Coron Beach Escapade

One of the most popular tours to book when in Palawan (especially with the goal of seeing sandy beaches in mind) is none other than the Coron Island Escapade Tour. Of course, this is for good reason – it allows guests to visit some of the most beautiful islands across the Culion Strait. These include the Bulog Dos Island, the Malcapuya Island, and last but nade

ot least – the Banana Island.

We   enjoyed our Ultimate Coron Island tour so much that we booked another tour with JY. Travels and Tours  and I guess, they really do care about their customers because our guide suggested equally beautiful but less touristy islands and when they asked about this, of course, we were inclined to say yes.

We had three sandy beaches to visit

The Malcapuya Island, the Coco Beach, and Ditaytayan Island.

Malcapuya Island

Even with a different tour package, we were still able to wind up at Malcapuya Island. It’s a two-hour boat ride away from the main Coron Town.

The length of the journey is well worth it, however! And that fact is something you’ll be convinced of immediately upon arrival.

Once the boat finally docks onto the shallow shores of the western portion of the island, you’ll catch sight of abundant coral and marine life that give Malcapuya its vibrancy and life – avid snorkelers will certainly not want to miss this. Get out your mask and snorkeling gear and dive in, see the clownfish and giant clams which the shores in Palawan are known for.

Aside from snorkeling sights and sounds, this part of the beach is home to a plethora of beautiful limestone rock formations both big and small – a definite sight for sore eyes.

The beach boasts views of extremely clear waters, flora-covered islets in the distance, and long stretches of fine white sand which rival even national gems known for their impeccable shores, like Boracay.

If you want the tropical paradise experience, a visit to the southern portion of the beach is a must! The owner of the island disallows boats docking in that area of the beach which is a wise choice in order to help preserve the wonders located there: the pristine, long stretches of fine powdery sand and a generous dotting of coconut palm trees perfect for shade during rests.

The southern beach also consists of a hill visitor can climb for a gorgeous view of the surrounding islands – like the famous Banana and Bulog Dos Island. Climbing the hill also offers a sight of the corals reefs peeking under the crystal waters of Palawan.

Most people who were there seemed to like staying in the middle of the beach, so we opted to walk the edges – and it was definitely a wise choice! Even more beautiful views. Hammocks, tents, tables and chairs are available along the beach for easy access.

If you want to access the private island without having to book a tour package, the entrance fee costs P200.

Coco Beach

Coco Beach is but a tiny dot in Coron, located at the very tip of the Bulalacao Island. The small island is tiny but mighty, however. It’s a worthy tropical getaway that’s able to stand on its own feet.

While lesser known and visited, Coco has practically everything you’d ever want and need in a beach – a beauty with teal water so clear you’d think it was photoshopped, first and foremost. Additionally, snorkelling and swimming are some definite must-dos here, given the incredible access to coral-littered waters expected of Palawan islands. Lots of cute clownfish and box jellyfish frequent these parts – watch out you don’t get stung, though.

Prefer a more chill island experience? Coco Beach has that too. It’s filled with a generous amount of huts, hammocks, and even swings for a delightful sunsoaked nap or leisurely swing overlooking the sea. Overall, a perfect destination for both fun-in-the-sun and laidback activities. We also found it to be a really good venue for our lunch.

We arrived late again so we had the lovely island all to ourselves!

Ditaytayan Island

Just because a place isn’t as popular as others doesn’t mean it isn’t as good – and the Ditaytayan Island is a definite testament to that. Nestled between the Culion and Bulalacao Islands, it’s often overshadowed by the Bulog Dos and Banana Island due to its harder to reach location.

But being touristy isn’t a necessity to be an island that contains everything you could ever want in a beach paradise!

The island is rather flat, making it easy to walk and jump around with friends without much worry. Be careful when roaming, however, and don’t head into the more forested area – it’s teeming with local mosquitos that bite quite harsh.

Aside from that little setback, you can just sit back and relax at the Ditaytayan island. They have huts and lunch areas, snorkelling spots, and of course: the quintessential white, sandy stretches of beach. In fact, the experience at Ditaytayan was so good we found it to be an even better destination when compared to stars like Bulog Dos!

One thing people love to flock to Ditaytayan Island for, however, is their lovely sand bar around 200 meters away from the main island, best accessed during the low tide. It’s a great place to take memorable pictures or have lunch enclosed by the glassy sea and views of the nearby islands.

Overall Experience

 

Compared to the first tour we would have initially had, the Coron Beach Escapade takes a bigger chunk out of your day because of how much further the destinations are. But still, I really loved these islands! I feel as if I could stay in Malcapuya all day long without even getting bored – that’s how good it was!

So if you want a wonderful Coron vacation with minimal crowds, take a chance, steer away from your typical tours and book the Coron Beach Escapade for a taste of how good Palawan can be even off the beaten path.