Philippines
Where to stay in Coron and Busuanga: the hotels we recommend
Beneath the boat lies a ship from 1944, its deck covered in coral. In Coron it is the wrecks that draw you in, but your hotel decides how quickly you reach them.
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In short: where to stay in Coron
Coron town is on Busuanga, not on Coron Island itself, and the best hotels are on the small islands around it. We recommend six hotels: three on islands and three on Busuanga. The airport is in the north of Busuanga, and the transfer to the island resorts takes one to two hours.
Our first choice: Two Seasons Coron Island Resort, for the reef off the beach and the short hop to the lakes. Check availability and prices
First things first: what is Coron?
The name causes confusion. The town stands on Busuanga's south coast, while Coron Island, with Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake, lies just south of it. The whole area is usually called Coron, airlines included, even though the airport is on Busuanga.
In practice your hotel may be a good hour by road and boat from the places you came to see. Choose according to what you want to do: the wrecks lie west of town, the lakes south of it, and the island resorts are scattered all around Busuanga.
The islands
Two Seasons Coron Island Resort
The resort sits at the tip of an island around forty minutes by speedboat south of Coron town. With 42 rooms it is small, and it is closer to the lakes on Coron Island than any of the others.
Discovery Coron (formerly Club Paradise)
Dimakya's beach runs for seven hundred metres, and the reef begins just offshore. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
Discovery Coron (formerly Club Paradise)
Dimakya Island, north of Busuanga, has this single resort, with seven hundred metres of sand and a house reef you can swim out to. It was Club Paradise until the change of name, and the boat from Busuanga takes about half an hour. Choose it for a family holiday or for diving with a short hop from your room to the reef. It also has a review of its own.
Sangat Island Dive Resort
On Sangat a cottage sits on top of a rock, with the jetty for the dive boats close by. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
Sangat Island Dive Resort
A small island west of Busuanga, close to several of the 1944 wrecks. Cottages stand by the beach, and the dive centre is the heart of the place. Best for divers who want to be first on the wrecks in the morning, less so for anyone after a spa and polished service.
Busuanga
Busuanga Bay Lodge
Busuanga Bay Lodge's pool looks over the bay where the dive boats head out. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
Busuanga Bay Lodge
The hotel sits at the mouth of a bay on Busuanga, with an infinity pool above the water and a marina close by. It makes a good base for wreck diving, and there is no boat ride to an island at the end of each day. Best for divers and for those who want a comfortable hotel on land.
Two Seasons Coron Bayside
The Bayside hotel is in Coron town, its pool right on the water. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
Two Seasons Coron Bayside
The sister hotel to Two Seasons' island resort is in Coron town, on the waterfront. From here you can walk to restaurants and to the boats that run to Kayangan Lake. A sensible choice for the first and last nights, either side of a stay on one of the islands.
El Rio y Mar Resort
El Rio y Mar lies in a sheltered cove on Busuanga's north side, below green hills. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
El Rio y Mar Resort
The resort sits in a sheltered cove on the north side of Busuanga, not far from the airport. Cottages line the beach, and the transfer is shorter than to the islands. A calm choice if you land late or want a few beach days before town.
Before you book
Allow for the transfer. From the airport there is a long drive before the boat to some of the resorts. Take a morning flight out of Manila.
Decide between wrecks and lakes. The wrecks are easiest to reach from Sangat, Busuanga Bay Lodge and Discovery Coron. The lakes on Coron Island are quickest from Two Seasons and from town.
Keep a day in hand. Boats and small planes stop in bad weather, especially from June to November.
Our recommendation
Two Seasons: the island resort closest to the lagoons
Two Seasons Coron Island Resort lies further south than the other hotels, and that is the point. From here it is a short boat ride to Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake, so you can be there before the tour boats from town. The resort generates its own power and water, and the reef offshore is a sanctuary for turtles and giant clams. The beach is long and quiet in the evening. Two Seasons suits couples and families who want to pair the lagoons of Coron Island with a few slow days on the sand.
Frequently asked questions
Is Coron town on Coron Island?
No, Coron town is on the south coast of Busuanga, while Coron Island lies just south of the town. The airport known as Coron is also on Busuanga, in the north of the island. Coron Island is protected and has no hotels, but it does have Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake, which you reach by boat from town.
Where should you stay in Coron for wreck diving?
Stay in western Busuanga or on the islands there, such as Sangat Island or Busuanga Bay Lodge. From these it is a short boat ride to most of the 1944 wrecks. Discovery Coron has its own dive centre and runs trips to the wrecks, while Coron town has the most dive shops and the easiest start for beginners.
How long is the transfer from Coron airport?
Coron town is around half an hour by car. For the island resorts the boat comes on top, and the whole journey takes one to two hours. Two Seasons on its island is the furthest away. The resorts arrange transfers, but these must be booked in advance and run to fixed times.
Is Coron better than El Nido?
Neither is best for everyone. Coron is better for diving and quieter on land, while El Nido has the best-known lagoons and more beaches. Many travellers choose El Nido first time round and Coron the next. With ten days you can take the fast ferry between them and see both.