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Coron, Palawan, Philippines

Coron, Palawan: wrecks, reefs and island life

Seven days in Coron, floating above ships that sank in 1944, over quiet reefs and on the still water of Barracuda Lake.

This retreat is built around one experience: floating above ships that sank in 1944, in clear and quiet bays. No rush, no crowd of forty on one boat, no touching. You arrive on Monday 5 April 2027 at Busuanga airport, and we drive together to Coron town. Three boat days with local guides take us over shallow wrecks, reefs and the still, layered water of Barracuda Lake, and on Day 2 a photographer joins us in the water. In between, a day in Coron town, a sunset walk up Mt Tapyas and a warm soak at the Maquinit hot springs.

7 days, 6 nightsSix guests at most, with Rocío as your hostUSD 1,950 pp
Book on WeTravelMessage RocíoSee all retreats
Coron’s limestone islands rising from clear turquoise water, Palawan
Coron’s limestone islands rising from clear turquoise water, Palawan. Photo: Florian Delée on Unsplash
  • 5.00 from 33 public reviews on BookRetreats · Read guest stories
  • Small group, six guests at most
  • Licensed local boat operators
  • Travel insurance required (water-activity cover from your own policy or the dive centre’s insurance)
  • Pause or skip any activity, any time
Guests laughing together in a kitchen after a morning on the waterA group of guests in life jackets on the boatGuests and a guide together on the beach after snorkellingGuests together at a waterfallGuests wearing matching green sarongs togetherRocío with guests around a table at the end of the dayReal guests on past trips

“Joining Ocean Calling Retreats was honestly one of the most special travel experiences I’ve had. It’s so much more than just a trip — it’s a beautiful mix of adventure, connection, and time to truly reset.”

Wev C., public review on BookRetreats, March 2026

“Oh my, if I could give 6 or 7 stars, I would. She is very lovely, very easy to talk to, and she listens to you.”

Lean G., public review on BookRetreats, March 2026

Quotes are copied as written from public reviews on BookRetreats. See all guest photos · Read all reviews

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At a glance

When5–11 April 2027
Length7 days, 6 nights
GroupSix guests at most, with Rocío as your host
StayA twin room in Coron town
MealsBreakfast every day and most lunches and dinners
CertificationNo diving certificate needed
Water levelComfortable snorkelling from a boat
EffortThree snorkel boat days, a town day and an easy sunset walk
LevelEasy

USD 1,950 per person in a twin room, deposit USD 585, single room on request. 5–11 April 2027, 7 days and 6 nights, six guests at most. International flights are not included.

  1. Click Book on WeTravel and choose a twin or single room.
  2. Pay securely on WeTravel. Card fees are included in the price.
  3. Rocío welcomes you personally by email or WhatsApp.

Questions first? Message Rocío.

Book on WeTravelMessage RocíoEmail Rocío

Wildlife encounters are unpredictable. Snorkelling with sea turtles should always follow local regulations and experienced professional guidance.

Real guest reviews: Google · BookRetreats

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

Why Easy? Snorkelling from a boat in sheltered bays and over wrecks, plus a calm lake swim. You should feel comfortable in the water.

Who it is for. Everyone who can float with a mask and snorkel, or is ready to learn with a life vest on: beginners, solo travellers and ocean lovers who are happy that wild encounters are never guaranteed. You don't need to arrive fearless, only open.

New or a little nervous?

Your first day, step by step

  1. Day 1 · Welcome to Coron: fly to Busuanga airport (USU), where we meet every flight that day, then about 45 minutes by van to Coron town, time to settle in and our first dinner together.
  2. Your guide explains the plan and the signals before anything starts in the water.
  3. You choose your pace. You can pause, rest or skip any activity, at any moment, with no pressure to continue.
  4. Nobody chases, touches or baits an animal. The animals decide whether they come close.

Questions beginners ask

What if I feel nervous in the water?
That is very normal, and you are welcome here. Activities are adapted to your level and comfort. Tell your guide or Rocío, and you can pause, rest or skip an activity at any moment.
What if I cannot clear my ears?
Equalising is taught in small steps by your instructor, and nobody is asked to push through. If your ears will not clear, you rest, come up or skip that dive or descent.
Will I hold the group back?
Groups are small (six guests at most, and some trips are four), so the pace follows the group and nobody is rushed. Tell Rocío your level before you book, and she will tell you honestly if a trip fits.
Do I need to be fit or experienced?
Each trip page shows its level and what it asks of you. If you are not sure, take our short Is it for me? questions or message Rocío.

