Malcapuya, Banana Island & Bulog Dos: Is the Island Escape Tour Worth It?

Coron is famous for limestone cliffs, lakes and lagoons. But if your idea of a tropical holiday is white sand, clear water and time on the beach, there's another side of Coron worth discovering.

The Island Escape Tour typically takes visitors farther from Coron Town toward destinations such as Malcapuya Island, Banana Island and Bulog Dos.

But is the longer boat journey worth it?

For beach lovers, usually yes.

Malcapuya Island

Malcapuya is the main attraction for many visitors.

Instead of the towering limestone scenery associated with Coron Island, you'll find a long stretch of pale sand and clear tropical water.

This is a place where the objective isn't necessarily to do anything.

Swim.

Walk along the beach.

Find some shade.

Enjoy the water.

After several days of climbing into lagoons and moving quickly between tour stops, Malcapuya can feel refreshingly simple.

Banana Island

Despite the name, don't expect an island covered in bananas.

Banana Island is another relaxed tropical stop, with beach areas and water suitable for swimming and snorkeling when conditions are good.

It's often included as part of a full-day itinerary rather than visited alone.

The attraction is the combination: several beautiful islands experienced during one day away from the busier Coron Island circuit.

Bulog Dos

Bulog Dos is smaller and particularly photogenic.

It's known for its sandbar and shallow turquoise water, although the appearance of the sandbar changes with the tide.

This is an important detail.

The photographs you see online may have been taken under perfect tidal and weather conditions. Nature doesn't reproduce the same photograph every day.

How Is It Different From a Coron Island Tour?

Very different.

Choose Coron Island if your priorities are:

dramatic limestone scenery, lakes, lagoons and snorkeling.

Choose the Island Escape Tour if your priorities are:

white beaches, swimming, relaxing and a more classic tropical-island atmosphere.

Ideally, do both.

They show two completely different sides of the destination.

The Main Disadvantage: Travel Time

These islands are farther from Coron Town than many standard tour stops.

That means more time on the boat.

Sea conditions also matter. A beautiful sunny morning doesn't automatically mean perfectly calm water everywhere.

If you're uncomfortable with longer boat journeys, consider this before booking.

So, Is It Worth It?

If you only have two days in Coron, prioritize Coron Island and the experiences that make the destination unique.

But if you have four days or more, adding an Island Escape day makes much more sense.

After lakes, lagoons and reefs, a day built around beaches provides a completely different rhythm.

Sometimes the best itinerary isn't about seeing more.

It's about giving yourself enough time to actually enjoy where you are.

Discover more islands and compare Coron tours on ilovecoron.com.

Because I Love Coron.