Coron to San Jose Mindoro via Bunso Boat (Budget Option)

Vancouver, Canada
Level Contributor
1 post
8 reviews
11 helpful votes
Coron to San Jose Mindoro via Bunso Boat (Budget Option)
Save

For those trying to get from Coron town on Busuanga Island to San Jose, Mindoro there is a boat called Bunso that takes this route on Mondays and Wednesday or Thursdays.

There are a few places in town that sell the tickets for 1000-1200 pesos; however, a cheaper option is to hire a tricycle to take you to the boat owners house. He lives about 1.5 km outside the town proper. His name is Mr. Edwin (or something that sounds like that). A tricycle ride there will cost you 8 pesos and they'll take you right to his house. Everyone in Coron knows him, or you can ask for the Bunso boat owners house.

If your told that he doesn't sell tickets, or that he's away, or any other excuse as to why you can't purchase a ticket from him, just ignore them.

Once there, you can buy the ticket directly from Edwin for 800 pesos, and he'll also confirm what time the boat is leaving. However, take that information with a grain of salt. What he's actually telling you is the boat won't leave any earlier than that time, but may be delayed up to an hour or so.

This isn't a big ordeal to get the ticket from him. I takes about 5 minutes from town proper to his house, 5 minutes to buy the ticket, and you can either walk back to town (nice walk), or take one of the numerous tricycles back for another 8 pesos. So, for 15 minutes of your time, you'll save 200-400 pesos.

The boat ride is 6 hours, and about half way there, they serve fried fish and rice. You definitely need to take your own big bottle of water, and any other food or snacks you want.

It's best to sit on the left side of the boat, so you are on the shady side while travelling between the two islands. There are no seats on the boat, just a flat covered deck. There is a toilet, but you'll need your own biodegradable toilet paper, as it's a marine toilet and everything goes right into the sea.

Once you arrive in San Jose the Bunso boat stops about 30m from the beach, and a small row boat is brought out to you. Try to be the last ones off the boat, as they fill the small boat until it's almost sinking, and any small waves just pour into the boat.

If you are the last one off Bunso, you'll have a better chance of staying dry. There is a 20 pesos charge per person for the use of the small boat, which can't be avoided unless you want to swim to shore. You may end up having to take 1 or 2 steps in the water as you jump out of the small boat.

Once on the beach, you'll be pestered by many tricycle drivers wanting to take you to town for 150-200 pesos. Just walk past all of them, and down the road about 100m and you'll be at the main road. Tricycles here will charge you 10-20 pesos to take you to cheap guesthouses, any hotels, and the bus stations.

In San Jose, the tricycle rates are 10 pesos for the first 1.5 km, plus 1 pesos for each additional km. Be firm with any tricycle driver wanting more, as there are more tricycles driving around than there customers.

Melbourne, Australia
Destination Expert
for Philippines
Level Contributor
12,432 posts
2,481 reviews
4,825 helpful votes
1. Re: Coron to San Jose Mindoro via Bunso Boat (Budget Option)
Save

Great information.

tommomelbourne, could you please put under 'Top Questions about Palawan' and also 'Top Questions about Mindoro' if possible?

Melbourne, Australia
Destination Expert
for Philippines, Kuala Lumpur
Level Contributor
31,007 posts
2,773 reviews
3,371 helpful votes
2. Re: Coron to San Jose Mindoro via Bunso Boat (Budget Option)
Save

Victorianlad this has now been done.

Tommo

London, United...
Level Contributor
20 posts
3. Re: Coron to San Jose Mindoro via Bunso Boat (Budget Option)
Save

Does anyone know if this service is still operational?

4. Re: Coron to San Jose Mindoro via Bunso Boat (Budget Option)

-:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:-

This post was determined to be inappropriate by the Tripadvisor community and has been removed.

To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

Our staff may also remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. Thanks for being a part of the Tripadvisor travel community!

Removed on: 6:05 am, December 14, 2013
Singapore, Singapore
Level Contributor
11,740 posts
340 reviews
533 helpful votes
5. Re: Coron to San Jose Mindoro via Bunso Boat (Budget Option)
Save

As of Jan 2013, it is still operational.

http://www.travbuddy.com/From-Coron-to-San-Jose-with-ferry-v815288

London, United...
Level Contributor
20 posts
6. Re: Coron to San Jose Mindoro via Bunso Boat (Budget Option)
Save

Thanks all for your comments :)

Rome, Italy
Level Contributor
2 posts
14 reviews
5 helpful votes
7. Re: Coron to San Jose Mindoro via Bunso Boat (Budget Option)
Save

Does anyone know how the service works the other way, that is from San Jose to Coron? Thanks!

London, United...
1 post
2 reviews
6 helpful votes
8. Re: Coron to San Jose Mindoro via Bunso Boat (Budget Option)
Save

There definitely is A service. I caught it on a Saturday at nine AM. It takes about 8 hours and costs 800pesos. You can just turn up at the port. I think there are boats four days a week. I think the others are tues weds and Friday. Try checking with Apo Reef Club or Pandan island resort. Both were helpful when I was researching.

Stockholm County...
2 posts
9. Re: Coron to San Jose Mindoro via Bunso Boat (Budget Option)
Save

i just

hi everyone i just want to ask and to know about trips from coron to el nido does anybody knows?what should we need to take or ride and how often it is? thank you to all in advance :)

karen

Singapore, Singapore
Level Contributor
11,740 posts
340 reviews
533 helpful votes
10. Re: Coron to San Jose Mindoro via Bunso Boat (Budget Option)
Save

Do a search in the forum as this has been asked many times.

Generally it is a daily frequency and it is an uncomfortable and maybe dangerous ride.

Get answers to your questions about Coron
CA$CAD
United States
© 2021 TripAdvisor LLC All rights reserved.

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.