SKYLODGE RESORT: A DIFFERENT SIDE OF CORON

Unforgettable views, a beautiful terrace, swimming pool, great food, scuba diving and massage… enjoy a natural high at this stunning hilltop hotel

Night lights: Coron Town from the balcony of Skylodge Resort

UP ON A hill, amid tall trees and wild tropical plants, the 34-room Skylodge Resort commands some of the best views in Coron town, a bustling little community in northern Palawan that serves as front door to some of the Philippines most beautiful — and untouristy — islands and beaches.

From the resort’s sunny view deck and most of the rooms, you have a 360-degree view of Mount Tapyas, Coron Bay, Coron island and town itself. Up here, you feel a hundred miles away, even if the town with all its restaurants, bars and shops, is laid out below at the water’s edge.

Skylodge is around 45 minutes from Francisco B. Reyes Airport by road, right to the doorstep. If you’re wandering around town and want to walk, it’s 342 steps to the entrance, where staff will be waiting with a cool drink and warm greeting (if you don’t fancy the climb, there’s always the free shuttle).

The resort owner, J. de Ruyter C. Oroceo — affectionately called Toto — hails from Aklan near Boracay. He first fell in love with Coron 22 years ago, while exploring its various islands and islets.

Back then there were only a handful of resorts in the area. In 2017 he decided to buy the land where Skylodge now stands. His original idea was to build 10 native huts, but later on he decided against it in favour of a more solid concrete structure that could withstand the sometimes lively weather of the southwest monsoon season, known as Habagat in Filipino, which usually occurs from the month of May to September. Construction started that same year.

“My cousin, who’s an architect, helped me design the place. We bought boxes of concrete and I went back to Manila, got caught up with business, and forgot all about it. When I came back to check, I didn’t realise he built such a huge place. I had three buildings in all,” Toto said.

Toto is not your typical hotelier. His background is in pharmaceuticals. He started his career as a medical sales representative and later on set up two pharmaceutical companies with a business partner. This enabled him to build his dream project, Skylodge, and it soft opened in May 2018.

These days it’s one of the places to stay in Coron. And not just for the views. There’s a great choice of rooms for every budget, a large swimming pool on the terrace and a restaurant and bar where you can enjoy a lazy (and free) buffet breakfast or grab a snack or a fullblown meal. During the lean season, breakfast is plated. In the evenings, there is live entertainment.

The resort has two rooftop view decks, perfect for events like birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and perhaps that proposal you’ve been considering to someone special. It’s also perfect for sunbathing — or for just admiring the views across town and out towards the sea. The view deck at the St Gabriel Building has a boxing ring and is the location of the proposed Skylodge Community FM Station.

Enough Room For Everyone, Whatever Your Budget

The resort has a big choice of rooms in three main buildings — St. Raphael, St. Michael, St. Gabriel — whose names were taken from the ArchAngels. The resort overlooks the Coron Town, Mt. Tapyas, Coron Bay, and Coron Island which looks like a sleeping giant.

The only Premier Bayview Room has a balcony and views of of Mt. Tapyas and Coron Bay. Bayview Rooms (Php6,300) also have views of Mt. Tapyas and Coron Bay. In the mornings you might find yourself being woken by the chirping of Maya birds and Asian glossy starlings, and the cawing of crows.

There are nine Bayview Rooms, six for families (or groups) of up to five (Php8,200) and two for families of up to seven (Php10,200).

There are 10 double budget rooms (Php3,700), five triple budget rooms (Php4,800) and one Tree House

Room, with a double bed, for around P3,900. The Tree House Room is separate from the main buildings and a short walk away — a perfect romantic escape with nothing but peace and quiet.

The rooms are simply, but spotlessly clean and comfortably furnished. They are all air-conditioned and have cable TV with moveable bracket, safety deposit boxes, mini refrigerators, electric kettles, complimentary tea and coffee and good Wi-Fi access.

