Travel guide · Philippines
Palawan travel guide
Limestone lagoons, island-hopping and shipwreck dives in the western Philippines
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Theglennpalacio, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Palawan is a long, narrow island province of about 1,700 islands between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. Most visitors fly into Puerto Princesa, the capital, for the UNESCO-listed underground river, then head north by road to Port Barton and El Nido for island-hopping among the limestone islands of Bacuit Bay, and on by ferry or plane to Coron in the Calamian Islands for lakes and World War II wreck dives. Distances are long and roads slow, so plan two or three bases rather than day trips. Plan 9 days for a first visit; the best months are January–April.
Key facts
- Country
- Philippines
- Best time to visit
- January–April
- Ideal stay
- 9 days
- Main airports
- PPS, USU, ENI
- Mid-range daily budget
- $90–$200 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- El Nido lagoons, Island-hopping, Coron wreck diving and Underground river
Why visit Palawan
- El Nido's Bacuit Bay has turquoise lagoons, hidden beaches and sheer limestone islands reached on numbered boat tours from the town beach.
- Coron Bay holds a cluster of Japanese supply ships sunk in a US air raid in September 1944, one of Asia's best-known wreck-diving areas.
- The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, takes paddle boats into an underground river cave beneath limestone mountains.
- Slower villages such as Port Barton and San Vicente still have long empty beaches and simple guesthouses.
- Liveaboard trips to the Tubbataha Reefs in the Sulu Sea reach one of the region's most protected coral atolls in a short season each spring.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Nature · Sabang
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
An underground river flows for about 8 km through a limestone cave beneath the Saint Paul Mountain Range before reaching the sea.
- Time needed
- Full day from Puerto Princesa
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Kids
- Rainy day
Nature · Miniloc Island, El Nido
Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon
On Miniloc Island in Bacuit Bay, the Big Lagoon is a basin of jade water enclosed by limestone walls, explored by kayak, while the Small Lagoon is entered by swimming or paddling through a narrow gap in the rock.
- Time needed
- Full-day tour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Active
- Photo spot
- Couples
Nature · Coron Island
Kayangan Lake
A clear freshwater lake ringed by limestone on Coron Island, reached by a stairway of around 300 steps.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Nature
Experience · Coron Bay
Coron Bay wreck dives
On 24 September 1944, US Navy aircraft attacked a Japanese fleet sheltering around Busuanga and Coron, sinking about a dozen ships.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Active
- Iconic
Beach · Matinloc Island, El Nido
Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine
On El Nido's Tour C, boats stop at Hidden Beach, a small cove reached by swimming through a gap in the rocks, Secret Beach and the abandoned Matinloc Shrine, a chapel on a headland with viewpoints over the western islands.
- Time needed
- Full-day tour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Active
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Island · Bacuit Bay, El Nido
Snake Island and Tour B
El Nido's Tour B visits Snake Island, where a winding sandbar links two islands at low tide and a short climb gives a view of its curves, plus Cudugnon Cave, Pinagbuyutan Island and Entalula beach.
- Time needed
- Full-day tour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Views
- Photo spot
Where to stay
El Nido Town is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, solo travellers, budget and nightlife
El Nido Town
Compact beach town under limestone cliffs, departure point for Bacuit Bay tours
$$ · Best for couples, families and beach
Corong-Corong
Sunset-facing bay just south of town with resorts and beach bars
$$$ · Best for families, luxury and quiet stays
Lio Beach
Planned beach development beside El Nido's airport, about 6 km north of town
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and solo travellers
Coron Town
Harbour town on Busuanga Island, base for Coron Island and wreck dives
What to eat
- Chao long — Puerto Princesa's signature noodle soup: rice noodles in a beef broth with herbs, bean sprouts and lime, adapted from the pho of Vietnamese refugees who settled in the city from the late 1970s.
- Kinilaw — Raw fish — often tuna or Spanish mackerel — cured in vinegar or calamansi with onion, ginger and chilli.
- Tamilok — A shipworm that lives in mangrove wood, eaten raw in vinegar and chilli like kinilaw.
- Crocodile sisig — Farm-raised crocodile meat chopped and sizzled on a hot plate with onion, chilli and calamansi, a Puerto Princesa take on the Filipino pork dish sisig.
- Lato — Sea grapes — tiny green seaweed bubbles that pop in the mouth — served as a salad with tomato, onion and vinegar.
- Grilled seafood — Squid, prawns, fish and scallops grilled over charcoal and served with rice and soy-calamansi-chilli dipping sauce.
When to go
The best time to visit Palawan is from January to April, when the dry season brings calm seas, sunshine and reliable island-hopping. December and May are good but busier or hotter. From about July to October the south-west monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas that often cancel boat tours and ferries.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cool dry season | December–February | Sunny, breezy and calm, with the most comfortable temperatures; Christmas and New Year are the most expensive weeks. |
| Hot dry season | March–May | Hot and calm with the warmest water and Tubbataha diving; Holy Week and school holidays crowd El Nido and Coron. |
| Wet season | June–September | South-west monsoon rain and swells, frequent tour and ferry cancellations, and the lowest prices. |
| Transition | October–November | Rain gradually eases and seas settle; good value with improving odds for boat trips. |
Getting there and around
Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) is about 10 minutes by tricycle from the city centre. Coron's Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU) is on Busuanga, about 30–40 minutes by van from Coron Town. El Nido's small Lio Airport (ENI) has a limited number of flights on small aircraft, mainly from Manila, and is about 15 minutes from town.
Palawan is about 450 km long, and its main road runs north–south from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. Vans and buses link the towns, boats do the island-hopping, and ferries or short flights connect El Nido with Coron. Allow full travel days between bases.
Plan your days
Four days fits one base, usually El Nido or Coron, with two island-hopping tours. Nine or ten days allows Puerto Princesa and the underground river, a night or two in Port Barton, four days in El Nido and a ferry to Coron. Leave a buffer day for weather-cancelled boats and flights.
Practical information
- Currency
- PHP
- Language
- Filipino and English
- Plugs
- Type A, B and C sockets, 220 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is not drinkable; buy bottled water or use refill stations, which many hotels provide.
- Emergency number
- 911 (national emergency hotline)
- Tipping
- Tipping is not obligatory but is appreciated.
Sun, sea conditions and boat safety are the main concerns: wear a life jacket on bangkas and follow crew advice on currents. Petty theft from rooms and beaches occurs in busy towns; use lockers and keep valuables out of sight.
Flights to Palawan
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Palawan?
Four days fits one base, usually El Nido or Coron, with two island-hopping tours. Nine or ten days allows Puerto Princesa and the underground river, a night or two in Port Barton, four days in El Nido and a ferry to Coron. Leave a buffer day for weather-cancelled boats and flights. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Palawan?
The best time to visit Palawan is from January to April, when the dry season brings calm seas, sunshine and reliable island-hopping. December and May are good but busier or hotter. From about July to October the south-west monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas that often cancel boat tours and ferries.
+What is Palawan known for?
El Nido lagoons, Island-hopping, Coron wreck diving, Underground river, Limestone islands, Kayangan Lake and White-sand beaches. El Nido's Bacuit Bay has turquoise lagoons, hidden beaches and sheer limestone islands reached on numbered boat tours from the town beach.
+Is Palawan expensive?
Palawan is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $90–$200 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Palawan?
No. Vans, boats and tricycles cover everything, and island-hopping is by boat. A scooter is handy for beaches near El Nido and Coron if you are an experienced rider.