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Calamian Islands

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Overview

The Calamian Islands or the Calamianes is a group of islands in the province of Palawan, Philippines. The archipelago comprises the islands of Coron, Culion, Busuanga, and Linapacan, along with numerous smaller islands.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia471 words

WBP editorial3

Island‑hopping with a purpose

Beyond the postcard‑perfect lagoons, the Calamian archipelago offers an informal network of community‑run homestays that let you sit down for a meal with the local Tagbanua peoples. Their knowledge of tidal patterns and reef health is invaluable for planning safe snorkelling routes, especially around the less‑touristed islets where mangrove fringes act as natural fish nurseries. Combining a few days of guided dives with visits to these family‑run inns creates a rhythm that mirrors the islands’ own ebb and flow, letting you experience the marine environment while supporting micro‑enterprise.

When the crowds thin

The peak tourist window in the Calamian Islands coincides with the dry season, but the period just before the monsoon – late September to early November – offers a different texture. The seas are still calm enough for kayaking through the karst‑lined inlets, and the overcast light brings out the turquoise hues of the limestone walls in a way that bright sunshine can’t. Fewer day‑trippers mean you’ll have space on the decks of local ferries to chat with fishermen about the seasonal migrations of tuna and mahi‑mahi, adding a layer of marine ecology to your itinerary.

Comparative perspective: Calamian versus Bacuit

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Travelers familiar with the famed Bacuit Archipelago often remark on the Calamian Islands’ quieter scale. While both boast dramatic karst landscapes, Calamian’s larger islands – Coron, Busuanga and Culion – accommodate longer overland treks, allowing you to explore inland forests that host endemic birds and orchids. In contrast, Bacuit’s appeal is almost entirely marine, with its dozens of tiny islets packed into a compact sea‑lane. If you’re looking to balance land‑based jungle walks with reef diving, the Calamian chain provides a more diversified, less rushed experience.

Introduction

Group of islands in the Philippines CalamianesCalamian islands satellite image captured by Sentinel-2 in 2016CalamianesLocation within PalawanGeographyCoordinates11°54′N 120°14′E / 11.900°N 120.233°E / 11.900; 120.233Adjacent toLinapacan StraitMindoro StraitSouth China SeaSulu SeaMajor islandsBusuanga IslandCoron IslandCulion IslandCalauit Islandseveral other isletsAdministrationPhilippinesRegionMimaropaProvincePalawan The Calamian Islands or the Calamianes is a group of islands in the province of Palawan, Philippines. The archipelago comprises the islands of Coron, Culion, Busuanga, and Linapacan, along with numerous smaller islands.

History

[edit] Historically, before the Spanish came, the Calamianes was part of the nation of Sandao a vassal state of Ma-i at nearby Mindoro. Then, the Calamianes fell to the Brunei and Sulu Sultanates. Eventually, the Calamianes was site of the Spanish politico-militar Provincia de Calamianes. It became the site of a Presidio or a Spanish military garrison, and the small group of islands received, almost 100 Mexican soldier-colonists in the 1670s. The Spanish Empire later purchased mainland Paragua from the Sultan of Borneo. By the end of the 1700s, the Calamianes had 2,289 native families too. In 1818, there were 2 settler Spanish families in Calamanianes. 1 Spanish family were Spaniards from Spain and the other Spanish family were Spaniards born in the Philippines.: 456  During the American occupation (1898–1948), the old Provincia de Calamianes was dissolved and jointly administered with the Island of Paragua as the new province of Palawan.

Geography

[edit] Highly deformed bedded cherts of the Liminangcong chert, exposed in the town of Coron, Busuanga Island The Calamian Islands span around 680 square miles (1,800 km2) of sea and include major islands such as Coron, Culion, Busuanga, and Linapacan, along with numerous smaller islands. Coron Island, the third-largest, features steep limestone cliffs, karst formations, mangrove forests, and eleven inland lakes. Notable lakes include Kayangan Lake—considered as the cleanest lake in the country—Barracuda Lake, and Lake Cabugao. Part of the North Palawan Block, a microcontinental fragment characterized by accretionary complexes composed of Upper Paleozoic to Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, including cherts, clastics, and limestones. Busuanga and Culion islands consist mainly of the Liminangcong Formation, a Permian to Late Jurassic chert. This chert forms the distinguishing mountain ranges, with the Middle-Late Jurassic Guinlo Formation clastics forming the valleys on Busuanga. Calauit Island hosts a wildlife sanctuary originally established in the 1970s by President Ferdinand Marcos to house African species like giraffes and zebras. The park now also supports endemic Philippine fauna including Philippine macaques, wild pigs, hornbills, sea turtles, and dugongs.

Indigenous communities

[edit] The Calamian Tagbanwa are an indigenous group distinct from mainland Palawan Tagbanwa. They traditionally lead semi-nomadic, marine-based lives and have legal recognition over ancestral domains, including Coron Island. In 2004, they were granted a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title covering 24,520 hectares. The Tagbanwa observe customary laws regulating resource use, including prohibitions on illegal fishing and protection of sacred sites. However, traditional practices face pressure from modernization, migration, and limited government support.