5 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

      Stay a night in Sabang and take the first boats of the morning, before day tours from Puerto Princesa arrive. (Full day from Puerto Princesa, mid-priced).

   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. (Full-day tour, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chao long

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

   4. Afternoon

      Kayangan Lake

      Take the photo at the viewpoint on the way up; queues for it build after 10am. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   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. (Full day, expensive).

   2. Late morning

      Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine

      Bring water shoes; reaching Hidden Beach and Secret Beach means clambering over rocks in the shallows. (Full-day tour, mid-priced).

   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. (Full-day tour, mid-priced).

   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

      Go by scooter or tricycle in the afternoon and stay for sunset; the road is paved most of the way. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Taraw Cliff

      Go early in the morning before the rock heats up, and only with an organised guide or operator. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tamilok

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

   4. Afternoon

      Barracuda Lake

      Bring a mask; the rock formations below the surface are the reason to come. (1 hour, low cost).

   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.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Culion Island

   About 1–1.5 hours by boat each way. Getting there: Boat from Coron Town.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Culion Island

      About 1–1.5 hours by boat (Boat from Coron Town); about 30 km.

   2. Day

      Culion Island

      Culion was the Philippines' leper colony from 1906, and its town keeps a museum and archive of the colony's history, a hilltop church in an old Spanish fort and viewpoints over the bay. Best for culture and quiet stays.

   3. Evening

      Back in Palawan

      Dinner: try Crocodile sisig.

5. Day 5: Twin Lagoon and Mount Tapyas

   Twin Lagoon, Mount Tapyas and Calauit Safari Park, then Sunset at Las Cabanas in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Twin Lagoon

      Visit at low tide if you want to swim under the rock rather than climb the ladder. (1 hour, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Mount Tapyas

      Start about an hour before sunset and bring water; there are rest points on the way up. (1–1.5 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Crocodile sisig

      Native-food restaurants in Puerto Princesa that specialise in Palawan dishes.

   4. Afternoon

      Calauit Safari Park

      It is a long trip from Coron Town by road and boat; go early and combine it with a beach stop. (Full day from Coron, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Sunset at Las Cabanas

      Watch the sun drop behind the islands from a beach bar at Las Cabanas, south of El Nido Town.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Puerto Princesa Subterranean River and Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 34–46 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 3 days in Palawan

Questions travellers ask