At a glance
- Best for
- Island hopping, snorkelling, diving and beaches
- Airports
- Puerto Princesa (PPS), El Nido (ENI), Busuanga for Coron (USU)
- Time needed
- Five to eight days
- Best season
- December to May
- Language
- Filipino, English and local languages
- Getting around
- Boats, tricycles, vans and domestic flights
Why go
Few places look as good in real life as they do in photos, but El Nido and Coron do. In El Nido's Bacuit Bay, dozens of limestone islands rise straight out of turquoise water, hiding lagoons you kayak into through gaps in the rock. Around Coron, Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon are some of the clearest waters in Asia, and the Japanese supply ships sunk in 1944 make the area one of the world's great wreck diving destinations. In the middle of the island, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where a navigable river flows through a cave into the sea.
El Nido
El Nido town is small and busy, with guesthouses, dive shops and restaurants squeezed between the cliffs and the beach. Its island hopping tours are sold as A, B, C and D. Tour A covers the Big and Small Lagoons and Secret Lagoon; Tour C covers Hidden Beach, Secret Beach and Matinloc Shrine. The lagoons have limited daily slots, so book a day or two ahead. An environmental fee is collected for the protected area: check current amounts locally. Beyond town, Nacpan and Duli beaches are long and quiet, and Las Cabanas has sunset views.
Coron
Coron town sits on Busuanga Island, while the famous lakes lie on Coron Island opposite, the ancestral land of the indigenous Tagbanua people, who manage access. Island tours visit Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Barracuda Lake and beaches such as Banana and Malcapuya. Divers come for the wrecks. In town, climb Mount Tapyas for sunset and soak in the saltwater Maquinit Hot Spring.
Puerto Princesa
The island's capital is a calm, green city and the main air gateway. The Underground River trip needs a permit booked in advance, usually through your accommodation or the city tourism office. Honda Bay offers easy island hopping close to town.
Getting there and around
Most people fly into Puerto Princesa and take a van north to El Nido, a long road trip of five to six hours. El Nido also has a small airport with flights from Manila and Cebu, and Coron is served by Busuanga airport. El Nido and Coron are linked by fast ferries in good weather, a journey of several hours that is one of the highlights of a trip. Ferries are cancelled when seas are rough, so leave a buffer day before onward flights.
Where to stay
In El Nido, the town is convenient but noisy; Corong Corong is quieter with sunsets, and Nacpan suits a slower stay. Private island resorts such as Miniloc, Lagen and Pangulasian are a splurge reached by boat. In Coron, stay in town for tours and food, or on a small island resort for peace.
When to go
December to May is the dry season and the best time for calm seas. June to November brings the southwest monsoon, rougher water and cancelled tours, though Palawan sees fewer direct typhoons than islands further north and east.
Good to know
Cash machines in El Nido and Coron can run out, so bring enough pesos. Power and internet can be patchy. Wear reef safe sunscreen and never stand on coral.
Questions about Palawan
El Nido or Coron: which is better?
El Nido has more beaches and lagoons and a livelier town; Coron has clearer lakes and world class wreck diving. With a week, do both and link them by ferry.
How do I get to El Nido?
Fly to Puerto Princesa and take a van north for five to six hours, or fly direct to El Nido's small airport from Manila or Cebu.
Do I need to book the Underground River in advance?
Yes. Visitor numbers are limited and permits are needed, so arrange it through your accommodation or the Puerto Princesa tourism office before you arrive.
Is there an ATM in El Nido?
There are a few, but they can run out of cash or reject foreign cards. Bring enough pesos from Puerto Princesa or Manila.
Facts checked . Fees, schedules and entry rules change, so always confirm the latest with the official source.
