This trip to Coron was certainly one of the cheapest trips I’ve ever had. Of course, it helps that we got to fly for free with Seair, but living in the island is surprisingly cheap. The expensive part of the trip are the island hopping expenses. Apart from the cost of the boat rental for the day (which is actually quite a bargain, since the boatman also acts as your guide and they can even cook your lunch for you), you also have to pay for each of the places in your itinerary.
The cheapest part about this Coron trip was the food. Coron town is pretty small, and there’s plenty of cheap dining options. If you’re not to picky, there’s plenty of carinderia near the market that serves pretty good food at affordable prices. If you love fresh seafood, head on to the market to buy shrimp for as low as Php 180 for a kilo, and a huge lapu-lapu for Php 140. We treated ourselves to a fancy dinner at La Sirenetta after a long day of island hopping. While the food was great, the service was disappointingly slow. This dinner was our most expensive at Php 380 per person.
All in all, Coron was worth every peso. If you’re in a tight budget, it’s best that you travel with a group who can share your expenses. There are places in the island hopping circuit that doesn’t charge for admission: I hear the CYC island is free, and the Twin Lagoons is included in the Kayangan Lake entrance (there are probably more, but I’m too tired to Google. Go research in Owen’s Coron site). My personal favorites among the places we visited were Banol Beach and Kayangan Lake. To further lessen your costs, pitch a tent instead of staying at hotels and resorts.
For the most amazing three days with such a fabulous group of people (not to mention the most spectacular photos), Php 4,593.00 is a bargain.
Coron Weekend
June 7 – 9, 2008
| Cost | Actual | |||
| Air Tranfers | (for one person) | |||
| Seair | Php 0.00 | Php 0.00 | 1 | |
| Manila Domestic Terminal Fee | Php 200.00 | Php 200.00 | ||
| Busuanga Terminal Fee | Php 20.00 | Php 20.00 | ||
| Accomodation | ||||
| Krystal Lodge | ||||
| Php 1,500/night/room | Php 3,000.00 | Php 1,000.00 | 2 | |
| Fan room for 3pax | ||||
| Ensuite toilet and bath | ||||
| Transportation | ||||
| Manila – To and from Airport | Php 423.00 | Php 423.00 | ||
| Busuanga – To and from Airport | Php 300.00 | Php 300.00 | 3 | |
| Tricycle rides in Coron Town | Php 151.00 | Php 151.00 | 4 | |
| Food | ||||
| Lunch, snacks, dinner, drinks | Php 934.00 | Php 934.00 | 5 | |
| Miscellaneous | ||||
| Boat Rental | Php 2,000.00 | Php 400.00 | 6 | |
| Skeleton Wreck | Php 100.00 | Php 100.00 | ||
| Banol Beach | Php 100.00 | Php 100.00 | ||
| Kayangan Lake | Php 200.00 | Php 200.00 | ||
| Barracuda Lake | Php 75.00 | Php 75.00 | ||
| Siete Pecados | Php 75.00 | Php 40.00 | 7 | |
| Maquinit Hot Springs | Php 100.00 | Php 100.00 | ||
| Snorkel Mask | Php 200.00 | Php 200.00 | ||
| Souvenirs | Php 350.00 | Php 350.00 | 8 | |
| Total | Php 4,593.00 | |||
1 Because Seair loves us. Hehe.
2 Three of us shared a room, so it comes out to Php1,000 per person for two nights
3 There’s pretty much no choice but to take the jeep from the airport to Coron town.
4 Coron town in small and everything’s within walking distance. However, you have to take the tricycle to go to Maquinit hot springs or to the Mabintangin pool. Or when your legs have turned into jelly after climbing Mt. Tapyas.
5 Food includes carideria meals, fresh seafood from the market, rice, paper plates and plastic utensils, water and an expensive but delicious dinner at La Sirenetta
6 The price quoted by our local fixer was Php1,800 per day, while the price listed in the boat was only Php1,500. We paid Php2,000 because we were supposed to go island hopping again the following day, but the boat sustained some damaged.
7 The fee for Siete Pecados was Php75.00, but the caretaker ran out of ticket stubs, so he only charged us Php200.
8 Souvenirs include 2 bags of cashew and some keychains.
Download:
Coron.xls (14k)
A big thanks goes to Seair for helping make this trip possible, and to Ferdz for keeping tabs of our expenses!
