Palawan Itinerary: What’s the Best Route? (El Nido, Coron and more)
Whenever someone tells me they’re planning a Palawan itinerary, I get so excited.
I’ve been twice, spending 1–2 weeks there each time, so I know first-hand how difficult it can be to choose between El Nido, Coron and Puerto Princesa.
It’s one of those places where your itinerary really shapes your entire experience. Do it well, and it’s incredible. Do it wrong, and you can end up rushing between places or missing some of the best parts.
In this guide, I’ll show you the best Palawan itineraries depending on how much time you have, including a route I’ve done twice that most people don’t even know about.
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Why Getting Your Palawan Itinerary Right Matters
Palawan looks simple on a map, but it’s not. Distances are bigger than they seem, so travel days can be slow.
Plus, although El Nido and Puerto Princesa are on the same island (Palawan Island), Coron is on the separate island of Busuanga further north.
Even just a little planning goes a long way, especially during high season (November to May) when accommodation books up quickly and the most popular spots get very crowded.
Quick Overview: The Best 10-Day Palawan Itinerary
To help you plan, here’s the route I recommend.
Days 1–3: El Nido (island-hopping tours)
Days 4–7: Island-hopping expedition from El Nido to Coron (Big Dream Boatman) – highlight of the trip
Days 8–10: Coron (lagoons, wreck snorkelling)
Short on time? Scroll down for a 1-week Palawan travel itinerary.
Want to include Puerto Princesa? I’ve included an alternative route below.
How to Choose Between El Nido, Coron and Puerto Princesa
There are three main destinations in Palawan – El Nido, Coron and Puerto Princesa – and they’re all different.
If you’re not sure where to go in Palawan, here’s a quick guide:
- Short on time? Focus on El Nido and Coron.
- Want the best overall experience? Combine El Nido, Coron and the island-hopping expedition between them.
- Interested in nature beyond island-hopping? Consider adding Puerto Princesa.
El Nido and Puerto Princesa are on the same island, with a five-hour van journey between them, so they’re easy to combine. Coron, however, is on a separate island (Busuanga) accessible by plane, ferry or boat.
Because most people come to Palawan for island-hopping, the most popular route is El Nido + Coron.
However, one of the most overlooked parts of a Palawan itinerary is travelling between them. Instead of flying or taking the ferry, you can do a multi-day island-hopping expedition through remote islands—something I’d strongly recommend if you have the time.
If you’re very short on time (just 2–3 days), you may need to decide between El Nido vs Coron too. My blog post breaks down the pros and cons of each.
1. Coron
Coron is best for WWII wreck diving, dramatic scenery and less crowds. The snorkelling is good here.
The only thing is, it’s a long way from El Nido and Puerto Princesa.
Read my Coron travel itinerary for all of the best things to do, from hiking Mount Tapyas to snorkelling over WWII wrecks.
2. El Nido
El Nido is the most famous destination in Palawan, known for its limestone cliffs and bright turquoise lagoons.
There’s a huge range of island-hopping tours, but it gets very crowded during high season.
Read my El Nido itinerary for all of the best things to do, from kayaking at Big Lagoon to visiting Secret Beach.
3. Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa is a large city that can feel a little less exciting, but it’s a good base for visiting the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River.
Because most people come to Palawan to go island-hopping, they skip it. However, I wouldn’t discard it too quickly.
Read my Puerto Princesa itinerary for all of the best things to do, from the Underground River to trying to spot whale sharks.
Getting Between El Nido and Coron
There are three main ways to travel between El Nido and Coron:
- Flight (around 1 hour)
- Fast ferry (4–5 hours)
- Island-hopping expedition (at least 4 days)
Every time I’ve visited Palawan, I’ve chosen the island-hopping expedition, and every time, I’ve met people who regretted not doing it.
It’s one of those experiences people don’t realise exists until they’re already there. It’s a welcome change from the crowded island-hopping tours in Coron and El Nido, and feels totally off the beaten track.
The Island-Hopping Expedition: the Highlight of Any Palawan Itinerary
Island-hopping between Coron and El Nido is one of the most unique experiences you can have in Palawan and something many people don’t realise is possible when they’re planning their trip.
Instead of travelling directly between El Nido and Coron by ferry or plane, you’ll spend four days island hopping through remote islands, most uninhabited.
I’ve done this route twice, and it’s easily the highlight of visiting Palawan. You stay on the beach, snorkel in clear water and visit places you can’t reach on standard tours.
The main downside is that it takes at least 4 days, so it doesn’t work for shorter trips.
Check availability and pricing on the Big Dream Boatman website.
Best Palawan Itineraries (3–14 Days)
The optimal amount of time for Palawan is 10 days, but you can still visit for a shorter or longer.
Here are my recommendations for 3, 7, 10 or 14 days.
3-Day Palawan Travel Itinerary
With three days, you should decide between El Nido vs Coron.
Both destinations have small airports connected to Manila, so you can easily fly in and out.
