BUROT BEACH, BATANGAS

Planning for a holiday trip and don't have enough fund to splurge in Boracay nor Palawan? Don't push yourself too much as these places will costs you thousands pesos for your 2 or 3 days trip instead try searching for a place nearby the Metro.  You don't either need to stay in a luxurious hotels or dine in an expensive restaurant just to inform your Instagram and Facebook followers that you can afford all those things. A Summer vacations doesn't require of how classy and lavish your trip would be but the important thing is that you are having fun with it. If you are looking for a striking white sand beach and on a friendly budget trip like less than a thousand then Burot Beach is right for you. Burot Beach is privately owned by the SM Group of Companies located in Calatagan Batangas but this is open publicly for now. This beach becomes a popular destination for weekend travellers since it is accessible from its neighbouring towns and cities. 

How to get there:

If you're setting up for a day tour, I suggest take the 4AM van at the Back of Kabayan Hotel, fare is hundred eighty (P180.00) for one way  but they need to fill all the vacant seats before leaving the terminal  to Calatagan. From there, take tricycle to Burot beach for a fare of 200.00(group of 4). You may also take a bus at the back of Sogo Hotel in Pasay Rotonda bound to Lian before taking a jeepney to Calatagan.

It was 8:00 in the morning when we arrived but it was already jam-packed with campers all over the place. And since it was a first come first serve basis in finding a spot, we stayed at the end point of the beach.

There were only few huts and picnic tables available for lease ranging from 450.00 and up. Also, an entrance fee of 65.00 for the day tour is being asked while 130.00 for those who are staying overnight.

Rio, Wilma and Emie's jump shot 

Burot Beach offers magnificent blue waters, fine to golden sand and peaceful spot for those who wants to clear their minds from a very exhausting work week.

Just in case you want something extra fun activity, there are lots of rental boats available with in the vicinity for P100.00 for the Island hopping, that, if you are in a group of 6-8 person but you can also hire for a fee of P650.00 and considered as "special charter". The fee includes the Naked White Sandbar, Starfish and coral Island as they calls it. You'd surely love soaking in these areas for it has crystal blue and cool waters. But I didn't really enjoyed our so called Island hopping hence the boatman took us just a few meters away from the main beach of Burot and I was expecting more from it.

Naked Island

Nevertheless, the trip was filled with fun and excitement.

Starfish Island

Coral Island facing the Main beach of Burot

Also, there are two separate wash rooms available for free but expect a massive queue especially on the weekends. 

Expenses:

Manila to Lian (bus)        152.00

Lian to Calatagan (jeep)   38.00

Bus Terminal to Burot      50.00 (200.00 group of 4)

Environment Fee              20.00

Entrance Fee                   65.00

Boat Rental                    162.50(650.00 group of 4)

Food Contribution        225.00

Calatagan to Manila    180.00 (Van)

Total Expenses            892.50

Suggested Itinerary

04:00     ETD Pasay –Calatagan

08:45     ETA Calatagan Market (buy food)

09:30     ETD Burot Beach

09:50     ETA Burot Beach

10:00     Smimming / Picture taking

12:00     Lunch

01:00     Island hopping (optional)

03:00     Back to Burot Beach

03:15     Wash up

03:40     ETD Burot Beach to Calatagan

04:00     ETD Calatagan-Manila

07:00     ETA Manila

Thanks for reading!

CORON, PALAWAN

Coron is located in the Province of Palawan, Philippines on Busuanga Island. Coron is very famous because of its majestic crystal blue waters and it is populous not only for locals but also for foreign tourists. Coron is like a town of whites where most of the people roaming around  are Americans, Europeans and other individuals from different parts of the globe. 

How to get there:

Take a flight from Cebu Pacific & Philippine Airlines to Busuanga but I suggest to book your tickets in advance to avail much cheaper fare rates. Busuanga Airport is a 30-40 minutes ride away from the town so you'll really need to take a van to get there.
I had no hotel reservations yet when I reached the small town of Coron because I was thinking that the hotels posted through Internets/blogs are quite different in the actual. There are a lot of hotels, guests houses and lodging inns that ranges from expensive to cheaper ones in the area but I find Palanca Guest House very interesting since the Manager gave me a discount. Yes, she offered me a 200.00 discount per night since I am just alone from 1,200.00 down to 1,000.00 and I just saved hundreds of pesos for a couple of nights.(I Actually made some jest and use my charm so she could gave me a discount and it really worked. lol)

PALANCA GUEST HOUSE
24 Don Pedro St. Bgy. 3, Coron, Palawan
Ms. Dianne Palanca- Manager
Contact# 0906-246-92606/0999-491-9933
Website: www.coronpalancaguesthouse.com

TRIKE DRIVER: Kuya Jovanie, highly recommended
He is very nice(shy type) you can actually ask Ms. Dianne if you want him to be your  town tour guide.

