Maquinit Hot Spring in Coron

After days of trekking, snorkeling, and beach bumming, my body needs to soothe its tired muscles. I've already tried the Php 250 Thai massage near Sea Breeze on my first night. An alternative solution can be found about 5-km southeast of Coron town proper, called Maquinit Hot Spring, at the end of the main road.

Trike drivers quoted us Php 300 for a round trip travel to the Hot Spring, which involves passing through a brief dusty rough road. Entrance fee for non-Coron resident is Php 150/person, which seem reasonable as they have clean and well-maintained shower and dressing facilities. Arriving at dusk, there are many visitors at the place, a mixture of foreigners and locals.

Coron Food & Room for Budget Travelers

Being a solo traveler in Coron, I only have to think about my own preferences regarding accommodation and food options. Yet as a frugal mountaineer, what else can you expect from me when it comes to those 2 basic needs?

Climbing Mt. Tapyas in Coron, Palawan

Arriving at Coron town in the afternoon, island hopping tour is not an option anymore for the first day. I took a late lunch at Lolo Nonoy's restaurants, before walking around the small town center to kill time. At around 4:30 pm, Nina the Russian lady I met at the plane, joined me on a short hike to Mt. Tapyas.

Mt. Tapyas at 210 meters above sea level is the second highest mountain at Coron town. Its just 14 meters higher than Mt. Manalmon in Bulacan. The white cross on its summit is lighted at night, so the mountain is easy to recognize like a beacon, whenever and wherever you are in Coron town or at nearby islands.

Malcapuya Island in Coron

My third island hopping day was spent frolicking in the sea, sand, and sun, at the beautiful Malcapuya island. For Php 950 tour fee and after 1.5 hours of boat travel, I was able to set foot on this secluded island. 

Its still windy on our way to the island, so the waves continue to splash in our boat, which at that time consists of seven all-Filipino guests. The canvas roof of our boat has to be rolled to avoid getting ripped by the wind, so we have to endure the 3-hour round trip of being exposed to the sun's rays.

Coron's Kayangan Lake & Twin Lagoon

For the second tour day in Coron, I availed the Coron Ultimate Island Tour for Php 650 with Coron Galeri. This time, there were only 6 of us tourists in a smaller boat, including two of us Filipinos in the group.

The waves are strong, but good thing that our destination is less than 30-minutes away from the port. When we reached the waters that are covered by the island group, the sea became calm. The bluish gray rocky group of islands on the photo above is our destination for the day.

Coron's Calumbuyan Island & Coral Garden

Last 13-16 March 2012 in Coron, Palawan, is where I embarked on my first solo leisure travel. During that 4-day period, I was able to squeeze 3 days of island hopping, plus running and mountain hiking on the side.

My round trip airfare was only Php 835, with baggage allowance on Coron-Manila return trip, which I was not able to use anyway. It was my second time to board a propeller-type plane, about 60-seater, which is bigger than a 19-seater plane I had experienced during a trip to Romblon. After arriving at the Busuanga airport, I rode an airconditioned van to Coron town proper for Php 150 fare/person, for about 30 minutes of land travel.

Mangrove Boat Tour & Buenavista Viewdeck

After our Underground River tour, my 3 kids and I took the Mangrove Paddle Tour, about 1.5-km north walk from Sabang wharf. Along the way, we passed restaurants and resorts like Sheridan and Daluyon with nice-looking octagonal cottages. On our way back, we also combed part of the Sabang beach.

Tour fee is Php 150/adult and Php 100 for kids 12 years old and below. Like in Underground River, they also provide life jackets. The tourism kiosk officer asked us to register before we boarded the paddle boat.

Underground River at Puerto Princesa 2011

The other weekend was my second time to see the Puerto Princesa's Underground River, but it was the kids' first time who are with us on this family trip. For Php 3,000 whole day rental, I hired a van to bring us to Sabang wharf, the takeoff point of the boats going to the Underground River. 

The van's owner also got the Underground River tour permit for us prior to our arrival, at Php 150/adult and Php 30 for my kids aged 6-12 years old. My youngest son at 3 years old has waived permit fee, as well as in boat fare, if 5 years old and below.

 

It took us less than 1.5 hours to get to Sabang this time, unlike our 2009 trip on the same place here, which took us almost 3 hours via a public jeepney from San Jose New market. The road condition is also much better now, since the city government expects more tourists to see the subterranean river due to ongoing votes for New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Food Trip in Puerto Princesa

Our first dinner in Puerto Princesa is at Balinsasayaw Restaurant in Rizal Avenue. This well-lighted branch is more accessible than their original branch in Manalo St. We tried their clam specialty "renge renge" at Php 85/serving. Its good especially with beer, but the portion size is small.