You’ll have time for 2–3 island hopping tours in each:
- Choose Coron for a less-crowded experience and the opportunity to snorkel or dive over WWII wrecks. Read my Coron itinerary to help you decide your activities day-by-day.
- Choose El Nido for island-hopping to spectacular lagoons, limestone islands and secret beaches. Read my El Nido itinerary to help you decide your three-day plan.
7-Day Palawan Itinerary
With seven days in Palawan, I recommend splitting your trip between El Nido and Coron.
- Days 1–3: El Nido (island hopping and beaches)
- Day 4: Travel to Coron (plane or ferry)
- Days 5–7: Coron (lagoons and wrecks)
10-Day Palawan Itinerary
With 10 days in Palawan, you have time to do the incredible island-hopping expedition between El Nido and Coron.
- Days 1–3: El Nido (island-hopping tours)
- Days 4–7: Island-hopping expedition from El Nido to Coron (Big Dream Boatman)
- Days 8–10: Coron (lagoons, wreck snorkelling)
You also have the option to swap the island-hopping expedition for a visit to Puerto Princesa (before El Nido), and spend longer between El Nido and Coron.
To learn more about what there is to do in Puerto Princesa, check out my Puerto Princesa itinerary.
14-Day Palawan Itinerary
Two weeks in Palawan gives you much more time to relax and fit in some smaller stops. I recommend this Palawan travel route:
- Day 1: Puerto Princesa (including the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River)
- Day 2: Van to El Nido (five hours)
- Days 3–6: El Nido
- Day 7–8: Overnight trip to Nacpan Beach – stay at Nacpan Beach Glamping
- Days 9–12: Island-hopping expedition from El Nido to Coron (Big Dream Boatman)
- Days 13–14: Coron
A quick Note on Island Hopping in Palawan
As you can tell, island hopping is the main activity in Palawan. There’s one place you can go island hopping near Puerto Princesa (Honda Bay), but El Nido and Coron are by far the best places in Palawan for island tours.
Both destinations have four set tour routes labelled A, B, C and D – plus an ‘Ultimate’ tour in El Nido for those visiting for just one day.
Below, I’ll give a quick comparison on island hopping in El Nido vs Coron, but I recommend reading my guide to island hopping in Palawan for the full rundown on places to go island hopping in the province.
1. El Nido Island Hopping
As the most popular destination in Palawan, El Nido’s island-hopping tours are the most crowded. But there’s a reason why they’re so popular; the landscapes are simply spectacular.
- Turquoise lagoons surrounded by limestone cliffs, accessible by kayak.
- Secret and hidden beaches on remote islands.
- White sand bars and caves.
- The catch: The tours are busy and most of the corals are damaged from over-tourism, so snorkelling is not very good.
Read my guide to the best El Nido island-hopping tours for an in-depth look at each tour and who I recommend them to.
2. Coron Island Hopping
Coron is less-busy and much better for snorkelling and diving, especially as it has several shipwrecks. You get stunning scenery on a smaller scale.
- Beautiful lakes and lagoons with underwater rock formations
- Good coral gardens for snorkelling
- Powdery beaches
- World War II wrecks
Read my guide to the best Coron island hopping tours for a deeper explanation of the tours and what you’ll see.
When to Visit Palawan
The best time to visit Palawan is November to May, the dry season.
November is a riskier month, as it’s in typhoon season, but the pay-off can be really good with fewer crowds. The crowds really increase around December to March, especially in El Nido.
How to Get Around
Getting around Palawan requires some planning, which is why I’ve written in-depth guides to the most popular routes:
- How to get from Coron to El Nido (or El Nido to Coron)
- How to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido (or the reverse)
Budget
Excluding flights to Palawan, a typical one-week trip to Palawan will cost around £700–900.
If you chose to do the island-hopping expedition between Coron and El Nido, it costs £480+ ($650+) – easily the biggest expense.
- Accommodation in Palawan ranges from 2,450–8,180₱ (£30–100) per night, depending on the quality.
- Transport for a typical trip will cost 6,550–9,820₱ (£80–120)
- Group island-hopping tours cost 1,550₱ (£20) per person – most people will do 3–5 in a trip.
- Food is inexpensive, at 320–730₱ (£4–9) per meal.
It’s possible to do Palawan on less, as hostel beds are inexpensive and local food can cost as little as 160–250₱ (£2–3) per meal.
What to Pack and Wear
My guide to what to wear in Palawan has a complete packing list and guidance on clothing for each location. To summarise it, it’s best to pack lightweight, breathable clothing for the hot and humid climate – as well as a lightweight waterproof raincoat.
On island-hopping tours, you’ll wear your swimsuit or shorts underneath clothes (cover-ups are useful) but always make sure to change back into proper clothing when you’re walking back to your accommodation through town. Locals expect a decent level of modesty (no shirts off!), although shorts and vest tops are absolutely fine.
I hope you found my Palawan itinerary useful. Leave a comment below with your Palawan travel plan or any questions you have, and I’ll get back to you!
