If you’re planning a trip to Coron, you’ve probably already run into the Coron Tour A vs Tour B question. Every hostel front desk, every Facebook group, every travel blog throws these two labels around like you’re supposed to already know what they mean. Honestly, when I first booked island hopping here years ago, I just picked whichever one my guesthouse suggested and got lucky.
You don’t have to do that. Here’s the thing: Coron Tour A and Tour B cover completely different parts of the bay, and picking the wrong one for your travel style can mean missing the exact thing you flew here for. So let’s break down what each tour actually includes, what you’ll pay in PHP, and which one fits you better in 2026.
What’s the Real Difference Between Coron Tour A and Tour B?
Coron’s island hopping tours are organized into lettered packages, kind of like El Nido’s Tour A through D, but the stops themselves are nothing alike. Tour A is built around Coron’s famous lakes: Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, and usually Twin Lagoon. Tour B skips the lakes entirely and focuses on reef snorkeling and shallow wreck sites instead.
Put simply: Tour A is for people who want that iconic viewpoint photo and calm, clear lake swimming. Tour B is for people who’d rather spend the day underwater looking at coral and fish. Neither is objectively “better,” but one is almost certainly better for you specifically, and we’ll get into that below.
Insider tip: Ask your operator exactly which stops are on their version of Tour A or Tour B before booking. Some boats mix and match stops between the two, especially during slower months, so the letter alone doesn’t always guarantee a fixed itinerary.
Coron Tour A Itinerary: Stops, Highlights & Price
Tour A (sometimes marketed as the “Ultimate Tour”) is the more popular of the two, and it’s usually the one first-time visitors book without even thinking twice.
Main Stops on Tour A
- Kayangan Lake – The single most photographed spot in Coron, and arguably in the whole Philippines. You’ll climb a set of stairs (roughly 300 steps round trip) to a viewpoint, then descend to swim in water so clear you can see your own feet ten meters down. Entrance fee runs around ₱200 to ₱300 per person.
- Barracuda Lake – A crater lake famous for its thermoclines, layers of warm and cool water you can actually feel while swimming through them. It’s a strange sensation the first time, kind of like swimming through invisible curtains. Entrance fee is around ₱150 to ₱200 per person.
- Twin Lagoon – Two lagoons joined by a narrow limestone passage you swim or kayak through. One side runs noticeably warmer than the other. Entrance fee is around ₱200 per person.
- Skeleton Wreck – A shallow Japanese supply vessel sunk during a September 1944 US air raid on Coron Bay, sitting just a few meters below the surface and now covered in coral. You don’t need a scuba certification to snorkel over it, which makes it one of the more accessible wreck sites in the bay.
- Banol Beach or CYC Beach – A white sand stop for lunch, usually served on the boat or under a shaded hut on the beach. After a morning of swimming, even a simple rice-and-grilled-fish lunch tastes incredible.
Tour A typically costs ₱1,200 to ₱1,800 per person for a shared group boat, usually including lunch, entrance fees, and snorkeling gear. Private charters run higher but give you full control over pacing, which matters a lot at Kayangan Lake once the crowds show up.
Insider tip: Push your operator for a 7:00 AM departure if Kayangan Lake is the first stop. We’ve shown up right at opening a few times, and having that viewpoint nearly empty for ten minutes made the whole day feel different. By 9:30 AM it’s a different scene entirely, dozens of people all angling for the same photo.
Coron Tour B Itinerary: Stops, Highlights & Price
Tour B, sometimes called the “Reef and Wreck Tour,” trades the lakes for more time in the water. If you snorkel or dive and want to spend the day looking at coral and fish rather than climbing stairs, this is your tour.
Main Stops on Tour B
- Siete Pecados Marine Sanctuary – A cluster of seven small limestone islets just off Coron town, ringed by some of the healthiest reef in the bay. Expect parrotfish, clownfish, and if you’re lucky, a passing sea turtle. Entrance fee is roughly ₱50 to ₱100 per person, and you barely need to swim far from the boat to see the good stuff.
- CYC Beach – A sandbar that shows up dramatically at low tide, popular for photos rather than swimming laps. The sand here isn’t quite as powder white as other Coron beaches, and it’s a little stony in places, so water shoes help.
- Additional shallow wreck sites – Depending on the operator, Tour B often loops in a second or third wreck beyond what Tour A visits, giving divers and confident snorkelers more underwater time across the day.
- Coral Garden – A shallow reef stop with dense, healthy coral cover, good for slower, unhurried snorkeling since it’s usually less crowded than the lake stops on Tour A.
Tour B usually runs ₱900 to ₱1,400 per person, a bit cheaper than Tour A since it skips the higher lake entrance fees. It’s a solid pick if you’ve already done the lakes on a previous trip, or if snorkeling is genuinely your priority over photos.
Insider tip: If you’re a certified diver, ask whether your Tour B operator can swap in a proper dive stop instead of a snorkel-only wreck. Several Coron dive shops run this as an add-on, and the visibility on the deeper wrecks is a completely different experience than snorkeling the surface.
