Palawan Island Hopping: The Ultimate Philippines Beach Guide

Destination & Travel Theme

Destination: Palawan, Philippines — El Nido, Coron, and Puerto Princesa
Theme: Island hopping adventure — limestone karst lagoons, crystal-clear waters, and deserted beaches
Recommended Duration: 7–10 days
Best Season: November–May (dry season; avoid June–October typhoon season)
Budget Range: $50–120 USD per person/day
Visa: Most nationalities get 30-day visa-free entry to the Philippines; extendable to 59 days at immigration offices

Palawan has been voted the world's best island multiple times — and it earns the superlative. This elongated province in the western Philippines contains some of Earth's most extraordinary marine environments: hidden lagoons accessible only by kayak through limestone karst openings, wreck dives on WWII Japanese warships in Coron Bay, and white-sand beaches backed by jungle rising directly from the sea. Unlike Bali or Phuket, Palawan remains genuinely wild in places — a last frontier of Southeast Asian island travel.

The Three Palawan Destinations

Palawan Province contains three primary travel hubs:

• El Nido: Northern Palawan — best for island hopping, limestone karst lagoons, luxury and budget resorts
• Coron: Northeast Palawan — best for wreck diving, Japanese WWII shipwrecks, freshwater lakes
• Puerto Princesa: The provincial capital — base for the Underground River (UNESCO site)

Most travelers do El Nido + Coron (connected by ferry or bangka boat) or El Nido + Puerto Princesa (via van/bus).

EL NIDO: The Island Hopping Capital

How to Get There

• By Air: Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) → 5-6 hour van to El Nido ($10–15 USD, book via El Nido Air Van). Alternatively, fly direct to El Nido via Sky Pasada or AirSWIFT (small planes from Manila, Puerto Princesa, or Cebu — expensive but spectacular).
• By Ferry: From Coron via fast ferry (4–5 hours, $35–50 USD; or slower overnight ferry).

Island Hopping Tours (Tours A, B, C, D)

El Nido's famous island hopping is organized into four standard tours. Each tour is a full-day group trip by bangka boat with snorkeling stops, beach time, and lunch. Book through your guesthouse or local operators (₱1,200–1,800/person plus entrance fees):

Tour A (Most Popular): Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon (kayak through limestone opening), Cathedral Cave, Secret Lagoon
Tour B (Best Snorkeling): Shimizu Island, Cathedral Cave, Seven Commandos Beach, Pangalusian Island
Tour C (Most Remote): Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Helicopter Island, Cadlao Lagoon
Tour D (Bacuit Archipelago): Snake Island (sand spit), Pinagbuyutan Island, Cadlao River, Bukal Beach

Tips for Island Hopping:

• Book directly with operators (avoid hotel markup)
• Choose private tours over group tours for flexibility (~$150–200 for a boat of 6–8, much better experience)
• Bring reef-safe sunscreen (required — marine park rules)
• Best light for Big Lagoon is 9–11am (before crowds arrive)
• Strong swimmers can explore cave entrances; non-swimmers can kayak

El Nido Beaches

Nacpan Beach: 45-minute tricycle north of town — 4km of natural white sand without resort development. Possibly the Philippines' most beautiful undeveloped beach. Basic cottages, cold coconuts. Sunrise is exceptional.

Las Cabanas Beach: 10-minute tricycle south of town — family beach with good sunset views, basic restaurants, and zip-line ($10) over the water.

Lio Tourism Estate: 15km north — planned eco-tourism area with upscale Cauayan Resort and Lio Beach, plus El Nido Airport.

Accommodations in El Nido

• Budget (₱600–1,500/night): Guesthouses in the town proper — Cliffside Hostel, Frendz Resort Backpacker
• Mid-range (₱3,000–8,000/night): Beachfront cottages — El Nido Garden Resort, Cadlao Resort
• Luxury: El Nido Resorts (Lagen, Miniloc, Pangalusian islands) — pristine private-island lodges ($300–600/night, all-inclusive, boat access only)

CORON: Wreck Diving & Freshwater Lakes

How to Get There

• By Air: Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU) served by Air Juan and Cebu Pacific from Manila
• By Ferry: From El Nido (various operators, 4–6 hours)

Wreck Diving (Coron Bay)

Coron Bay contains one of the world's top ten wreck dive sites — 12 Japanese Imperial Navy ships were sunk in a single American air raid on September 24, 1944. The wrecks now form artificial reefs teeming with marine life, covered in soft corals and patrolled by schools of fish.

