2 days in Palawan

Day by day

1. Day 1: Puerto Princesa Subterranean River and Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon

   Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon, Kayangan Lake and Coron Bay wreck dives, then Las Cabanas Beach in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

      Paddle boats carrying a small group take visitors about 1.5 km into the cave, lit only by the boatman's lamp, past chambers of stalactites and colonies of bats. The surrounding national park runs from mountain to sea and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

   2. Late morning

      Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon

      Both are on El Nido's Tour A, the most popular of the island-hopping circuits.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chao long

      Chao long shops along Rizal Avenue and Manalo Street in Puerto Princesa.

   4. Afternoon

      Kayangan Lake

      Halfway up, a viewpoint looks back over a cove of karst islands — the most photographed scene in Coron. The lake is on the ancestral domain of the Tagbanwa people, who manage access.

   5. Late afternoon

      Coron Bay wreck dives

      Wrecks such as the Okikawa Maru, Akitsushima and Irako now lie at depths suited to recreational and technical divers, and the shallow Skeleton Wreck can be snorkelled.

   6. Evening

      Las Cabanas Beach

      Arrive an hour before sunset to get a table at the beach bars.

2. Day 2: Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine and Snake Island and Tour B

   Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine, Snake Island and Tour B, Nacpan Beach and Taraw Cliff, then Maquinit Hot Spring in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine

      The route has more open-water crossings and can be cancelled when seas are rough.

   2. Late morning

      Snake Island and Tour B

      It is a gentler, beach-focused tour that suits families.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kinilaw

      Seafood grills in Puerto Princesa and El Nido, and on island-hopping lunches.

   4. Afternoon

      Nacpan Beach

      A short hike up the hill at one end shows Nacpan and neighbouring Calitang beaches side by side.

   5. Late afternoon

      Taraw Cliff

      Guided canopy walks with harnesses and suspended bridges climb to a viewpoint on the razor-sharp karst; the climb is steep and requires gloves and good footwear.

   6. Evening

      Maquinit Hot Spring

      Go in the evening when the air is cooler; bring a change of clothes.

Before you go

• Puerto Princesa Subterranean River: Entry needs a permit with daily limits; arrange it in advance through an accredited tour or the Puerto Princesa permit office.
• Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon: Access to the lagoons is managed with visitor caps; book Tour A a day or more ahead in high season.

If it rains

• Swap in Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (Puerto Princesa): Combine with Baker's Hill and the city sights on a half-day tricycle tour.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 25–35 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.6 hours in January to 12.7 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Bus. Air-conditioned vans and buses run from Puerto Princesa to El Nido in about 5–6 hours, with stops for Port Barton and San Vicente; shared vans also serve Sabang.

More or fewer days

• One day in Palawan
• 3 days in Palawan
• 5 days in Palawan

Questions travellers ask