Quick Answer
- Best time: December to May, driest January to April (PAGASA normals).
- Pick bases: El Nido for lagoons, Coron for wrecks and lakes, Puerto Princesa for the Underground River, Port Barton for quiet.
- Distances are real: Puerto Princesa to El Nido is 5 to 6 hours by van; El Nido to Coron about 3.5 to 4 hours by ferry.
- Permits: the Underground River is no permit, no entry; El Nido charges a one-time 400-peso eco-fee.
- Trip length: 7 to 10 days for two or three bases.
At a glance
- Best time
- Dec–May (dry season)
- Time needed
- 7 to 10 days
- Currency
- Philippine peso (PHP)
- Language
- Filipino, English widely spoken
- Getting around
- Vans, ferries, domestic flights
Palawan is the long, thin island province in the far west of the Philippines, and the most common planning mistake is treating it as a single stop. Puerto Princesa, El Nido and Coron are hours apart by road or sea, so the trip comes down to three choices: the season, which two or three bases you pick, and how you move between them. Fees and timings below were checked on 10 October 2026.
When is the best time to visit Palawan?
Go between December and May. The rest of the year is not a write-off, but boat tours, which are the whole point of El Nido and Coron, depend on calm seas.
| Month | Puerto Princesa rain (mm) | Coron rain (mm) | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | 150 | 74 | Dry season starting in the north; busy over the holidays |
| January | 36 | 19 | Dry, calm seas, peak season |
| February | 24 | 14 | The driest month in both places |
| March | 37 | 15 | Dry and hot, ideal for boat tours |
| April | 54 | 38 | Hottest weeks; Holy Week brings domestic crowds |
| May | 118 | 198 | Rains return, first in the north |
| Jun–Sep | 154–185 | 361–480 | Wet season; more tour cancellations |
| Oct–Nov | 211–216 | 119–251 | Wettest months in the south, drying in the north |
Rainfall is PAGASA’s long-term monthly average. It is warm all year, so the table is about rain and sea state rather than temperature. Northern Palawan is more exposed to typhoons than the south: Typhoon Haiyan crossed Busuanga, near Coron, in November 2013. In the wet season, keep a spare day before any flight out in case a boat or ferry is cancelled.
El Nido, Coron, Puerto Princesa or Port Barton: where should you stay?
| Base | Best for | The trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| El Nido | Lagoons, beaches, Tours A to D | Busiest and priciest; 5 to 6 hours from Puerto Princesa by van |
| Coron town (Busuanga Island) | Wreck diving, Coron Island lakes, snorkelling | The town itself is functional, not pretty; the beauty is a boat ride away |
| Puerto Princesa | The Underground River, Honda Bay, cheap flights | A city, not a beach base; most visitors stay one or two nights |
| Port Barton | A quiet village, slower pace, cheaper rooms | Fewer services and fewer tour options than El Nido |
First trip with a week? Fly into Puerto Princesa, spend a night for the Underground River, go north to El Nido for three or four nights, then take the ferry to Coron and fly home from Busuanga. That route never doubles back. Compare El Nido hotel prices before the cheapest rooms near the pier go, especially for January to April.
How do you get to and around Palawan?
There are no international flights to Palawan’s resort areas: you connect in Manila or Cebu, then pick the airport that matches your first base.
For the wider network of ferries and domestic flights, see getting around the Philippines.
What should you not miss in Palawan?
| Sight | Where | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Underground River | Sabang, about 76 km northwest of Puerto Princesa | UNESCO-listed since 1999; permit required, booked in advance |
| Tours A to D | El Nido | Shared boat circuits of Bacuit Bay, around 1,200 to 1,700 pesos plus the 400-peso eco-fee |
| Kayangan Lake and Coron Island lakes | Coron | Short climb to the viewpoint, then a swim in clear lake water; entrance fees paid on the day |
| World War II shipwrecks | Coron Bay | Japanese supply ships sunk in a September 1944 air raid; diving and some snorkel sites |
| Honda Bay | Puerto Princesa | Easy island-hopping day close to the city |
| Port Barton islands | San Vicente | Quieter island-hopping and snorkelling from a small village |
The Underground River is the reason most people stop in Puerto Princesa. UNESCO describes an 8.2 km underground river that flows straight into the sea, navigable for about 4.5 km, with chambers up to 120 m wide. The city enforces a strict no permit, no entry policy and caps visitors each day, and tours run in the daytime only, roughly 8:00 to 16:00. Book through the Underground River Booking Office in Puerto Princesa (bring ID) or a day tour that includes the permit, the van to Sabang and the boat. The cave tour itself takes about an hour. Fees are set by the city and change, so confirm the current figure at the office.
