#coron #coronpalawan #palawanphilippines #islandhoppingcoron #twinlagoon #greenlagoon #kayanganlake #barracudalake #coronphilippines #lake #lagoon
With over a hundred lakes in the Philippines, how are you possibly supposed to see them all?
Coron is famous for it's limestone cliffs, crystal clear freshwater lakes and beautiful coral reefs. As Coron is so difficult to get to, you really can't miss out on it's highlights.
That's why I've narrowed them down to the 2 best lakes and 2 best lagoons in Coron, which you simply cannot miss out on!
3. Green lagoon
4. Twin lagoon
You've most likely heard of these before or seen them all over Instagram (plenty on my page - hbananazzz) and here's why:
Barracuda lake
A crater of deep blue water enclosed by jagged limestone cliffs is the delightfully warm and exceptionally clear Barracuda lake.
Your boat drops you off at the entrance, where you jump into the shallow sea, wade across to the wooden walkway, climb down the wooden stairs to a platform suspended above the lake.
The water temperature of the lake is 28 degrees Celsius at the surface. If you're a diver, it is 38 degrees at around 14m deep then cooler again at the bottom, where the water turns brown!
We just snorkelled at he surface and although we couldn’t see the very bottom, we could see the bubbles rising to the surface and knew there were divers all the way down there.
It was alarming how viscous the water felt. There's a reason why it's compulsory to wear a life jacket as the water feels almost like honey, especially when swimming up from the depths.
This is because it has a 4 metre layer of freshwater on the surface, making it super easy to sink!
Why is it called barracuda lake?
Don’t be alarmed, the lake is not infested with flesh-eating barracudas! A 1.5m long barracuda skeleton was once found there and hence, the name!
Watching the sharp limestone cliffs from underneath the surface glimmering in the sunlight through the water while trying to spot the bottom makes you feel quite insignificant in this one massive lake, amidst 13 lakes in Coron, tucked away among 7,641 islands in the Philippines!
Swimming in barracuda lake was like no other experience and definitely one you should not miss!
Kayangan lake
Your boat parks in the crystal clear waters at the entrance to Kayangan lake and as it is a lake, you hop off your boat, take a short hike up some stairs, past a viewpoint, then down some more stairs to the lake.
Kayangan lake is an unbelievable clear freshwater lake and, just like Barracuda lake, life jackets are essential as it is easy to sink!
Kayangan lake has a walkway around the perimeter, which stops after about 50 metres. If you walk to the end, all you see is blue ripples, literally sparkling in the sunlight. The lake is so calm and peaceful to swim in - absolute paradise!
Jumping into the deep blue is an unbelievable feeling you just can't miss out on!
On the way back to your boat, don't forget to check out the lookout.
It's a stunning view of turquoise waters among the limestone cliffs.
Before jumping back on board, grab a snack from the scrappiest 7-11 convenience store you'll ever see!
Green lagoon
A fitting name for the most turquoise water you will ever swim in!
Lunch in a palm-thatched cabana at Green lagoon was a highlight of the trip!
Getting bitten by territorial fish at Green lagoon was the low-light of the trip!
If you’re keen for a snorkel at twin lagoon, try to avoid walking through the sand as you may find your ankles start to bleed as hungry fish make you feel most unwelcome and nibble away at you!
Sometimes the most charming places have their dark sides!
To avoid this, keep moving and if you find a fish staring right at you…
Apart from the evil fish, Green lagoon was where we found the water to be clearest out of anywhere we had visited in the Philippines!
Twin lagoon
One of the most popular spots in Coron is Twin lagoon for it’s dazzling blue waters, perfect for a romantic kayak through the towering cliffs…a fitting activity for avoiding those nibbling fish! Yes, they are everywhere in Coron!
The reason why it's called Twin lagoon is because you can swim underneath a rock platform to another lagoon on the other side. You can also climb up the ladder from one lagoon to the next (or jump off the platform into the lagoon as some thrill-seekers like to do!).
Just like Barracuda lake and Kayangan lake, Twin lagoon’s water is nice and warm so you’ll never find yourself shivering here!
How can I visit the 2 best lakes and 2 best lagoons in Coron?
When you arrive in Coron, island hopping brochures are thrust into your hands. Unlike El nido, the tours differ slightly between tour companies. All you have to do is select an island hopping tour that includes these stops! Sometimes, Barracuda lake is an added 200 pesos as it is the most popular destination.
Ultimate Tour
We opted for the Ultimate tour. Although this tour was a little more expensive than the rest, it had 8 stops and included all of the above stops so we didn't have to go on another tour. The ultimate tour is perfect if you are short on time and want to see the best parts of Coron!
