Concepción? Where’s that? It’s absolutely normal if you’ve never heard of this little piece of Busuanga Island because it’s not known at all. So, if what you’re looking for are off-the-radar corners, you’ve come to the right place because here we’re going to tell you in great detail what to do in Concepción.
In a couple of days Concepción (or, as Filipinos pronounce it, Concepshión) became one of our favorite places in the Palawan region. As we kept extending our stay day after day until we had to leave, we realized it was exactly what we had come looking for on this new visit to Busuanga.
Visiting Concepción is like going back to Filipino spots from 10–15 years ago—wonderful places that very few people still know. It’s a great base for doing island hoppings to nearby paradise islands, diving the World War II shipwrecks, or getting lost on a motorbike, but, above all, for relaxing. In a place where hardly any cars or motorbikes pass by, it slows your pace so much that when you return to “civilization,” you realize how comfortable you’ve been.
As you’ll see below, you can choose to stay in Concepción as a base to explore Coron and Busuanga or as a complement to a few days in Coron Town. It all depends on the comforts you require. In Concepción there are hardly any hotels and restaurants and “public” transport is practically nonexistent. That’s why we prefer to treat it as a complementary place to Coron Town, spending 3 or 4 extra days there. You choose!
To get a good idea of everything it offers, don’t miss this super guide where we explain what to do in Concepción and give you tips and recommendations for hotels and restaurants.
Where is Concepción?
Concepción is a tiny town located in the southwest of Busuanga Island. This island is part of the Calamianes islands, which in turn belong to the province of Palawan and the MIMAROPA region.
It is located about 40 kilometers from Coron Town, which is where most travelers base themselves to explore Coron and where Busuanga’s main port is, receiving boats from Manila, Mindoro, and El Nido. Another important point of reference is Coron Airport or Francisco B. Reyes Airport, located 43 kilometers from Concepcion.
How to get to Concepción
To get to Concepción, you first have to get to Busuanga Island. You can do this by plane or by boat from other destinations in the Philippines. Broadly speaking:
- You can take a flight from Manila, Cebu or El Nido: these arrive at Francisco B. Reyes Airport.
- You can take a fast boat from El Nido (daily/3–4 hours), a ferry from Manila (not daily/around 18 hours), a ferry from Puerto Princesa (Sundays/12 hours), or a bangka from San José Mindoro.
You’ll find everything detailed in How to get to Coron.
Your starting point, whether you’ve arrived on the island by plane or by boat, to reach Concepción is Coron Town. Then:
- To go from the airport to town: the cheapest is to take one of the vans heading to Coron Town. They cost 250 pesos per person and take about 30 minutes. Tell them to drop you at the terminal.
- To go from the port to town: you can take a tricycle. If you want to pay less, share with other people. The “line” route is 20 pesos per traveler. Still, it’s common for them to try to get you to take one just for yourself; then the full ride is 150 pesos. Try to have them drop you at the van terminal or near it.
How to get from Coron Town to Concepcion
Here you have several possibilities:
- By van: if you’re going to be in this area for several days, it’s the best. They leave from the terminal, which is right here. The ticket costs 250 pesos per person and the ride takes roughly 1 hour. The schedule is roughly from 7:00 to 17:30 every hour, although, in reality, they depart as they fill up. To return, it’s best to tell your accommodation, since they call the company, reserve your seat, and pick you up.
- By motorbike: if you don’t have much luggage or can leave it at your hotel in Coron and travel light, it’s a great option. The ride by motorbike from Coron Town to Concepcion is roughly 75 minutes, depending on how fast you go. Rental prices start at 500 pesos per day, but you can negotiate depending on how long you’ll rent it and the type of bike. It’s possible to go by scooter, unless you’re going to explore northern Busuanga because from the town of New Busuanga onwards it starts to get tricky and the road is terrible. If you’re going to Ocam Ocam, don’t worry because it’s almost all paved now. Good places to rent are Angel Motorcycle and another small workshop on Burgos Street (more or less here), although, as always, make sure it’s in good condition, take photos or video, and be very clear about the rental terms.