El Nido’s island-hopping runs as four fixed circuits, Tours A, B, C and D, each covering different lagoons and beaches. One or two circuits is plenty for most people. Our El Nido guide covers which tour suits whom and the eco-fee in detail.
Coron is the specialist base. Coron Island, across the bay from Coron town, holds Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake and is the ancestral domain of the Tagbanua people, who manage access to several sites. Coron Bay’s wrecks make it one of the best-known wreck-diving areas in Asia. If you do not dive, Kayangan Lake and the snorkelling stops on a standard Coron Island tour are still the highlight.
Eat where the boat crews eat: grilled fish, adobo and rice at a carinderia (local canteen) costs a fraction of resort menus, and fresh mango and calamansi juice are everywhere.
What goes wrong on a Palawan trip?
- Too many bases in too few days. Every move costs half a day or more. Four days and three bases means most of the trip is in a van.
- Cash. Card acceptance is patchy outside hotels, and island-hopping tours, eco-fees and tricycles are cash. Carry pesos from Puerto Princesa or Coron town.
- Wet-season ferries. The El Nido to Coron crossing is the leg most likely to be cancelled. Do not book a same-day onward flight from Busuanga after it.
- Connectivity. Signal drops on the islands and in Port Barton. A local SIM or eSIM still helps in town: see our Philippines eSIM guide.
- Activate before you fly: data works on arrival
- Plans for 200+ countries from a few dollars
- Keep your number; no physical SIM swap
How many days do you need in Palawan?
Seven to ten days is the sweet spot: a night or two in Puerto Princesa, three or four in El Nido, three in Coron. With four or five days, choose El Nido or Coron, fly in and out of that airport, and skip the road. With two weeks, add Port Barton between Puerto Princesa and El Nido. For a wider route that includes Manila and Cebu, see our Philippines itinerary and the Philippines budget guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Palawan?
December to May is the dry season and the best time for island-hopping. PAGASA’s long-term normals put Puerto Princesa at around 24 to 54 mm of rain a month from January to April and Coron at around 14 to 38 mm, against roughly 360 to 480 mm a month from June to September in Coron. January to April is the calmest stretch; boat tours are cancelled more often in the June to November wet season.
Should I go to El Nido or Coron?
El Nido is the better first pick for limestone lagoons, beaches and a choice of four island-hopping circuits (Tours A to D) from one small town. Coron is the pick for divers and snorkellers, with Japanese World War II shipwrecks in Coron Bay and the lakes of Coron Island such as Kayangan Lake. With seven days or more, do both and link them by the daily fast ferry.
How do I get between El Nido and Coron?
Daily fast ferries cross between El Nido and Coron town in around 3.5 to 4 hours, with Montenegro Lines among the operators and fares of around 1,700 to 2,000 Philippine pesos one-way. The crossing depends on sea conditions and is more often cancelled in the wet season. Small planes also link El Nido’s Lio airport with Busuanga, the airport for Coron, on some days.
Do I need a permit for the Puerto Princesa Underground River?
Yes. The city runs a strict no permit, no entry policy and caps visitor numbers each day, so book in advance through the Underground River Booking Office in Puerto Princesa or as part of a day tour from the city. Bring valid ID. The park sits about 76 km northwest of the city, and the cave tour itself takes about an hour by paddle boat.
How many days do you need in Palawan?
Seven to ten days covers two bases without rushing: for example two days around Puerto Princesa and the Underground River, three or four days in El Nido, and three days in Coron. With only four or five days, pick one base, usually El Nido, and fly in and out of it rather than spending two days on the road.
Which airport should I fly into for Palawan?
Puerto Princesa (PPS) has the most flights and the lowest fares, but El Nido is a 5 to 6 hour van ride north. Busuanga (USU) is the airport for Coron, around 30 to 45 minutes by van from Coron town. El Nido’s small Lio airport (ENI) is served by AirSWIFT and saves the long drive at a higher fare.
Start planning your Palawan trip
Fix the season first (January to April if you can), then the bases, then the flights: an open-jaw into Puerto Princesa and out of Busuanga usually beats flying in and out of the same airport.
Find cheap flights to Puerto Princesa | Compare Palawan hotel prices
Planning the wider trip? See our Philippines travel guide and the hotels hub.
