staircase that goes straight up in one line some 750 steps. And in all my climbing experience, climbs that traverse back and forth in a zig zag pattern aka 'switchbacks' are less strenuous on the body and breathing. Going straight up in a one line fashion is the quickest route but it is also the most taxing on your endurance. This trek on Mt Tapyas is definitely the latter. This was part of the 'Town' tour that I took on the first day here as to acquaint my self with the town and its terrain. The guide does warn us that if anybody has asthma or high blood pressure to not try,and just stay in the van. 8 of us started including our guide. Only 4 of us made it to the top as the others stopped at some point and turned back. About half way up due to the heat and humidity I was gassed. If I would have known that it was going to be this involved I would have worn lighter material clothing. I went shirtless from here on out as all my clothes were soaked. Our guide should have told us to bring more water as I only brought a small plastic water bottle. You need much more than that for this. The second half of the climb I found myself stopping more frequently. Like had to stop 4 times on the second half and only once on the first half. Finally got to the top. There's a huge white cross up there made of metal white piping. Supposedly you can see this cross from most places in town proper. There's a 360 view from up there and the special one is overlooking the sea and the neighboring smaller islands. The other side are just grassy hills. Our guide took several photos of us as he knew the vista points and cool angles. And all guides here are super versed in handling phone cameras of all types. The way down is a breeze. Looking at all the sweating faces still trying to go up. I felt their pain. But I didn't want to discourage anyone as once on top there is a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment that will sweep through your psyche. Mt. Tapyas you kicked my ass, and I ain't mad at ya for it. You made me stronger, so much appreciated.

People like to spend their last day of vacation in different ways: my nieces and nephew wanted to…read morecram as much activity as possible into the remaining time we had, hubby slept in, while my cousin and I woke up early to conquer Mount Tapyas. Mt Tapyas is less than 13 minutes away on foot; but we wanted to conserve our energy for the climb. We paid P30 for a trike to take the two of us from our hotel to the base of the mountain. It took us about an hour to climb the 721 steps to get to the top and then back down, this included multiple stops to rest and take pictures (there are numerous landings and benches along the way). It was a nice climb, most of which was shaded by trees. At the view deck at the top there's no shade, so I wouldn't recommend coming when it's hot. It was a perfect spot to take in the width and breadth of Coron.