Tour A vs Tour B: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Tour A (Ultimate Tour) | Tour B (Reef and Wreck Tour) |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Lakes and lagoons | Reefs and shallow wrecks |
| Key stops | Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon | Siete Pecados, CYC Beach, Coral Garden |
| Best for | First-timers, photographers, non-divers | Snorkelers, repeat visitors, divers |
| Physical effort | Moderate (stairs at Kayangan Lake) | Low (mostly boat-to-water entries) |
| Typical price | ₱1,200 – ₱1,800/person | ₱900 – ₱1,400/person |
| Crowd levels | Higher, especially after 9:30 AM | Generally lighter |
Which Tour Fits Your Travel Style?
If This Is Your First Time in Coron
Book Tour A. Kayangan Lake is the reason most people add Coron to their Palawan itinerary in the first place, and skipping it on a first visit is something travelers regret more than almost anything else we hear about. You can always come back for Tour B.
If You’re a Diver or Serious Snorkeler
Tour B edges it out. The reef time at Siete Pecados and the extra wreck stops give you more time actually in the water rather than climbing stairs or standing at a photo viewpoint. Pair it with a proper Coron wreck diving day if you’re certified.
If You’ve Already Done Coron Before
Tour B again, especially if Tour A was your first-trip pick. It’s also the cheaper option, so it’s an easy add-on if you’re stretching a tight budget across a longer Palawan trip.
If You Can’t Swim or Have Mobile Limitations
Tour A still works better here. Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon are both manageable with a life vest even if you can’t swim, and while there are stairs at Kayangan Lake, the rest of the day involves less time in open water than Tour B’s reef stops.
Can You Do Both in One Trip?
Yes, and honestly, if your schedule allows it, that’s what we’d recommend. Most travelers staying 3 to 4 nights in Coron do Tour A on day one and Tour B on day two, which spreads out the ₱1,200 to ₱1,800 and ₱900 to ₱1,400 price points across two days instead of cramming everything into one exhausting outing. Not sure how much time to block off? Our guide on how many days you need in Coron walks through a realistic breakdown for combining both tours with a rest day.
Booking both also spreads out your budget more sensibly. Check our Coron budget guide if you’re trying to map out a full daily spend across lodging, food, and tours.
Best Time of Year and Time of Day to Book
November through May is Coron’s dry season, and it’s genuinely the better window for both tours. Seas stay calmer, visibility in the lakes and reefs improves, and you’re less likely to get rained out mid-tour. December through March tends to be the busiest stretch, so if crowds bother you, aim for the shoulder months of November or April.
June through October is rainier and choppier, but tours still run, and you’ll pay less while sharing the good spots with fewer people. If you’re booking close to the shoulder season, it’s worth checking PAGASA’s weather updates before locking in your dates.
Whichever season you land in, book the earliest departure slot your operator offers. Both tours get noticeably busier as the morning goes on, and Kayangan Lake in particular is a different place at 7:00 AM versus 10:00 AM.
Insider tip: If you’re flying in specifically for island hopping, avoid scheduling a tour on your arrival day. Flights into Busuanga (Coron’s airport) with carriers like AirSWIFT or Cebu Pacific can run late, and missing your boat’s departure slot because of a delayed flight is a frustrating way to start a trip.
How to Book Coron Tour A or Tour B
You can book through your accommodation, walk up to the tourism office in town, or arrange it with an operator like us ahead of time through Facebook Messenger. Booking ahead is worth it during peak season (December to March) since the good boats and early morning slots fill up fast.
Our Coron island hopping tours cover both Tour A and Tour B, with fixed pricing in PHP, small group sizes, and all entrance fees and lunch already worked into the price so there are no surprises at each stop. If you’re still deciding between destinations entirely, our El Nido vs Coron comparison might help narrow things down before you commit to a Coron-only trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Coron Tour A and Tour B?
Tour A focuses on Coron’s lakes, Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, and Twin Lagoon. Tour B skips the lakes and focuses on reef snorkeling and shallow wreck sites like Siete Pecados and CYC Beach.
Which is better, Coron Tour A or Tour B?
Neither is universally better. Tour A suits first-timers and photographers chasing the Kayangan Lake viewpoint. Tour B suits divers and snorkelers who want more time in the water and a lower price point.
How much does Coron Tour A cost per person?
Group tours typically run ₱1,200 to ₱1,800 per person, usually including lunch, entrance fees, and snorkeling gear.
How much does Coron Tour B cost per person?
Tour B usually runs ₱900 to ₱1,400 per person, a bit cheaper than Tour A since it skips the higher lake entrance fees.
Can I do both Tour A and Tour B in the same trip?
Yes. Most travelers spending 3 to 4 nights in Coron do Tour A on one day and Tour B on another, which also spreads the cost out over two days instead of one.
Do I need to know how to swim for either tour?
No. Life vests are provided on both tours, and most stops on Tour A are manageable even for non-swimmers. Tour B involves more open-water snorkeling, so strong swimmers will get more out of it, but life vests are still available.
Is Tour A or Tour B better for underwater photos?
Tour B generally wins here since the reef and wreck visibility tends to be better for underwater shots, while Tour A’s highlight (the Kayangan Lake viewpoint) is really more of an above-water photo opportunity.
Ready to Book Your Coron Island Hopping Tour?
Whether you’re chasing that Kayangan Lake photo on Tour A or want more reef time on Tour B, we can set you up with a small-group or private boat, fixed PHP pricing, and no hidden fees. However you land on the Coron Tour A vs Tour B question, message us on Facebook to check Coron tour availability and lock in your dates for 2026.