Island Hopping in Palawan Itinerary: How to Plan A Trip

If there is one thing that’s worthy of your bucket list, it is island hopping in Palawan.

I have already been island hopping in Palawan twice. I credit it with being the destination which converted me from a ‘visit once only’ mindset to ‘if it’s good, why not keep going back?’

Palawan is the poster child for island hopping in the Philippines. Its dramatic, often dagger-edged limestone islands and emerald lakes are enough persuasion to book a plane ticket (which, by the way, you get from Manila to Puerto Princesa in Palawan for as little as $30 USD from AirAsia).

Located in the southern part of the Philippines, Palawan is an archipelago of 1,780 islands. 

There are no shortages of new islands to explore, whether you want to adventure off the beaten track or stick around the most popular island hopping destinations in Palawan: El Nido, Coron, and Honda Bay near Puerto Princesa.

I created my guide to island hopping in Palawan to give you all the practical details and inspiration you need to create an awesome Palawan island hopping itinerary.

I’ve listed the best destinations for island hopping, along with their highlights and the cost of tours. I’ve also provided basic blueprints for itineraries for five days, one week, two weeks and three weeks in Palawan. Who said you have to worry about time constraints?

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.

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Best Island Resorts in Palawan

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Best Hostels in Palawan

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Is Island Hopping in Palawan Worth it?

Picture limestone islands, colourful reefs, and gorgeous, green lakes perfect for kayaking: that’s Palawan. 

Coral reefs and shipwrecks provide excellent diving and snorkelling locations in Palawan. At the same time, if you only want to unwind, the archipelago has plenty of remote white-sand beaches (some on deserted islands).

If you like to travel in luxury, there are large numbers of luxury private island resorts. Two of the most famous private island resorts are Cauayan Island Resort and Spa and Matinloc Resort near El Nido.

If you’re a backpacker, Palawan is also great. It’s a popular destination on the backpacker trail in southeast Asia. El Nido and Coron have a handful of popular hostels each.

In short, island hopping in Palawan is worth it for:

• Tropical scenery, including limestone islands.
• Snorkelling and diving with sea creatures such as sea turtles, rainbow fish and reef sharks.
• Kayaking and/or swimming in large lagoons and lakes.
• Visiting World War II wrecks and other shipwrecks.
• Relaxing on remote beaches.
• Visiting ‘secret’ or concealed beaches.
• Delicious seafood lunches and fresh fruit.

Best Time to Go Island Hopping in Palawan

Timing is important when you go island hopping in Palawan.

Between June and October, monsoon season brings heavy rain to Palawan, which can cause island hopping tours in Palawan to be cancelled or postponed.

The best time to go island hopping in Palawan is between November and May, the dry season.

I have twice visited Palawan in November and experienced dry, sunny weather both times, although I narrowly missed rainstorms in the weeks on either side.

November is the rainiest month in the dry season but it is considered ‘low season’, which gives you the advantage of competing with fewer crowds and lower prices than during the rest of the dry season.

March and May are the hottest months in Palawan. They are also the busiest for tourism, but they’re likely to be the driest.

How much does it cost to go island hopping in Palawan?

Compared to going island hopping in famous destinations like the Maldives or the Seychelles, island hopping in Palawan is very affordable. It’s slightly more expensive than island hopping in Thailand, if we are to compare it to another destination in southeast Asia.

In touristic destinations such as El Nido, you can expect pricing such as:

• Private tour (for 2 – 4 people): 17,670 PHP (£250)
• Group tour: Up to 3500 PHP (£50)
• Luxury group yacht tour (e.g. this El Nido group catamaran tour): Approximately 7,600 PHP (£110) per person.

In less touristic destinations, group and private tours may cost less

The distance to your destination plays a role in pricing because it requires more fuel for the boat. The same goes for the size and cost of the vessel.

When I was in Coron, I hired a private boat for one day (visiting Banul Beach only) directly through my guesthouse. It cost me less than 1,725 PHP (£25) per person for three people.

Best destinations for island hopping in Palawan

1. Coron

Positioned at the very north of Palawan, Coron is not as touristy as El Nido. In my experience, it is also superior for snorkelling and has better-quality reefs.

