Kayangan Lake and Coron Bay | Coron Philippines Top Destination
Coron is a beach island destination located on Busuanga island north of El Nido and mainland Palawan.
I travelled to Coron with my 2 kids and wife, and it was our favourite place in the Philippines.
Our trip was a month long and we explored most of the most famous places in the area as well as some less popular locations so that we could bring you these detailed guides on the top things to do in the Philippines.
My kids are ages 2 and 5 during this trip and we were able to do everything we wanted to with them. Some of it was a little adventurous but it is safe. I will be writing a separate guide on how to travel the Philippines with kids. Check out our links below for other Philippines blogs.
Where is Kayangan Lake?
Kayangan lake is a freshwater lake in the middle of a mountain range in Coron. To be more specific the water is brackish, a mixture of fresh and salt water.
What is Kayangan Lake?
Kayangan lake is one of the most photographed and beautiful places in all of the Philippines. If you are going to Coron this is the top place to go in Coron, just try to get there early before the crowds poor in.
What does Kayangan lake look like?
The lake itself is totally majestic. Crystal clear water with visibility up to 20 meters. The water seems as if it is perfectly still. Under the water there are cenote style rock formations giving you the feeling that you are in a sunken underwater mountain range. The water is bright blue, almost unreal looking. It is truly an amazing thing to see.
Around you there will be a man made walking path around the swimmable area of the lake with lifeguard style towers on the edges.
The mountain ranges around you are limestone and it gives the dramatic effect that you are the first person to ever visit Kayangan lake.
Is Kayandan lake safe for kids?
I brought my 5 year old to Kayangan lake, he enjoyed it and we took some really nice pictures. The only thing he didn’t like is the water is colder than in the ocean and it is not as buoyant so they will not float as easy.
There are also thousands of little needlefish at the top of the water and he thought that they might poke him.
Walking up the stairs at Kayangan lake can be a pain in the ass, I had to carry my son up 200 jagged steps and then down the backside around 150 steps to the lake. You will have to do this both ways.
I would take your kids as the pictures you will get are epic.
Where should I take pictures at Kayangan lake?
There are some amazing places to take photos here. The first is in Coron bay, then at the top of the stairs you can get an overhead view of the entire bay. This is the pic from all of the magazines about the Philippines.
After that you can take a pic from the top facing the lake and the mountain range beyond. And finally there are tons of beautiful spots all around the bamboo plank by the lake to take cool photos. One of my favourites was underwater and overwater at the same time using a dome.
Kayangan Lake Warnings. Is Kayangan Lake Safe?
- The water is less buoyant than the ocean, many people have drowned here so you should wear a life jacket.
- The rocks below are jagged and sharp so be careful entering the water.
- Do Not dive into Kayangan lake. If you hit a rock it will be bad
- You must be physically fit to climb to Kayangan lake, there are a lot of stairs.
- If you are diabetic, take a snack with you. You will sweat a lot.
- Take sunscreen as there is no shaded area here
- take water with you to keep hydrated
How do I get to Kayangan lake in Coron?
- You can take a private boat from Busuanga island (mainland Coron) for around $2700 pesos for up to 8 people. This is my favourite way to go because we were able to beat the crowds and enjoy this place at our own pace. You can contact Amika Travel for private tours.
- You can join a group tour. The problem with this is there are lots of people that will be getting there at the same time. Literally hundreds of people. When we were leaving Kayangan lake the group tours were coming in and there were at least 20 boats there. When we got there from a private tour there was only one other boat there.
Top Things to do At Kayangan lake
Free Dive
Free Diving in the lake is super fun. There are some different marine animals in the lake like thousands of little clams all over the rocks and needle fish everywhere.
2. Take underwater pictures
Bring your GoPro for some epic pictures. The water is really clear.
3. Snorkelling
If you want to stay above the water bring your snorkel. Most island hopping tours will lend these to you for free.
4. Take pictures of Coron bay
At the top of the first set of stairs, there is a platform you can stand on for some amazing shots.
5. Snorkel around Coron Bay
Not a lot of people do this, and that is why it is so awesome. The bay is protected from current and there is a lot of coral and fish here that are not in the open ocean.
6. Go for a hike
To get to Kayangan lake there is a small hike up and down some stairs.
7. Raft rides and the lake
For a price they will ride you around the lake on a raft. It is bamboo and is a neat experience.
8. Take a picture at Awuyuk Kayangan cave
This is at the top of the first set of stairs, close to the viewpoint platform. Be really careful with kids here as there is nothing blocking a huge drop into the cave.
Common questions about Kayangan lake
Is kayangan lake closed?
No Kayangan lake is open right now. There were a couple of deaths years back in the area and they have increased security here and limited where you can swim for your safety.
2. Is Kayandan lake wheelchair accessible
No Definitely not.
3. Do I need to know how to swim to go to Kayangan lake
You can wear a lifejacket. The water is not buoyant so you will sink if you cannot swim.
4. Is there an entrance fee to get into Kayangan lake?
Yes, however it is included when you pay for you group tour. The entrance fee is $200 pesos per person and children are free.
5. Can I fly a drone at Kayangan lake?
You can fly the drone off of your boat but I don’t recommend flying it at Kayangan lake. The limestone rocks interfere with the signal and you run the risk of a crash. I did this in the Philippines so trust me when I say this. There is a lot of water and you could easily loose your drone forever.
6. Is there Wifi at Kayangan lake?
No there is not. You can get a low signal if you have a smart card or globe card installed in your phone.
7. Are there restaurants at Kayangan lake?
No there are no restaurant facilities here.
What does it feel like to go to Kayangan lake?
We arrived by boat early in the morning to a bamboo doc. I had to climb up and a reached down to pic up my son.
as we walked along the bamboo bridge to the entrance area we noticed that they had a store selling snacks and a public restroom!
Once we paid our entrance fee we started climbing up some thin steps up a mountain. There were around 200 steps up and when you look back you will see a beautiful view of Coron Bay.
At the top there is a Viewpoint platform perfect for taking pictures at of the bay, behind you is a creepy cave also cool for some pictures.
Once you take a break at the top, you start walking down the backside of the mountain around 150 steps to Kayangan lake. It is stunning.
When you get to the bottom there is a bamboo bridge that goes all around the swimmable area of the clear blu lake. You can easily see the bottom from here.
I went for a swim and took a bunch of really cool pictures, the mountain range mixed with the blue water is magical and feels unreal.
After swimming we just hung out for a while to enjoy the scenery. Our time here is over and we head back to the boat to meet our captain. It was an amazing experience we will remember forever!