The Ultimate 10-Day Palawan Itinerary

Palawan Philippines is hands down one of the most mind-blowing places on Earth. Palawan consists of 1780 beautiful islands full of natural wonders and glorious white sand beaches. It's one of those places you just have to see yourself to believe!

In this perfect Palawan itinerary, I'll lay out my suggestion for a 10 to 14-day route through the region. I'll share my favorite spots from my recent trip, the best activities, and an easy-to-follow route for first-time visitors to Palawan.

How Many Days Do I Need in Palawan?

I suggest at least 10 days in Palawan to see the best of the island (it's actually pretty big and has a lot more spots than just the famous El Nido). If you can manage it, 10-14 days will give you the best experience without stress and will allow you to see some of the up-and-coming Palawan destinations.

I have outlined a detailed 10-day itinerary below, but I've added a highly suggested Palawan adventure at the end if you have 14 days to spare!

A Note on Traveling Around Palawan

When you look at the map, it seems like a breeze to travel around the Philippines. It doesn't look like a big area, but it's deceiving. Travel in the Philippines, in general, and on Palawan Island takes longer than you imagine.

You will have a couple of days that you won't do much but ride on a van or ferry. I've included travel time in my Palawan itinerary, but if you choose to deviate from the plan below, make sure to do thorough research on your transit options and give yourself some leeway when it comes to traveling between Palawan towns.

How to Get to Palawan

Like most destinations in the Philippines, the only real way to get to Palawan Island is to fly. If you're arriving internationally, you will likely fly to Manila first. There are regional flights from Southeast Asia directly to Puerto Princesa, but Manila is really the only budget-friendly international flight if you're coming from outside of Asia.

From there, you have three options to reach Palawan Island, and the best choice depends on your budget.

Option 1: Fly to Puerto Princesa Airport

This is the capital city and it has the largest airport with the most connections and the cheapest flights. Air Asia, Cebu Pacific, and AirSWIFT all offer flights into Puerto Princesa.

Option 2: Fly to Coron Airport

If you want to reverse my itinerary, you would fly into Coron first. Multiple flights a day to Coron are offered by several Asian airlines. These flights are slightly more expensive than to Puerto Princesa but much cheaper than to El Nido.

Option 3: Fly to El Nido Airport

The last option would be to fly directly to El Nido from Manila. Only AirSWIFT makes this flight, and it's expensive compared to the others. It also arrives by very small prop plane which makes some travelers uncomfortable. There are also luggage weight restrictions to consider.

10-Day Ultimate Palawan Itinerary Overview

Day	Place	Activities	Transit
1	Puerto Princesa or Sabang	Underground River	Flight from Manila
2-3	Port Barton	Beaches Island-hopping tour Pamuayan Falls	Shared van from Puerto Princesa, around 3.5 hours
4-7	El Nido	Island-Hopping Tours Taraw Cliff Bar-hopping	Shared van from Port Barton, around 5-6 hours
8-10	Coron	Island-Hopping Tours Shipwreck Dives Maquinit Hot Springs	Ferry from El Nido, around 3.5 hours
10-14	Balabac Islands	4 Day/3 Night Island Hopping Tour	Guided Tour from Puerto Princesa, required van + ferry + boat

Day 1: Puerto Princesa & Sabang

Honestly, Puerto Princesa is worth a day at max. It's not a pretty city, and there's just so much more to explore on the island that you don't want to spend much time here.

That being said, it's worth a quick stopover for a couple of activities, especially since you'll likely be landing there anyway, as it's the primary transit hub for the island. The city offers easy tours and transportation options to all other Palawan top spots, so it's not a bad place to start.

What to Do in Puerto Princesa

There are two worthwhile tours near Puerto Princesa, though neither are actually in the city: The Firefly Tour and The Puerto Princesa Underground River Tour. Both present you with a glimpse of the natural wonders to come on this beautiful island.

Tour One: A Boat Ride With the Fireflies

You'll paddle out into the mangrove forest on the Nagsaguipi River, and when the sun goes down, the waters and sky alight with the glittering tails of millions of fireflies! I must say, it's a pretty romantic date night if you're visiting Palawan with your partner.

Tour Two: Puerto Princesa Underground River Tour

The tour includes a boat ride on the longest navigable underground river in the world. Despite the name, it's located in the town of Sabang, about an hour north of PR. If you don't take a guided tour, you'll need to acquire a permit in Puerto Princesa at the Underground River Booking Office before you arrive.

A protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Puerto Princesa Underground River is huge, winding itself for 8km under St. Paul Mountain. A trip down the river treats you to magical caverns with gigantic, dangling stalactites. Most tours include pickup from your hotel, a multi-lingual guide, a boat ride, and lunch.

Time Saving Tip for Puerto Princesa

Get Your Guide and others also offer a combination tour, combining these two activities, which might be the best option if you only have one day in the area! However, you'll need to arrive early in the morning and arrange to store your bags at your hotel for the day before check-in.

