Getting to Palawan
Most travelers fly into one of three airports:
- Puerto Princesa (PPS): Main gateway. Daily flights from Manila (1h 15m), Cebu, and Clark. All major airlines.
- El Nido / Lio (ENI): Small airport. AirSWIFT from Manila only (1h 10m). Expensive but saves 5-6 hours overland.
- Busuanga / Coron (USU): Daily flights from Manila (1h). Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.
Between Destinations
Puerto Princesa to El Nido
Shared van: P600-800, 5-6 hours. Multiple departures daily from 4 AM. Book through hotel or at San Jose Terminal.
Private van: P8,000-10,000 for the vehicle. Worth it for groups of 4+.
El Nido to Coron
Fast ferry: P1,600-2,200, 3.5-4 hours. Montenegro Lines and Bunso. Daily departures (weather permitting). Book 1-2 days ahead in peak season.
Expedition boat: P15,000-25,000, 3-4 days. Stops at Linapacan islands. Tao Philippines, Art of Island Hopping. Once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Puerto Princesa to Port Barton
Shared van: P400-500, 3-4 hours. Rough last section. From San Jose Terminal.
Getting Around Town
Tricycle
The universal transport in Palawan towns. Short rides P10-50/person, longer rides P100-300. Always agree on price before riding. Can hire for hourly tours (P200-300/hour).
Motorbike / Scooter
P500-700/day in El Nido, P400-600 in Coron and Port Barton. Best way to explore independently. Fuel costs P60-80/liter. Helmets included. International license or local permit recommended but rarely checked.
Island Hopping Boats
Group tours: P700-2,500/person depending on location. Private charters: P3,000-10,000/boat for custom itineraries. All tours include lunch.
Money-Saving Tips
- Shared vans are 10x cheaper than private transfers
- Motorbike rental pays for itself in 2-3 tricycle rides
- Book island hopping as group tours, not private boats
- The ferry between El Nido and Coron is much cheaper than flying Manila-Coron separately