Palawan in brief
- El Nido for lagoons and limestone islands; Coron for lakes, sandbars and wartime wrecks.
- Also: the UNESCO Underground River, Port Barton, San Vicente’s Long Beach and remote expedition islands.
- Fly from Manila to Puerto Princesa, El Nido or Busuanga; El Nido to Coron is about four hours by fast boat.
- Go from December to May; June to November brings rain, rougher seas and typhoons.
Palawan is the Philippines at its most beautiful: a long, mountainous island in the far west of the country, surrounded by more than 1,700 smaller islands, limestone lagoons, coral reefs and some of the clearest water in Asia. Most visitors come for El Nido and Coron, with a day at the Underground River near Puerto Princesa and a few quiet days in Port Barton. This guide explains where Palawan is, the best things to do, El Nido or Coron, how to get there and between the two, where to stay, the weather month by month and sample routes.
Where is Palawan?
The island of Palawan is about 450 km long and rarely more than 40 km wide, stretching from Mindoro in the north towards Borneo in the south. It’s the main island of Palawan province, which also includes the Calamian islands (Busuanga, Coron and Culion) to the north, the far-southern islands of Balabac, and hundreds of smaller islets in between.
The capital, Puerto Princesa, is in the middle of the island, about 1 hour 20 minutes’ flight from Manila. El Nido is at the northern tip of the main island, and Coron is on Busuanga, about four hours north of El Nido by fast boat.
Palawan has the Philippines’ largest remaining forests, two UNESCO sites (the Underground River and Tubbataha Reefs) and is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, which is why so much of it still feels wild.
El Nido: lagoons and limestone islands
El Nido sits on Bacuit Bay, where around 45 limestone islands rise straight out of turquoise water. Days here are spent island hopping by bangka (an outrigger boat), swimming into lagoons, snorkelling over reefs and finding a beach to yourself.
The island tours. Day trips are grouped into four set routes. Tour A is the classic, with the Big and Small Lagoons (you paddle into the Small Lagoon by kayak) and Seven Commandos Beach. Tour B visits Snake Island’s winding sandbar and Cathedral Cave. Tour C takes in the Hidden and Secret Beaches and Helicopter Island. Tour D is the quietest, around Cadlao Island and its lagoon. A private boat lets you start early, before the groups arrive.
On land: Nacpan Beach, about 4 km of golden sand north of town, is one of the best beaches in the Philippines. Watch the sunset at Las Cabanas, climb the Taraw Cliff via ferrata above town, or kayak to Cadlao Island.
Coron: lakes, wrecks and the Calamian islands
Coron is the name of both the busy little town on Busuanga island and the dramatic limestone island facing it across the bay. Coron Island is the ancestral land of the Tagbanwa people, who manage its lakes and beaches.
The highlights: Kayangan Lake, often called the cleanest lake in Asia, with its famous viewpoint over the lagoon; Barracuda Lake, where the water warms suddenly as you dive down; the Twin Lagoon, where you swim under a rock to reach the second lagoon; and white sandbars such as Bulog Dos, Malcapuya and Banana Island.
Wreck diving: in September 1944 a Japanese supply fleet was sunk in Coron Bay, and about a dozen wrecks now lie at depths from a few metres to over 40 m. It’s one of the world’s top wreck-diving areas, and some are shallow enough to snorkel.
In town: climb the steps of Mount Tapyas for sunset over the bay, then soak in the saltwater Maquinit hot springs. On Busuanga, Calauit has a wildlife park with giraffes and zebras, brought here in the 1970s.
El Nido or Coron?
If you can, do both: they are about four hours apart by fast boat, and the contrast is the point. If you have to choose, this is how they compare.
| El Nido | Coron | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Lagoons, island scenery, beaches | Lakes, diving, sandbars |
| Island hopping | Four set tours plus private boats | Coron Island lakes and the reef islands |
| Diving | Good reefs, easy dives | World-class wartime wrecks |
| Town | Lively, lots of choice | Smaller, more local |
| Beaches near town | Nacpan and Las Cabanas | Few: beaches are by boat |
| Airport | El Nido (small planes) or drive from Puerto Princesa | Busuanga, about 30 to 40 minutes from town |
| Stay | 3 to 5 nights | 3 to 4 nights |
More things to do in Palawan
Puerto Princesa Underground River
A river that flows for more than 8 km through a limestone cave to the sea, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Paddle boats take you into the first stretch of the cave, past huge chambers, rock formations and bats. It’s about two hours’ drive from Puerto Princesa to Sabang, and daily permits are limited, so book ahead.