- By jeepney: on the way to Concepción we saw several jeepneys heading to Old Busuanga and New Busuanga, which stop at your destination. We’re not sure about the schedule, but we were told they leave first thing in the morning, around 7:00. It’s best to stop by the Coron Bus and Jeepney Terminal the day before to ask and to arrive very early to get a seat. The ticket costs 50 pesos. Obviously, this is a cheaper option, but also slower and less comfortable because, as always, they’re crammed with people.
We tried to get to Concepción straight from the airport, but there was no way. You might negotiate renting a motorbike there or ask a tricycle to drop you at the halfway junction, but keep in mind that the vans and jeepneys from Coron Town to Concepción are full 90% of the time.
⚓ Discover how these types of transport work in our article How to get around the Philippines.
How many days to spend in Concepción and possible itineraries
The town itself is tiny and you could see it in 30 minutes, but, as you’ll see in the section on What to do in Concepción, what should bring you here are the possibilities to explore the surroundings and the chance to enjoy such an untouristy place. For all this, our advice is that you don’t give it fewer than 3 days. We spent a full week and didn’t regret it for a second.
If you’re looking for something off the beaten track and want to forget the bustle of Coron Town by making Concepción your base while also exploring Coron Island and diving, try to devote 5 full days or, better yet, a week.
Here are a couple of suggestions to help you organize your days:
Concepción as a complement to a stay in Coron Town:
Day 1: arrival in Concepción, walk to Concepcion Falls, kayak, and sunset
Day 2: island hopping to Lusong Coral Garden, Lusong Gunboat, and Pass Island
Day 3: motorbike to Ocam Ocam Beach and visit to Black Island
Concepción as a base to explore Busuanga:
Day 4: diving to see the wrecks / if you don’t dive, we strongly suggest doing another boat trip to see North Cay and Maltatayoc
Day 5: swim with dugongs in Calauit
Day 6: motorbike to Coron Town first thing in the morning and Ultimate Tour (you can see more info in Island hopping in Coron)
Things to do in Concepción, Busuanga
You’ve already got a first idea of what to do in Concepción, Busuanga, right? But here we want to detail the most interesting parts.
1. Take a dip at Concepcion Falls
Look, they aren’t the best waterfalls in the Philippines, nor do we think they’re a reason to travel here from Coron Town; but if you’re in the area, you should include a visit to Concepcion Falls on your list of things to do in Concepción.
The falls aren’t very impressive, since they’re not very high, but the truly beautiful thing is the setting. There’s a large natural pool where you can take a dip (note: it’s usually cool) and a few small huts to rest. If you’re more adventurous, you can jump from the first level.
We had read that they charged 100 pesos per person to enter (which seems outrageous to us, considering what entry to other waterfalls costs), but we didn’t see anyone asking us for money.
How to get to Concepcion Falls? If you’re in Concepción town and don’t have a motorbike, don’t worry; you can easily get there on foot. It won’t take you even 10 minutes to reach the base. To do so, walk west along the road, cross over, and you’ll see a big sign with the name of the falls. Here a simple dirt path begins and shortly after some stairs.
If you have a motorbike, you’ll have to leave it parked where the sign is and walk.
2. Do one or several of the island hoppings that depart from Concepción
This is the reason that brought us here. As we already told you in Island hopping in Coron, Concepción is close to a bunch of much less visited islands and, therefore, it’s considerably cheaper to do some of the boat routes in the area. Having been to Coron several times already, we wanted to step off the usual path and see other islands like Pass Island or Maltatayoc.
Great call! Truly, around Busuanga there are paradise islands that almost no one knows. If you want to feel far away from everything, swim in turquoise waters, and lie on white sand, you’ve come to the right place.
Heads up: you’ll quickly notice that everything here is quite different from Coron Town. There are no agencies; no one approaches you to sell you a predesigned tour with its own name. Everything is much more relaxed and you’ll have to organize it yourself.
Which island hoppings can you do in Concepción?
Basically whatever you feel like, but the most common thing is to do one of these full-day excursions:
- Lusong Coral Garden + Lusong Gunboat + Pass Island: that is, 2 fantastic snorkel spots and fabulous Pass Island. The boat usually costs 2,500 pesos for up to 6 people and 3,500 pesos for 7 or more. On Pass Island they charge a fee of 250 pesos and 100 pesos for each snorkel site. If you leave first thing, you’ll have a lot of time on Pass Island, so if you’re the restless sort, you can add another island.
