Busuanga Road Trip: Discover What Lies Beyond Coron Town

For many visitors, Coron means the town, the port and the boats departing each morning for the famous lagoons.

But Coron Town occupies only a small corner of Busuanga Island.

Rent a motorbike, hire a tricycle or arrange a private van and another destination begins to appear: quiet coastal roads, fishing villages, farms, forests, beaches and small communities where tourism is still much less visible.

If you have an extra day, a road trip across Busuanga can be one of the best ways to understand where you actually are.

First, Coron and Busuanga Are Not the Same Thing

This can be confusing for first-time visitors.

Busuanga is the large island. Two municipalities occupy most of it: Coron in the east and Busuanga in the west and north.

Coron Island—the spectacular limestone island containing Kayangan Lake—is another island entirely.

Even the airport commonly called “Coron Airport” is actually located on Busuanga Island, outside Coron Town.

Once you understand the geography, exploring beyond town starts to make much more sense.

Drive North

Leave the busy streets of Coron and the landscape changes surprisingly quickly.

Buildings become less frequent. Roads pass through countryside, small settlements and increasingly quiet areas.

Don't treat the journey simply as transportation between attractions.

Stop occasionally.

Buy something from a roadside store. Have coffee somewhere unexpected. Look toward the coast. Talk to people when the opportunity arises.

A Busuanga road trip is as much about the journey as the destination.

Concepcion

One worthwhile direction is toward Concepcion, on the western side of Busuanga.

The area offers a very different atmosphere from Coron Town, with coastal scenery and access to nearby natural attractions.

Concepcion Falls can provide a refreshing inland stop and an alternative to another full day at sea.

Conditions can vary with the season, particularly the amount of water flowing through waterfalls, so ask locally before making it your main destination.

Ocam Ocam Beach

Continue farther and you can reach Ocam Ocam Beach, one of Busuanga's better-known mainland beach escapes.

This isn't necessarily about finding the most spectacular beach in Palawan.

The attraction is the atmosphere.

Come for a slower afternoon, swim, relax and enjoy being far away from Coron's busiest tourism areas.

It works particularly well as part of a wider road trip rather than as the only reason for travelling north.

Continue Toward Northern Busuanga

Travellers with more time can continue toward the northern part of the island.

This is the direction for experiences such as Calauit Safari Park, dugong watching and access to Black Island.

At this point, you may want to consider staying overnight rather than attempting to squeeze everything into one exhausting day.

Northern Busuanga deserves more than simply arriving, taking a photograph and driving back.

Motorbike or Van?

A motorbike gives you freedom.

You can stop wherever something looks interesting and travel at your own pace.

But distances can be significant, tropical rain can arrive quickly and road conditions can change. Wear a helmet, avoid riding beyond your ability and don't underestimate the journey back after dark.

For families, groups or travelers who prefer comfort, hiring a private van with a local driver may be the better option.

Don't Try to See Everything

The best Busuanga road trip doesn't need ten attractions.

Choose two or three places and leave room for unexpected stops.

Coron tourism is often organized around schedules:

Boat leaves at 8:00.

Lagoon at 9:30.

Lunch at 12:00.

Next island at 1:00.

A road trip gives you an opportunity to do exactly the opposite.

See the Island Between the Attractions

The lagoons are extraordinary.

The wrecks are world-class.

The beaches deserve their photographs.

But there is another pleasure in simply travelling across the island and seeing ordinary Busuanga between those famous places.

Sometimes the best way to discover Coron is to spend a day without getting on a tour boat at all.

Take the road north. Slow down. And discover the Busuanga most visitors drive straight past.

Explore more places and plan your stay with ilovecoron.com.