3 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 and Kayangan Lake, then Las Cabanas Beach in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon

      Choose a boat that visits Miniloc early or late in the day; the lagoons are busiest from late morning.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chao long

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

   4. Afternoon

      Kayangan Lake

      A clear freshwater lake ringed by limestone on Coron Island, reached by a stairway of around 300 steps.

   5. Evening

      Las Cabanas Beach

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

2. Day 2: Coron Bay wreck dives and Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine

   Coron Bay wreck dives, Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine and Snake Island and Tour B, then Maquinit Hot Spring in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Coron Bay wreck dives

      Dive with a centre that matches wrecks to your certification; penetration dives need advanced training.

   2. Late morning

      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.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kinilaw

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

   4. Afternoon

      Snake Island and Tour B

      Climb to the viewpoint on Snake Island first; the sandbar shape shows best from above at low tide.

   5. Evening

      Maquinit Hot Spring

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

3. Day 3: Nacpan Beach and Taraw Cliff

   Nacpan Beach, Taraw Cliff and Barracuda Lake, then Private boat in Bacuit Bay in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Nacpan Beach

      About 17 km north of El Nido Town, Nacpan is a gently curving beach of about 4 km of pale sand backed by coconut palms, with a few simple restaurants and bars at the access point.

   2. Late morning

      Taraw Cliff

      Go early in the morning before the rock heats up, and only with an organised guide or operator.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tamilok

      Native-food restaurants in Puerto Princesa and on Sabang's mangrove tours.

   4. Afternoon

      Barracuda Lake

      A brackish lake inside the limestone of Coron Island, known among divers for its thermocline, where the water temperature rises sharply at a few metres' depth.

   5. Evening

      Private boat in Bacuit Bay

      Hire a bangka for the day and set your own timing, reaching the lagoons before or after the group tours.

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

With 3 nights, El Nido Town keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Corong-Corong ($$) suits couples, families and beach. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 26–36 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.6 hours in January to 12.7 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Palawan
• 2 days in Palawan
• 5 days in Palawan

Questions travellers ask