Banol Beach is one of the popular attractions to visit when island-hopping in Coron, Palawan. Unlike the wide stretch of beach in Boracay, Banol Beach is very small in comparison. But IMHO, its coziness just adds to its charm.

Banol Beach is surrounded by beautiful limestone formations topped with luscious greens. The water is so clear and blue you can actually see the tiny fishes swimming in the shallow waters. It’s so clear you can even see a jellyfish every now and then.

There are a few huts in Banol Beach where you can relax and have a picnic—an ideal place to have lunch after a morning of island-hopping. For a minimal fee of Php100, we were able to enjoy a filling lunch and relax in the beautiful beach. Proceeds of these fees go to the maintenance of the beaches and other islets and islands by the Tagbanua tribe who has ancestral claim over some parts of Coron.

Banol Beach is just one of the beautiful nature-rich places in Coron you can visit. Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Siete Pecados, and Maquinit Hot Springs; just to name a few. Go to the sea port near the market—you’ll find a lot of boatmen hanging out there. They usually have a set “menu” of their island-hopping rates. Going directly to them is more economical than getting a fixer. The friendly locals are more than happy to help tourists—even the tricycle drivers we met happily told stories about their town, acting as our makeshift tour guides :)

Coron is indeed one of the Philippines’ last frontiers. But according to a few locals, commercialism is slowly making its way in the island as more tourists visit the place. Although most of the islands are protected by the ancestral claim of the Tagbanua natives, some islands are already up for sale. A Coron local I spoke with even expresses concern over the sea port being built near the market—it would indeed be a development for the island, allowing goods not available in the island more accessible, but would it be at the price of preserving Coron’s pristine environment?

A balance between keeping the island’s flourishing nature and development would be ideal, but most often than not, one of them would tip the scale. I’m hoping for the best.

Many thanks to Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) for making this trip to Coron possible.