Exploring Marine Life Near Coron
Kayangan Lake and Secret Lagoon
We’ve booked boat Tour A to take us to water destinations around Coron. The van is supposed to pick us up between 8 and 8:50am at the hotel. We have to call around 9am when they still hadn’t shown up. They come at 9:15.
The boat is smaller than the one we took on our three day trip. There are about 25 people on our tour.
The first stop is Kayangan Lake. Getting off the boat is a bit of a challenge because we have to climb and hop through three boats to get to the boardwalk…and if the very fit 81 year old lady on the tour can do it, then so can I.
From the boat we hop onto a boardwalk over the water that takes us to stairs. We climb up almost 200 steps to a viewpoint where we bump into our German friends from our SeaQuest cruise who are on their way back.
Then there are over 200 steps down to the actual lake. 
The lake is noted as being the cleanest water in the Philippines though it’s hard to believe given all the tourists floating in it. When we return to the boat we and a few others who paid extra take kayaks into the Secret Lagoon. We kayak through mangroves to the small but pretty lagoon. Click here for a short video.
Green Lagoon
Our next boat stop is the Coral Garden at the Green Lagoon. The snorkeling is great, especially around the drop offs.
Upon returning to the boat, we have to climb down a very narrow, makeshift ricketty ladder. The staff hold a long bamboo poles that we use as a handrail. Once again, if the 81 year old woman can do it… so can I. Click here for a short video.
It always amazes us how the staff can put out such a great lunch with the small BBQ and limited space they have on the boat. They bring some dishes with them but we do see them BBQing other parts of the lunch on the boat.
Coral Garden and CYC Island
We head to another coral garden for snorkeling. The fish and coral are great but after seeing a few jellyfish I decide to head back to the boat.
Our final stop is CYC Island. John and I kayak around the small island and then hang out on the white sand beach.
Tricycle to Maquinit Hot Springs
Once we get back to port, John and I hail a tricycle taxi to take us to Maquinit Hot Springs. I hop into the back and John into the front in order to balance out the precarious vehicle. Click here for a short video.
It’s a bit of a drive. We slow down through a packed area that has hundreds of uniformed kids of all ages at the side of the street leaving school.
There are times when I don’t think the bike will make it up a hill but it does. Sometimes there is nothing at the side of the road but a drop.
My hands are numb from clutching the roof bars with a Vulcan death grip.
The natural springs are warm and relaxing. The sun sets and lanterns come on over the springs.
Tricycle Ride Back to the Hotel
After a little over an hour, we find our driver in the mass of tricycles. I sit in the front this time. At one point the tricycle stalls on a hill and we start to roll backwards. The driver quickly turns around and goes back to the bottom of the hill. I offer to get out and walk up the hill but he shakes his head, revs the motor and takes a run at the hill.
Surprisingly we make it.
When the driver gets to the super steep hill of our hotel, he gets halfway up and says he can go no further. I am relieved to walk the rest of the way.