Palawan Travel Guide: El Nido, Coron and Puerto Princesa

This Palawan travel guide is the starting point for planning a trip to the Philippines' long, narrow western island province: where the main bases are, what each one is good at, how to get there and between them, and how many days to give it. Palawan is not one beach town but a 400-plus-kilometre chain of land and islands, so the biggest planning decision is which hubs to combine. Three names cover most trips: Puerto Princesa in the middle, El Nido in the north-west, and Coron in the far north. Each has a different personality, and this page links to deeper guides for all of them.

Palawan Travel Guide: Geography in Plain Terms

Palawan stretches from south-west to north-east between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The main island is long and thin, with a mountainous spine, and the province also includes hundreds of smaller islands. For a first-time visitor the useful map is simple: Puerto Princesa sits roughly in the middle on the east side, El Nido is at the northern end of the main island, and Coron is on Busuanga, part of the Calamian group that lies further north again, across open water from El Nido.

The key consequence is that these places are not connected by one easy road. Puerto Princesa and El Nido are linked by road, while El Nido and Coron are separated by sea. That is why most travellers fly in and out rather than trying to cover the whole province overland, and why a realistic trip usually picks two hubs, not three or four.

The Three Main Hubs and What Each Is Best For

Puerto Princesa: Gateway and the Underground River

Puerto Princesa is the provincial capital and the main arrival point. Many travellers treat it as a transit stop, but it is worth a night or two, mainly because of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where a river flows through a limestone cave system for more than eight kilometres. It is one of the best-known attractions in the country; our guide to the Puerto Princesa Underground River covers permits, boat timing and what you actually see. Entry is permit-based, and an online booking system exists for it (see the official city tourism page), so arrange it in advance rather than turning up on the day.

El Nido: Lagoons, Limestone Cliffs and Beach Time

El Nido is the postcard Palawan: karst cliffs rising from clear water, hidden lagoons, and small beaches reached by outrigger boat. It is the best base for classic island-hopping, and the town is compact enough to walk. Expect it to be busier and pricier than the rest of the province. Our full El Nido guide covers neighbourhoods, tours and day trips, and if you want a more comfortable base, see our picks for the best resorts in El Nido.

Coron: Wrecks, Lakes and Dramatic Seascapes

Coron, on Busuanga Island, is known for freshwater lakes set among limestone, lagoons, and shipwreck diving and snorkelling. The town itself is a working port rather than a resort village, so the appeal is the boat trips and the diving. Details on tours, lakes and wrecks are in our Coron guide. Coron has its own airport, which makes it easy to reach directly from Manila or Cebu without passing through Puerto Princesa.

Side Stops: Port Barton and the Quieter Coast

Between Puerto Princesa and El Nido, Port Barton is a smaller, quieter bay town that some travellers use as a slower alternative or a stopover. It has its own island-hopping scene on a much smaller scale. Treat it as an optional extra if you have more than a week; the three hubs above are where most of the infrastructure and tours are.

Quick Comparison

Hub	Best for	Character	Typical stay
Puerto Princesa	Underground River, arrival and departure	City, practical base	1-2 nights
El Nido	Lagoons, beaches, island-hopping	Scenic, busy, higher prices	3-5 nights
Coron	Lakes, wreck diving, boat trips	Working port town, adventurous	3-4 nights

If you are choosing between the last two, our El Nido vs Coron comparison goes into the trade-offs in detail. If you are still deciding whether Palawan is the right island at all, read Boracay vs Palawan.

How to Get to Palawan

Most visitors fly from Manila. Puerto Princesa has the main airport, and there are also flights to El Nido (the Lio airport, a short drive from town) and to Busuanga for Coron. Routes and operators change, so check current schedules before booking rather than relying on any fixed timetable. Some travellers combine a flight into one hub with a flight out of another to avoid backtracking. Our guide to Manila to Palawan flights and ferries lays out the options, from direct flights to the slower sea routes.

Flights to El Nido and Busuanga can be more limited and pricier than flights to Puerto Princesa, which is why the capital remains the most common entry point. Always leave some slack on your arrival and departure days: weather and sea conditions affect schedules, and a tight same-day connection to an international flight is a risk.

Moving Between the Hubs

Puerto Princesa to El Nido is by road. Shared vans from the city and the airport take roughly five to six hours, while buses are cheaper but slower. Vans are the usual choice; book ahead in busy periods and expect a long, winding ride. If you do not want that, short flights between the two exist on some schedules.

El Nido to Coron is the connection that surprises people: there is no road, so you go by sea, and the crossing takes several hours depending on conditions. Boats can be cancelled in rough weather. Full details on operators, timing and the alternative of flying via Manila or Cebu are in our guide to getting from El Nido to Coron.