With an Extra Day

If you want to spend another day here, there are some caving tours in Lions Cave and Daylight Hole and a chance to see wild animals like monitor lizards, several species of monkeys, and hornbills.

Try the Balut

These days, strange and outrageous foods are mostly for tourist markets, but balut is different. The Filipinos love this national delicacy, and they really do eat it often.

What is balut?

Well… it's a half-developed duck that is seasoned with salt, vinegar, and spices and served from the shell. It's a bit hard to look at, but the creamy texture is something you'll either love or hate… only one way to find out! Pop into Balut Corner and give it a shot!

Where to Stay in Puerto Princesa

If you don't mind an extra hour on the van, I actually recommend staying in Sabang.

It's a quiet little beach town with a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it feels cozier than the city of Puerto Princesa. Here are some of my accommodation choices:

Luxury Option: Four Points by Sheraton Palawan Puerto Princesa

Midgrade Option: Daluyon Beach & Mountain Resort

Budget Option: Bambua Nature Cottages

Day 2-3: Port Barton

Port Barton is a small fishing village on the west coast of Palawan that features a laidback vibe, a beautiful beach, its own island hopping tours, and swimming with turtles.

It's less commercialized and developed than the rest of the spots on the island, so be sure to have some spare cash on you. It's a wonderful spot for families with small children or a romantic getaway.

What to Do in Port Barton

• Long Beach: Lined with palm trees sprouting from golden sands, it's the longest beach in the Philippines and a short trip from Port Barton.

• Beach Hopping: Spend the day bouncing from White Beach to Itaytay, Coconut, Naonao, and Pasandigan Beach.

• Island Hopping Tours: Unlike the highly organized boat tours of Coron and El Nido, Port Barton's tours are all about slowly bumming on white sand beaches! This guided tour visits Paradise, Maxima, and Exotica Islands. You'll snorkel with marine life in Twin and Fantastic Reef, hang out with sea turtles, and visit Starfish Sandbar!

• Pamuayan Falls: If you're looking for a day away from the beach, Pamuayan is a great day trip to explore the interior of the island.

Where to Stay in Port Barton

Accommodation options in Port Barton are growing by the day, but remember this area is newly developing, don't assume your bungalow will have air conditioning!

There are no true luxury resorts in the area. This trip is about bungalows on the beach.

Luxury Option: Parrots Boutique Resort

Midrange Option: Hotel Oasis Port Barton

Budget Option: BFF Backpacker's Inn

Day 4-7: El Nido

El Nido is the tourist hub of Palawan, situated on the northwest portion of the main island. It features a hopping bay lined with quirky beach bars, boat tour operators, and budget hotels. El Nido Palawan is famous for its towering limestone cliffs, clear waters, and popular island hopping tours.

Alternative Option: El Nido would be my recommendation if you want to have one hub from which to explore Palawan instead of hopping around. It offers easy transit options to most other popular destinations and a large variety of accommodations, restaurants, and nightlife options.

What to Do in El Nido

• Island Tours: El Nido has four island hopping tours lettered A, B, C, & D. Tours A and C are the most popular. I would recommend doing at least two tours. You'll visit must-see sites like Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island, 7 Commando Beach, Matinloc Island, and Snake Island.
• Taraw Cliff: Hire a guide and climb to the rocky crag of Taraw to overlook El Nido Town and the bay. It's a stunning view! The hike doesn't take long, but it's challenging with net walks, scrambles, and suspension bridges.
• Nacpan Beach: Often listed as one of the most beautiful in the world, Nacpan Beach, just north of town, is a compulsory day trip on any El Nido itinerary!
• Las Cabanas Beach: This white sand beach is a lovely spot for sunset and a cocktail. There's also a zipline to a nearby island that makes for a fun adventure!

Where to Stay in El Nido

El Nido has the most accommodation options for each type of traveler. It's loaded with budget-friendly hostels and has a few higher-end resorts on Nacpan Beach and surrounding areas.

Luxury Option: Cayuan Island Resort & Spa (in Bacuit Bay)

Midrange Option: H Hotel El Nido

Budget Option: Happiness Hostel

Day 8-10: Coron

El Nido's twin sister is just as glorious but boasts a different vibe. Coron is a series of islands north of the main island of Palawan. Adventurous travelers visit Coron for world-famous shipwreck dives, hidden beaches, and mesmerizing lagoons.

Coron Town is the primary spot to hang out. If you take the ferry from El Nido, you'll land near the town of Busuanga Island.

If you need a shorter trip, you could choose either El Nido or Coron instead of both. Check out my article on El Nido vs Coron to help make this impossible decision a bit easier!