Pancit canton and lumpiang shanghai were ordered for the kids. Sinigang na lapu-lapu (soured garoupa soup) is also good at Php 190/portion.

Island Hopping at Honda Bay

As post-summer getaway of our second day in Palawan last weekend, I took the whole family to an island hopping tour at Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa. Good thing that the weather had cooperated, without any rain the whole daytime we were in the area.

We arranged for Mang Dudz' van to pick us from the pension house at 8:00 am last Sunday. We passed by the Iwahig handicraft store along the way to rent snorkel sets (Php 100/set) and a native mat for Php 150. Then, we bought freshly-cooked rice from a carinderia, before proceeding to San Jose New Market to buy a kilo of suran triggerfish at Php 180/kg, half kilo of suahe shrimp at Php 115, and sliced porkloin at Php 170/kg, all to be cooked at the islands. We also bought tomatoes, soy sauce, calamansi, charcoal, and disposable plates and utensils for our island picnic lunch.

Unusual Sea Creature - Horseshoe Crab

Last Sunday afternoon while resting at Pandan Island beach within Honda Bay in Palawan, I spotted this mysterious sea creature being examined by tourists and used for photo ops. I think I have seen it on NatGeo or Discovery Channel before, but I don't know its name. Considered as a living fossil, its one of those sea creatures which have survived since the post-Jurassic period, and had barely evolved after more than 250 million years. It was quite surprising that its fairly common to see on Palawan islands, but not on the rest of the country.

Legend Hotel at Puerto Princesa

While I was comparing Puerto Princesa hotel rates and facilities for a group of doctors, Legend Hotels offered me a complimentary stay at their Puerto Princesa property. This is to allow me to have a first hand experience of what they offer, without any guarantee or obligation that my group will stay at their hotel. 

I think their location is just a kilometer away from the city center, but only a few steps away from the provincial hospital. Among the top 3 hotels in the city, they have the most number of guest rooms, function room, dining, and recreation facilities. They also have guest lifts, which is a plus for the elderlies or for people with disabilities.

Below is a photo of their premium room, which is spacious like all of their guestrooms, except the Pads room.

Hotel Fleuris in Puerto Princesa

One of my assignments when my sister sent me on a trip to Puerto Princesa last year, was to conduct ocular inspection for their group who will be doing medical mission for 10 days after 9 months. Among the top 3 hotels in the Puerto Princesa, Hotel Fleuris is the nearest from  the city center with the least expensive room rates.

Here's the facade of Hotel Fleuris, with their coffee shop and a japanese restaurant flanking the hotel's entrance.

The swimming pool on the left side of hotel's entrance, which makes it easier for anyone to see the hotel guests in the pool.

Puerto Princesa 3 - Dos Palmas, Tamilok & Ka Lui

At past 7:00 am on our 3^rd day, the tour bus of Dos Palmas picked us from the hotel and dropped us at Honda Bay pier. The resort’s ferry boat took us on a 2-hour boat trip to the resort with views of islands we passed by. We were given a nice welcome with drinks and live "kulintangan" music before a brief orientation of what the resort offers. 

Puerto Princesa 2 - City Tour

At almost 3:00 pm on our second day, we flagged this tricycle on picture  below near Legend Hotel to inquire about city tour. The driver quoted us P100/hour and we agreed. The trikes' design in Puerto are better I think, than what we see with the rest of Luzon, as it offers more protection against rain and more space on luggage.

We went first to the Iwahig Penal Colony, our farthest destination, and saw the prisoners lining up for roll call. They have a souvenir shop with some goods made by the prisoners, but the choices are not to my liking. Prices are a bit more expensive than in tiangge and Croc Farm, probably because portion of the sales go to the prisoners.

Puerto Princesa 1 - Underground River

On 3^rd week of April 2009, my wife and I were finally able to experience what Puerto Princesa offers to its visitors. Normally, people just book tour packages with travel agencies, especially for tourists who are unfamiliar with a place (like us). But as a frugal person who wants to visit places at our own time and pace, I researched the net to come up with own budget-friendly Do-It-Yourself (DIY) tour itinerary.

Upon arriving by 10:15 am at Puerto Princesa airport, we proceeded to the small city museum. Nothing much to see there so we left after half an hour, rode a multicab going to San Jose Market for a jeepney ride to Sabang port, the jump off point to the Underground River. Since the 12:30 jeepney trip is still waiting for passengers, wife and I decided to have a quick cheap lunch at a market carinderia plus bought some snack food and drinks as well.

The jeepney was already full when we got back, but the very kind locals made space for us. Like I was surprised to find out that the man sitted beside me who was carrying a kid on his lap, turned out that he doesn’t even know the kid’s mother who also has her 2 other kids on that row.