8 best outdoor things to do in Palawan

Outdoors in Palawan

Nature · Sabang

1.Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

Stay a night in Sabang and take the first boats of the morning, before day tours from Puerto Princesa arrive.

Time needed

Full day from Puerto Princesa

Cost

Mid-priced

• Iconic
• Nature
• Kids
• Rainy day

Nature · Miniloc Island, El Nido

2.Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon

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

Time needed

Full-day tour

Cost

Mid-priced

• Iconic
• Nature
• Active
• Photo spot
• Couples

Nature · Coron Island

3.Kayangan Lake

Take the photo at the viewpoint on the way up; queues for it build after 10am.

Time needed

1–1.5 hours

Cost

Low cost

• Iconic
• Views
• Photo spot
• Nature

Beach · Matinloc Island, El Nido

4.Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine

Bring water shoes; reaching Hidden Beach and Secret Beach means clambering over rocks in the shallows.

Time needed

Full-day tour

Cost

Mid-priced

• Nature
• Active
• Views
• Off the beaten path

Island · Bacuit Bay, El Nido

5.Snake Island and Tour B

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

Time needed

Full-day tour

Cost

Mid-priced

• Kids
• Nature
• Views
• Photo spot

Beach · El Nido

6.Nacpan Beach

Go by scooter or tricycle in the afternoon and stay for sunset; the road is paved most of the way.

Time needed

Half a day

Cost

Free

• Free
• Outdoors
• Couples
• Kids
• Views

Nature · Coron Island

7.Barracuda Lake

Bring a mask; the rock formations below the surface are the reason to come.

Time needed

1 hour

Cost

Low cost

• Nature
• Active
• Off the beaten path

Nature · Coron Island

8.Twin Lagoon

Visit at low tide if you want to swim under the rock rather than climb the ladder.

Time needed

1 hour

Cost

Low cost

• Nature
• Kids
• Photo spot

Grouped by area

Booking and timing

Of these 8, 1 free, 3 low cost, 4 mid-priced. Book ahead for Puerto Princesa Subterranean River and Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon. The longest visit is Puerto Princesa Subterranean River; group the rest by area to save travel time.

• 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.

How to fit them into 4 half-days

Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.

• Half-day 1 (Sabang): Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, at least 6 hours.
• Half-day 2 (Miniloc Island, El Nido and Coron Island): Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon → Kayangan Lake → Barracuda Lake, at least 4 hours.
• Half-day 3 (Coron Island, Matinloc Island, El Nido and Bacuit Bay, El Nido): Twin Lagoon → Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine → Snake Island and Tour B, at least 4 hours.
• Half-day 4 (El Nido): Nacpan Beach, at least 3 hours.

The best months to be outside

• February: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 4 rainy days, busy crowds. One of the driest months, with comfortable temperatures and excellent visibility for snorkelling.
• March: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 4 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot, dry and calm; the Tubbataha liveaboard season usually opens mid-month.
• April: highs of 33°C (91°F), about 5 rainy days, very busy crowds. The hottest, busiest stretch of the dry season, with Holy Week and Philippine summer holidays filling El Nido and Coron.

The neighbourhoods they are in

• Lio Beach — Planned beach development beside El Nido's airport, about 6 km north of town
• Sabang — Small village at the entrance to the underground river national park

More of Palawan

All things to do in Palawan · Where to stay · When to go.

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