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Kayangan Lake In Coron Island: The Ultimate Guide

Kayangan Lake In Coron Island: The Ultimate Guide

Kayangan Lake is by far the most popular spot on Coron Island and for good reason. You cruise into the ‘parking lot’, which in itself is an immaculate reef with crystal clear water. After parking the boat you take a short hike up the stairs to the viewpoint before clambering down the other side to reach the famous Kayangan Lake. It’s a crystal clear, freshwater lake with unbelievable underwater rock formations, which make it one of the most incredible sites in Coron, Palawan.

Above the surface, this is the ‘postcard view’ of the region and arguably home to the most popular viewpoint in Coron. Underneath the surface, it truly feels like a dream world and the snorkeling is incredible. The best way to get to Kayangan Lake is on the Coron Ultimate Island Hopping Tour, which includes visiting Barracuda Lake aswell as many other snorkeling spots and beautiful beaches.

WHERE IS KAYANGAN LAKE

Kayangan Lake is located on Coron Island. Coron Town is where all of the tourists stay and it’s actually on Busuanga. It gets a little confusing but all you need to know is that you will be staying in Coron Town and taking a boat over to Kayangan Lake and Coron Island to visit all of the other lagoons, snorkel spots and shipwrecks on a tour such as the Coron Ultimate Island Hopping Tour. You can see on the map below where Kayangan Lake is in relation to Coron Town (Busuanga).

 

HOW TO GET TO KAYANGAN LAKE

The simple answer about how to get to Barracuda Lake is: By Boat

You will most likely be staying in Coron Town, which is where the hotels, bars, restaurants, and airport is located. The next question is about which boat. There are lots of Coron Island Hopping Tours available and they range in price. Options are:

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KAYANGAN LAKE TOUR PACKAGES AND DAY TRIPS

Kayangan Lake is part of Island Hopping Tour ‘B’. This means that as a solo or budget traveler you can visit Kayangan Lake as well as multiple other locations on a day tour for a cheap price including lunch! I highly recommend Tour B and of course Tour A and have done them both.

To book your ISLAND HOPPING TOUR B you can Click Here to check the availability and book online (It’s just $35 USD)

  • It includes Barracuda Lake, Kayangan Lake, Banol Beach, Snorkel at Skeleton Wreck, Twin Lagoon

The best way to avoid the crowds at Kayangan Lake is to arrive before they do! This four-day expedition make sure you visit all the tourist spots before the tourists and then you sleep on secluded islands in cabins and tents throughout the region. To book your Big Dream Boat Man Expedition you can Click Here or if you want to see my detailed blog post (and my most epic drone photos ever) you can visit my blog post about my experience: BEST ISLAND HOPPING BOAT TOUR IN CORON: BIG DREAM BOAT MAN REVIEW

BIG DREAM BOAT MAN ISLAND HOPPING TRIP

Big Dream Boat Man is a locally owned tour company that offers THE BEST island-hopping experience in Coron on their private 3-day, 4-night trip throughout the islands nearby Coron.

a boat is sitting in the water on the beach.
a small boat on a small island in the middle of the ocean.
a man sitting on the edge of a boat in the ocean.

Reasons to book with Big Dream Boat Man

  • Skip the crowds: Visit popular spots like Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake and Lusong gunboat BEFORE the crowds arrive.
  • Secluded Spots: Visit islands that the daytrippers can’t reach.
  • Sunrise & Sunset: Stay overnight at secluded islands in cabins and tents on the beach. Enjoy bonfires, drinks and a fun atmosphere.

3 POPULAR CORON TOURS

  • Coron Island Hopping Trip: The iconic boat trip to amazing Kayangan Lake & Barracuda Lake. Best value and most popular
  • Snorkeling, Shipwrecks, Private Islands (Island Hopping D): Pass Island, Lusong Gunboat Shipwreck Snorkel & Coral Gardens. This is my favorite island hopping in Coron and is the snorkeling paradise & active tour.
  • Coron Land Tour: Get to know Coron! Visit Mt Tapyas viewing deck, Maquinit Hot Spring and important sites around town. Great for a day off from snorkeling and island hopping.