What to Do in Coron

• Island-hopping tours: Coron offers several boat tours to explore its lakes and dive sites. They are organized by letters as well, but not as set in stone as you'll find in El Nido. It's common to arrange a private tour to remote islands in Coron in addition to the organized group tours.
• For around US$100, you can visit Malcapuya Island, Banana, and Bulog Dos Islands on a private boat. Ultimate Coron Group Tours to Malcapuya Island, Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Atwayan Beach, Twin Lagoon, and Skeleton Wreck can be purchased for around US$57.
• Maquinit Hot Springs: Day trips to Maquinit are the perfect way to relax and soothe those aching snorkeling muscles!
• World War II Shipwreck Dives: Scuba diving is an absolute must in Coron. Coron Bay is not only home to 12 sunken Japanese warships, but it also has a healthy array of marine life including sea cows and turtles. You can also explore the underwater rock formations likened to Gothic cathedrals in Barracuda Lake and the immaculate Sieta Pecados with a reputable diving school like Corto Divers.
• Black Island: For a romantic afternoon, take a private trip to the towering Black Island and its Hidden Beach.
• Pass Island: Another popular stop, Pass Island is a tiny white sand beach with lush palm trees, clear lapping waves, and pure paradise vibes!
• Mount Darala: Hiking up the tallest peak in the region gives you an excellent view of over 200 islands! The hike takes 6-8 hours, and you can combine it with a trip to Maquinit Hot Springs.

Where to Stay in Coron

Coron doesn't feature as many accommodation options as El Nido. West Busuanga is mostly diver's hostels. Coron Town has a decent hotel mix, and the private islands surrounding Busuanga are home to most of the luxury stays.

Luxury Option: Club Paradise Palawan (on Dimakya Island)

Midrange Option: Al Faro Cosmio Hotel

Budget Option: BAMBAM Hostel

Extend to 14 Days

If you can expand your trip to a full two-week Palawan itinerary, then I highly suggest rearranging the above itinerary and visiting one of the most beautiful places I have ever laid eyes on!

The Balabac Islands lie south of the primary island and can be reached by guided tour from Puerto Princesa. The cluster of private islands is immaculate with perfectly clear water and white sand that is almost blinding! This extension to your Palawan trip offers a completely different vibe than the towering karst lagoons and lakes of El Nido and Coron.

Balabac Islands Tour

Though they are becoming very popular, the Balabac Islands are still not a major stop on the tourist route. The only reasonably easy way to visit is by guided tour from Puerto Princesa.

The public tours are typically 4D/3N trips and are available on scheduled days. You will need to book ahead of time and schedule the rest of your trip around your tour dates. Private tours are available on any date and can be 3D/2N if you wish.

This island-hopping tour is full of fresh seafood, lazy beach days, and primitive bungalows on the water.

What to Expect on Your Balabac Islands Tour

Let me reiterate: the tours are primitive! There are no luxury accommodations. However, the boats are nice. The group meals are fun, the food is tasty, and the scenery cannot be beaten!

We started our trip with a 4-5 hour van ride to the ferry port. Most companies pick you up at your hotel. We then took the public ferry out to sea where you'll make an in-water transfer to a smaller boat. From there, the island hopping starts immediately.

You'll visit a series of islands each day, including the exceptional Onok Island and its paradise beach. You'll snorkel with sea turtles, wander among starfish, and explore healthy coral reefs.

You will return each night to your private island, usually on Punta Sebaring, where you can choose from sleeping in a tent or a thatched roof bungalow with a fan.

The sites are a sort of campground atmosphere with sporting areas, shared showers and toilets (bucket style), and a small convenience store. At night, you can gather with friends or find a corner of the beach to yourself with a hammock. Punta Sebaring has some pretty immaculate sunsets!

If you can swing it, and you don't mind roughing it a little, I highly recommend adding this tour to your Palawan trip!

Palawan Itinerary – Frequently Asked Questions

🏝️ How many days is enough to visit Palawan?

To fulfill the ultimate Palawan itinerary, you'll need at least ten days. However, if you want to include the emerging hot spot of the Balabac Islands, consider a two-week trip! If you only plan on visiting El Nido, 3-5 days is sufficient.

🐚 Can you spend two weeks in Palawan?

Two weeks is the perfect amount of time in Palawan to see most of the major attractions without feeling too rushed. Travel in the Philippines takes longer than you estimate from afar, so 14 days allow wiggle room for delayed van rides and late ferries.

☀️ What is the best time to go to Palawan?

The ideal Palawan trip avoids the stormy seas of the wet season. You'll want to travel between October and May. March through May are the hottest months. I would avoid late December and January as the tourist crowds are huge!

Palawan Itinerary – Final Words

I hope you've enjoyed this ultimate Palawan itinerary and gotten some ideas for your trip to paradise! A visit to Palawan is the ultimate island experience. Expect sunny days, out-of-this-world landscapes, excellent water adventures, and yes, sometimes big crowds, but most of all, tons of fun!

I might be biased, but I don't think there's any better place to visit in the Philippines than Palawan, even Boracay cannot hold its postcard-perfect charm against the beaches, landscapes, and underwater world.

For more information on this awesome area, check out my article on where to stay in Palawan!