- North Cay + Maltatayoc + Pamalican + South Cay: 4 wonderful islands with white sand. The 2nd has a very long sandbar that reminds us of Kalanggaman. It usually costs 2,500 pesos for the boat up to 6 people and 3,000 for 7 or more. We added Malbinchilao del Sur Island, but it’s not really worth it. They can be combined with Pass Island and they charge 3,500 pesos + the fees for each island (200 pesos per person for North Cay and Maltatayoc and 250 for Pass Island).
- Black Island + Debotunay + North Cay: as we’ll tell you below, it’s quicker to go to Black Island from Ocam Ocam Beach (which is also well worth it), but the boatmen of Concepción can also take you and combine it with other islands along the way. It’s far, so they start at 3,500 pesos for a boat of up to 6 people. You’ll have to pay 250 pesos in fees for Black Island and then 200 if you decide to go to North Cay.
You can see more information about the different islands to visit at: Island hopping in Coron
As you can see, it’s much more cost-effective to share with other travelers. To do so, you can sign up for our calendar and also take a stroll around town asking to see if anyone’s up for it.
Keep in mind that none of them includes food or drink. Since there aren’t many restaurants in the area, it’s best to order something the day before in one of them (at the end of this article you have recommendations) or go to a sari-sari (the typical neighborhood store) and buy something to make sandwiches.
As always, if you need any contacts for tours in Concepción, you can leave us a comment below and we’ll happily send them to you.
So then, do I not have to stay in Coron Town?
That said, please, don’t leave Busuanga without doing the Ultimate Tour. This explores Coron Island from the town of Coron Town and doesn’t replace any of the above. To do it, as we told you above, you have 3 options:
- Stay overnight in Coron Town, which is the most common, and then sleep in Concepción on other days. From here you can do the Ultimate Tour (3,500 pesos per boat + fees), go to Mt. Tapyas, to the Maquinit Hot Springs, and also other island hoppings like the Escapade Tour. As you’ll see in Where to stay in Coron and Where to eat in Coron, in Coron Town you have many more accommodations and restaurants.
- Stay in Concepción and ride a motorbike to Coron Town very early in the morning (around 6:30; it’ll take 45 minutes to an hour) to do the Ultimate Tour and return to Concepción when you finish. This would be the alternative for those who want to feel in a more isolated place and don’t mind sacrificing comfort.
- Do the Ultimate Tour from Concepcion by boat. This is possible, but the boat ride will feel a bit long and it’s also more expensive. We asked and were told there that they charged 5,000 pesos for the boat up to 6 people plus the fees per person.
How to organize the island hoppings from Concepción?
You have 3 alternatives:
- Go to the pier to see if you can find an owner of a bangka. We can’t say it’s the most effective because things are usually pretty quiet.
- Go to the hotel next to the pier and see if they have anything organized for the following days. Ann isn’t very talkative and is sometimes a bit brusque, but she knows the area very well and can always give you advice.
- Leave us a comment and we’ll pass you our information.
3. Explore Ocam Ocam Beach and the spectacular Black Island—an essential thing to do in Concepcion
We already spilled the beans just above, but one of the things you must do in Concepción is to slip away to Ocam Ocam Beach and from there hop over to Black Island.
What can you expect from Ocam Ocam? Well, despite not being a white-sand beach (it’s more golden), it reminded us of those places in the Philippines from 10 years ago that are now quite touristy. Full of palm trees, Ocam Ocam Beach is perfect for spending an hour or two, walking along it or, like us, sitting down for breakfast at one of the few places there. We have no doubt it’ll change before long, so add it now to your list of things to do in Concepción.
By the way, if you want to enjoy it longer, there are little huts like these, where you can sleep right on the beach for very little money.