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Posted on July 3, 2008
Filed under Palawan, Philippines, Post trip accounting
Tags: busuanga, coron, palawan, travel budget, travel-expenses
Visited 7310 times, 11 so far today
I like this post....
you’re so lucky that seaair loves you… i wonder when will they love us?
hehe
hi nina!,
eran informed me you were there. should i knew it earlier i could have directed you to a much cheaper and better lodging… anyway, it was peak time that date, rooms are almost fully booked…
anyway, here’s also a cheap way to spend touring in Coron … for only 3k total all-in (i hope, with the gas price increase)… see this link: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showpost.php?p=27158899&postcount=345
until then, more power to your blog!
Hey Owen! Actually, I liked Krystal Lodge. The novelty of the rickety bridge and the shack over the water is made of pure win. But yes, a cheaper alternative is always good
Hi. This blog is nominated for the Filipino Blog of the Week Award (on its 3rd year – week 117). Please visit the site and vote. Good luck!
Hi Nina! Wow, I’d love to have that budget too. Hehe
Btw, how’s flying with seair?
Thanks Talksmart!
Dyanie, flying with Seair is actually pretty good. I’m not saying that because they’re my sponsor, but I’ve flown with them twice and their flights are nice and smooth. Plus, if you’re taking the Dornier 328 to Coron, the flight’s only 35 minutes. My only problem with the small planes are the ear pressure, but that my own personal thing
nina, kayangan lake is beautiful but the last time I was there, there were just too many mosquitos that scared out the s**t from my companions thinking that there are anopheles (malaria vectors) mosquitoes there.
anyway, just a question, since this was sponsored by Seair, do they also require that all photos be given to them other than the review? did they only handle the airfare?
How are the Phillipines? I’ve never been there, but plan on heading up there sometime soon. I’ve been to Asia several times, I love it there, I’ve been to Japan several times, and I can’t wait to go back. It’s great. I bet getting the flight for free helped, hahaha. I’m an official ambassador for Hampton Inn and I thought I’d share this info with you and maybe you’d like to share it with your readers!
Hampton Inn is offering 10% off the best available rate until September 1st of this year. We’ll also be giving away a bunch of other cool stuff like bikes, vacations all leading up to Team USA competing at the Olympic games!
You can check it all out at:
http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/promotions/hx_summerpromo08/index.jhtml?cid=OM,HX,Dreams,Specials&it=Specials,Dreams
Hope to hear from you soon, I hope I didn’t overstep any bounds by directly posting in here.
Talk to you later,
Rob Williams
Official Hampton Inn Ambassador
naturalhouse302@gmail.com
I agree that Coron trip can be very cheap
But it was the scuba diving that actually ruined my budget hehehe.
Ms. Nina thanks po sa reply.
does seair provide free transfers to/fr coron? i read it somewhere
You mean the transfer from Busuanga airport to Coron town? There’s an authorized jeepney, but it’s certainly not free. The hour-long jeepney ride costs Php 150 one way.
Hello Nina,
How are you? Hope you could visit us again here in Coron. By the way, you are always welcome here at krystal lodge and thanks for the positive notes you amplified regarding the lodge. In case, some guests would like to visit us for accommodation, they may inquire at my e mail mhye_310@yahoo.com.ph or get in touch with me at 09284108074 or (02) 4536343. Mabuhay! to your blog.take care and Godbless!
Mhye
For those who wish to visit Coron, my hometown on tight budget you can email me at rinaa_ann@yahoo.com We will be glad to assists you and enjoy the beauty of nature. This way we can protect you on any tourist trap. See you …..
For those who wishes to visit Coron, my hometown, on tight budget you can email me at rinaa_ann@yahoo.com We will be glad to assists you and enjoy the beauty of nature. This way we can protect you on any tourist trap. See you …..
Hello!
The CALAMIAN ISLANDS TRAVEL AND TOURS, a local licensed tour operator here in Coron offers the lowest rates – only at Php 3,950.00/person for 3days/2nights stay at hotel accommodation, 2 set breakfasts and 1 buffet picnic lunch…
…including roundtrip airport transfers, Coron Town Tour (horse backriding, mt tapyas trek, maquinit hotspring dip, souvenir shop visit), Coron Island Tour (Skeleton Wreck, Banol Beach, Twin lagoon, Kayangan lake, Siete Pecados), tour guide services, all permits and entrances, land and boat transfers, sheds, government tax
For a hassle-free tour, email us at coron_islandstravel@yahoo.com or call us at +639298754899.
For more details, visit http://profiles.friendster.com/93224109
hi there nina.. wow you have a nice experience there in coron palawan.. can you help me with my tour in coron on july 8-12? i still don’t know what’s the best place to visit, and where’s the cheapest inn/lodge to stay.. please advice me nina.. here is my email add.. iku_dentista@yahoo.com
Thanks!!!
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