Our Palawan travel itinerary takes you to an archipelago that sparkles like a jewel in the heart of the Philippines. Crystal-clear water, white sandy beaches, green limestone cliffs and fascinating underwater worlds make this one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. But Palawan is more than just a postcard idyll: it offers a very special adventure and a unique island tour that you will never forget.
In this blog article, we show you the ultimate itinerary for Palawan, covering highlights such as El Nido and Coron as well as hidden treasures within 2 weeks.
Palawan Travel Itinerary
Our Palawan travel itinerary takes you from Coron to El Nido and Puerto Princesa with a few stopovers on small, paradisiacal islands. Of course, you can also follow the itinerary the other way round. You should plan at least 10-12 days for the Palawan itinerary. A few days more is also possible, as there is so much to discover. You can see the individual stops on the Palawan travel itinerary on the following map.
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Day 1 | Arrival in Coron
You can reach the island of Coron by plane from most other islands in the Philippines or from the capital Manila. Coron or Busuanga (Busuanga is the actual name of the island) can be reached from Manila, for example, in around 1.5 hours by plane.
From the airport, you can take a minivan to Coron Town, which takes about 30 minutes from the airport in the north. Once we arrived in Coron Town, we made our diving arrangements for the next day – we wanted to do shipwreck diving – and then drove to our hotel La Natura, which was located just outside the city. There we relaxed by the pool after an exciting day.
Hotel Recommendation in Coron
La Natura Resort
La Natura Resort in Coron consists of a beautiful garden-like complex located a bit away from the hustle and bustle of Coron Town. You are in the middle of nature and far away from other tourists or the noise of the city. You wouldn't expect it, but the owners have built a wonderful resort here that you can't even imagine from the outside.
There is a large pool, a lovingly landscaped garden and the spacious cabins are equipped with large bed and ceiling fan.
- large pool with whirlpool
- lovingly landscaped garden
- away from the noisy hustle and bustle of the city
- WLAN & breakfast included
La Natura Resort | Check Availability*
Day 2 | Shipwreck Diving in Coron
After the arrival day of the Palawan travel itinerary, the underwater world will be discovered. The many shipwrecks from the Second World War lie directly off the coast and are one of the special highlights in Coron. Rarely in the world is there such a high density of wrecks that are so easy to explore while snorkeling or diving. So today is a very special kind of sightseeing tour.
A total of 10 Japanese warships from the Pacific battles of the Second World War lie here from the time when Japan occupied the Philippines. You normally visit 2-3 shipwrecks on one dive. On our wreck dive, there were 2 wrecks and a site with colorful corals. It was totally amazing to discover such a large ship at the bottom of the sea and then to dive right into it through a small hatch. We recommend this unique experience to any diver visiting Coron Island.
You can find all the information about the Shipwreck Dive on Coron here:
Coron Wreck Diving I Everything you need to know
Day 3 | Private Boat Tour
An island hopping tour on the island of Coron* is probably one of the most beautiful sightseeing tours you can undertake during a round trip to the Philippines. Even if Coron (or the main island of Busuanga) itself is not really worth seeing, the lagoons and bays off the coast certainly are. The island world that we saw on the Super Ultimate Tour off Coron is one of the most beautiful places we saw on our round trip through the Philippines.
Amazing Island Hopping Tour on Coron | Check Prices*
Highlights of the Coron Super Ultimate Tour
The Coron Super Ultimate Tour usually starts early in the morning and takes you to the following spots:
Kayangan Lake
Kayangan Lake is probably the most famous lake in Coron and definitely one of the most beautiful spots in the region. If you have booked a private tour, you will be lucky to get to this lake before the other group tours. You first drive into a small bay, which looks beautiful in itself. From here, you take the stairs to a viewpoint and then go down to Kayangan Lake for a swim.
You can find out more about Kayangan Lake here: Kayangan Lake I Tips for the most beautiful highlight in Coron
Barracuda Lake
Barracuda Lake is located right next to Kayangan Lake and the special feature of this lake, as the name suggests, are the barracudas that can be seen here if you are lucky.
Here, too, the boat landing stage is on one side and you walk up a flight of steps between the sharp limestone rocks to the other side, where there is a large jetty and the almost transparent water of the lake. The main activities at Barracuda Lake, as at Kayangan Lake, are swimming and snorkeling and, of course, looking for barracudas.
You can find out more about Barracuda Lake in our separate travel report.
Twin Lagoons
The Twin Lagoons are another very special highlight of the island world of Coron. As the name suggests, this highlight consists of 2 lagoons that are connected by a thin rock face. At low tide, you can swim through a hole in the rock face or climb over the rock face using a ladder at high tide.