Highlights

  • Float above wrecks from 1944, a few of them shallow enough to see from the surface, quietly and never inside.
  • Local guides who know these waters read the sea with Rocío before every stop.
  • Three dedicated boat days, with Day 6 kept free so a boat day can move if the weather says no.
  • An in-water photographer is included on Day 2, so you can stay in the moment and still take it home.
  • Six nights in a twin room in Coron town, close to the boats, the market and the people who live here.
  • Filipino home cooking, a day in town, a sunset walk up Mt Tapyas and a warm soak at the Maquinit hot springs.
  • A small group of five to six guests, with Rocío with you the whole week.
  • Wildlife-first: sea turtles are sometimes seen on the reefs, never promised, and never chased, touched or fed.

The rhythm of your days

  1. Day 1 · Welcome to Coron: fly to Busuanga airport (USU), where we meet every flight that day, then about 45 minutes by van to Coron town, time to settle in and our first dinner together.
  2. Day 2 · Wrecks & Reef: from a morning pick-up around 7:30–8:30 until about 5 pm, a snorkel briefing, then we float above shallow wrecks from 1944 and a reef, with a photographer in the water and lunch on the boat or on a small beach.
  3. Day 3 · Barracuda Lake: from a morning pick-up around 7:30–8:30 until about 5 pm, by boat to Coron Island, a short climb over limestone to float on the layered water of Barracuda Lake, then a reef where sea turtles are sometimes seen.
  4. Day 4 · Coron Town & Mt Tapyas: a day in Coron town with the people who live here, free time for the market, and a sunset walk up Mt Tapyas, about 700 steps at your own pace.
  5. Day 5 · Lagoons & Reefs: from a morning pick-up around 7:30–8:30 until about 5 pm, an early start because it is a national holiday in the Philippines, with lagoons and reefs where sea turtles are sometimes seen.
  6. Day 6 · A Free Day: free on purpose to sleep, read or walk in town, or for a boat day moved by the weather, then a warm soak at the Maquinit hot springs and a last evening together.
  7. Day 7 · Until Next Time: final breakfast in town, then the van to Busuanga airport.

Trip details

Included

  • 6 nights in a twin room in Coron town
  • Breakfast every day and most lunches and dinners
  • 3 snorkel boat days with park permits, from a morning pick-up around 7:30–8:30 until about 5 pm, with lunch on the boat or on a small beach
  • One boat day with an in-water photographer. You receive your photos after the trip.
  • Barracuda Lake
  • Coron town day and the Mt Tapyas sunset walk
  • Maquinit hot springs, entry included
  • Snorkel briefing and life vests on every boat day
  • Busuanga airport pickup and drop-off (about 45 minutes each way)
  • Rocío as your host all week
  • Pre and post-retreat support

Not included

  • Flights to and from Busuanga
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended, with medical evacuation)
  • Local government fees: environmental fee PHP 400 and Siete Pecados fee PHP 100 per person, paid in cash on the day
  • The few meals on your own
  • Tips for boat crews and guides, if you wish
  • Scuba diving
  • Extra nights before or after the retreat
  • Single room supplement (single room on request)

Read the cancellation policy.

Photo gallery

The animals and places of this trip. Each caption says where the photo was taken.

A rusted shipwreck at the surface. A wreck in Palawan, not named by the photographer
A rusted shipwreck at the surface. A wreck in Palawan, not named by the photographer. Photo: Adalee Penguin on Unsplash
Morning mist over Barracuda Lake and its limestone walls, Coron Island
Morning mist over Barracuda Lake and its limestone walls, Coron Island. Photo: Jake Irish on Unsplash
Clear green water and limestone at Kayangan Lake, Coron
Clear green water and limestone at Kayangan Lake, Coron. Photo: M Becher on Unsplash
Boats waiting at the clear water of Kayangan Lake, Coron
Boats waiting at the clear water of Kayangan Lake, Coron. Photo: Carla Cervantes on Unsplash
Green hills and islands from the top of Mt Tapyas, Coron
Green hills and islands from the top of Mt Tapyas, Coron. Photo: Carla Cervantes on Unsplash
Outrigger boats in the harbour of Coron town, from above
Outrigger boats in the harbour of Coron town, from above. Photo: Alejandro Luengo on Unsplash
Ocean Atlas

Animals you may meet

Never guaranteed, never chased. Tap an animal to see how it lives, where it travels and a fun fact.