Port Barton
A small, barefoot village on the west coast with its own island-hopping trips, turtles over the reefs and very little traffic. It breaks up the long drive between Puerto Princesa and El Nido.
San Vicente and Long Beach
Long Beach is around 14 km of almost empty sand, one of the longest beaches in the Philippines. Come for space and silence rather than nightlife.
Honda Bay and the firefly river
Hop between the small islands and sandbars of Honda Bay for snorkelling, then take an evening boat on the Iwahig River to see the mangroves lit up by fireflies.
Linapacan and the islands in between
Between El Nido and Coron, the Linapacan islands have some of the clearest water in the country and almost no visitors. You see them on multi-day boat expeditions that camp on remote beaches.
Balabac and the far south
Pink-sand beaches, sandbars and turtles at the southern tip of Palawan, a long journey from Puerto Princesa with very simple facilities. Go with an experienced local operator, and check the latest advice before you travel.
Wildlife: look out for sea turtles when snorkelling, dugongs in the waters around Busuanga, and in the forests the Palawan peacock-pheasant and hornbills. Tubbataha Reefs, in the Sulu Sea, is a famous liveaboard dive site open only from about March to June.
Food: seafood is the star, grilled on the beach on island-hopping days. In Puerto Princesa, try chao long, a noodle soup brought by Vietnamese families who settled here, and, if you dare, tamilok, a mangrove woodworm eaten raw with vinegar.
How to get to Palawan and around it
From the UK: there are no direct flights. Fly to Manila with one stop (about 16 to 18 hours in total), then take a domestic flight. Some routes also connect through Cebu.
Airports in Palawan: Puerto Princesa is the main airport, about 1 hour 20 minutes from Manila. El Nido has a small airport a short drive from town, served by small planes with tight baggage limits. For Coron, fly to Busuanga (about an hour from Manila), then drive 30 to 40 minutes into Coron town.
Puerto Princesa to El Nido: about five to six hours by road, or break the journey in Port Barton. El Nido to Coron: fast boats take about four hours in good weather; they can be cancelled in rough seas, so keep a spare day. The slow and memorable way is a three-to-five-day expedition by bangka, camping on islands along the way.
Where to stay in Palawan
- El Nido town for restaurants, bars and every tour on your doorstep. It’s busy and can be noisy.
- Beaches near El Nido (Corong-Corong, Marimegmeg and Nacpan) for sunsets and quiet, a short tricycle ride from town.
- Private island resorts in Bacuit Bay and the Calamian islands for a honeymoon or a real treat: everything is by boat.
- Coron town for diving and easy access to the lakes; it’s practical rather than pretty.
- Port Barton and San Vicente for simple beach stays and slow days.
- Puerto Princesa for a night either side of the Underground River.
Tell us your style and budget and we’ll match the right place in each area; we book stays across Palawan, from simple beach cottages to private islands.
Best time to visit Palawan
Palawan is warm all year (about 30°C to 33°C on the coast). The dry season from December to May is the best time to go, with calm seas for island hopping. March to May is the hottest and calmest, ideal for snorkelling and diving. June to November is the wet season: the south-west monsoon brings rain and rougher seas to El Nido and Coron, with typhoons most likely from July to October, when boat trips and flights can be cancelled. Puerto Princesa is a little drier than the north. Christmas, New Year and Easter are the busiest weeks, so book early.