If you want to find out more about Twin Lagoon, read our travel report: Twin Lagoon Coron I The most important tips for your visit
Beach 91
Lunch is served on this beach during the sightseeing tour. The beach itself is beautiful and great for swimming. But lunch is the icing on the cake. We had a large buffet with seafood, crab, chicken, vegetarian options and, of course, fruit to the max. After lunch, we even had some time to explore the area in a kayak.
Twin Peaks Coral Garden
This is a wonderful snorkeling spot where you can explore the great underwater world of Coron. Don’t forget your snorkeling mask, because there is a lot to discover here.
CYC Beach
The Super Ultimate Tour in Coron ends at CYC Beach. After all the strenuous activities, it’s time for some relaxation. The sand is super fine and there are also some mangroves at the edge of the beach. You can go swimming here or just relax on the beach.
As this is the last stop, we then head back to the port of Coron.
Where to book a boat tour in Coron?
We can absolutely recommend the provider El Nido Paradise*. We also experienced the highlight of our Philippines round trip with them, the 3-day boat tour from Coron to El Nido.
You can read more about it here: 3 Day Boat Trip from Coron to El Nido I An Unforgettable Trip
This provider offers all kinds of excursions on Coron, including the Super Ultimate Tour on which you visit the numerous highlights described here.
Super Ultimate Tour at El Nido Paradise | Check Prices*
Day 4-6 | Boat Trip to El Nido
If we had to name a highlight of our trip to the Philippines, it would probably be this tour. Within 3 days we traveled by boat from Coron to El Nido and during this time we visited many great deserted islands, snorkeling spots and even a cliff to jump off.
The feeling of always being on the move on this island hopping tour and seeing hundreds of green islands in the Philippines no matter where and when you look over the railing made this trip so incomparable.
But let’s start at the beginning: We booked this island hopping boat tour from Coron to El Nido after a lot of research with the provider El Nido Paradise*. They have a lot of very good reviews and the price was also very good compared to other similar providers.
EPIC 3 Day Trip between El Nido and Coron | Check Prices*
We started our tour by meeting early in the morning at the port of Coron. There we had a short briefing before we set off in the direction of our first destination. The first stop was a snorkeling tour in the Blue Lagoon near Coron. From there we went to the island of Ditaytayan, where we saw one of the most beautiful beaches. Here, after the obligatory photos, we simply relaxed in the hammock and enjoyed the view and the peace and quiet until we went to the next island.
The Days on Board
This is how all the days of the three-day boat trip actually run, it is a completely individual mix of activities such as snorkeling, kayaking or beach visits to deserted islands, relaxing on board and delicious food.
New activities are offered almost every hour, which you can take part in or not. It’s up to you. Over the course of the day, you will sail to various snorkeling spots, secluded beaches, sandbanks and beautiful islands.
The great thing is that under normal circumstances you would never get to these secluded spots and islands in the Philippines. Because the normal 1-day tours that you can take from El Nido or Coron never go that far out. This means that the beaches and islands that you can experience on a three-day boat tour can only be seen on a boat tour lasting several days.
We simply felt totally at ease and couldn’t believe what a beautiful landscape we were driving through. And then of course there was the incredibly delicious food that the crew from El Nido Paradise* spoiled us with over the 3 days. For us, this tour really was the absolute highlight of our trip to the Philippines and we really wanted to recommend this tour to you.
Fantastic 3 Day Trip between El Nido and Coron | Check Prices*
All information about the 3-day boat tour from Coron to El Nido can be found here:
3 Day Boat Tour from Coron to El Nido I An Unforgettable Trip
Day 7 | Explore El Nido
The next stop on your Palawan itinerary is the tourist town of El Nido. After 3 days at sea, we recommend that you take your time to arrive in El Nido and find your way around. El Nido is mainly divided into two areas. On the one hand you have El Nido Town with its lively alleyways, cafés, souvenir stores and hotels and then there is the area around Corong Corong Beach.
Things are a little quieter here. Here you will mainly find hotels on the beach and a relaxed atmosphere. From Corong Corong Beach, it takes about 20 minutes to walk to El Nido Town and only a few minutes by tricycle. So decide whether you want a little more hustle and bustle or would rather enjoy the peace and quiet.
We spent the first day simply strolling through the alleyways, drinking delicious coffee and planning the next few days. Because although El Nido is such a small place, there is a lot to do.
