Coron Island Hopping: The Standard Tour Covering Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, and Barracuda Lake

On prices: the figures on this page were gathered in September 2026 and are given as bands rather than current quotes. Rates, fees and timetables change every season - check with the operator before you book.

Coron Island Hopping Tour

Book the Coron Island Hopping Tour from any agency in Coron town for 1,500-1,800 PHP. The price covers the boat, guide, and lunch. At the port, pay an additional 150 PHP environmental fee in cash. This fee goes to the Tagbanwa Tribal Council of Coron Island and is collected before departure. Shared tours leave between 08:30 and 09:00 and return by 17:00, visiting five stops in a fixed order. Coron Island is ancestral Tagbanwa land. Overnight stays are prohibited.

The Only Route From Coron Town

This is the sole island-hopping route from Coron town, unlike the lettered tours in El Nido. Every operator runs the same loop. Price and boat quality are the only variables. The stops are Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Barracuda Lake, Skeleton Wreck, and a lunch break at CYC Beach.

Shared boats carry 8 to 20 people. Bring cash for extra fees, a waterproof bag, and reef-safe sunscreen. Snorkelling masks are provided. Fins may cost extra. Lunch is grilled fish, chicken, pork, rice, and fruit served on the beach.

Kayangan Lake Coron Tour

Arrive at Kayangan Lake before 08:00. By 09:30 the crowds have descended and the viewpoint queue stretches down the steps. The boat docks at a wooden platform. Pay the Kayangan Lake entrance fee there if your tour package does not include it. The fee is set by the Tagbanwa Tribal Council and changes without notice; budget 200 PHP. From the platform, climb 150 steps to the viewpoint overlooking the lake, then descend another 150 steps to the swimming area.

Kayangan Lake is a freshwater lake ringed by limestone cliffs. Swim in the designated area. The water is cool and exceptionally clear. The stop lasts 45 minutes to an hour.

Beating the Crowds

Hire a private boat and leave Coron town by 07:00. That is the only way to see Kayangan Lake without the mass of shared tours. A private boat can reverse the standard route, hitting Barracuda Lake first and arriving at Kayangan Lake before the shared boats show up. Book the private boat one to three days ahead during peak season, November to May.

Twin Lagoon Coron

At high tide, enter Twin Lagoon by swimming through a narrow opening in the limestone wall. At low tide, climb a ladder instead. The two lagoons connect through this passage. Inside, the water layers warm and cool. The stop lasts 30 to 40 minutes.

Rent a kayak at the site for 200-300 PHP, paid in cash to the onsite caretaker. Kayaking is easier than swimming against the current that sometimes surges through the passage. Life vests are available. Wear one if you are not a strong swimmer.

Twin Lagoon is busiest between 11:00 and 13:00, when all the shared tours converge. The site has no facilities. Bring everything you need from the boat.

Barracuda Lake and the Thermocline

Barracuda Lake is a diving site. It is not a swimming stop. The entrance fee is collected separately if your tour package does not cover it; budget 200 PHP. Site staff enforce a life-vest rule for all swimmers. Reaching the lake requires a short, steep climb from the boat docking point.

The draw is a halocline at roughly 14 metres depth. The water temperature jumps from 28°C to 38°C across a sharp boundary. This is a phenomenon for experienced divers. Snorkelers see only the surface layer and miss the whole point of the site.

If you are not a certified diver, skip the swim. The climb is steep and the surface water is unremarkable. Wait on the boat or relax at the docking area.

Skeleton Wreck Snorkelling

The Skeleton Wreck is the wooden frame of a 25-metre Japanese supply ship sunk during World War II. It lies in three to five metres of water, visible from the surface. Go at low tide, when the wreck sits closest to the surface.

Your boat guide anchors nearby. Snorkel over. The area draws multiple tour boats, so watch for other swimmers. Coral growth on the wreck attracts fish. Silt kicked up by other snorkelers can cut visibility fast.

The stop lasts 20 to 30 minutes. This is the easiest snorkel site on the tour. It requires no special effort beyond the mask provided.

CYC Beach Lunch Stop

CYC Beach is the standard lunch stop. The entry fee is included in your tour package. The beach is a narrow strip of white sand with basic picnic facilities. Your boat crew grills lunch on the spot: fish, chicken, pork, rice, and fruit.

This is a functional stop for eating. It is not a spectacular beach for swimming. The water is shallow and fine for wading. No shops. No proper toilets. Bring what you need from the boat.

After lunch you have about 45 minutes to relax. The return journey to Coron town takes 15 to 20 minutes.

Coron Island Hopping Price and Fees

The tour price of 1,500-1,800 PHP covers the shared bangka boat, guide, lunch, and sometimes the site fees. Confirm what is included before you book. The separate environmental and ancestral domain fee of 150 PHP is paid in cash at the port before departure. This fee goes to the Tagbanwa Tribal Council of Coron Island.

Additional site fees for Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, and Barracuda Lake are collected in cash at each stop. Budget 200-300 PHP for all three combined. These fees are set by the Tagbanwa Tribal Council and revised periodically without a fixed schedule. The rate on your visit may differ from any figure quoted here.

Budget 2,000 PHP in cash per person. That covers the tour booking, all mandatory fees, and a kayak rental. ATMs in Coron town run dry, especially on weekends. Get cash early.

Booking a Coron Island Hopping Tour from Coron Town

Book the day before you want to go. Boats fill up. Do not wait until the morning. Every hotel and dozens of small agencies along Coron town's main streets sell the same tour. Shop around for the best price, but expect little variation beyond the boat's condition.

Shared tours are the standard and cheapest option. Private boat tours are whole-boat rentals that give you a custom schedule and an earlier departure to beat crowds. Book a private boat one to three days ahead in peak season.

Confirmation is usually verbal. Get the agency name and your departure time. Be at the designated port by 08:15 with your cash for fees. Rough seas cancel tours; this is common during the monsoon from July to October. There are no refunds for bad-weather cancellations. You rebook for the next day.