A World-Renowned Dive Playground — And Skylodge Can Organize It All

Coron is a world-renowned playground for scuba divers and snorkelers, with its diverse and abundant marine life and World War II wrecks, all easily accessible by native banca from the town. There are 12 ship wrecks, nine are World War II wrecks in the area, including Akitsushima, a seaplane tender, and the Irako, a refrigeration ship that is now Coron’s deepest wreck and only suitable for the most competent divers. It is often described as “the 3 Ds”, or “deep, dark and dangerous”.

A short hop to the east of Coron town you can opt for more gentle scuba diving (and snorkeling) at Siete Pecados, which has beautiful coral reefs with diverse species of colorful tropical marine life. Barracuda Lake, on the north shore of Coron Island, offers one of the most unique diving experiences in the world.

Occasionally referred to as Luluyuan Lake by locals, its crystal blue waters hidden between majestic rocky formations aren’t big on actual barracudas and other wildlife. Instead, divers can experience a thermocline and halocline unlike anywhere else.

Starting out on the surface of the lake, divers, swimmers, and scuba enthusiasts can expect temperatures around 82 degrees Fahrenheit. But as you descend into the depths of the lake, around 45 to 50 feet down, the temperature drastically changes to just over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (to put that in perspective, most people keep their hot tubs at 104 degrees, so it’s best to forego a wetsuit here).

The best time to book your diving trip is from November to April, offering excellent visibility and best weather.

And Skylodge can help with all the arrangements. It is certified as a five-star PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) dive resort. The dive shop has three boat captains, three boat crew, three dive masters, and four dive instructors. Diving courses range from intro dives and fun dives to specialty dive training. Fun dives start from Php3,500 and a full scuba course starts from Php15,000.

Scuba equipment is high end and only a limited number of people are allowed in a dive boat. Toto said the resort makes it a policy not to overfill boats. Diving is not intended to make the resort a lot of money, but to give added value.

Sauna, Massage and Guest Performers

The resort’s amenities rival those of some of Coron’s luxury resorts. It has a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool and kiddie pool, two saunas, a massage room, fitness centre, Fight for Freedom fight ring, two KTV rooms, laundry and souvenir shops, two view decks, conference centre, and The Club with its own resident performers and guest performers. There’s even a Skylodge Community Low Frequency FM Station. Skylodge Travel and Tours can help you arrange all sorts of trips, transport and flights. Other amenities include a mini gym, and a 21-stage water refilling station, billiard table, board games, three shuttles and one L300 van for the dive shop.

What’s On Your Doorstep

The resort is in Coron Town and 0.6 miles from Dicanituan Beach, a safe and small sandy beach. Coron town is the jump off point for all island hopping activities. It’s where most of the tour boats are docked and where you’ll set out to explore Coron’s nearby islands and islets.

Attractions in the area include Maquinit hot springs, about 3.5 miles from the resort, Mt. Tapyas, which is a fairly easy climb if you’re reasonably fit (admire the views from the 210-metre summit, where there’s a huge cross), Siete Pecadoes for snorkeling and diving, Kayangan Lake for its crystalline waters and eerie underwater rock formations, and Calauit Island Wildlife sanctuary. This is Coron, so the best way to explore is by boat, spending the day island hopping and having a picnic lunch in one of the area’s beautiful tropical beaches.

Coron also has some fun nightlife. It’s cheerful and relaxed, with plenty of bars, cafés and restaurants where you can find everything from pizza and tapas to spicy seafood curries and traditional Filipino fare, perhaps all washed down with an ice-cold San Miguel beer?

And when you’re done, it’s only 342 steps back to Skylodge. Or maybe hop aboard that free shuttle.

Skylodge Resort, Coron Town Proper, Coron, Palawan, tel +63 998 588 5507, +63 917 555 5012. Visit www.skylodgeresort.com.ph, email to reservation@ skylodgeresort.com.ph. Find them on Facebook @skylodgeresort