The beach is great, but what should really bring you here is Black Island. Honestly, we hadn’t been left open-mouthed by a place in a long time. Arriving at Black Island (or Malajon) is like entering Jurassic Park. Those huge formations of black limestone rising as a dramatic, solitary massif in the middle of the sea captivated us. The landscape is similar to Coron Island or the islands of El Nido, but Black Island has a certain je ne sais quoi that left us spellbound.
The island itself isn’t that big (at least the part you can explore), but it’s true that the beach is wonderful; there’s an interesting area of caves and a little corner where the monitor lizards gather. Don’t worry; they won’t do anything if you don’t bother them. In addition, there’s also the skeleton of a sunken boat a few meters from the middle of the beach. It’s quite deteriorated; don’t expect too much either.
Find all the information about this island in our article on Black Island, Coron.
If you’re a strong swimmer, don’t hesitate and head to the far left (facing the sea). In just 5 minutes you’ll reach a spectacular cove where you’ll likely be completely alone.
There’s no restaurant or anything like it on Black Island and, heads up, neither is there in Ocam Ocam. Therefore, don’t forget to bring food. There are a few small drink stalls.
How to get to Black Island? Well, after leaving your motorbike in Ocam Ocam, you’ll have to negotiate the price of a boat. You shouldn’t pay more than 2,500 pesos for the full boat for 4 people. The island is just 20 minutes away. Since sometimes it’s a bit difficult to find a boatman, you can leave us a comment and we’ll send you the contact of someone we trust.
4. Dive the World War II shipwrecks
We’ve said it ad nauseam, but diving in Coron is one of the highlights of diving in the Philippines. Those ships sunk by World War II bombings are a real delight for those of us who love the underwater world, and many of them can be penetrated almost entirely.
The dive centers in the area are mostly located in Busuanga Bay, which is literally 10 minutes from the Akitsushima and barely 20 from the Okikawa, two of the most impressive wrecks. We dived with Pirate Divers, who have moved to the Busuanga Bay Lodge, but they come to pick you up in Concepción.
The price of diving here is: 2 dives for 3,600 pesos and 4,600 pesos for 3 dives. There’s no extra to pay for equipment or fees.
As you can see, if you compare it with diving from Coron Town (around 3,000–3,500 pesos for 3 dives, 2 on wrecks and 1 on reef) it’s higher. So why do we include it in this article on Concepción, Busuanga? For these reasons:
- The wrecks are right next door; you don’t have to endure 90–120 minutes of travel by boat. They picked us up at 9:00 and we were back by 13:00, with the afternoon free to do more things.
- Being so close, we were always the first to arrive. Honestly, you can’t imagine how great it is to have a dive site like that all to yourself. Exploring a wreck in solitude is the most epic way to do it. Every time we left, the others were arriving.
- The dives, since there are so few people, are super personalized. We were just the two of us with our dive master and that’s not only much more comfortable but also safer in such a special place as a sunken ship where, without a torch, you can hardly see anything and you have to go through narrow corridors.
- The additional dives done from Coron Town are usually at underwhelming sites where visibility isn’t very good. That’s why we prefer to focus on the wrecks.
- Many dive centers in Coron Town treat divers like a herd. Diving a wreck requires great buoyancy control, agility in the water, and above all experience in diving, which you rarely have when you’ve dived little. This isn’t just unprofessional; it’s dangerous and, because of it, many people have died diving in Coron. Please choose places that take your level into account. The most advisable thing is that you are Advanced Open Water or that you have a lot of dives under your belt. Don’t risk it. We can give you a trusted contact for this.
Either way, whether you do it from Coron Town or from Concepción, if you dive, you have to do it in Coron.
5. Enjoy the sunset and be amazed by the bats
Day after day we went to the pier area in Concepción to enjoy a wonderful sunset. If you’re thirsty, you can always sit at the bar, where the kids from the village are usually playing.
And, heads up, when the sun is about to set and until it’s completely dark, look at the mangroves right in front of the pier. A massive number of fruit bats will start to come out to feast on insects (we’re talking tens of thousands!) . They form a huge curtain in the sky and sometimes you’ll be able to see them very close. Incredible!
