Most Recommended Palawan Tour Packages

Palawan Travel FAQs

1. When is the best time to visit Palawan?

With an average annual temperature ranging from 26 to 35 Degrees Celsius, Palawan has a warm tropical climate, which is divided into two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season.

Generally, the best time to visit Palawan is during the dry season, which runs from November to May, when the weather is dry with few rainfalls. This is the time when you can enjoy all kinds of water activities this archipelago island has to offer.

Since this time of the year (especially from mid-December to mid-April) is also the peak season for Palawan tours, it is recommended to book your trip in advance.

While for tourists who prefer a tranquil atmosphere to avoid crowds, you can choose to visit Palawan during the off-season, also the wet season is from June to October. Besides, the rainy season also provides a chance for lower accommodation prices and discounted airfares, thus gaining the favor of budget travelers.

2. What are the recent travel requirements to Palawan?

Currently, all major destinations of Palawan including Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron are open for tourism. The travel requirements are largely the same at all entry points.

First, tourists need to get fully vaccinated to enter Palawan. You need to present an acceptable vaccination card or vaccination certificate as proof of your fully vaccinated status.

If you are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, you need to provide a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 24 hours before travel. Children under 12 are not required to be tested if they are traveling with a fully vaccinated parent.

Also, you need to register your travel on the eArrival Card before arrival.

And, for travelers from visa-free countries, you need to make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months. For others, you need to get a valid visa.

Besides, you need to buy travel insurance that covers COVID-19, as there is no free medical treatment for international travelers in the Philippines.

3. What are the best travel destinations in Palawan?

As the largest province of the Philippines, Palawan boasts many stunning islands and beaches that keep alluring tourists from home and abroad. Among them, there are three top destinations you should never miss, namely Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron.

Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan province, is the transportation hub of Palawan. It is known for its colonial historical sites, underground river, and diving attractions. Usually, tourists start their trips in Palawan from Puerto Princesa.

Located in the north of Palawan, El Nido best describes the pristine geography and natural ecology of Palawan, with limestone cliffs, three endangered species of sea turtles, over 100 species of birds, and thick coral reefs that exude magical natural power everywhere.

Compared to the former two, Coron is less populated and is more pristine. With a well-maintained underwater world, Coron is famous for its abundant fish, corals, shipwrecks, and white sand beaches that are finer than flour.

4. What are the top things to do in Palawan?

Palawan offers a variety of charming attractions and interesting water activities that never leave you bored during your trip.

One of the top things you should try is island hopping, which is the best way to experience Palawan. You can sail off to explore the hidden islands, beautiful white sand beaches, lagoons, perfect snorkeling sites, and more.

Also don’t miss the Underground River exploration in Puerto Princesa. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Underground River is the longest underwater river in the world. When you cruise through the river, you can see oddly shaped stalactites formed over tens of thousands of years.

For diving lovers, wreck diving in Coron can be a new and different experience for you. The sunken shipwrecks are given to live again by the ocean, covered with coral reefs and small fishes. The most famous shipwrecking sites in Coron include Skeleton Wreck, Lusong Gunboat, etc.

Last but not the least, enjoying beach relaxation is also highly recommended in Palawan. There are some top-rated beaches on this island, like Nacpan Beach in El Nido, Malcapuya Beach in Coron, and Long Beach in San Vicente, etc. Just lounge on the soft white sand to appreciate the impressive scenery!

5. How many days are enough to visit Palawan?

Palawan has a lot to explore for both first-timers and return travelers. And it is recommended to spend 7 to 10 days on your Palawan tour.

First, you are suggested to take 1 or 2 days to visit Puerto Princesa, which offers the famed Underground River and the major city sightseeing of Palawan.

Then you may need 3 to 4 days to visit El Nido, one to two days for its classic island hopping, and one more day for Nacpan Beach and Nagkalit Kalit Waterfalls.

Also, you won’t miss the essence of Coron, which requires about another 3 to 4 days. You will enjoy island hopping, explore its reef and wrecks, and also discover its farther island and beach, like Malcapuya Island and Coco Beach.

6. How to get to Palawan from Manila?

Depending on your itinerary, you can choose to get from Manila to each of Palawan’s three major destinations, Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron, before your exploration of this big island.

For traveling from Manila to Puerto Princesa, the flight is the most common way. It usually takes around 1 and a half hours to arrive at Puerto Princesa International Airport. Though a ferry is available, it is not recommended, as the travel time will take about 24 hours.

For getting from Manila to El Nido, the fastest way is to take a direct flight, which runs for about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Also, you can transfer from Puerto Princesa, taking a van or bus of 5 - 6 hours to get to El Nido.

From Manila to Coron, you can first take a direct flight to Busuanga airport, which takes about 1 hour. Then transfer from the airport to Coron town by van, which takes about 45 minutes to cover a distance of 13 km. Still, the ferry is time-consuming and is not suggested.

7.How to get to Palawan from Cebu?

Traveling by air is the fastest and most convenient way to get from Cebu to Palawan. You can take a direct flight from Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Puerto Princesa, which takes only 1 hour and 20 minutes. There are 25 flights per week from Cebu to Puerto Princesa, so it is easy to take this route.

Alternatively, you can also take a flight from Cebu to Coron. The PAL Express offers daily direct flights to Busuanga Airport from Cebu. Also, Cebu Pacific Air has daily flights from Cebu to Coron, with a stopover in Manila.

8. How to get to Palawan from Boracay?

Considering the far distance, the most recommended way to get to Palawan from Boracay is to take a flight. From Boracay island, you need to first take a short ferry to Caticlan Jetty Port, from where you will transfer to the Caticlan Airport for the flight to Puerto Princesa.

The total travel time from Boracay to Puerto Princesa by flight is around 2 hours and 40 minutes. There are many cheap flights from Boracay to Palawan, and you can book in advance for discounted airfare.

9. How to travel around Palawan?

It is quite convenient to get around Palawan since you can choose from a series of transports. If you need to travel between different islands, like El Nido and Coron, you can take a ferry or boat. The average crossing time of the ferry from El Nido to Coron is 4 hours.

Flight is also available and suggested when you want to save time on a longer journey, for instance, from Puerto Princesa to Coron. Compared to the ferry which takes nearly 11 hours, the flight from Puerto Princesa to Coron only takes 1 hour and 10 minutes.

For touring around on land, you can take a bus or minivan, which are often reasonably priced and can be found all over the island. Or, you can also take the jeepney if you need to get around towns and villages. However, it can be crowded sometimes, and the vehicle is also not air-conditioned.

10.Where to stay in Palawan?

Palawan offers a range of accommodations to meet the needs of different tourists. If you want to enjoy a luxury tour in Palawan, there are some luxury hotels and beach resorts available, like Princesa Garden Island Resort & Spa, El Nido Resorts Lagen Island, and Bacau Bay Resort Coron.

If you want to save money on accommodation, you can also choose to book a budget hostel. There are kinds of cheap hostels and budget hotels in different places of Palawan, like Hostel Privado and Sunlight Guest Hotel in Puerto Princesa, El Nido Viewdeck Cottages and Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach, Coron Vista Lodge, etc.