Coron Palawan — crystal-clear turquoise water at Kayangan Lake surrounded by limestone karst cliffs

Palawan

Coron Town

Carla Cervantes / Unsplash

Trade-off

The WWII wreck diving capital of Asia — more laid-back than El Nido, with Kayangan Lake and limestone scenery.

Coron town on Busuanga island is the northern alternative to El Nido — quieter, less developed, and centred on a different kind of Palawan experience. The WWII Japanese shipwrecks sunk in a 1944 US air raid lie at depths accessible to recreational divers and are among the finest wreck diving sites in Asia. On the surface, Kayangan Lake (consistently cited as one of the clearest lakes in the Philippines), Barracuda Lake's thermocline, and the Twin Lagoons provide island-hopping alternatives that feel genuinely different from El Nido's circuit. The town itself has a slower rhythm, with the market area and Coron waterfront offering unpolished authenticity.

Scores

7/10

Walkability

4/10

Transit

5/10

Price

7/10

Local feel

4/10

Nightlife

7/10

Family-friendly

8/10

Centrality

What you gain

  • ↑World-class wreck diving: the Irako, Kogyo Maru, and Okikawa Maru wrecks are among the best-preserved WWII shipwrecks in the world; accessible to Open Water certified divers
  • ↑Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake offer genuinely different island experiences from El Nido — crystal-clear freshwater surrounded by karst formations that feel less visited and more special
  • ↑The town is notably calmer and less packaged than El Nido — smaller tour groups, fewer selfie crowds at key sites, and a more relaxed pace at every step

What you sacrifice

  • ↓Access to Coron requires a separate flight or a long ferry crossing from El Nido; most travellers choose between Coron and El Nido rather than combining both on a short trip
  • ↓Nightlife and evening dining options are limited compared to El Nido — Coron town winds down significantly after dark
  • ↓Non-divers get less from Coron than El Nido; the island-hopping circuit is excellent but smaller in scope

Best for

divers and snorkellersthose seeking a quieter alternative to El Nidorepeat Philippines visitorsWWII history enthusiastscouples

Avoid if

those on a tight one-week itinerary who cannot justify the separate flightnon-divers wanting maximum island-hopping varietynightlife seekers

Other Palawan neighbourhoods

Puerto Princesa

Palawan's capital and main gateway — the Underground River UNESCO site and the practical base for everything.

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Port Barton

Palawan before the crowds found it — a quiet fishing village between Puerto Princesa and El Nido with untouched bay.

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El Nido Town

The gateway to the Bacuit Archipelago — boat tours, limestone cliffs, and the liveliest strip in Palawan.

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