Best Island Hopping in Palawan: El Nido, Coron and Lesser-Known Spots
If there is one thing that’s worthy of your bucket list, it’s island hopping in Palawan.
I’ve done it twice now, and it’s one of the few places that made me completely rethink my “only visit somewhere once” rule.
With over 7,000 islands, Palawan is known for its emerald lagoons, dagger-edged limestone cliffs and some of the best snorkelling in Southeast Asia. But what many people don’t realise is that where you choose to go island hopping, and how you do it, makes a huge difference to your experience.
From the famous tours in El Nido and Coron to lesser-known routes and multi-day expeditions between the islands, there are more options than most itineraries suggest.
In this guide, I’ll break down the best places to go island hopping in Palawan, how the tours compare and which experiences are actually worth your time.
If you’re planning your full trip, start with my Palawan itinerary.
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.
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 in Palawan.
At the same time, if your focus is on moving as little as possible, the archipelago has plenty of remote white-sand beaches (some on deserted islands).
If you like to travel in luxury, Palawan is famous for its luxury private island resorts, particularly Cauayan Island Resort 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, and El Nido and Coron have plenty of busy hostels.
In short, island hopping in Palawan is worth it for:
- Tropical scenery, including limestone islands.
- Snorkelling and diving with sea turtles, rainbow fish and reef sharks.
- Kayaking at spectacular lakes and lagoons.
- Visiting World War II shipwrecks.
- 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, the 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 from November and May, the dry season.
I have twice visited Palawan in November. I 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 still considered ‘low season’, which gives you the advantage of fewer crowds and lower prices.
March and May are the hottest and driest months in Palawan. They are also the busiest for tourism.
How Much Does it Cost to Go Island Hopping in Palawan?
Compared to destinations like the Maldives or the Seychelles, island hopping in Palawan is very affordable.
In El Nido, the prices sit around:
- Group tour (per person): 1,550 PHP (£20)
- Private tour (for 2 – 4 people): 7,730+ PHP (£100+)
- Multi-day island hopping tour: $300 – 600 (£220 – £450)
When I was in Coron, I managed to hire a private boat for one day (to and from Banul Beach) directly through my guesthouse. The boat cost was 5,175 PHP (£75), which worked out at 1,725 PHP (£25) per person.
Multi-day island hopping expeditions between El Nido and Coron are one of the most popular things to do in Palawan and, in my opinion, the one thing you should not miss.
Big Dream Boatman and Tao Philippines are the main providers for these tours, which start at several hundred USD.
Big Dream Boatman offers the best value for money for these expeditions, keeping group numbers small (up to 20 people).
Naturally, these tours are popular, and often sell out – so make sure to check the availability in advance.
Best Destinations for Island Hopping in Palawan
1. Coron
Best for: Less crowds and good snorkelling/diving
Positioned at the very north of Palawan, Coron is not as touristy as El Nido. In my experience, it is also superior for snorkelling, as it 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 also possible.
Scenery-wise, while El Nido has many areas of exposed, jagged limestone, the islands in Coron are greener and more contoured.
I also found that there is more to do in Coron town proper than in El Nido town proper, which provides some extra variety for activities for your Coron travel itinerary.
You can climb Mount Tapyas for views over the islands and town or visit the local hot springs.
Highlights of Island Hopping in Coron
Kayangan Lake
Barracuda Lake
Twin Lagoon
Malcapuya Island
Average cost:
- Group tour: 2,000 PHP (£25) per person
- Private tour: 5,000 – 7,000 PHP (£60 – £100), split between the group.
Best tours:
- Coron Ultimate Tour: Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Siete Pecados (coral garden) Skeleton Wreck and CYC Beach.
- Tour A: Kayangan Lake, CYC Beach, Sunset Beach and Las Islas De Coral
- Tour B: Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, Skeleton Wreck and Banul Beach
For a more detailed look at island hopping in Coron, read my guide to the best Coron island hopping tours.
Where to Stay For Island Hopping
Outpost Hostel Coron (£££)
Two Seasons Coron Bayside (£££)
2. El Nido
El Nido is the most popular island hopping destination in Palawan, and it’s one of those rare places that is totally worth the hype.
Remote islands, turquoise lagoons and and hidden beaches are some of the star attractions.
Although you will need to compete with crowds, it’s also possible to find secluded beaches if you have the right guide.
Compared to Coron and Linapacan, if I’m being honest, the coral reefs aren’t quite as impressive.
Unfortunately, since my first visit in 2018, many of the reefs have died due to overtourism and damage from typhoons.
Nevertheless, as I explain in my detailed El Nido itinerary, it’s still a must-see for its spectacular lagoons and sandbars.
