When you’re planning a visit to the Philippines, Siargao and Coron will both come up as idyllic places to visit. And if you don’t have time to go to both, which one should you choose?
Siargao and Coron Similarities
Before we talk about the differences between the two locations, let’s talk about what’s the same.
Reasons to Choose Siargao Over Coron
Siargao is a perfect little island in the province of Mindanao, on the eastern side of the country. It’s only got a few flights in and out per day. In fact, you can only get flights there from Manila or Cebu, though that’s likely to change in the next few years.
See what to know before visiting Siargao.
Surfing in Siargao
Siargao is home to one of the world’s best surf breaks, Cloud Nine. So if you’re a surfer, this is probably not even a question – Siargao is where you need to go!
If you’re not a surfer but want to be, Siargao is one of the best places in the world to learn. Lessons are cheap, and coaches are easy to find. There are breaks on the island that are great for beginners!
There are sea urchins in the water, so make sure to take rubber-footed booties with you to protect your feet! Also, this is not a place to cheap out. Get the good booties, and don’t spend your vacation attending to your feet.
Beaches in Siargao
One benefit of Siargao over Coron is that there are more beaches directly on the island in the proximity of your hotel. It’s highly likely that if you visit Siargao, your hotel or hostel will be either right on the beach or within a two-minute walk from one.
Note that where most of the hotels are positioned is the eastern side of the island – so you get incredible sunrises over the water but you have to go island-hopping for sunsets.
Reasons to Choose Coron Over Siargao
Coron is part of Palawan, a province in the Philippines known for its incredible natural beauty. It’s a bit more populated than Siargao, and Coron Town has a few more creature comforts.
Linestone Karsts in Coron
If you’ve seen the pictures of Palawan, you’ve seen people floating in incredible pools surrounded by limestone that just seems to come straight out of the sea. That’s going to be in either Coron or El Nido.
These areas are absolutely incredible, with breathtaking beauty unlike anywhere else. Yes, Siargao has Sugba Lagoon, but it’s nothing like what you’ll find at Kayangan Lake in Coron.
SCUBA Diving in Coron
If you’re a SCUBA diver, you should head to Coron! It has some of the world’s best SCUBA diving, with great variety in what you can dive. Because it was a key part of the Pacific Theater in WWII, it’s got a number of shipwrecks you can dive on. They’re in different depths, so even if you’re a beginner, you can dive on a wreck!
The Philippines also has incredible biodiversity and Coron has breathtaking corals reefs to dive on.
Excursions & Tours in Coron
Coron has more options for excursions and tours than Coron. In fact, if you’re wanting a beach day in Coron, you’re pretty much going to have to take a tour or hire someone to take you out on a boat.
The excursions go to some of the most incredible beaches you’ve ever seen – and frequently, you’ll have it all to yourself! And you can go to the wildlife preserve that was once owned by Ferdinand Marcos (husband to Imelda). If you want a fun evening tour, you can even go see fireflies and a bioluminescent lagoon!
Should You Pick Coron or Siargao?
As with everything, this ultimately comes down to you and your preferences. In general, if you’re looking for an on-the-go vacation with lots of excursions, you’ll probably love Coron. If your idea of an incredible vacation is laying on the beach right outside your door, check out Siargao.
Surfing is a big area Siargao wins over Coron, and SCUBA diving is one big place Coron wins over Siargao. Figure out what you and your companions want to do and you’ll be well on your way to an incredible trip!
See what you should know about the Philippines before you go.
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