Twin Lagoons: A Guide To Coron's Favourite Twin Lagoon
Clear, pristine water and beautiful limestone cliffs. That's Twin Lagoons and pretty much the entirety of Coron. Everywhere you look, it's quite simply a very spectacular place to visit. Especially if, like me, you're from a place like England where the skies are dull and the water is always cold and murky.
Coron is literally the polar opposite of that.
Twin Lagoons is one of the best places to visit in Coron. It's one of the many spectacular destinations visited on island hopping trips here but even amongst the many hidden lakes, lagoons and beaches that Coron is famous for, Twin Lagoon will always stand out among the best of the best. It's beautiful, and it's an adventure.
To help you get the most out of your time in Coron, here's my guide to the epic Twin Lagoons.
Twin Lagoon Coron
Coron is one of my favourite destinations in the Philippines. It's like nowhere else in the world. The only place that comes close is El Nido, which is just a short hop across the ocean next to Palawan anyway. Unfortunately though, since my first trip here in 2016, on my return earlier this year, I already began to notice how much more popular and busier the islands are getting. Fair enough, it's spectacular. But don't expect to have the standard tourist sights to yourself unless you can get out while it's still dark!
Twin Lagoons will always be worth a visit to though, it's one of the most exciting and most unusual attractions in Coron. As the name would suggest, there are quite literally two lagoons. And there is a giant piece of limestone rock separating them. It really is beautiful.
The Hidden Entrance To Twin Lagoons
Twin Lagoon is found on Coron Island. This is the largest of the touristy islands, and it's one of the areas, along with places like Kayanagan Lake and Barracuda Lake that visitors are likely to see on theirfirst island hopping trip. It's just that good.
From Coron Town, it's about an hour by boat, past insane scenery and towering limestone cliffs, and through the blue, green and turquoise water. It's an incredible journey, and when you arrive at the lagoon you'll enter a maze of rock and cliffs.
The Twin Lagoons are hidden away amongst the staggering, jagged cliffs of Coron Island. These limestone cliffs separate the two lagoons, and protect them from the currents and tides, making the water clear and calm.
The dividing rocks also create two entrances to the lagoons, and your boat will moor itself on one side or the other. To travel between the lagoons, it's necessary to jump in the water, and then climb over a rickety wooden staircase built over the rocks, or swim under the natural archway that has formed in the rock.
This second option is the most adventurous, and one of the reasons why I love the Twin Lagoons that much more. Depending on the tide, this connecting cavern can either be completely submerged or only half submerged.
When it's completely submerged, take a deep breath because you will need to swim underwater for a few metres to reach the other side. If this isn't for you, then just climb over the steps instead.
When the cavern is only partially submerged, you can easily float through without ever having to go underwater. Just watch your head.
Fresh Water Meets Sea Water At The Twin Lagoon Coron
The Twin Lagoons is where fresh, underground water meets with warm sea water. It's a strange experience. Jumping off the boat, you'll land in the warm sea water to begin with, but regardless of which way you enter the lagoons from, you'll soon merge with the fresh water flowing out.
If you are wearing a mask you'll notice your vision begins to get blurry. Your mask isn't dirty, but the different water densities meeting creates a strange film which washes over everything. Don't expect to see much sea life, but if you look up and around then you'll be amazed by the towering cliffs and beautiful setting.
Twin Lagoons is my favourite of the major Coron attractions, and although it gets busy, it is still nowhere near as crowded as Kayangan Lake. There's plenty of space too and swimming around and jumping and diving between the two separate lagoons is one awesome adventure that shouldn't be missed in Coron.
How To Travel To Twin Lagoons
The Twin Lagoons are easy to reach from Coron Town itself, but you will need to arrange either a private boat or join a tour group heading out. The journey itself only takes an hour, probably less depending on th currents, and the journey is all part of the experience.
It's easy to arrange a trip to Twin Lagoons to coincide with the other major natural attractions. Just a twenty-minute boat ride away is Kayangan Lake and even closer can be found Barracuda Lake.
The local Tagbanua people are the guardians of the Twin Lagoons and they charge an entrance fee for upkeep and cleaning. They do a good job. This may be covered by your tour group but it's best to check.
Tours From Coron Town To Twin Lagoons
If you are travelling to Coron, then it's likely you will end up staying in Coron Town, the main hub for tourism in the region. This is actually located on the larger Busuanga Island, while the natural attractions such as Twin Lagoons are located a boat ride away on Coron Island. There are plenty of accommodation options in the town, suitable for all budget levels, but in peak season, make sure to book in advance as the number of rooms in town doesn't always match the number of visitors anymore!
In town, and at the hotels there are plenty of tour companies who can help to arrange trips around the islands for you at reasonable costs. There are boats leaving every day and it's easy to join on to tours for a good price. These tours should include lunch but you may pay extra for mask and snorkel rental so take your own along if you have one.
You can also book your tours in advance through several agencies, and if you take this route I’d recommend using a locally run company called Calamianes Expeditions. They have several tour options or can privately organise tailor-made tours too. Their price starts from 950 PHP – roughly 17 USD – for the basic full day tour which encompasses Kayangan Lake and other major attractions.
When is The Best Time To Visit Twin Lagoon Coron?
The best time to visit Coron, in general, is during the dry season which runs from December to May. The rest of the year can see lots of rain and even ferocious typhoons which can cause havoc, murk the usually clear waters and be dangerous to the small boats that travel between islands. Dry season though is the best time of year to visit, also happens to be the busiest!
Twin Lagoons can get busy, but if you head here right at the start or end of the day, you might still find yourself alone on the water.
A Final Warning on Drones!
The limestone cliffs really mess with the GPS and navigation. Our guide said that he'd seen many falling from the skies, right as I took my own airborne. True to his word, the GPS kept cutting out. I managed to get a few pictures, but before long I brought it back in as it was just too risky. Landing on a rocking boat while the GPS kept dropping in and out was not an awesome experience.
All Photos and Words by Richard Collett
This article originally appeared on my website, Travel Tramp
wow that will be my next trip
Amazing shots! The Philippines seem to have a lot to offer, I stumble across such pictures over and over again, a humble sign that it is soon time for me to travel there myself 😊