Coron has a number of sunken World War II ships, some of which are shallow enough for snorkellers to explore. Wreck diving is fairly unique to Coron; no other area in Palawan has as many wrecks.

Scenery-wise, while El Nido has many areas of exposed, jagged limestone, the islands in Coron are greener and lumpier in appearance. It’s a welcome contrast.

I also found that there is more to do in Coron town proper than in El Nido town proper, which provides some extra variety and ideas for downtime. You can climb Mount Tapyas for views over the islands and town or visit local hot springs.

Average cost:

• Group tour: 3000 PHP (£40) per person
• Private tour: 6,000 PHP (£80) per person

Best tours:

1. Coron Ultimate Tour: Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Sunset Beach, Siete Pecados (coral garden) Skeleton Wreck and CYC Beach.

2. Tour A: Kayangan Lake, CYC Beach, Sunset Beach and Las Islas De Coral

3. Tour B: Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon and Smith Beach

For a more detailed look at island hopping in Coron and the best tours, check out my blog post on the best Coron island hopping tours. 

2. El Nido

El Nido is the most popular island hopping destination in Palawan.

Its emerald lakes and limestone islands are one of the first images you’ll see of Palawan.

El Nido is one of those rare places that is worth the hype. Although you will need to compete with crowds at the best-known island hopping destinations in El Nido, it’s also possible to find unoccupied beaches if you have the right guide.

Remote islands, large lagoons and lakes, and hidden or partially-concealed beaches are some of the main attractions in El Nido. 

Compared to Coron and Linapacan, the coral reefs are unimpressive. Unfortunately, since my first visit in 2018, many of the reefs have died due to the rising tourism and damage from typhoons.

El Nido also has access to Palawan’s best collection of luxury private island resorts. Many are sought-after honeymoon destinations.

In 2018, I visited Cauayan Island Resort and Spa, which consists of luxury five-star cottages on a private island with an infinity pool, spa, beaches and views over gorgeous jungle.

Average cost:

• Group tour: 3500 PHP (£50) per person
• Private tour: 17,670 PHP (£250) for a private tour for three people.

Best tours:

1. Tour A: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Seven Commandos Beach, Shimizu Island and Corong Corong Beach.

2. Tour C: Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island, Tapiutan Beach and Matinloc Shrine.

3. 50-foot sailing catamaran: Locations such as Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Star Beach (a private beach), Hidden Beach and Seven Commandos.

For a more detailed look at island hopping in El Nido and a description of every tour, check out my blog post on the best El Nido tour.

3. Linapacan

Located between Coron and El Nido, Linapacan is my favourite island hopping destination in Palawan. If you want whole islands to yourself and the experience of chasing the tail end of a reef shark or a sea turtle along the edge of a kilometres-long coral reef, this is the place to go.

The only way for a regular person to experience Linapacan is on a multi-day island hopping tour between Coron and El Nido. They operate in both directions.

I have done the three-day Tao Philippines island hopping trip twice, once in 2018 and once in 2022. The idea is that you escape the crowds by sleeping (glamping) on remote islands in bamboo tukka huts and spend the day snorkelling and sunbathing while traversing between the islands on a large traditional bangka boat.

There are other popular companies for the tour such as the Big Dream Boatman Coron, which works out cheaper for the number of days it offers. However, I like Tao because it provides jobs to the local island communities and practices sustainable farming and fishing.

Average cost: 24,100 – 44,800 PHP (£350 – £650)

Best tours:

1. Tao Philippines: 3-day, 5-day (recommended) and 6-day expeditions.

2. Big Dream Boatman Coron: 3-day and 4-day expeditions.

4. Honda Bay (Puerto Princesa)

Puerto Princesa is the capital city of Palawan. While the city itself is highly urbanised, Honda Bay is an island hopping destination located 15 minutes’ drive north of the busy city centre.

As an island hopping destination, Honda Bay is very small compared to El Nido and Coron.

It has access to a small group of islands with white-sand beaches, including the popular sandbar of Snake Island and the Starfish and Cowrie islands which are populated by large numbers of starfish.

Snorkelling is popular along Pambato Reef, which stretches on for 16 hectares.