Green turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHawksbill turtle swimming, pointed beak in profileHawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically Endangered
Is this place for you?

Before you choose Coron town and Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines

An honest look at food, noise, smells, heat and local customs, so you can decide calmly. If something matters to you, tell Rocío. She will check it for you.

EasyPossible with planningAsk Rocío

Vegetarian and vegan

Easy

Coron town has a few places with vegetarian and vegan dishes, and at least one fully plant-based place. Meals on island hopping boats may be simpler, so tell the boat team in advance.

Gluten free

Ask Rocío

We could not confirm gluten free options in Coron. If you need to avoid gluten, tell Rocío early so she can check with the course and boat team.

Noise and crowds

Possible with planning

Coron town can be loud, with bars and karaoke in the evenings. Kayangan Lake is calm in the early morning but often packed by about 10am, and group boats tend to visit the same spots at the same time. Early starts or afternoon visits are quieter.

Smells, smoke and air

Ask Rocío

We did not find any documented haze or air pollution problem for Coron. Please ask Rocío if you are sensitive to boat engines or smoke in bars.

Heat and humidity

Possible with planning

From January to April, days reach about 32 to 34°C (90 to 93°F) with humidity around 75 to 78%. May is the hottest month and gets wetter. June to November is the typhoon and heavy rain season.

Predictable days and quiet breaks

Ask Rocío

Coron is a course place: Rocío matches you with a freediving or scuba course, and each school sets its own timetable. Ask Rocío how the days are planned and where you can add rest days.

Getting around and mobility

Possible with planning

You fly about 1 hour from Manila, then drive about 30 to 45 minutes to town. In town you use tricycles or walk. Most sights are by boat, and Kayangan Lake needs a short climb up and down stairs. Life jackets are compulsory there.

Breathing and health

Ask Rocío

It is hot and humid. The US health agency lists Palawan, including Coron, as a malaria area, and dengue is present, so please see a doctor or travel clinic before you go. No decompression chamber is confirmed working in Coron; the nearest one listed as working is in Puerto Princesa. Divers with asthma need a dive medical check first.

Local customs

  • Most people are Catholic. In churches, cover your shoulders and knees. Casual clothes are fine in town, but keep swimwear for the boat and the beach.
  • Alcohol is legal. In tourist areas, only drink from sealed bottles or trusted places, because UK advice warns about methanol in some drinks.
  • Public kissing and cuddling can offend people and can even be treated as an offence. Keep affection private.
  • Carry some ID at all times. A printed copy of your passport is fine.
  • Drug laws are very strict, even for tiny amounts. Never eat or buy sea turtle meat or products.
Sources for this section

Ethics and safety

  • The wrecks are war graves. We watch them from above, and never go inside or touch them.
  • We never chase, touch, feed, ride or corner an animal, never stand on coral and never use flash on animals.
  • Turtles get space and are never followed or blocked. Barracuda Lake is visited at the surface only.
  • Coron Island is the ancestral domain of the Tagbanwa people. We are guests, and we pay the park and community fees.
  • Turtles are sometimes seen, never guaranteed. Dugongs live farther north, near Calauit, and are not part of this week.
  • Wildlife encounters are unpredictable. Snorkelling with sea turtles should always follow local regulations and experienced professional guidance.

Practical details

  • Getting there: fly into Busuanga airport (USU). The van to Coron town, about 45 minutes, is included, and we meet every flight on Monday 5 April. On Sunday 11 April, book a flight after breakfast and leave buffer for your connection in Manila or Cebu.
  • Travel insurance with medical evacuation is strongly recommended.
  • Payment plan: 30% deposit (USD 585) when you book, then monthly payments charged automatically, balance due on Thursday 4 February 2027, 60 days before the trip. If you book later, the plan adjusts by itself.
  • If the crew or the coast guard says no boats, we don't go, and we move the day.
  • Every activity is optional, and you can rest whenever you need.
Why we choose slower boats

Speed is one of the simplest things a boat captain controls, and it matters a lot to the animals we visit. Research from many oceans shows the same pattern: a slower boat is less likely to hit a whale, turtle or manatee, gives animals time to move away, and makes less noise under the water.

