Palawan is regularly ranked among the world's best islands. Here is the honest guide to El Nido, Coron, and Puerto Princesa — and how to experience them without the resort price tag.
Palawan Philippines: The Ultimate Island Travel Guide 2026
Palawan sits at the southwestern tip of the Philippine archipelago, a long, thin island surrounded by the Sulu Sea and the South China Sea. It has been called the most beautiful island in the world by multiple travel publications, and the claim is not mere hyperbole. The water here is a shade of turquoise that photographs struggle to capture honestly. The limestone karsts rising from the sea around El Nido have the quality of a landscape invented by a novelist.
This guide covers the three main destination zones: El Nido, Coron, and Puerto Princesa.
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El Nido: The Postcard Zone
El Nido is the destination that put Palawan on the global travel map. The town itself is small, infrastructure-challenged, and occasionally chaotic. The surrounding seascape is extraordinary.
Island-Hopping Tours: The standard way to experience El Nido. Tour A, B, C, and D each cover different islands and lagoons. Tour A (Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island) is the most popular and with reason — the lagoons are genuinely spectacular.
Nacpan Beach: 45 minutes north of town by motorbike. Long, pristine, undeveloped. One of Palawan's finest beaches without a resort in sight (currently — this is changing).
Accommodation: El Nido town has everything from $8 dormitory beds to boutique guesthouses at $60–120. Resorts on the islands themselves (Lagen Island Resort, Miniloc Island Resort) are beautiful but expensive at $400+/night.
Getting There: Daily flights from Manila (55 minutes) to El Nido Airport. Tricycle to town. Book flights 6–8 weeks ahead in peak season (December–May).
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Coron: Wreck Diving and Freshwater Lakes
Coron on Busuanga Island is El Nido's quieter, more adventurous sibling. It attracts divers (some of the world's best wreck diving — WWII Japanese ships), kayakers, and travelers who want spectacular scenery without El Nido's tourist density.
Kayangan Lake: Often described as the clearest lake in the Philippines. A short hike over a viewpoint (the most-photographed spot in Palawan) leads to a serene freshwater lake surrounded by limestone cliffs.
Barracuda Lake: Thermocline diving — warm and cold water layers at different depths. Unusual and memorable even for non-divers doing snorkeling tours.
Twin Lagoon: Two lagoons connected by an underwater passage you swim or kayak through. The second lagoon is calmer, clearer, and surrounded by walls of karst rock.
Wreck Diving: 10 Japanese WWII warships sunk in 1944 lie in the waters around Coron. Most are divable at recreational depths (10–40m). The Okikawa Maru is particularly stunning — 160m long, now a coral reef.
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Puerto Princesa: Gateway and Underground River
Puerto Princesa is Palawan's capital and the arrival hub for most visitors. It is functional rather than beautiful but has two genuine attractions.
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River: A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. A navigable underground river running through cathedral-sized caves. Boat tours run daily; book at least 2 days ahead during peak season.
Honda Bay: Snorkeling day trips from Puerto Princesa to Luli Island, Starfish Island, and Cowrie Island. Best for families; less spectacular than El Nido but far easier to reach.
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Practical Matters
Best time to visit: November–May (dry season). June–October brings monsoon weather, rough seas, and disrupted island-hopping.
Currency: Philippine Pesos (PHP). ATMs in El Nido town and Coron. Bring cash — many guesthouses and tour operators are cash-only.
Power outages: Both El Nido and Coron experience rolling blackouts. Not a problem; part of the experience.
Getting between El Nido and Coron: Ferry (4 hours) or bangka boat (sporadic schedules). An El Nido–Coron boat route allows a natural island-hopping trip through the Bacuit Archipelago.
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