 Dianne Room

Reception & Dining Area

I met a couple who are also staying in the same hotel and they'll be heading to the places same as mine on the first day. They rented a tricycle for 550.00 town tour and that includes Lualhati Park, Souvenir Shops, San Agustin Church, Cashew Nuts Producer, Mt. Tapyas and Maquinit Hot Spring. So I asked them if would it be okay to join their tour and so I could save 367.00 for the trike. clever isn't it? 

MT. TAPYAS

Your trip to Coron would not be complete without climbing the renowned Mount Tapyas. This mountain  has more than 700 sweaty & tiring cemented steps but gives you the remarkable view of the Island when you get to the summit.

view from Mt. Tapyas

sunset at Mt. Tapyas

MAQUINIT HOT SPRING

Maquinit hot spring is like 5 kilometres away from the proper town and riding the open tricycle going there is very bumpy. According to the driver, private owners and the municipal government are still on a long negotiations on fixing the highway. 

Finally, after the tiring trek it's now time to soak in this very relaxing natural running hot salt water and it was really perfect while you are laying on the hot tub and listening the waves from the ocean. I wasn't expecting a lot of people will be in this place since it was already 7 in the evening and it was Sunday but they are sitting and sopping wet every edge of the pool.

ISLAND HOPPING

The most pre eminent moment when you visited Coron is the Island hopping where you can see the different beaches & limestones. If you have been to El Nido you could somehow distinguish which is exceptionally beautiful between the two Islands in Palawan. But what I like most in El Nido is you can plunge any time you want in the shore unlike Coron it is filled with unlawful residents, boat docking areas and a reclaimed areas for Public Market. On the other hand, both Island are very tremendous in terms of their white sand beaches and blue crystal waters.

KAYANGAN LAKE

Kayangan Lake is one of the finest attraction in Coron with 70% fresh waters and 30 % salt according to the boatman/my photographer. When I saw this enchanting place I really can't wait to drop down to this unambiguous waters even my iPhone joined me (and until now it's not really working at all). 

TWIN PEAKS

Twin peaks is one of the best spot for snorkelling in the Island where you can mingle the different types of fishes and different colours of corals.

BANOL BEACH

Banol beach is being watched over by the locals called Tagbanuas.  Meanwhile, you can't resist dipping into the salt water because of its refined white sands & precious blue waters.

CYC BEACH

This is the only public beach and has no entrance fee according to our boatman. It also has white sands, mangroves and splendid blue waters covered around the small Island.

BALINSASAYAW BEACH RESORT

The best site for snorkelling aside from twin peaks where corals are as huge as planted trees and  has rare  clown fish (nemo as we call it) associating with the tourists.

TWIN LAGOONS

I have imagined that this lagoons are as huge as the  pond in El Nido but it's not, though it still beautiful because of its huge minerals covered around it.

WHERE TO EAT

SANTINOS GRILL

Santino's Grill are famed with their steaks and seafood dishes.

You may also want to try Kawayanan Grill located at National Highway, Coron. Unfortunately, it was 8 in the morning when I went there and they do not serve breakfast meals.

Banana Pancake

EXPENSES

Round trip Airfare:     1,382.40/promo

Van                                300.00/round trip 

Hotel Accom               2,000.00/good for 2

Town Tour (Trike)         183.00 (550.00/3)

Maquinit Hot Spring       200.00

Island Hopping               850.00/pax good for 15pax(Inclusions are: Entrance Fees, Lunch & Snacks)

(Ms. Dianne asked me if  I want rent a boat for the Island hopping and it costs 1,500.00 without meals or Ican join in a group of different people for 850.00 with meals. I opted to join with the strangers which is much cheaper and at the same time I will meet new faces and new people.)

Meals: Dinner Day 1      240.00/1 Whole Chicken with Rice/Allan Roasted Chicken

            Breakfast Day 2  100.00/Danggit with Egg & Fried Rice-Palanca 

            Lunch                   included in Island hopping

            Dinner                  330.00/Sinigang na Hipon with rice at Santino's Grill

            BFast                      85.00/Banana Pancake with Brewed Coffee at VMG's Restaurant

            Lunch                   125.00/Fried Chicken (Resto Few step away from Palanca)

Terminal Fee                      75.00

Others: Trike Fares

             Snacks

              Coffee

             Souvenir                00.00           

Total expenses           Php 5,870.40    (souvenirs and others expenses are not yet included)    

Thanks for reading!