El Nido Travel Guide | The most beautiful Palawan sights
Hotel Recommendation in El Nido
Fisheye Hotel
The Fisheye Hotel* is located in the middle of the hustle and bustle of El Nido Town and yet you sleep here quietly in the backyard. You won’t actually hear any of the noise of the city. The hotel only has 4 rooms and the entire complex is lovingly furnished in Bali style. Breakfast is also included and it’s delicious. The hotel also has its own store where you can buy chic jewelry and clothes. We felt very comfortable here and you can get everywhere quickly on foot.
- stylishly furnished in Bali style
- Air conditioning and TV with Netflix
- Rooms are quietly located in the backyard
- Double room from 30 euros
Fisheye Hotel | Check availability*
Frendz Hostel El Nido
Do you want a bit more action and want to get to know other people quickly? Then you should check into the Frendz Hostel*. From the roof terrace with its huge pool, you have a breathtaking view of the sea. You have a huge communal area with pool table and bar. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, you’ve come to the wrong place, but if you want to party on the roof terrace in the evening, this is the place for you.
- Large hostel in the middle of the city
- Huge roof terrace with pool
- Large communal area
- Party at the hotel pool in the evening
Hotel Recommendation at Corong Corong Beach
Coco Resort | Large Bungalows in a beautiful garden
The Coco Resort consists of many small and large detached bungalows in a garden-like complex with a large pool and private beach access. In the large bungalows you even have your own small whirlpool, your own terrace and enough space for privacy.
We really felt very comfortable here and we could walk to the beach in 2 minutes.
- own bungalow with a lot of space around it
- big hotel pool
- breakfast included
- own access to the beach
Day 8 | Discover El Nido’s Beaches by Scooter
To explore more than just the destinations within walking distance, you should rent a scooter. We really enjoy exploring the area by scooter. You are flexible and can organize the day according to your own wishes. Our first destination for the day should also be the furthest away of the day… Nacpan Beach.
From El Nido, it took us just under 45 minutes to reach Napcan Beach. A bay almost 4 km long and 50 m wide awaits you here. Beach wherever you look… but unfortunately without enough shade. Sun loungers with parasols can only be hired at the entrance to the beach.
However, our visit to Nacpan Beach was spoiled by lots of small sand fleas. After being besieged and bitten several times, we decided without further ado to return to El Nido for a quick lunch and then to the next beach.
The next beach was Maremegmeg Beach. This is a little to the north of El Nido. It is about 50-55 minutes from Napcan Beach. From El Nido it is only 10-15 minutes. Marimegmeg Beach is considered the most beautiful beach in El Nido.
There are lots of hotels and beach bars with cool music, swings and beanbags on the beach itself. It feels a bit like Bali here. However, the further you walk along the beach, the quieter it gets. So we were able to find a quiet spot to spend the rest of the day just relaxing on the beach.
Day 9 | Island world El Nido
On day 9 of the round trip through Palawan, one of the most popular tours in El Nido awaits you. From El Nido, you can set off on 4 different boat tours, each of which will take you to different beaches, bays and caves.
Funnily enough, the different boat tours in El Nido are standardized and are called Tour A – D. They also cost exactly the same everywhere, so it makes no difference where you book your tour, as you will be randomly allocated to the boats on the beach.
You can easily book the tours online via the provider El Nido Paradise*. We were really happy with the provider. Everything is well and professionally organized!
Book a boat trip to El Nido | Check Prices*
Our Experience with Tour B
We opted for the group tour B on our Palawan round trip. We had thought about doing another private tour like in Coron, but this time we wanted to save a little money. So we were ready at 9am at El Nido Beach to start our tour. After a few organizational things, we got on the boat and were ready to go.
Entalula Beach
We first went to Entalula Beach. This was actually the destination we were most looking forward to. In the bay on the right, a steep rock juts out of the water, which makes for a perfect picture with the drone.
While the whole group was snorkeling in the left bay and walking on the beach, we had the right bay all to ourselves. All we had to do was walk through the waist-high water.
Here we were able to take photos, fly drones and enjoy the amazing view. We had just under 45 minutes at Entalula Beach, but would have loved to stay the whole day. A dreamlike spot that took our breath away.
Snorkeling
After our visit to the beach, we continued on to another island. Here we moored next to a steep rock face and went snorkeling. The snorkeling spot was quite nice, but not comparable to other snorkeling spots we have already seen in the Philippines.