Best Time to Visit Palawan

The dry season, roughly November to May, is the most reliable window for calm seas, clear water and uninterrupted boat tours. The wet season runs roughly June to October, with afternoon showers and occasional storms, and the sea is often less clear. Island tours can still run in the wet months, but cancellations and rough crossings are more likely, and the water is not at its best for snorkelling. Within the dry season the early months are cooler, while April and May get hot. Our best time to visit the Philippines guide breaks down the seasons across the country.

The tropical cyclone season overlaps with the wet months. If you travel then, build slack into the schedule and buy flexible tickets. For official forecasts and warnings, consult PAGASA, the national weather agency.

How Many Days Do You Need?

A realistic minimum for one hub is three to four days. A week lets you do two hubs comfortably, and seven to ten days is a sensible range if you want to see more than one area without rushing. With two weeks you can add Port Barton and a slower pace. A common split is two to three days around Puerto Princesa, four to five in El Nido, and three to four in Coron. If you only have five days, use our Palawan 5-day itinerary as a template, and do not try to fit all three hubs into it.

Island-Hopping Basics

Island-hopping is the core activity in both El Nido and Coron. You join a shared or private outrigger boat for a day, usually with lunch on a beach, and visit a set loop of lagoons, beaches and snorkelling spots.

• El Nido uses lettered tours. Tours A, B, C and D each cover a different cluster. Tour A includes the Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon, Tour B includes Snake Island and Cathedral Cave, Tour C includes Hidden Beach, Secret Beach and Matinloc Shrine, and Tour D includes the Small Lagoon and Paradise Beach.
• Coron uses named loops. Popular stops include Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Skeleton Wreck, and beaches such as Atwayan.
• Fees are separate from the boat price on some tours. Check what is included, as entrance and environmental fees at individual sites are often charged on top.
• Book with an accredited operator and ask exactly which stops are on the day's route, as itineraries can shift with weather and crowd flow.

Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag, water shoes for rocky landings, and some cash for fees. Sea conditions can change the plan at short notice, so keep one buffer day if you have a flight to catch.

Costs and Budgeting

Palawan is affordable by international standards but not the cheapest part of the country. El Nido tends to cost the most for food and accommodation; Coron is usually cheaper for a bed but can be pricier to reach by air. Your main variable costs are accommodation, island tours, transfers and flights. Budget travellers can manage on dorm beds, local meals and shared tours, while mid-range and resort stays push the daily total up considerably. Prices move with the season, so treat any figure as a rough guide and check current rates. For currency, ATMs and general price levels, see our money guide. Carry cash: ATMs in smaller towns can be unreliable and many small operators do not take cards.

Fees, Permits and Rules

Expect a few fees that are separate from your tour price. El Nido charges an environmental fee, usually bundled by operators or paid at the tourism office, and some sites charge their own entrance fees. Coron levies an environmental fee as well, and sites such as lakes and lagoons charge individual entrances. The Underground River needs a permit in advance. Amounts and exemptions change, so confirm them with your operator or the local tourism office, and keep every receipt, as you may be asked to show it at checkpoints.

Respect local rules at sacred or protected sites: some lakes in Coron are considered sacred by the Tagbanua people, and limits on group sizes, single-use plastics and feeding wildlife exist to protect the reefs. Follow the guide's instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Palawan worth visiting?

Yes, if you want island scenery, lagoons and diving. It is one of the country's best-known destinations, though it takes more time and money to reach than some other beach areas.

Which is better, El Nido or Coron?

El Nido suits travellers who want beaches and lagoons from a walkable town; Coron suits those who want lakes, wrecks and diving. See our El Nido vs Coron comparison for the details.

How do I get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido?

Most people take a shared van, which takes roughly five to six hours. Buses are cheaper and slower, and some schedules include short flights.

Can I go from El Nido to Coron by road?

No. There is no direct road, so the route is by sea or by air via another city. Check current schedules, as rough weather can cancel boats.

When is the best time to go to Palawan?

The dry season from about November to May is the most reliable for calm seas and clear water. The wet season is June to October.

How many days should I spend in Palawan?

Allow at least a week for two hubs. Seven to ten days is more comfortable, and five days works if you stay in one or two places.

Do I need to book the Underground River in advance?

Yes. Entry is permit-based, and an online booking system exists, so reserve ahead, especially in the dry season.

Bottom Line

Pick two hubs, give each three or four nights, and travel in the dry season if you can. Use Puerto Princesa as the gateway, El Nido for lagoons and beaches, and Coron for lakes and wrecks, and always check current schedules, fees and sea conditions before you commit.