I only recommend tours with Guide To The Philippines, who are a locally owned company and the most RELIABLE & PROFESSIONAL in Coron with small group sizes.

MY EXPERIENCE AT KAYANGAN LAKE

Kayangan Lake in Coron, Palawan is an awesome spot to hang out for several hours if you like to explore. While most tourists on the Coron Ultimate Island Hopping Tour will snorkel for 20-30 minutes and move on there is actually a lot to see and do here. There’s a cave that most people don’t know about, epic free-diving and of course the famous viewpoint.

Freediving at Kayangan Lake

While it is now compulsory to wear a life jacket at Kayangan Lake (two tourists died doing some pretty full-on freediving so they tightened the rules for snorkelers) you can still get away with free-diving here. I usually hang out by the edges of the left side of the lake, put my life jacket on a rock and free-dive down by the cliffs underwater.

This underwater landscape is up there with my favorite snorkel/free-dive spot in the world. Epic jagged rocks make you feel like you are on the moon as you dive deeper. Make sure you are cautious as it is a freshwater lake so you will be significantly less buoyant than in salt water making it harder to return to the surface.

If you are not 100% sure in your swimming/free-diving capabilities please keep your life jacket on. Technically everyone needs to keep it on but those rules are for the masses and I’m willing to bend them knowing that there is very small to no-danger for ME  while I do basic freediving at this part of Kayangan Lake. I made this video on my last visit to Kayangan Lake while on the Coron Ultimate Island Hopping Tour.

Snorkeling at Kayangan Lake

Of course, the most popular activity at Kayangan Lake is snorkeling. Most tourists will keep their lifejackets on and check out the underwater cliffs from above. Snorkeling at Kayangan Lake offers a unique experience, unlike any other freshwater dive.

Touted as one of the cleanest lakes in Asia, Kayangan’s crystal-clear waters provide a pristine window into a mesmerizing underwater world. One of the standout features is the majestic rock formations that lay submerged beneath the surface. These ancient stone structures, sculpted over eons, form a surreal underwater landscape, teeming with pockets of marine life. Gliding over these natural monoliths gives snorkelers the feeling of exploring an alien realm, making every dive in Kayangan Lake a memorable adventure.

Awuyuk Cave at Kayangan Lake

On the left side of the lake, quite near to the boardwalk is Awuyuk Kayangan Cave. It is about 10-meters to swim through and in parts in pitch black. It’s a short adventure but pretty exciting and best done with a guide. Looking back out towards the light from inside the cave is a scene not to be missed.

Kayangan Lake Viewpoint

The famous viewpoint of Kayangan Lake is actually not of the lake funnily enough. The viewpoint is at the top of the stairs before you head down towards Kayangan Lake and actually looks out to the area where the boats are parking. It is beautiful and the water clarity is so good that you can see the cliffs continue down below the surface. In peak times there can be a line here, which can be pretty hectic but if you come early in the morning it is much more relaxed.

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Drone flight at Kayangan Lake

If you are fortunate enough to have a drone, this is an amazing spot to fly. In fact, all of Coron makes for spectacular flying. However, they do it call it the ‘Drone Graveyard’ for a reason. With cliffs at all different heights, bad signal and bright sun for pilots, this region has claimed many drones over the years. Fly high, fly slow and enjoy the view from the sky.

a group of boats floating on top of a body of water.
a large body of water with boats in it.

How to avoid crowds at Kayangan Lake

The best way to avoid the crowds at Kayangan Lake is to arrive at opening time, which is 7 am. You can do this by hiring a private boat or going with Big Dream Boat Man. If you join a regular group tour you will inevitably be there at peak time most likely.

Big Dream Boat Man (How I visited): Big Dream Boat Man is a 3-night Coron island hopping tour expedition that is different from the rest. Instead of battling the crowds, the sea of life-jackets and the lines, Big Dream Boat Man takes you to the hotspots such as Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon before the crowds come.