Slower ships kill fewer whales

A study of 47 recorded ship strikes on large whales found the chance of a deadly injury was 21 per cent at 8.6 knots but 79 per cent at 15 knots. Below 11.8 knots, a strike is more likely to be survived than not.

Vanderlaan & Taggart, 2007, Vessel collisions with whales: the probability of lethal injury based on vessel speed (Marine Mammal Science)

A 10 knot limit works for right whales

Since 2008, the United States has required vessels 65 feet (about 20 metres) or longer to travel at 10 knots or less in set areas and seasons along the East Coast, to protect North Atlantic right whales. A later study estimated these limits cut the risk of deadly ship strikes by 80 to 90 per cent.

Conn & Silber, 2013, Vessel speed restrictions reduce risk of collision-related mortality for North Atlantic right whales (Ecosphere); NOAA Fisheries, Reducing vessel strikes to North Atlantic right whales

Turtles cannot escape fast boats

In Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, researchers watched 1,890 green turtle encounters. 60 per cent of turtles moved away from a boat going 4 km/h, but only 22 per cent at 11 km/h and 4 per cent at 19 km/h.

Hazel, Lawler, Marsh & Robson, 2007, Vessel speed increases collision risk for the green turtle Chelonia mydas (Endangered Species Research)

Slow zones save manatees

In Sykes Creek and the Barge Canal on Merritt Island, Florida, eight manatees were killed by boats in the 42 months before year-round slow speed was enforced. In the 42 months after, only one was killed.

Laist & Shaw, 2006, Preliminary evidence that boat speed restrictions reduce deaths of Florida manatees (Marine Mammal Science)

Faster boats are louder

Recordings of 1,582 ships in Haro Strait, between Washington State and British Columbia, showed that most ships get about 1 decibel louder for every extra knot of speed. This noise reaches the high sounds that killer whales use to find food.

Veirs, Veirs & Wood, 2016, Ship noise extends to frequencies used for echolocation by endangered killer whales (PeerJ)

Going slow gives whales quiet time to feed

When ships in Haro Strait were asked to slow to 11 knots, underwater noise fell by 2.5 decibels, about 44 per cent less sound energy. Scientists estimated this cut the feeding time killer whales lose to noise by 22 per cent.

Joy et al., 2019, Potential benefits of vessel slowdowns on endangered southern resident killer whales (Frontiers in Marine Science)

Questions

How much does it cost?
USD 1,950 per person in a twin room, for 5 to 11 April 2027. The group is five to six guests. Flights are not included.
How does the deposit and payment plan work?
You pay a 30% deposit (USD 585) when you book, then monthly payments charged automatically. The balance is due on Thursday 4 February 2027, 60 days before the trip.
Can I have a single room?
Yes, a single room is available on request and is selected at booking. There is a single room supplement.
What is included?
Six nights in Coron town, breakfast every day and most lunches and dinners, three snorkel boat days with park permits, an in-water photographer on one boat day, Barracuda Lake, the town day and the Mt Tapyas sunset walk, the Maquinit hot springs, airport transfers and Rocío as your host.
Will we see sea turtles or dugongs?
Sea turtles are sometimes seen on Coron's reefs, but nothing is promised. Dugongs live farther north, near Calauit, and are not part of this week.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
No. You should be able to float with a mask and snorkel, or be ready to learn with a life vest on. Life vests are on board every day. Not sure? Message Rocío first, and we talk honestly about what would work.
Is this a diving retreat?
No. This is a snorkelling retreat. Scuba diving is not included.
What if the weather is bad?
If the crew or the coast guard says no boats, we don't go. Day 6 is kept free so a boat day can move there.
How do I book?
Click Book on WeTravel and choose your room. Questions first? Message Rocío.

USD 1,950 per person in a twin room, deposit USD 585, single room on request. 5–11 April 2027, 7 days and 6 nights, six guests at most. International flights are not included.

  1. Click Book on WeTravel and choose a twin or single room.
  2. Pay securely on WeTravel. Card fees are included in the price.
  3. Rocío welcomes you personally by email or WhatsApp.

Questions first? Message Rocío.

Book on WeTravelMessage RocíoEmail Rocío

Wildlife encounters are unpredictable. Snorkelling with sea turtles should always follow local regulations and experienced professional guidance.

Real guest reviews: Google · BookRetreats

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

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