6. Explore the nearby beaches
Concepción itself has a small beach that’s convenient for swimming at high tide, but it’s certainly far from fabulous and not one of the best beaches in the Philippines. We already warned you that the prettiest ones you’ll see are on the island hoppings we mentioned above, but if you rent a motorbike, you can see some interesting ones in the surroundings. These are the ones we thought were the coolest:
- Alam Indah: it’s the closest thing to a white-sand, turquoise-water beach relatively near Concepción. If you want to stay for a while, you’ll need to pay the resort that owns the access.
- Palatpat Beach: the sand is dark and there are quite a few rocks. It’s a usual spot for Filipino families to gather on weekends.
- Rio Playa Beach: the sand is lighter than the previous one and you’ll likely have it all to yourself. They charge 50 pesos for entry.
- Ocam Ocam Beach: without a doubt, the best of them all.
- Alito Beach: if you’re skilled on a motorbike because the road is awful, this beach past New Busuanga is one of the least known on the island. They charge 100 pesos.
7. Go kayaking around the area
Our kayaking skills aren’t great, but when we return to Concepción, something we’re definitely going to do is rent one to enjoy the surroundings. What can you see? We suggest heading along Busuanga Bay, where, by the way, there’s a plane in the sea that’s been left abandoned, and taking a spin through the mangroves of the Dipuyai River.
If you want something more adventurous, paddle to Kaniki Point. This gorgeous white-sand beach is one of the best in the area. Part of the beach is private and belongs to a resort that doesn’t seem to be open,
If you want to rent one, ask at Ann & Mike’s or at Bella Louise.
8. Feel the tranquility of being in a little-visited place
It may sound a bit corny, but one of the things we enjoyed most doing in Concepción, Busuanga, was simply being there.
It’s not for lack of little-visited islands in the Philippines, but seeing places so underdeveloped so close to somewhere that has experienced a brutal boom in recent years totally won us over.
We got up every day around 6:00, watched the sunrise from the pier, played with the kids, and had breakfast at a place where they were already calling us by our names while we played at deciding what to do that day. The peace we felt in Concepción, where you barely hear a car, was the counterpoint to the craziness of Coron Town.
By the way, if you want to dedicate a day to absolute relaxation, you can ask your hotel to call the Al Faro Cosmio. This is a hotel run by a lovely couple that has an infinity-style pool with stunning views over Busuanga Bay. They charge 200 pesos for the transfer (in total), but if you spend 2,000 pesos on food or drink, you don’t have to pay it. The good part? They have a happy hour that’s perfect for watching the sunset.
9. Swim with dugongs
In the northern area of the Calauit Peninsula, it’s feasible to see dugongs with a 90% chance, making it one of the few places in the world where you can see them so close. It’s about 75 minutes by motorbike to the port of Macalachao, the most convenient starting point, so it’s easily accessible. It’s also possible to depart from Ocam Ocam.
You’ll find all the information in How to swim with dugongs in Coron.
Where to stay in Concepción
We don’t doubt that things will change in the coming years, but there are only 3 places at the moment to sleep in Concepción. All are quite simple, so don’t expect great luxuries. Even so, in the surroundings there are also some amazing hotels (above all those located in Busuanga Bay, which will take your breath away) and hostels for backpackers.
These are the 3 options in the town of Concepción itself:
- West Atlantic Inn: located at the end of town, almost on the main road, it’s a no-frills guesthouse but perfect for spending a few days. The staff is super nice, the Wi‑Fi usually works “fine,” and they have a restaurant. If you’re heat-sensitive, it’s best to book one with air conditioning.
- Anne & Mike’s: simple rooms but with air conditioning. They have 3 with shared bathroom and 2 with private bathroom. The place is very cozy, but the internet signal is nil and the Wi‑Fi is so‑so. The problem? You can’t book online, so it’s possible you’ll find it full.
- Concepcion Divers Lodge: a set of cabins right next to the previous one and by the sea. It’s by no means a luxurious place. The bathroom is shared. If you can, choose the rooms closest to the sea because the ones at the back can get noisy if you want to sleep in.
If you stay around Busuanga Bay, where most hotels offer free transfers to wherever you want to go:
- Marina del Sol Resort & Yatch Club: with an enviable location where all rooms have sea views and a pool you’ll want to stay in all day, it seems a charming Spanish couple has taken the helm, remodeling everything and leaving it spotless.