There are lots of luxury resorts in the Honda Bay area because there’s a big market for island hopping from the city of Puerto Princesa, which is the capital of Palawan and has the main domestic airport on the archipelago.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

Between April and October, whale sharks can be spotted in Honda Bay. Whale watching tours are available. They follow WWF standards for ethical whale shark watching.

The bonus of visiting Puerto Princesa and Honda Bay is that you can easily take a day trip to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a 24-kilometre underground limestone and karst river. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Average cost: 2,080 PHP (£30) per person for a group tour

Best tours:

• One-day Honda Bay tour: Luli Island, Pambato Reef and Cowrie Island.

There is also a popular Puerto Princesa Subterranean River tour from Puerto Princesa, which takes one day. I took this tour with three friends.

5. Port Barton (San Vicente)

Port Barton is less known for island hopping in Palawan, so it’s great for escaping the crowds without wandering too far away.

It is located halfway between El Nido and Puerto Princesa and accessible by minivan in around four hours from either starting point.

For van transfers within the Philippines, 12Go has the best prices and availability.

In Port Barton, island hopping consists of visiting coral gardens, sand bars, beaches and even waterfalls. There’s less limestone and more palm trees and white sand.

Some of the tours focus more on reefs and others more on islands.

Fewer crowds are to be expected, as the destination is gradually growing in popularity.

Average cost: 2,080 PHP (£30) per person for a group tour

Best tours:

• Port Barton Island Hopping Tour: Turtle Spot, Exotic or Maxima Island and Twin Reef.

6. Balabac Islands

If you want to explore Palawan in its wildest state, with hardly any tourists around, head to the Balabac Islands at the very south of Palawan. Partly due to its long distance from Puerto Princesa and purely because it just isn’t as talked about, this Palawan island hopping destination has escaped the notice of many people.

The Balabac Islands have pristine islands, with lots of shallow water and snowy-coloured sand bars. There is also an island with pink sand, tinged by the coral. It is very rich in sea life. You might get to see dolphins and crocodiles (there are only a few around these parts).

Best tours:

Lagum Adventure Pagum runs a four-day and three-night Balabac Islands camping expedition, which explores the less-visited islands with local guides.

This is pretty exciting because previously, the islands were quite difficult to explore – and many of the tours lacked the social aspect that many travellers look for.

Island Hopping in Palawan Itinerary: 5 Days

1. Fly into El Nido.
2. El Nido: 3 days (Tour A, Tour C and one day of travel/relaxation).
3. Puerto Princesa: 2 days (Honda Bay and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River).
4. Fly out of Puerto Princesa Airport.

This island hopping itinerary can be done in reverse.

You could also choose to visit Coron instead of Puerto Princesa, taking one day to do the Coron Ultimate Tour and one day to travel by boat or plane to El Nido.

Island Hopping in Palawan Itinerary: 1 Week

1. Fly into Coron.
2. Coron: 2 days (Coron Ultimate Tour and one day of travel by boat or plane to El Nido)
3. El Nido: 3 days (Tour A, Tour C and one day of travel/relaxation).
4. Puerto Princesa: 2 days (Honda Bay and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River).
5. Fly out of Puerto Princesa Airport.

Island Hopping in Palawan Itinerary: 2 Weeks

If you want to stick to the more mainstream destinations for island hopping in Palawan, you can use the following itinerary as your basis:

1. Fly to Coron.
2. Coron: 4 days (Tour A, Tour B, one day to explore the town proper and one day of travel by boat or plane to El Nido)
3. El Nido: 4 days (Tour A, Tour C, one day to visit nearby Napcan Beach, one day of travel to Port Barton).
4. Port Barton: 2 days (Port Barton Island Hopping Tour and one day of travel to Puerto Princesa)
5. Puerto Princesa: 3 days (Honda Bay, one day exploring the city and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River).
6. Fly out of Puerto Princesa Airport.

If you want to explore slightly more adventurously, try this itinerary:

1. Fly to Coron.
2. Coron: 3 days (Tour A and Tour B and one day to explore the town).
3. Linapacan: 3 days (Tao Philippines Expedition).
4. El Nido: 4 days (Tour A, Tour C, one day to visit Napcan Beach and one day of travel).
5. Port Barton: 2 days (Port Barton Island Hopping Tour and one day of travel to Puerto Princesa).
6. Puerto Princesa: 2 days (Honda Bay and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River).
7. Fly out of Puerto Princesa Airport.

