PHILIPPINES - Captivating Coron

Philippine news.com, Sep 13, 2006

CORON, Palawan — What people already know about Palawan are facts that cannot be negated: it is the country’s last frontier. Its islands and the genuine treasure each one holds are beyond mortal depiction. Its ample bosom gives life to some of the world’s richest and most diverse land and marine species. To both postcards and The Lonely Planet guidebooks, it is paradise.

But still there are misconceptions: tiny seedlings of doubt that inhibit the wary traveler, notions that hold whole experiences back and must be debunked. These majestic islands may just be the loveliest conspiracy of sky, sea, land and history ever to befall our country yet, a jagged slope of real and extraordinary visions— altogether not a bad place for such and much needed enlightenment.

Misconception #1. A trip to Coron costs a bundle.

Not with the great tug-of-war for passengers happening among air and shipping lines it’s not. Rates have conveniently dropped—and continually drop—lower than ever, especially during lean seasons. SEAIR and Asian Spirit both have one-hour flights to the Busuanga airport; those who prefer a longer and personally, more interesting travel experience may choose either Superferry or Negros Navigation to shuttle them across the briny sea.

Room rates in Coron town are also surprisingly inexpensive. At the Seadive resort where we stayed, the fan rooms went for P400 to P500 (with a view) and P800 for air-conditioned ones (although for the life of me I still can’t figure out why some people choose this artificial abomination over the natural sea breeze).

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