Coron and El Nido Review

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

I had taken 3 trips to Palawan and always wanted to check out Coron and El Nido.  In the past I would stay in Sabang at a hotel called The Sheridan and in my opinion they had the best beach in the Philippines there, even though it is quite small.

 

I took a CebuPac from Manila to Busuanga Palawan, it was a propeller plane, air time was about one hour and it did a 7 day trip.  I booked no hotel just my air.

 

Arrived around 7 am in Busuanga Airport, there are tons of vans to take you to Coron which is about a 30 minute ride, I think I paid 200 pesos for the ride. I got into the hotel zone and looked a couple of hotels and settled into one which had free breakfast and ran around  1200 peso per night.  Coron doesn't have a beach to speak of and you take a trike to port which is about 5 minutes from most hotels and get on small boat and go see the island.  Coron city is really boring and very little night life, if you go out of the hotel area and into the town it pretty nasty overall.  I did one tour and beach hopped to like 4 island and the first Island took 1.5 hours by boat to get to it and cost like 1250 peso, this island was suppose to be the best island in Coron and really it was ok and nothing special.  Went to a few other island on the island hop tour and got back to port around 4pm making it about a 7 hour island hop tour.

 

After that I was done with Coron, So I caught the Ferry that goes to ElNido the next day, it cost 1760 peso and takes 4 hours.  This may have been the best sightseeing tour for me.

 

Arrived at El Nido and they have four tours. A B C D seems to be what all offer, I did a combo tour of A and C which would let me see like 8 island hops in one day, I will say this was better, but you had to go the beach in El Nido which is a nasty beach full of debris, trash, dog feces it pretty nasty.  You get on the boat and they take you to other island to see.

 

I stayed in a few different hotels on both places, made no reservations just played it by ear.  

 

Overall I was disappointed in both, El Nido seemed to have some night life like you could have dinner and drinks on the beach, Coron is a dead soldier after the sun goes down.

 

I will never return to either location, I chatted with another American on the plane leaving PI, and he said he went to El Nido and was disappointed, I told him he was lucky he picked the better of the two.

 

 

[edoginasia 22]

We enjoyed Coron..first time there..no complaints. 

One boat tour all day long and lunch encluded, great beaches to go to on tour..great snorkeling. BYOB

Rented motorcycle and circled Busuanga Island and found Ocam Ocam beach..absolutely beautiful, fun fun ride..

and found the best Seafood restaurant called La Sirenetta Seafood Restaurant & Bar...this a must eat at for those who appreciate great food and the price was so very inexpensive it was ridicules.   Fresh Mahi Mahi or Fresh Ono meal for 400 peso, worth $30 USD if was in USA and Shrimp pasta with lemon, butter and basil for 300 peso, worth $30 USD in any USA restaurants.. ICE COLD BEER!! 

 

Our hotel was walking distance from main road and restaurants, Haven 1916 B&B so it was quiet and yet close to everything..never used trikes..just motorcycle if feel like exploring..or walk into restaurant area..  4.5star on hotel..good wi fi. 1500peso and up..includes breakfast.

 

Will go again..pictures in our profile..