Palawan Philippines Travel Guide — El Nido, Coron and Puerto Princesa

Palawan consistently tops “best island” rankings worldwide — and once you’ve been, you understand why. This long, narrow province stretching from the tip of Luzon to the coast of Borneo contains some of the most spectacular scenery in Southeast Asia: limestone karst cliffs rising from turquoise seas, hidden lagoons, WWII wrecks, and coral reefs that rank among the world’s finest.

El Nido — The Island-Hopping Capital

El Nido is the northern hub of Palawan tourism and the base for island-hopping through the Bacuit Archipelago — 45 islands of extraordinary limestone formations, hidden lagoons, and white-sand beaches.

El Nido Island Hopping Tours

Tours are sold as Tour A, B, C, and D — each visiting different islands and lagoons:

Tour A (most popular): Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commandos Beach. This is where the iconic kayaking-through-lagoons photos come from. Book first.
Tour B: Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave, Entalula Beach, Pinagbuyutan Island, Matinloc Shrine. Longer boat rides, fewer crowds.
Tour C: Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Tapiutan Island. The most dramatic scenery — hidden beaches accessible only by swimming through a small opening in a cliff face.
Tour D: Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Bukal Island, Pasandigan Cove. Less visited than A and C.

Practical tip: Tour A is the most crowded. Tours run 9am–4pm daily. Book through your resort or a local operator for ₱1,400–₱1,800 per person including lunch. Entrance fees (₱200 conservation fee + some island-specific fees) are typically extra.

Getting to El Nido

El Nido Airport (ENI) receives direct flights from Manila (Air Swift, Cebu Pacific). Alternatively, fly to Puerto Princesa and take a van transfer north (approximately 5–6 hours on the national road, ₱700–₱1,000 per person by shared van). The road through Palawan is now fully tarmacked — the journey is scenic and comfortable.

Coron — Wreck Diving Capital of Asia

Coron in northern Palawan is one of the world’s top wreck diving destinations. In September 1944, American aircraft sank a fleet of Japanese supply ships sheltering in Coron Bay — the wrecks now rest at depths of 10–40 metres in warm, clear water, heavily encrusted with coral and teeming with fish.

Top Coron Dive Sites

Irako Maru: Japan’s largest refrigeration ship. Now rests at 42m — a stunning dive for advanced divers. Penetrable interior with fish life throughout.
Okikawa Maru: The largest wreck in Coron — a massive tanker sitting upright at 26m. Swimable deck sections and interior compartments.
Akitsushima: Japanese seaplane tender at 24–33m. The seaplane crane is the iconic image of Coron diving. Accessible to intermediate divers.
Kogyo Maru: Cargo ship at 8–32m — one of the shallowest and most beginner-accessible wrecks.
Skeleton Wreck (East Tangat Gunboat): Small, shallow gunboat at 11m — coral-encrusted and surrounded by reef fish. Excellent for snorkellers.

Beyond wrecks, Coron has excellent reef diving at Barracuda Lake (a thermocline lake inside a limestone island) and the reefs of the Calamian Islands.

Coron Island — Hot Springs and Hidden Lakes

Coron Island (separate from Coron Town on Busuanga) is a sacred Tagbanua indigenous territory, accessible for day visits. The main draws are Kayangan Lake (one of the most photographed spots in the Philippines — turquoise water surrounded by limestone cliffs), Barracuda Lake (where you can feel the temperature change as you swim through fresh and salt water layers), and the natural hot spring flowing into the sea on the island’s east coast.

Puerto Princesa — The Underground River

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. An 8.2-kilometre underground river passes through a massive cave system before emptying into the sea — you explore it by paddle boat, guided by a local boatman who narrates the cathedral-sized cave chambers and distinctive rock formations.

Booking: The underground river requires a permit (₱150) and a separate entrance fee (₱250). Permits must be booked in advance through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office or online. Day tours from Puerto Princesa (2.5 hours each way) are the standard approach and include transport, boat, and guide.

When to Visit Palawan

November to May is peak season — the dry season delivers the flat, clear seas that make island-hopping possible. June to October brings typhoons and rough seas that can shut down boat tours for days at a time. December to February is the most comfortable (and most crowded). March and April are the warmest and the most popular — book accommodation months in advance during Holy Week.

May is an underrated shoulder month — the dry season is technically ending but often stays dry. Prices drop and crowds thin noticeably.

Getting Around Palawan

Palawan’s three main tourism hubs — El Nido, Coron, and Puerto Princesa — are each roughly 200–400km apart and not well connected by road. Most travellers fly between hubs or do one hub per trip. Inter-island ferries connect El Nido and Coron (approximately 4 hours by fast craft, ₱2,200), and the scenic journey between them is itself a highlight — passing limestone islands the entire way.

Related Travel Guides

Plan Your Palawan Trip

OutdoorLifePH lists beaches, dive sites, hiking trails, and outdoor adventures across Palawan and all Philippine islands. Search Philippine dive sites, explore beaches, or browse the full directory of 1,582 outdoor destinations.