- Al Faro Cosmio: located on a hill above the bay, the views are wonderful, even from the cabins. Infinity-style pool, good restaurant, friendly staff, and free kayaks. One of the best.
- Busuanga Bay Lodge: epic views from every room and possibly the best pool of them all. It’s a luxury hotel with a dive center (the one we dived with) and free paddle boards and kayaks for guests.
- Bali Huts: Pia and her family have built 3 cabins with local materials over the mangroves that are a delight. They offer activities such as yoga classes, kayak or SUP tours, and island hopping.
- Pearl Bay Luxury Villas: for pure luxury in your own villa with a pool and stunning views, don’t hesitate—book here.
- Busuanga Backpackers: it’s really the only hostel for backpackers in the area. Although it’s a bit “in the middle of nowhere,” if you have no problem renting a motorbike or you’re traveling solo, it’s a good idea because all the typical island hoppings in the area are organized here, as well as diving excursions. That way it will be more economical. Of course, you’ll also meet people. They have dorms and double beds.
Other alternatives in the surroundings:
- Sanctuaria Treehouses: located past the small village of Sagrada, this set of cabins is very eclectic. Some have sea views; others mimic hobbit houses… Don’t expect great luxuries, but it’s a nice place.
- Bella Louise: basic rooms by the sea in Sagrada. They have a restaurant and rent motorbikes and kayaks. The sunsets are magical.
If you’re going to stay overnight in Coron Town, don’t miss our guide to hotels in Coron.
Where to eat in Concepción
You can see that we loved Concepción, above all because it’s such a little-visited place. This, of course, has its pros and cons. One of the latter is that there isn’t a huge variety of restaurants. Even so, that doesn’t mean you’ll go hungry—promise. Here are the more or less nearby options:
- Anne & Mike’s: this is where we had almost all our meals. Their tiny, cozy restaurant served us multiple curries and spaghetti, as well as huge banana pancakes. It’s not super cheap, but it’s good—especially considering everything is cooked to order. You’ll be able to see it yourself, since the kitchen is in the same room.
- West Atlantic Inn (Bistro Busuanga): this is the second most decent restaurant in Concepcion. Arm yourself with patience because they’re a little slow, but the pizzas (Filipino style) aren’t bad.
- Concepcion Divers Lodge: whenever we tried to eat something, they didn’t have it; even so, we recommend this place to watch the sunset with a soft drink.
- Tita Legs Eatery: on the other side of the road, past West Atlantic, there’s this small carinderia that mainly operates at lunchtime.
Recommendations to enjoy Concepción
Here are the tips we would’ve liked to have before going to Concepción, Busuanga:
- The best time to go to Concepción is roughly from December to May, which is the dry season. If you can choose, February and March are quiet months with little wind. Read more in Best time to travel to the Philippines.
- Wi‑Fi is practically nonexistent and mobile data will work well in the pier area. We strongly recommend getting a local SIM card. In Internet in the Philippines we tell you more.
- Don’t complicate things too much looking for where to rent a motorbike—the only place is the sari-sari near Anne & Mike’s. They charge 500 pesos per day. Gasoline is a little cheaper if you fill up in Salvación.
- Pack in your backpack for the Philippines a dry bag like this one. You’ll need it on the island hoppings because the bangkas are quite small and you risk getting your valuables wet.
- Be aware that you’ll want to stay longer. Seriously, it captivated us. Day after day we extended our stay.
- Go with a good travel insurance for the Philippines. There’s no hospital or clinic or anything like it in Concepción. Nor is the hospital in Coron particularly great. If something happens to you, you’ll have to be transferred to Manila and that isn’t cheap… Here you have a 5% discount on your policy.
Map of Concepción
Here you can get a good idea of where all the things to do in Concepción, hotels, and restaurants we’ve mentioned are located:
What did you think? Ready to go off-route and discover how much there is to do in Concepción, Busuanga? Complement this destination with the places we recommend in Things to do in Coron and our Coron Guide.
If you have any questions or suggestions, we’ll be happy to read you in the comments. Have a great trip!
