Author: Matt and Danielle
16 September 2024
Coron and El Nido are two of the most popular places to visit in Palawan, Philippines, and for good reason. They are tropical paradises where you can find and endless supply of soft white sand beaches all lined with coconut trees and clear blue ocean water. The islands around these parts of Palawan are truly stunning, which is why they are both known for the incredible boat tours that you can, and should definitely take. Some of the most popular and best places you can visit in the Philippines are found in these two small seaside towns.
We've already written a travel guide about the best things you can do in Coron Town and El Nido Town...but how do you get between the two of them? Well, there are ferry services, you can fly or you can take an epic 3 day island-hopping cruise. Here is everything you need to know if you're wondering how to get between El Nido and Coron in Palawan.
Travelling between most islands in the Philippines can be confusing and difficult to work out at times, we know! If you are on a deadline and need to simply get from A to B as quickly as possible, then the best option is to fly. Air Swift is the only airline that offers direct flights, but it doesn't run everyday. It will take about 45 minutes, so it only a short flight and there are around 6 flights per week. Check the schedule and book the best day for you. Tickets can range from £60-£100 per person, which makes it the most expensive single day option.
While it is the fastest option, annoyingly it's not as much of a time saver as might have hoped. El Nido Airport and Francisco B. Reyes Airport in Coron (Busuanga Airport) are both about 30-40 minutes from the main town centre, which adds an extra hour at least to your trip, and will cost more in taxi fees too. In total you are probably going to save a couple of hours at best. Our advice is to take this option if you get unbearably seasick, or want to travel in a little more luxury and comfort.
If you are backpacking around Southeast Asia and want to stretch your money as far as possible then there is a cheaper way to travel. There are plenty boat companies that leave from El Nido Ferry Terminal and Coron Port every day of the week. Some ferry companies take longer than others, and there are only a handful that can do the trip in under 4hrs. Montenegro Shipping Lines and Jomalia Shipping are two fast ferries. Atienza Interisland Ferries are slower, but still cost around the same price. The prices range from £35-£45 and the ports are much closer to either Coron Town or El Nido Town. To go from Coron to El Nido the departure times are around 7am in the morning and once you get to the port you will have to pay a 20PHP (£0.25) terminal fee. If you want to get the ferry from El Nido to Coron then they set off around 12pm in the afternoon.
Once you get to El Nido or Coron ferry port then there are tricycle drivers (tuk-tuks) that can take you to your hotel, and if it's relatively central then it shouldn't cost more that 50PHP (£0.70). If you are staying a little outside of town then it could be 100PHP (£1.40) or even 200PHP (£2.80) depending on how far, and your ability to barter.
There are slow ferries which can take 7-8 hours, but we have struggled to find out too much about it online. Given the longer journey time it would be best to either get the flight, fast ferry from Coron or check out the best way to travel.
For ferries we ALWAYS use 12GoAsia. We have found their online booking system to be super reliable, and they highlight which ferry options come with immediate confirmation, which often dictates which ferry we book as we want to know we are definitely getting on a boat. They have the best prices and it's the quickest way to secure your seat. Book your fast ferry ticket here.
There's no questions about it...we know the best way to travel between these two tropical paradises in Palawan. You need more travel time, and it is more expensive than the ferry journey, but it's the most popular way. It's one of the best trips we have ever taken.
We took a 3-day island hopping tour through Palawan and had the most incredible time. If you can factor it into your travel plans then you will not want to miss this. The boat stops at different remote islands along the way where you can swim in the crystal clear blue waters, snorkel, relax on the white sandy beaches and live your best island life. When we arrived at El Nido the boat docked up around Nacpan Beach where we ate, jumped off the boat and swim in the blissful water.
We had so much fun on our trip, and highly recommend it if you have the time and money available. There are different companies that run these trips, but we went with Buhay Isla and would really recommend them. Their prices range from 18,500 PHP (£250) to 25,500 PHP (£350) for 3 day or 5 day trips. They stopped at the most incredible islands, we swam in crystal clear waters, ate delicious food and met so many incredible people on the trip. Each night we docked up at a different island and lived our own castaway fantasies. It was a dream! And it's not a packed out tour either, there is plenty of free time to relax and do whatever you feel like. It's the most expensive option, but definitely the best.
Another popular tour is Big Dream Boatman. We haven't experienced their tour ourselves, but know it is a popular option for a El Nido to Coron boat expedition.
If you want to see whether this is the trip for you then check out our YouTube video here.
Palawan is a tropical climate with two seasons throughout the year. The Wet Season and The Dry Season. Luckily, it is well placed geographically and remains relatively sunny throughout the year, but if you want to avoid as much rain as possible then you will want to visit during The Dry Season. March to May is The Dry Season, which is when you get the least rainfall but it is also the hottest time of the year. June to October is The Wet season, when it is cooler, but your day tours could be ruined by poor weather conditions.
If you want to find the sweet spot then October to May is your best bet. It should be dry, and a nice temperature. The high season falls between December to April, so that is when you will get the biggest crowds as this part of the Philippines is a popular tourist destination.
When you land in Coron or El Nido you will want to start exploring as soon as possible. There is so much to see. The White-sand beaches, turquoise waters and islands with towering limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons and stunning natural beauty awaits you. These two places are known for their boat trips, and we recommend a taking private tour if you can afford it. It's more expensive that a group tour, but it's the best way to see all the most incredible things that you will want to tick off your bucket list.
We have given all our top tips on both places which you can see here - Exploring Coron & Exploring El Nido.
We hope this helps you plan the perfect trip around Palawan, and answers any questions you had or issues you've come up again. Palawan is a breathtaking part of the world, so make sure you enjoy it to it's fullest.
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