After spending one day at the hotspots, Big Dream Boat Man veers away and guides you on an expedition to some of the hidden gems such as Kayangan Lake and off-the-beaten-path locations in Coron, which in my opinion were equally as impressive if not more so than the famous spots on Coron Island. We free-dived at WWII shipwrecks,  camped on secluded beaches, swam with stingrays, counted the stars from the beach at night and ate like kings during our island hopping tour with Big Dream Boat Man.

Make an inquiry/booking: To visit the website to check the tour itineraries, costs and availability of dates you can click here: Big Dream Boat Man Website 

If you want to read the big blog post about my Big Dream Boat Man 4-day journey you can head over to read that by clicking here.

a man sitting on a boat in the middle of the ocean.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT KAYANGAN LAKE

  1. Cleanest Lake in Asia: Kayangan Lake is often touted as the cleanest lake in Asia due to its crystal-clear waters, which provide spectacular underwater views.
  2. Mixture of Fresh and Salt Water: The lake is a mix of 70% freshwater and 30% saltwater. This unique combination is called a brackish water environment.
  3. Sacred Place: The indigenous Tagbanua people, who are the ancestral domain holders of Coron Island, consider Kayangan Lake as a sacred place.

BEST TIME TO VISIT KAYANGAN LAKE

The best time to visit Kayangan Lake is during the dry months of November to May, with the peak tourist season falling between December and March. During these months, the weather in Coron, Palawan is typically sunny and dry, ensuring clear skies and calm waters, ideal for snorkeling and sightseeing. It’s also less likely for tours to be canceled due to weather disturbances. However, those seeking a quieter experience might opt for the shoulder months at the beginning or end of this period, as the lake can get crowded during the peak season.

Regardless of the timing, the ethereal beauty of Kayangan Lake remains a constant, but visiting during these recommended months guarantees a more seamless experience.

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KAYANGAN LAKE ENTRANCE FEE

Your entrance fee for Kayangan Lake is most likely organized by your tour operator but the system is not that you need to buy the tickets in town before you arrive. They are trying to regulate things more these days so that is how it works. The fee is 300PHP per person, which is $6 USD. This fee will rise year over year

WHERE TO STAY IN CORON TOWN

Coron Town is the base for all of your adventures in Coron. In Coron Town you have the bars, restaurants, transport, places to book tours and you are close to Mt. Tapyas and Maquinit Hot Spring. It is also just a $3 shuttle to the airport. Below are my three picks plus one all-inclusive resort (I’ve stayed multiple times) that includes private island hopping.

  • The Funny Lion (Good Atmosphere): The Funny Lion is a boutique resort in Coron that I visited several years ago. Let’s just say that beer from the hot tub with one of the best sunset views in Coron is about as good as it gets. It’s ultra-modern and has a spa, pool, and immaculate rooms. The rooftop bar and dining is an awesome place to be after a long day of island-hopping in Coron.
  • Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel (Value): Located by the bay in Coron Town, this upscale hotel features an infinity pool which makes for a picture-perfect sunset view (Possibly the best sunset hotel view in Coron). If you want comfort and luxury at the same time this place is for you. It has its own private dock so you just leave straight to the island-hopping tours from your hotel room!
  • Casa Fidelis Resort All-inclusive (Includes private island hopping): I had the most amazing stay at Casa Fidelis. The villa had a large patio area that looked out over the garden. Stepping stones led you from the room to the dining area, where we had decadent spreads of gourmet food for every meal. Casa 
a large swimming pool lit up at night

3 BEST PLACES TO STAY IN CORON

an aerial view of a resort in the middle of the ocean.
a large swimming pool surrounded by palm trees.

ARE YOU KEEPING UP WITH MY CORON SERIES?

Or you might want to jump to a few of my favorite spots in Coron:

a man is swimming in the water near rocks.

Viola Smith

Tuesday 28th of July 2020

Hi Jackson. Lovely read. I definitely want to visit Coron after the restrictions are lifted. Where are you these days?

Jackson

Tuesday 28th of July 2020

Hey, I'm in Australia now but I'm heading to Europe soon. Enjoy Coron.