Pala-lagaw: Coron | Mt Tapyas

Coron | Mt Tapyas

The Sweeping View Of Coron From Mt Tapyas

I can't say that I regret scaling this famous icon in Coron on the first hour after my arrival in. My body or rather my legs weren't prepared for the sudden strenuous effort I subjected it to. I didn't dare count the steps, If I did then I would've lost count somewhere after 50, but they say its over 700 stairs to reach the summit. I kept assuring myself it was all worth it, yet my calves started aching on my way down, and I haven't had any snorkeling or island adventure yet, this could be the portents of me limping in a few days, I just hope it won't be that much.

If you're one to enjoy sunsets, the summit of Mt Tapyas has probably the best vantage point in Coron. So if you time your trek in the afternoon, at least 15 mins before darkness starts closing in. You'll be able to witness the surrounding islands and the big island of Coron from a high altitude level, it's painfully beautiful.

Here I felt like I was Frodo of the Shire in The Lord Of The Rings, hiding in the trees. The climb is not really difficult as the steps all the way to the top is concrete. And the climb is for free, no entrance fee here, just probably buy yourself a bottle of water from the street vendor before a step up. heck, you don't need to even hire a tricycle just to bring you to the steps of Mt Tapyas, it's near the center of the town, and a 8-10 minute walk should be welcomed. We thought it would be far as what our landlady here informed us, and I realized I got ripped off Php 20 by hailing a tricycle the moment we got into the road.

The Summit is where a big cross has been erected that's over seeing the coastline and the entire town below. Gazebos are placed on scenic locations in the summit, with no dense foliage but a lush field of yellowing tall grasses. For me, it's a perfect place for an outdoor wedding, only that I have to punish my sponsors with trekking to the summit first before I say I do, which I can say now, its not gonna happen yet.

This place is a photographers delight, well probably to those who can't say no to a physical cardio battering challenge before the shoot. I can't stop shooting pictures, from my point and shoot to my DSLR camera, worst thing came when I lost power with my Digicam and the blue hour just started. What a let down.

My calves was aching when I was going down the trek, my knees started shaking at least 20 feet before I reached the ground level, I didn't realize that I was going down much faster that it took me about just over 12 minutes. My shaking didn't stop until our hired tricycle driver spotted us and will then bring us to Managuinit Hot Spring.

When its your time to visit Coron, try trekking Mt Tapyas and then take a hot dip in a hot spring, its a deserving reward after you punish yourself, just keep moving forward.

Francis Balgos is a Call Center Agent, Weekend Travel Warrior, Amateur Spelunker, Sometime Surfer, Newbie Mountain Climber, Photography Enthusiast, Certified Beach Bum, A first born son, Faithful lover, True Explorer...

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