It’s been photographed many times. There’s little room for composition in the area. It’s been posted in many billboards and printed on magazines a gazillion times already. So why do I want to go back to Kayangan Lake in Coron Island? Because photos cannot capture what it’s feels like being there. To be surrounded by stunning karts formations towering over the clear emerald lake of Kayangan Lake. It literally feels like stepping inside a scenic wallpapers that’s too good to be a real place.
The Coron Island Tour
We took the Coron Island Tour package from Coron EcoLodge. If you’re new to Coron and has only 2 nights to spare it’s a good tour to take as it visits the key sites in Coron like the Kayangan Lake, CYC Beach,Twin Peaks Reef, Atuayan Beach and the Coral Garden. Our day started not too early as we were at the pier by 9am. We found out that the other group that were supposed to be with our boat won’t be able to come. Instead of whisking us to another group, our tour pushed through with the boat all to ourselves.
Kayangan Lake Revisited
I will never get tired of seeing turquoise waters and towering limestones like this even if I have stayed for a while in El Nido. Coron Island is massive and rugged even on the corners, it seems like each nook and cranny has something to offer. Our first stop was Kayangan Lake and our guide made sure we arrive early. There were already some boats parked there but big enough room to move our boat around. We didn’t have to pay for the fees as it is included already in the packaged tour fee.
We did the usual climb to the viewing deck on the bay entrance to Kayangan Lake. It’s as wonderful as before but this time fire trees were in bloom. Soon people started arriving and actually waiting in line to have their posterity photos by the rock. We moved on.
Nothing much has changed on the transparent clear waters of Kayangan Lake. The air is still pleasantly fresh, the greens soothing to the eyes and the waters is still refreshing to swim at. I guess the only difference now is that there are more people here now.
Legend of the Sacred Cabugao Lake
kayangan Lake is only a diminutive part of Coron Island. There’s a larger lake in the middle of the island called Cabugao Lake, but as most part of the island, it is off-limits to tourist as it’s an ancestral domain of the Tagbanuas, the indigenous people of Calamianes Island. Our guide told us that the Tagbanuas are protecting a sacred tree living and flourishing beneath Cabugao Lake. They say it stills bear fruit and has some healing properties. I don’t know if that is true but haven’t seen any photos of Cabugao Lake yet despite its size.
On our way out there were more boats docked at the bay. Can’t imagine there’s sea traffic now in Coron with all these tourist boats coming and going. It’s a good thing tourism has considerably boosted here and I’m glad that after more than 5 years, nothing much has changed. Kayangan Lake still looks enchanting as ever.
Ferdz Decena is an award-winning travel photographer, writer and blogger. His works has found print in publications such as Singapore Airlines’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has also lent his expertise to various organizations like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Foundation, Save the Children and World Vision, contributing quality images for their marketing materials.
