Getting around · Palawan · Philippines
Getting around Palawan
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ron Van Oers, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo
Quick answer
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. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Bus
- Airports
- PPS, USU, ENI
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee
Ways to get around
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.
Book vans through your hotel, which arranges pick-up; sit near the front if you get car-sick on the winding road.
Boat
Island-hopping in El Nido, Coron and Port Barton uses outrigger bangkas on set tour routes, or private boat charters for groups.
Tours may be cancelled by the coast guard in rough seas; book flexible tours early in your stay.
Ferry
Fast ferries cross between El Nido and Coron in about 3.5–5 hours, depending on the boat and sea; crossings are suspended in bad weather.
Tuk-tuk
Tricycles — motorbikes with sidecars — are the local taxis in every town, with short rides in El Nido, Coron and Puerto Princesa.
Agree the fare before you set off, especially for longer rides to Nacpan or Maquinit.
Scooter
Scooters can be rented in El Nido, Coron and Port Barton and are useful for reaching beaches such as Nacpan; roads outside towns can be rough.
Car
Private vans with drivers can be hired for the Puerto Princesa–El Nido journey with stops, and for day tours to Sabang.
Tickets and passes
El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee
A municipal environmental fee paid once and valid for a set number of days, usually collected with your first island-hopping tour; keep the receipt.
From the airport
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.
Do you need a car?
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.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Culion Island | About 1–1.5 hours by boat | Boat from Coron Town |
| Malcapuya and Banana Island | About 1.5 hours by boat | Island-hopping tour from Coron Town |
| Nagtabon Beach | About 1 hour by car or van | Private van or tricycle from Puerto Princesa |
| Long Beach, San Vicente | About 1 hour by van or scooter | Van, scooter or tricycle from Port Barton |
Questions travellers ask
+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.
+How do you get from the airport to Palawan?
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.
+What is the best way to get around Palawan?
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.