| Month | El Nido | Coron | Puerto Princesa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°C · 80 mm | 29°C · 40 mm | 28°C · 170 mm |
| Feb | 29°C · 30 mm | 29°C · 20 mm | 28°C · 100 mm |
| Mar | 30°C · 35 mm | 31°C · 15 mm | 29°C · 90 mm |
| Apr | 31°C · 45 mm | 32°C · 35 mm | 30°C · 95 mm |
| May | 31°C · 130 mm | 31°C · 140 mm | 30°C · 195 mm |
| Jun | 30°C · 250 mm | 30°C · 300 mm | 30°C · 230 mm |
| Jul | 29°C · 315 mm | 29°C · 425 mm | 29°C · 220 mm |
| Aug | 30°C · 230 mm | 29°C · 305 mm | 30°C · 210 mm |
| Sep | 29°C · 305 mm | 29°C · 360 mm | 29°C · 275 mm |
| Oct | 29°C · 290 mm | 29°C · 295 mm | 29°C · 280 mm |
| Nov | 30°C · 150 mm | 30°C · 115 mm | 29°C · 245 mm |
| Dec | 29°C · 150 mm | 30°C · 160 mm | 29°C · 245 mm |
Average daily high and monthly rainfall, 10-year ERA5 data for each area. Rainfall over small islands is approximate.
How many days in Palawan? Sample routes
El Nido and Coron
- El Nido (4 nights)
- Fast boat to Coron
- Coron (4)
The two highlights, flying into El Nido and out of Busuanga.
Palawan in depth
- Puerto Princesa (2 nights)
- Port Barton (2)
- El Nido (4)
- Coron (3)
The Underground River, a quiet beach village, the lagoons and the lakes.
Islands by expedition boat
- El Nido (3 nights)
- Bangka expedition (3)
- Coron (3)
- Private island (3)
Camp on remote beaches between El Nido and Coron, then finish in style.
Combining Palawan with the rest of the country? See our Philippines holiday guide for Bohol, Boracay, Siargao and the rice terraces.
Ways to see Palawan with us
Prefer your own pace? A tailor-made Palawan holiday can include private boats, an expedition between El Nido and Coron and a private island to finish.
Practical tips
- Entry: British visitors don’t need a visa for up to 30 days. Register on the eTravel system within 72 hours before arrival, carry proof of onward travel, and make sure your passport is valid for six months.
- Safety: the FCDO travel advice doesn’t single out Palawan. It advises against all travel to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, which are far to the south-east. Check the FCDO Philippines advice before you go.
- Cash: take plenty of pesos. ATMs in El Nido and Coron often run out, and many small places don’t take cards.
- Fees: El Nido, Coron and the Underground River charge environmental and entrance fees, usually paid in cash.
- Baggage: small planes to El Nido and Busuanga have strict limits, so pack light.
- Weather days: keep a spare day for boat transfers, especially from June to November.
- Reefs: use reef-safe sun cream, wear a rash vest, and never touch or stand on coral.
- Connectivity: power and Wi-Fi can be patchy on smaller islands.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Palawan?
Palawan is a long island province in the west of the Philippines, between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. Puerto Princesa, its capital, is about 1 hour 20 minutes' flight from Manila.
Is Palawan worth visiting?
Yes. El Nido's lagoons, Coron's lakes and wrecks and the Underground River make Palawan the highlight of most trips to the Philippines.
El Nido or Coron: which is better?
Both if you can, as they are about four hours apart by fast boat. El Nido has the more dramatic island scenery, more beaches and more choice; Coron has clearer lakes, sandbars and world-class wreck diving.
How many days do you need in Palawan?
Eight nights covers El Nido and Coron. Allow 11 or 12 nights to add the Underground River and Port Barton, or a multi-day boat expedition between El Nido and Coron.
How do you get from El Nido to Coron?
By fast boat in about four hours in good weather, or on a three-to-five-day island-hopping expedition. There are no direct flights between them.
What is the best time to go to Palawan?
December to May, the dry season, with calm seas for island hopping. March to May is the hottest and calmest. June to November is wetter, and typhoons are most likely from July to October.
Which airport do I fly into for Palawan?
Puerto Princesa for the Underground River and the drive north, El Nido's small airport for El Nido, and Busuanga for Coron. All have flights from Manila.
Is Palawan safe to visit?
Palawan is widely visited and the FCDO advice doesn't single it out. The FCDO advises against travel to most of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, which are far to the south-east. Always check the latest advice.
Keep planning
- Philippines holiday guide
- Philippines holidays
- Escorted tours of the Philippines
- Bali holiday guide
- Malaysia holiday guide
- Thailand holiday guide
- Beach holidays
- Tailor-made holidays
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