Snake Island and lunch
Next we went to Snake Island. Snake Island is a long sandbank that leads from a small island over to the “mainland”. Unfortunately, we had no luck with the tides during our visit. At high tide, the sandbank is under water and can only be guessed at. A visit at low tide is a real highlight. However, if you want to see the sandbank at high tide, you can climb a hill on the small island within a few minutes and enjoy the view. Or you can fly with your drone to get an even better view.
After descending from the viewpoint, it was time to wait, as lunch is also served on Snake Island. You can spend your free time exploring the small island or going for a swim.
Cudugnon Cave
After so much beach and sea, it was time for a change. And we definitely got that with the Cudugnon Cave. The boat stops a few meters from a beach on a limestone wall. From the mooring, we first went into the water, then through a hole in the limestone wall and into the cave behind it.
The cave was really huge and really impressive. A little light shone through some holes in the first part of the cave. In the second part it was a little brighter and you had the opportunity to climb around a little and take photos. A really cool experience and a nice change from the other spots.
Cathedral Cave
The last stop on our tour was Cathedral Cave. This is another large cave between the limestone cliffs. You can already see it from the outside and we took the boat to the entrance of the cave so we could take a few photos.
Unfortunately, swimming is no longer allowed here because there are probably some poisonous sea snakes. So you can only see this amazing place from the boat. After everyone had taken their photos, we headed back towards El Nido.
Return trip to El Nido
We actually found the return trip to El Nido really nice and totally relaxing. We sat on the wooden boards on the outside of the boat, let our legs dangle over the sea, were blown away by the great impressions of the day and watched the islands around El Nido bathed in the warm light of the sunset. What a beautiful end to this great day.
Book a boat trip to El Nido | Check Prices*
Day 10 | Canopy Walk Kayak Tour
The next day of our Palawan round trip starts early and with a slight mix-up. We wanted to do the hike to Taraw Cliff and set off shortly before 8am. We only briefly told the driver of the tricycle that we wanted to go to Taraw Cliff and simply set off without doing any further research.
We were then dropped off at the canopy walk office and still thought we were on the right track… because somehow we had put the hike to Taraw Cliff and the canopy walk in the same drawer and thought they were the same activity. To make a long story short: They are two different activities.
Canopy Walk
So we started with the Canopy Walk. At the canopy walk office, you can choose between 2 options. You can just walk to the top and enjoy the view or you can also walk over the nets. You pay 700 pesos per person if you not only want to climb to the top but also walk over the nets. You should definitely do this. If you only pay 400 pesos then you climb to the top and then walk back the same way.
It’s never really strenuous and you’ll be at the top in less than 20 minutes. From the viewing platform there, you have a great view of the bay of El Nido and the sea. If you have chosen the “big” package for 700 pesos, you can now go even further over the various nets that are stretched up there at a dizzying height. There will always be photo breaks and your guide will take numerous photos of you.
We really enjoyed the canopy walk and would rate it as one of the highlights of El Nido. You really have a wonderful view from up there and enjoy a panorama that you can otherwise only see with a drone.
We also had a super nice guide who told us about the hike to Taraw Cliff that we actually wanted to do. The official route has been closed for some time because there have been a few accidents. Unofficially, however, there are guides who accompany you up Taraw Cliff. And our guide on the canopy walk does just that. So we didn’t have to think twice and booked the ascent for the next day.
After our visit to the canopy walk, we just had the morning and went for a stroll through El Nido. Then we went to Corong Corong Beach because we had another sporting activity planned for today.
Would you like more information about the canopy walk?
Canopy Walk El Nido (Taraw Cliff)
Kayak Tour at Corong Corong Beach
During our research for the Philippines, we hardly read anything about kayak trips in El Nido. But since we love such excursions, this went straight onto our to-do list despite the lack of information. And what can we say, it was one of the best excursions we did in El Nido.
From Corong Corong Beach you have the opportunity to paddle to several beaches. We paddled first to Ipil Beach 2 in about 45 minutes. The path leads along the limestone cliffs and at one point through a huge gap in the rocks. You will also pass a few other beaches that you can visit on the way back.
Ipil Beach 2
When we arrived at Ipil Beach 2, we were totally impressed. The setting is simply unbelievably beautiful. A white beach, perfectly turquoise water and cliffs covered in green plants. But the best thing was… we were completely alone. So we spread out our beach towel under a small tree and enjoyed a wonderful time in this beautiful place.
Papaya Beach
From Ipil Beach 2 we actually wanted to go to Seven Commandos first, as this is also a beach that is visited on the boat tours. But that’s also the problem. It was teeming with boats and tourists and it was just too crowded for us.