Island Hopping in Palawan Itinerary: 3 Weeks

1. Fly to Coron.
2. Coron: 1 day (Coron Ultimate Tour)
3. Linapacan: 5 days (Tao Philippines Expedition)
4. El Nido: 5 days (Tour A, Tour C and 3 days of other tours or relaxation).
5. Port Barton: 2 days (Port Barton Island Hopping Tour and one day of travel to Puerto Princesa).
6. Puerto Princesa: 3 days (Honda Bay and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River and one day of travel to the Balabac Islands).
7. Balabac Islands: 5 days (remote island hopping and one day to return to Puerto Princesa)
8. Fly out of Puerto Princesa Airport.

Where to Stay When Island Hopping in Palawan

Too many people overlook how important where you stay is to your overall enjoyment of your trip.

Accommodation in Palawan is, luckily, varied. There are budget-friendly hostels and great mid-budget guesthouses. On the other end of the scale, there are beachfront resorts or luxury private island resorts.

Below, I’ve shortlisted some of the best places to stay in Palawan for budget or luxury trips.

Where to Stay in Coron

• Best Hotel:  Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel
• Best Hostel: Outpost Hostel Coron

Where to Stay in El Nido

• Best Hotel: El Nido Garden Resort
• Best Hostel: Frendz Hostel El Nido

Best Island Resorts in El Nido

Where to Stay in Honda Bay

• Best Hotel in Honda Bay: Astoria Palawan
• Best Hotel in Puerto Princesa: Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa

Where to Stay in the Balabac Islands

Hotels and campsites in the Balabac Islands are not bookable through the usual platforms such as Booking.com or Agoda.

Instead, you will need to book directly by phone, through a tour guide, or ask your current accommodation to book you a spot if you don’t have a local SIM card.

• JFK Mountain View Resort
• Patawan Island Resort
• Batalla’s Lodging House
• Kap Andong Travellers Inn

What to Wear Island Hopping in Palawan

When you go island hopping in Palawan, you should wear your swimsuit or trunks underneath your clothes because there will be no private places to get changed. Most of the time, you’ll jump into the water directly from the boat to swim to the beach or snorkel over a reef.

Lightweight and quick-drying clothing is great for island hopping in Palawan because you will put them on over wet swimwear at the end of the day.

A lightweight cover-up, shirt or kimono will also be helpful to keep you warm when you’re wet and protect from sunburn.

In my guide to what to wear in Palawan and while island hopping, I also cover cultural expectations in the town proper and more tips for what to wear in each destination in Palawan.

What to Take Island Hopping in Palawan

• Dry bag (10 – 20 litres)
• First-aid kit
• Swimwear (wear under your clothes)
• Change of clothes
• Beach towel
• Water and reusable water bottles (no plastic bottles are permitted)
• Sun cream/sun hat
• Reef shoes
• Toilet paper
• Snorkel (if you’re not renting one)
• Sandals or flipflops
• Hair ties

What to Expect from an Island Hopping Tour in Palawan

Most island hopping tours depart early in the morning. Unless you have paid online in advance, payment will be in cash in PHP.

In some locations, a buffet lunch will be prepared onboard the boat. Recently, this has been banned in El Nido, so you must source your own takeaway lunch from local restaurants or markets.

The larger the number of stops on your tour, the quicker it will be. If you want to have time for relaxation, it’s worth looking for tours with fewer stops (especially in El Nido or Coron) because they will spend more time at each destination rather than trying to fit in as many popular sites as possible into one day.

Sometimes the itineraries for tours are not fixed. Depending upon tides and weather or ocean conditions, your boat may alter its schedule.

This can also happen if a destination has already reached its full capacity; some destinations in Palawan have their guest numbers capped to limit the effects of over-tourism.

You may be required to pay an additional entrance fee for sites in Palawan. This usually applies to the most popular tourist sites, especially those in El Nido and Coron. It goes towards sustainable tourism practices.

Suggested reading:

• The best El Nido tour: A, B, C or D?
• The best Coron island hopping tours: A, B, C or D?
• What to wear in Palawan
• Diving Anilao Guide: Easy diving destination near Manila

FAQ

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Katie Treharne

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