The town of Loon, found on Bohol Island in the Philippines, is blessed with substantial natural beauty and wonder. While it suffered unimaginable losses during Bohol’s tragic 2013 earthquake, the tragedy seems to have produced one of the region’s most spectacular sights, — the Coral Garden.
What Is The Coral Garden?
Specifically located in a coastal area of Barangay Tangnan, Loon, the vast garden spans almost 1 square mile and looks like a sea of short, radiating plants with varying tones of red-orange. The ground-creeping plant has the impressive ability to store water inside its thick, stem-looking leaves. Unknown to many, it mysteriously turns green on rainy days and is only red-orange when it’s sunny.
Name Origin
Locals named it the “Coral Garden” due to the plant’s relative resemblance to corals. However, the area is being studied, as this rare plant’s classification is still unidentified; although it likely belongs to the Aizoaceae family.
Local Treasure
Loon locals generally regard this geological phenomenon as nature’s gift to their town for suffering greatly during the earthquake. Though this particular town sustained some of the worst tragedies, with structural damages throughout and multiple lives lost, its people were optimistically able to look at their emerging garden as a sign of hope for the future. Further, the government of the Philippines even declared it a geological monument.
Tourism On The Rise
The existence of Loon’s Coral Garden is so breathtaking and inexplicable that tourism has been rising to the point of becoming one of Bohol’s Instagram sensations. What’s so surprising is that the area was covered in mere sand before the earthquake and suddenly turned into one of Loon’s most cherished and colorful spots. Visitors have described their experiences at the Coral Garden as “euphoric,” “awe-inspiring” and “mind-blowing.”
How To Get There
At the Tagbilaran City port, there are Ceres buses (Dao Terminal) and Jeepneys (Cogon Terminal) that go to Loon. Either ride costs less than 1 USD, and all you have to do is tell the driver to drop you off at the Brgy. Tangnan Multi-Purpose Hall. Once there, you will need to walk/trek about a quarter mile to arrive at the garden.
Helpful Tips & Information
1. Entry to the garden is currently free.
2. Please be sure to exercise the common courtesy of leaving the place as clean as you found it (or cleaner), to ensure that this treasure remains beautiful and free to visitors. Let us help preserve the natural beauty of Bohol.
3. Please be kind to the plants and don’t crush them, in order to keep them nice and alive for other visitors and the locals.
4. Don’t forget to wear comfortable footwear, as the way down is steep. With that said, try to leave before sundown to avoid walking in complete darkness on the way back.
5. Just in case the red-orange beauty hypnotizes you to stay late and watch the sunset, take a flashlight!
6. If you ride a Jeepney, the driver may know where the Coral Garden is, so ask him to drop you off at the entrance.
7. Be sure to keep hydrated during the journey!
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