Shopping · Palawan · Philippines
Shopping in Palawan
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: shankar s. from Poona (pune), India, India, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Shopping in Palawan is low-key: pasalubong food shops, woven crafts and pearls in Puerto Princesa, and beachwear and dive gear in El Nido and Coron. Best souvenirs: Cashews, South Sea pearls and Woven baskets and mats.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Cashews
Where to shop
Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa
Pasalubong shops selling cashews, dried fish and local snacks, plus malls for essentials.
Calle Hama, El Nido
Beachwear, sarongs, souvenirs and dry bags in the lanes behind the town beach.
Coron Town
Dive shops and stalls selling souvenirs and cashews along the main road near the pier.
Markets
Puerto Princesa City Market
The main market for fresh seafood, produce and dried fish, busiest in the early morning.
Coron public market
A local market near the pier with seafood, fruit and cashews at local prices.
What to buy
Cashews
Roasted cashews in many flavours from Palawan's orchards, sold in pasalubong shops.
South Sea pearls
Pearls from Palawan's pearl farms; buy from established shops with clear grading.
Woven baskets and mats
Handicrafts woven by indigenous and local communities from pandan, rattan and buri palm.
Dried fish and squid
Danggit and dried squid, vacuum-packed for travel.
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Halo-halo, Mango shake and Palawan cashews. Cafés and snack shops in every town, especially in the hot afternoons. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| El Nido Town | $$ | Compact beach town under limestone cliffs, departure point for Bacuit Bay tours |
| Lio Beach | $$$ | Planned beach development beside El Nido's airport, about 6 km north of town |
| Coron Town | $$ | Harbour town on Busuanga Island, base for Coron Island and wreck dives |
| Puerto Princesa City | $$ | Provincial capital with the main airport, seafood grills and Honda Bay |
| Port Barton | $ | Laid-back fishing village with a sandy bay and island tours |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in PHP. Tipping is not obligatory but is appreciated. On island-hopping tours many visitors give the boat crew about ₱100–200 per person; in restaurants, round up or leave about 5–10% if no service charge is added.
- Bring enough cash for El Nido and Port Barton; ATMs are few and sometimes empty.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in July–October; the busiest months are April and December.
- June: Baragatan Festival — Palawan's provincial festival in Puerto Princesa (usually June)
- December: Christmas and New Year — peak domestic travel (late December)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Palawan?
Cashews, South Sea pearls, Woven baskets and mats and Dried fish and squid.
+Where is the best shopping in Palawan?
Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa: Pasalubong shops selling cashews, dried fish and local snacks, plus malls for essentials.
+What are the best markets in Palawan?
Puerto Princesa City Market and Coron public market.