So we paddled a few meters further and stopped next at Papaya Beach. In addition to the wonderful beach, there is also a palm tree with a swing that makes for a particularly beautiful photo opportunity.
There were also a few other tourists here, but we had no problem finding a quiet spot and were able to enjoy our time on this great beach.
As it was already late afternoon, we made our way back to Corong Corong Beach after Papaya Beach. If you have more time, you can paddle from here to Lapus Lapus Beach. We didn’t make it there that day.
Day 11 | Taraw Cliff Las Cabanas Beach
Today should finally be the day. The real hike up Taraw Cliff was on the agenda. We were supposed to be back at the canopy walk office at 5am to meet the guide. From here, we first headed towards El Nido Bakery and then continued along the winding paths away from the main roads to the starting point of the hike.
We were told to bring something to drink and sturdy shoes. Our guide gave us gloves and headlamps and we were ready to go. It was still really pitch dark and you could only see the small part that was illuminated by the headlamp. You had to be careful where you stepped with every step. In some places you also had to climb or walk over very narrow rocks.
Our guide always explained to us exactly where we should hold on and where we should step. And so we made our way up the cliffs of Mount Taraw over hill and dale in around 45 minutes. Shortly before we reached the top, it started to get light and the first birds accompanied our ascent with their song.
We made it just in time for sunrise and were able to marvel at the magnificent view of El Nido. Illuminated by the warm light and with the rising sun behind us, it was one of the best views of our Philippines backpacking trip.
Although we were not alone on the mountain, the number of other tourists was limited, so we were able to find a spot for ourselves. However, there is no viewing platform or anything similar on the mountain. This means you have to find a spot somewhere on the pointed rocks.
We spent some time here taking photos, flying the drone and enjoying ourselves before heading back down. This takes place in the light, but you still have to be careful where you step.
We were back down in El Nido at 7.30 a.m. and had an amazing experience before breakfast. We had more than earned our breakfast at our hotel afterwards.
You can find all the information about the hike up Taraw Cliff here:
Taraw Cliff Hike I El Nido Palawan
Since the start of the day was already so exhausting, we simply wanted to relax for the rest of the day. We chose Las Cabanas Beach, which is right next to Marimegmeg Beach but a little quieter and more relaxed. We spent the rest of the day here.
Day 12 | Kayak Tour and arrival in Puerto Princesa
On our last day in El Nido, we had until the afternoon and wanted to spend some time on a secluded beach. So, after breakfast, we quickly left our hotel, rented a kayak and paddled to Lapus Lapus Beach.
The beach can be reached from Corong Corong Beach in about 10-15 minutes. Part of the beach is private property, but during our visit we were able to go ashore on the far right of the beach without any problems and had a small stretch of beach to ourselves. We spread out our beach towel under the tree and spent the day swimming, snorkeling and relaxing.
In the late afternoon, we had to get back and get ready for our journey to Puerto Princesa*. The van was supposed to pick us up at 5pm, but we weren’t actually picked up until 6pm. After that, it took us about 5.5 hours to get to Puerto Princesa, sometimes like a rollercoaster. The journey was really awful and we were really glad when we finally arrived at our hotel.
Book transfer to Puerto Princesa | Check Prices*
Hotel Recommendation in Puerto Princesa
If, like us, you have to spend the night in Puerto Princesa, we can recommend the Hotel Cleon Villas Pension*. The owner was really super nice and even waited longer for us because we didn’t get there until around midnight. The rooms are simple but very clean and perfect for one or two nights.
Day 13 | Visit the Underground River in Puerto Princesa
If possible, you should also plan 1-2 days in Puerto Princesa, as there is a lot to discover here too. Alternatively, you can also head straight to your next destination in the Philippines from here, such as the beautiful island of Cebu.
In Puerto Princesa, you should definitely visit the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, where an underground river flows through impressive limestone formations. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the longest underground river systems in the world. On a boat tour through the impressive caves, a fascinating world of stalactites and stalagmites awaits you, surrounded by dense tropical vegetation and exotic wildlife.
Day 14 | Honda Bay Islands
Just as fascinating as the Underground River are the picturesque Honda Bay Islands, which invite you to go island hopping with their crystal-clear water and pristine beaches. Honda Bay is located on the east coast of Puerto Princesa and is home to a multitude of small islands with resorts and beaches. Popular stops on the tour include islands such as Cowrie Island, Starfish Island and Pandan Island. Once again, beautiful beaches and a fantastic underwater world await you here.
We hope you enjoyed our Palawan travelogue. If you have any questions about our Palawan itinerary, please leave us a comment.