Top Wreck Dives:

• Okikawa Maru: Massive oil tanker at 10–50m depth — even accessible to snorkelers at the shallow end
• Kogyo Maru: Machine rooms, chimneys, and engines visible; best intermediate wreck
• Olympia Maru: Most photogenic — penetrable holds with natural skylighting

Dive operators in Coron Town: Coron Dive Center, Dive Right (all include equipment, guide, and transfers). 2-dive day trip: $70–90 USD.

Non-Divers: The shallowest wrecks are excellent snorkel sites — Okikawa Maru and Lusong Coral Garden are accessible at 3–5m depth.

Kayangan Lake

Often called "the clearest lake in Asia" — a freshwater lake inside Coron Island accessed via a steep staircase through jungle. The view from the lookout platform is iconic: emerald-green water, limestone cliffs, floating islands of mangrove. Entry: ₱200 (+₱200 for Coron Island environment fee). Include it in the island hopping tour (Tour A Coron includes Kayangan).

Coron Island Hopping Tours

Similar structure to El Nido — full-day group tours by bangka:

• Tour A: Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Skeleton Wreck, Siete Pecados Marine Park
• Tour B: Malcapuya Island (white sand), Banana Island, Bulog Dos

PUERTO PRINCESA: The Underground River

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (UNESCO)

One of the New Seven Wonders of Nature — an 8.2km navigable underground river flowing directly into the sea through a cave system. Guided paddle boats take visitors through chambers cathedral-high, past enormous stalactites and bats. Book permits 2+ days in advance at palawanunderground.com (₱50 per person). Organized tours from Puerto Princesa: ₱1,500–2,000/person (includes transport, permit, lunch, guide).

Honda Bay Island Hopping

Half-day or full-day tours from Puerto Princesa visiting Starfish Island, Luli Island (disappears at high tide), and Pambato Reef for snorkeling. More relaxed than El Nido — good for families or those who want less intense island hopping.

Complete Palawan Itinerary (9 Days)

Palawan Marine Life & Snorkeling

Palawan's waters are part of the Coral Triangle — the global center of marine biodiversity. What you might encounter:

• Sea turtles (green and hawksbill) — common at feeding grounds near seagrass beds
• Reef sharks (blacktip and whitetip) — harmless, common at drop-offs
• Napoleon wrasse, giant trevally, and schools of fusiliers — El Nido's reef walls
• Dugongs (sea cows) — rare but present in Palawan's seagrass areas
• Manta rays — seasonal at Tubbataha Reef (live-aboard diving)

Practical Palawan Travel Tips

Electricity: Philippines uses US-standard outlets (110V, type A/B); most devices work
Cash: ATMs in El Nido and Coron Town are limited and often empty — bring ₱10,000–20,000 cash from Manila. Cards not accepted at most small operators.
Phone: Buy a Globe or Smart SIM at Manila airport. Data is cheap ($5/15-day unlimited).
Plastic-Free: El Nido and Coron have both banned single-use plastics. Bring a reusable water bottle (filtered water stations are common).
Responsible Tourism: Choose operators who do not allow feeding marine animals or touching coral. The reef systems are under pressure; good practices matter.

Best Kept Secret: The Linapacan group of islands between El Nido and Coron — reportedly the clearest water in the Philippines, with almost no development. Ask ferry operators about Linapacan stopovers on the El Nido–Coron route.

Palawan rewards the traveler who ventures beyond the main circuits. For every famous lagoon on Tour A, there are five unnamed beaches visible from the boat. Ask your bangka captain where locals swim — that's always where you want to go.

📸 Palawan Island Hopping Photography Gallery

Discover the pristine beauty of Palawan's islands, beaches, and marine landscapes through these breathtaking travel photography moments.

Crystal Waters & Beach Paradise

Palawan's iconic turquoise waters and pristine white sand beaches, some of the world's most beautiful.

Hidden coves and dramatic limestone cliffs characteristic of Palawan's island landscape.

Underwater Wonders & Snorkeling

Vibrant coral reefs teeming with tropical fish and marine biodiversity.

Clear waters perfect for snorkeling and diving among diverse marine ecosystems.

Island Hopping Scenes

Traditional boats navigating between Palawan's islands, capturing the spirit of island hopping.

Panoramic views of Palawan's stunning island landscape and endless ocean horizons.

Local Culture & Villages

Traditional fishing villages showcasing local life and maritime heritage.

Sunset & Golden Hour

Spectacular sunsets painting Palawan's skies in golden and orange hues.