How to Get From Coron to El Nido: The Three Best Ways

How do I get from Coron to El Nido? If you want a simple answer, let me break down the three ways to get between El Nido and Coron piece by piece.

Coron and El Nido are two of the most popular destinations in Palawan. However, they are separated by a large stretch of ocean measuring a couple of hundred kilometres, meaning that the only way to get between them is by boat, ferry or aeroplane.

In the following blog post, I will explain the three main ways of getting from Coron to El Nido, ranked by how quick, budget-friendly and worthwhile they are.

I’ve made this journey twice in the past five years.

If you’re working out the logistics of your trip, this might also be a good time to visit my detailed itinerary for island hopping in Palawan, which lists all of the best places to go (and in which order).

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. If you decide to click through and make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you – thanks for your support.

The 3 Best Ways to Get From Coron to El Nido

There are three main ways to get from Coron to El Nido (or the reverse direction, from El Nido to Coron: flying, taking the ferry or taking an island hopping expedition.

A direct 40-minute flight is the quickest way. However, the quickest way is not always the best way, especially if you don’t want to miss out on the spectacular islands between Coron and El Nido.

Let’s delve into each option one by one…

1. Direct Flight – the Quickest Way!

The quickest way to get between Coron and El Nido is to take a direct flight, which takes 40 minutes.

The only airline which offers this route is AirSWIFT.

A tickest costs 3,500 – 4,400 PHP (£45 – £65), depending on the date and time you book.

While the flight only takes 40 minutes, remember that you will need to account for time travelling to/from the airport. You should also aim to arrive two hours before your flight.

You will also have to factor in the cost of taxis to and from the airport, although these should be inexpensive.

A taxi from Coron town proper to the airport should cost approximately 10 PHP.

2. Island Hopping Expeditions – The Best Way!

Best for: Island-hopping, snorkelling and adventure.

Time needed: 3 – 5 days

Cost: $650 +

Unless you’re limited on time, I highly recommend taking one of Palawan’s famous island-hopping expeditions between Coron and El Nido (or taking one in the reverse direction).

The area between Coron and El Nido (called Linapacan) is full of ridiculously beautiful (and remote) islands and coral reefs.

Not only do these expeditions get you from A to B, but they also give you the chance to stay in bamboo huts on remote islands and travel between coral reefs by traditional bangka boat, led by a local crew.

I have made my journey between Coron and El Nido twice in the past five years. Both times, I have taken an island-hopping expedition.

These expeditions generally last from 3 nights to 4 nights and include accommodation, meals, transport and snorkelling activities. The boat usually transports up to 20 – 24 people, depending upon the company.

The area between Coron and El Nido is far less crowded than Coron and El Nido, as there are only a few operators for these tours.

Many of the corals in Coron and El Nido have been damaged by overtourism, so I also found that the area has a far greater variety of sealife and more colourful reefs.

The main downside of taking an island-hopping expedition is that they require at least 3 – 5 days and they are more expensive than taking the ferry or flying.

The two main operators for these expeditions are:

• Big Dream Boatman: The best value for money and the smallest group (up to 20 people max).
• Tao Philippines: The original tour operator, and slightly more expensive.

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BEST FOR SMALL GROUP TOURS

Big Dream Boatman operates island-hopping tours from Coron to El Nido (and the reverse direction) for four nights and three days.

They cost $649 (or $599 on sale), which equates to under $165 per night.

That’s excellent value for money, considering that your accommodation (bamboo huts), meals and snorkelling activities are all included.

Rightly so, their tours are very popular. It’s best to reserve your place at least a couple of months in advance.

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3. The Ferry from Coron to El Nido – The Cheapest Way!

Best for: Budget travel

Time needed: 3 – 5 hours

Cost: 2,800 – 3,000 PHP (£37 – £40)

Taking the ferry is the cheapest way to get from A to B, costing between 2,800 and 3,000 PHP.

The high-speed ferry (run by Montenegro Shipping Lines or Jomalia Shipping) takes 3 hours and 20 minutes.

The regular ferry (run by Atienza InterIsland Ferries) takes 4 hours and 30 minutes.

The price is the same regardless of the ferry speed, so you’re better off taking the faster ferry.

During bad weather conditions, the ferries can take up to five hours to reach El Nido.

The earliest ferry departs Coron port at 6:00 am. The latest ferry is at 7:30 am.

The ferries are notorious for causing seasickness, so I recommend picking up some motion sickness tablets from the pharmacy before you travel.

The best place to book the ferry is 12Go. You can use the widget below to check the availability.

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I hope you found this blog post useful! I have been to Palawan twice in the past five years, so if you’re currently planning your trip, you can use my Philippines guides to help you work out the logistics.

Suggested reading:

• Island hopping in Palawan – the best starting point for planning your trip!
• Coron travel itinerary, or one of my most popular articles, how to choose the best Coron island hopping tours.
• How to choose the best El Nido tour.
• Puerto Princesa itinerary, including how to get to the underground river.
• How to get to Coron Palawan
• What to wear in Palawan – plus an island-hopping packing list.

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