Case for Coron
Nature
Kayangan Lake
Coron is home to the cleanest lake in the Philippines, Kayangan Lake. The lake's clear waters is a mixture of fresh and saltwater. This odd mixture makes it easy to snorkel and dive into the water without hurting your eyes. The temperature of the water is also perfect because it is somewhere between cold and warm.Twin Lagoon
Coron is home to some spectacular bodies of water surrounded by towering limestone formations. Two of my favorite spots in Coron are Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon.Coron's beauty is not only revealed through its landscapes but also underwater. The beautiful corals and marine life are a visual spectacle as well.
Coron's beaches aren't too shabby either. The fine, white sand sucks your feet in and seeps between your toes in a good way. The clear, blue waters and the limestone formations create a picturesque backdrop to a perfect summer day.
Things to Do
Aside from the usual island hopping, there are a lot of things to do in Coron. You can go up Mt. Tapyas and get an overlooking view of Coron Town, dip into Maquinit Hot Spring, go wreck diving in one of the many sunken warships, and scuba diving.
Accommodations
Coron has a healthy mix of backpacker to middle-tier hostels and hotels. The prices range from P380 to P3,000+++. It's not so hard to find affordable accommodations even if you just look for one the day you arrive, unless it's peak season (summer and Christmas). You can look at my list of accommodations to get contact information and price range.
Restaurants
There are plenty of restaurants in Coron town that offer delicious food. Seafood is aplenty in this port town. Food prices range from P50 to P250+++ (depending on where you choose to eat). For the budget traveler like me, you won't run out of affordable food choices.
Accessibility
There are direct flights from Cebupacific, PAL, Zestair, and other local airlines to Coron. The tickets normally cost around P3,000 to P4,000 unless there is a promo where the ticket prices drop to around P1,000 round trip.
Case for El Nido
Nature
El Nido is one of those places you'd love to retire or live in. The rustic atmosphere, the laid back vibe, and the stunning landscape all add to its splendor.
El Nido is home to many lagoons surrunded by karst formations. I can't really pick a favorite amongst the different different lagoons that El Nido has to offer. They were all stunning.
The big difference between Coron and El Nido is the size and breadth of the limestone formations. If you think the limestone formations in Coron are huge, the ones in El Nido are larger.
El Nido's beaches are just as good as its lagoons. A long stretch of fine white sand and clear waters abound when you visit El Nido. Surrounded by coconut trees, white sand, and clear waters, El Nido is the perfect summer getaway.
Things to Do
El Nido has a lot of beaches that you can easily get to without riding a boat. You can go to Las Cabanas, Corong-Corong Beach, and Marimegmeg Beach (P300 for a two-way trip via tricycle). Aside from beaches El Nido has other activities such as climbing Taraw Cliff to get a view of Bacuit Bay and other islands close to the town, go to Nacpan Beach, and explore Ille Caves.
Accommodations
If you think El Nido will cost an arm and a leg to stay in, think again! Unless you are staying in one of the resorts on Apulit Island, Lagen, and Miniloc, you don't have to give up an arm and a leg just to rest your tired body after a day of island hopping. There are backpacker rooms and tents for around P300/ night. I also made a list of accommodations that I found in El Nido.
Restaurants
There are a lot of restaurants by the shoreline. Bacuit Bay is home to bars, grills, and restaurants that serve different kinds of food. But most of the restaurants I found along Bacuit Bay offered expensive food at around more than P180 because they are more targeted to foreign tourists. There is the occasional restaurant that offers meals for P100 or less. For a cheaper alternative, go to the eateries near the church.
Accessibility
El Nido is sort of secluded because of the 6-hour land travel just to get to this beautiful haven. The payment for the van ride is between P600 to P700. The zigzagging road, and unpaved segments make the ride quite an adventure. There is a much more expensive alternative via air.
Verdict
Nature: El Nido's landscape is by far the best I've seen, but Coron's landscape is very similar and comes really close. I must admit that Coron's underwater landscape is better but since I'm not a diver El Nido wins this match-up by a hair.
Things to Do: There are plenty of things to do in both Coron and El Nido, so for me it's a tie.
Accommodations: There are plenty of budget options in both places and mid-tier hotels at a reasonable price. It's another tie.
Restaurants: Coron wins this one because there are more cheaper alternatives in town based on my experience.
Accessibility: Coron wins this one by a mile since there are direct flights to this island.
Based on my vote count Coron wins this battle but I would visit or even consider living in one of these places. Hopefully, these places are not overdeveloped. I like how both Coron and El Nido managed to create an environment where locals and foreigners meet. These two places remind me of Thailand and Cambodia because there are places in both countries where cultures collide. Businesses thrive because of healthy competition between the locals and foreign-run businesses. On a small scale, Coron and El Nido is a convergence of different cultures in one place that is one attribute of a thriving economy.