How to Get to Coron, Palawan

Wondering how to get to Coron? Whether you’re travelling from Manila, El Nido, Puerto Princesa or even further afield, it’s always best to have a clear plan before you travel.

Located on the Palawan archipelago, Coron is one of 7,641 islands in the Philippines. One important thing you need to know is that Coron is the name for two places: Coron island and Coron town proper.

Coron town proper is the main tourist hub on the island of of Busuanga. That’s where you’ll want to stay if you plan on going island hopping to the actual Coron island. Coron island is mostly uninhabited, aside from the Paolyn Houseboats accommodation.

I have visited Coron twice already, and I hope to return a third time. In the following guide, I will break down exactly how to get to Coron town proper by air, boat, bus and taxi. I’ll also cover the cheapest and easiest methods.

You can also use my guide to the best Coron island hopping tours to plan your itinerary and decide between tours A, B, C or D. Each tour is very different, so it’s best to know what you’re dealing with in advance.

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.

When Should You Go to Coron?

The best time to visit Coron is between November and May, the dry season in Palawan.

Visiting Coron between June and October (monsoon season) risks heavy rain. Many island hopping tours are cancelled or postponed when it rains heavily.

November still experiences some thunderstorms, so it’s a bit of a gamble to arrive in Coron at the beginning of the dry season. However, I usually visit Coron in November to take advantage of ‘low season’ prices and fewer crowds and have been lucky with the weather both times.

By the time March and May swing around, Coron gets very busy. As the hottest months in Palawan, they are considered the peak tourist season.

How to Get to Coron from Manila and Cebu

There are direct flights between Coron and Manila or Cebu.

To fly between Manila and Coron, you can travel with Philippine Airlines and Cebgo for approximately 3,000 – 5,000 PHP.

To fly between Cebu and Coron, you can travel with Philippine Airlines and Cebgo for approximately 1,000 – 3,000 PHP.

Manila is the main international airport in the Philippines.

To find cheap flights within Asia, I usually check on AirAsia first, as I find their journeys more comfortable than most budget airlines.

From Europe, you will usually have a connecting flight to Manila from Dubai or Singapore.

How to Get from Coron Airport to Coron Town Proper

Coron Airport is also known as Francisco B. Reyes Airport and Busuanga Airport.

It’s located on the island of Busuanga, approximately half an hour’s drive from Coron town proper.

When you arrive at Coron Airport, you will need to take a taxi to the town proper.

Conveniently, the airport has a fleet of minivans with pre-set prices. This makes getting to the town very easy, as the fixed price is 150 PHP each way. The attendants will direct you to the correct minivan for your hotel and/or area.

The minivans drop you directly at your hotel, so you don’t need to walk upon arrival.

The journey can take longer than half an hour if you are not the first visitor to be dropped off.

Therefore, if you’re in a rush or you’d rather travel in a private van, you can order a private Coron one-way airport transfer through GetYourGuide. They can also organise your return journey.

How to Get to Coron from El Nido

Coron and El Nido are two of the most popular destinations in Palawan.

However, they are located on two separate islands, which entails a lengthy sea crossing or a flight.

There are several ways to reach Coron from El Nido, some being easier than others.

El Nido

1. Fly from El Nido to Coron

Flying between El Nido and Coron is the quickest and easiest method.

To fly between El Nido and Coron, you can travel with AirSWIFT for approximately 4,300 – 4,800 PHP.

The flight takes 40 minutes.

2. Take the ferry from El Nido to Coron

The ferry is the cheapest method. However, the journey takes three to five hours and it is renowned for being a bumpy crossing.

If you take the ferry, I highly recommend that you take sea sickness tablets before boarding.

You can book the ferry on 12go.

You can also buy ferry tickets from El Nido to Coron (or vice versa) on Klook, which is my preference as they have better customer service.

3. Take an island-hopping tour from El Nido to Coron

The most adventurous way to travel between El Nido and Coron is to take a multi-day island hopping tour. I have done this twice, and I still rank it as one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had.

These island-hopping tours range from three days to one week.

They visit remote islands and reefs between the two tourist areas, which means that you often have islands entirely to yourself.

The corals are also less damaged, so the sealife is far more diverse.

There are two main operators: Tao Philippines and Big Dream Boatman.

Big Dream Boatman is more budget-friendly than Tao Philippines.

I chose Tao Philippines because of its sustainable ethos; it gives back to the island communities and provides employment and education on sustainable methods of farming and fishing.

These expeditions start from $240 USD, depending on the operator and tour length.

Suggested reading:

• COMPLETE guide to island hopping in Palawan – get your itinerary started!
• The best Coron island hopping tours, ranked.
• Which is the best El Nido tour?
• What to wear in Palawan – including an island-hopping packing list.

Best resources for Coron:

• Save money by staying at Outpost Hostel Coron, or search for hotels on Booking.com
• Find a tour or experience on Get Your Guide.
• Stay insured with Staysure.