Busuanga Island is the largest in the Calamian group of islands and the second largest island of Palawan. Most travelers landing on Busuanga Airport usually have their itinerary focused on Coron. The municipalities of Coron and Busuanga share the island and both have their own set of tourist destinations. On my first Coron trip, destinations I covered were those on the Coron side. On a recent trip, I had the opportunity to explore the Busuanga part.
Our day started in a gloomy Coron weather. Our tour guide for the Calauit Safari Tour picked us up at our accommodation. Van ride from Coron to Busuanga town proper took us around 1.5 hours. The package includes a simple breakfast from one of the concessionaires of the tour agency. After the light meal, we were allowed to roam at the Busuanga government complex.
Calauit Safari Park
One of the destinations I missed during my first Coron trip is the Calauit Safari Park. It’s a reserve wildlife park in Calauit Island that is a 5-minute boat ride away from Busuanga Island. The highlight of the Calauit Safari experience is feeding the giraffes and wandering around the open area where zebra and Calamian deer freely roam.
Groups take turns in feeding the giraffes from an enclosure. A park staff will assist every group to ensure the proper way of feeding the animals and to promote tourists’ safety. After the feeding activity, the group will be led by the park guide to their mini zoo. Other animals that can be found in the park are turtles, a big python, crocodiles, civet cat, eagle, monkeys, and wild boar.
Pamalican Island
After a hefty lunch in Busuanga proper, we drove for few minutes to the port where rented boats depart for Pamalican Island. Don’t be confused with Pamilacan Island of Bohol and the Pamalican Island of Amanpulo. Pamalican Island is on the west side of Busuanga Island, around an hour and a half (depending on the weather) from the mainland.
Docking on the island was a bit challenging because of the riptides but we patiently waited for the waves to subside. On our visit, there were only two groups on the island and dark clouds cleared for a while. We planned to circumnavigate the island on foot but the cloudy weather threatened our idea. We just decided to swim in the shallow waters before our guide signaled everyone to go back to the boat.
Concepcion Falls
Our last stop for the day was an added bonus. We only anticipated for the Calauit Safari Park and Pamalican Island before the tour. I haven’t heard about a waterfall in Coron so I got excited when the guide mentioned that we’ll be dropping by Concepcion Falls. A short trek is required to reach the waterfall. It’s not that might compare with other Philippine waterfalls I’ve been to but the gushing water is super cold perfect for a relaxing dip to end the tiring day in Busuanga.
If you want to avoid the crowded tourist destinations in Coron, these spots in Busuanga can be your alternative. If it’s not your first time in Coron and you’re already tired of the usual island hopping routes, a Busuanga day tour is perfect for you to uncover this side of this Philippine destination.
We availed our Calauit Safari Tour from Natural Arts Travel and Tours. The agency provides hassle-free Palawan tours covering key destinations like Coron, El Nido, Narra, Puerto Princesa, San Vicente, and Quezon.
