One of the easiest ways to explore Palawan is by booking a Coron tour or an El Nido tour if you’re heading to those areas. With this, you can just pay the tour fee and enjoy the trip since the tour guide will handle everything for you.

Planning Your Trip

The best time to visit Palawan is between December and February when it’s not too hot and the air is much drier. It’s after the rainy season, which means the trees are lush and in full bloom.

However, since the weather is so amazing during this time, it’s also the peak season of Palawan, especially in December and around Christmas and New Year’s. Expect many travelers and the prices of accommodation much higher.

But, if you visit in early December or from mid-January to February, you get to enjoy the weather with fewer visitors.

March to May is perfect if you don’t mind the hot and dry climate. These are also the shoulder seasons in Palawan, and there aren’t many tourists either.

Getting there

There are not many options to reach Palawan. The fastest and most common is by air. There are three airports here: 

• Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS)
• Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU) – Coron
• El Nido Airport (ENI)

If you plan to go to Palawan, the airlines that are servicing this area are Philippines Airlines, AirSwift, Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, and Air Juan. At the moment, these airlines have a route from Manila to Palawan and Cebu to Palawan.

You can also get there by sea. It’s affordable and very scenic, but very slow. A trip to Palawan from Manila (and vice versa) takes about 12 to 14 hours.

You can get around Palawan with buses, cars, minivans, and motorbikes from one town to another.

From Puerto Princesa to Port Barton, it takes around 3 hours, while from Puerto Princes to El Nido, it takes a little over 3 hours if you travel by private car.

Taking the bus or shared minivan is cheaper but can be slower. Cherry Bus is the major bus here, while SBE, JCalbert, and Palajuanders are the known minivan services.

To reach Coron from Puerto Princesa, Port Barton, or El Nido, you must take the ferry, which is around 3 hours to 5 hours, depending on the weather and the ferryline you choose.

For the best transportation options you can check Bookaway >>

Getting around

Once you get to the town you want to explore, there are a few options for getting around. Tricycle is very common – you get a driver, and they take you anywhere. However, before getting on, make sure to agree on a fare. 

Another option is to rent a motorbike and drive on your own. There are a lot of bike rentals in Puerto Princes, El Nido, Port Barton, and Coron. 

There are no car rentals in Palawan; if you find one, it comes with a driver. Instead, you can arrange private cars with a driver to chauffeur you around.

Top Destinations

El Nido

This is the part of Palawan that is best for island hopping tours. Just off the coast, there are at least a dozen islands to explore; some offer stunning sandbars and limestone cliffs, and others are fantastic spots for snorkelling.

There are a few island hopping tours that you can take. These tours are called Tour A, Tour B, Tour C, and Tour D. 

Tour A is usually what most people would book, especially those who are short on time. This tour covers the must-see areas and islands of El Nido, such as Miniloc Island, the Big Lagoon, and the Small Lagoon. Click here to book El Nido Tour A. 

Tour B features the southwest area of the waters. This includes the Cathedral, Snake Island, and Cudugnon Cave. Tour C goes to the far northwest, which highlights Hidden Beach, Talisay Beach, and Helicopter Island. 

Tour D is for the northern area, which comprises Natnat Beach, Paradise Beach, and Ipipl Beach. But, depending on your tour company, these tours might be different from other tour companies.

Coron

Coron is where you will find the best and world-class wreck diving sites in the Philippines. 

A few spots you should consider are:

• Morazan Maru (advanced divers):  (25m) deep and 367 feet (111 m) long
• Olympia Maru (easy dive):  305ft (93m) long, but shallow point at 40 ft(12m)
• Barracuda Lake (easy to get to)

If you’re not a fan of diving, Coron still has other incredible gems. There are also island hopping tours, and the two most wonderful places to visit are Kayalang Lake and the magical Twin Lagoons.

Puerto Princesa

Don’t miss one of the best and most remarkable natural beauty of Palawan, the Subterranean River National Park. This is an underground cave that is about 50 miles (80 km) long and can only be accessed by a boat.

However, only about half a mile (1 km) is open to the tourist. The local government office manages the only boat tour, which also comes with a knowledgeable tour guide and safety equipment.

This tour can last for 2 hours. So, if you have more time to spare, don’t miss out on Honda Bay island hopping. The underground river is actually about 1 hour and 30 minutes from the main town of Puerto Princesa (you want to go to a town called Sabang) either by bus, minivan, or tour.

Port Barton

Many popular areas of Palawan can get busy, especially during the peak season. However, you can still find some laid-back beaches in Port Barton. This is a coastal town sandwiched between Sabang and El Nido.

Port Borton has beautiful snorkeling spots, and it’s less crowded. The best way to enjoy these water activities is to hire a boat with a guide on a private tour. You will be taken to various locations and also have the chance to go fishing.

San Vicente

San Vicente is another coastal town along the western area of Palawan, between El Nido and Port Barton. Don’t get this confused with San Vicente province; this town is where you will find 100 Steps and Long Beach.

If you are searching for a place where you can enjoy a long strip of fine, white sandy beaches, this is the place to go. It’s so romantic and relaxing that you can spend hours walking along the beach lined with towering coconut trees.

Balabac Islands

This is the most southern part of Palawan. Since it’s a group of islands, the only way to get here is by port. There’s a Balabac Port, which is connected to the Palawan mainland at Bataraza Port.

This is the area of Palawan that you want to visit if you’re looking for truly untouched beaches and off-the-beaten-path adventures.

Tubbataha Reefs National Park

This is easily the best and most untouched diving location in the Philippines. The thing is, it’s not easy getting here since it’s a group of small inhabited islands, and you are required to get a specific permit to dive in this area since it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is marine-protected.

3-Day Quick Getaway

If you only have three days to enjoy a Palawan travel trip, it’s best to focus on one place. That could be Coron, El Nido, or Puerto Princesa, specifically if it’s your first time visiting Palawan. These three towns have a great and reliable airport, making it easy to get in and out of here.

7-day Classic Tour

A week is a great amount of time to spend in Palawan. Now, you can see two places. First-time visitors should consider El Nido and Coron, especially if you love snorkeling and diving.

But if you prefer nature exploration and a relaxing adventure, Puerto Princesa’s underground river and Port Barton is a wonderful combination.

14-Day In-depth Exploration

This is the best amount of time to have for Palawan. With this much time to spend, you can now travel a bit slower, take in everything, and visit more places. You can honestly cover Palawan from top to bottom or vice versa.

You can either start in Puerto Princesa or make your way up to the north. In your itinerary, include Sabang (underground river), Port Barton, El Nido, and then Coron or the other way around since you can fly in and out from both Coron and Puerto Princesa.

Palawan is truly a beautiful destination in the Philippines. There are so many things to do, and it’s massive enough that even during the peak season, you can still find spots to soak up its serene beauty.