Highlights of Island Hopping in El Nido
Big Lagoon
Helicopter Island
Snake Island
Small Lagoon
Average cost:
- Group tour: 1,550 PHP (£20) per person
- Private tour: 7,730+ PHP (£100+), split among the group.
Best tours:
- Tour A: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Seven Commandos Beach, Shimizu Island and Corong Corong Beach.
- Tour C: Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island, Tapiutan Beach and Matinloc Shrine.
For a more detailed look at island hopping in El Nido, read my blog post on the best El Nido tour.
Where to Stay for Island Hopping
Frendz Hostel El Nido (£££)
I stayed here!
The Funny Lion (£££)
3. Linapacan
Located between Coron and El Nido, Linapacan is my favourite island hopping destination in Palawan.
If you want to have 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 expedition between Coron and El Nido. They operate in both directions.
The idea is that you escape the crowds by sleeping (glamping) on remote islands in bamboo huts and spending the day snorkelling and sunbathing while traversing between the islands on a large traditional Bangka boat.
I have done this route twice, and it’s still one of my favourite travel experiences to date. I hope to go again next season.
Average cost: 24,100 – 44,800 PHP (£350 – £650)
Picking Your Tour
- Tao Philippines is the original provider of these island-hopping expeditions.
- However, Big Dream Boatman uses smaller groups and offers better value for money overall.
4. Honda Bay (Puerto Princesa)
Puerto Princesa is the capital city of Palawan. While the city itself is highly urbanised, Honda Bay is a beautiful island hopping destination located 15 minutes’ drive north of the 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 Starfish and Cowrie islands. Snorkelling is popular along Pambato Reef, which stretches for 40 acres.
Between April and October, whale sharks can also be spotted at Honda Bay.
The bonus of visiting Puerto Princesa and Honda Bay is that you can easily take a day trip to the Puerto Princesa Underground River, a 24-kilometre underground limestone and karst river.
If you’re thinking about spending a few days in the city, read my Puerto Princesa itinerary.
Average cost: 2,080 PHP (£30) per person.
Best tours:
- Island hopping: Honda Bay tour: Luli Island, Pambato Reef and Cowrie Island.
- Puerto Princesa River: Subterranean River tour from Puerto Princesa
5. Port Barton (San Vicente)
Port Barton is lesser known for island hopping in Palawan, so it’s great for escaping the crowds.
It is located halfway between El Nido and Puerto Princesa and accessible by minivan in around four hours from either starting point.
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 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:
- Four-day Balabac Island Hopping tour from Puerto Princesa, 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.
Where to Stay in the Balabac Islands For Island Hopping
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.
- Patawan Island Resort
- Batalla’s Lodging House
- Kap Andong Travellers Inn
Sample Island Hopping Routes
For a full day-by-day plan, see my Palawan itinerary.
How to Spend 5 Days Island Hopping in Palawan
- Days 1–2: El Nido (island-hopping tours)
- Day 3: Travel to Coron (plane or ferry)
- Days 4–5: Coron (lagoons and wreck snorkelling)
This island hopping itinerary can be done in reverse. You could also choose to visit Puerto Princesa instead of Coron.
How to Spend 1 Week Island Hopping in Palawan
- Days 1–2: El Nido
- Days 2–5: Island-hopping expedition to Coron with Big Dream Boatman
- Days 6–7: Coron
Again, this route can be done in the reverse.
What to Take Island Hopping in Palawan
As I explain in my guide to what to wear in Palawan, these items are essential:
- 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 On an Island Hopping Tour in Palawan
Most island hopping tours depart early in the morning (8am). Unless you have paid online in advance, payment will be in cash in PHP.
In some locations, a ‘packed’ lunch will be prepared onboard. For private tours, however, you usually need to buy your own food beforehand. Many restaurants provide a packed lunch.
If you want time to relax, 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.
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.
FAQs
There are lots of island hopping destinations in Palawan, including El Nido, Coron and Honda Bay. Lesser-known island hopping destinations in Palawan include Port Barton, Linapacan and the Balabac Islands.
To go island hopping in Puerto Princesa, head to Honda Bay 15 minutes’ drive north of the city centre, where there are reefs and islands such as Luli Island, Pambato Reef and Cowrie Island.
A one-day island hopping tour in Palawan typically costs 3000 PHP (£40) per person for a group tour or 17,670 PHP (£250) for a private boat tour.
For an island hopping trip in Palawan, 5 days is the minimum amount of time you will need. Ideally, you need one week to three weeks to go island hopping in Palawan.
A one-day island hopping tour in El Nido typically takes one full day (8 hours), including travel time. A speedboat tour usually takes five hours. Most tours depart around 9am from El Nido Port.
