Where to Stay in Palawan: Best Towns (+ My Fav Hotels)

Palawan is the most famous and arguably most beautiful region of the Philippines. Visiting Palawan is a bucket list trip that treats you to towering limestone bluffs, epic marine life, idyllic beaches, and some of the best island-hopping tours on the planet!

I recently spent a few weeks in the Philippines, and though Palawan is the most touristy part of the Philippine Islands, I cannot deny its absolute beauty and charm! If you're trying to decide where to stay in Palawan, read on for the most desirable towns and all the best accommodations in one of Earth's most gorgeous regions.

For more help planning your Philippines trip, check out this ultimate three-week Philippines itinerary!

Best Areas to Choose in Palawan

Palawan, known as “The Last Frontier” of the Philippines, offers some cool places to stay. While most visitors will congregate in the town of El Nido and Coron, the island is really diverse and offers several great options for those looking to avoid the touristy areas.

The vernacular is a bit confusing as the largest island is called Palawan, but so is the region, which includes other islands such as Coron and the Balabac Islands. For this article, I'll cover the best five areas in the whole Palawan Province! Here's a quick rundown before we get into the details.

• El Nido: El Nido Palawan is a prime destination for many seeking the quintessential Philippine experience. It's got dramatic limestone cliffs, turquoise waters, and fun tours. It’s perfect for adventure and nature lovers who enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, and island-hopping.

• Coron Island: Known for its world-class wreck diving spots, Coron is a haven for underwater explorers. It features the same towering bluffs, pristine lakes, and an array of affordable accommodation options. Coron is slightly less touristy than El Nido, offering a more laid-back vibe while still providing plenty of amenities and activities.

• Puerto Princesa City: Puerto Princesa International Airport is usually the first stop for visitors to Palawan. The capital of Palawan Island is home to the famous Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and operates as a transit hub for the rest of the island and surrounding islands as well. The city isn't necessarily pretty, but it's got urban comforts and conveniences including shopping centers, restaurants, and vibrant nightlife.

• Port Barton: If you’re looking for a more relaxed, off-the-beaten-path experience, Port Barton is ideal. This area is less developed than El Nido and Coron, perfect if you want a quieter beach vacation.

• Balabac Islands: For the truly adventurous, the secluded Balabac Islands represent the ultimate remote getaway. This chain of islands at the southern tip of Palawan is lesser known, but it's growing in popularity quickly. Balabac offers untouched natural beauty, white sandy beaches, and a chance to experience rustic island life.

1. Where to Stay in Palawan for Island-Hopping: El Nido (Most Popular!)

El Nido encompasses the northern tip of the main island and is the primary destination for most tourists and probably the first place you think of when you hear Palawan!

It offers a cute backpacker village and a few great beaches with some of the best hotels in Palawan, ranging from eco-luxury resorts to party hostels. It's a hub for island tours and a great location for most travelers.

El Nido is a highly diverse area, with each having a very distinct vibe. Below are my top five favorite areas. For more options, take a look at this full guide on the best places to stay in El Nido!

Barangay Buena Suerte: Best Spot for Backpackers

In the heart of the action, Barangay Buena Suerte (El Nido Proper) is a small town on El Nido Beach and is your best option for finding a cheap hotel in the area. It features restaurants and small bars along the beach, several backpacker hostels, and a few cheap guest houses.

Everything is within walking distance, and the town still has a fairly laid-back vibe. The main pier for tours is here, but the beach is not good for swimming, as the town's sewage system is still under work, and the water is not the safest for bathing.

Nacpan Beach: Best Spot for Couples

Nacpan lies several miles north of El Nido Town Proper. It's one of the most beautiful beaches in the area offering a wide swatch of golden sand backed by lush greenery.

Though increasingly popular, you'll find a handful of resorts and local restaurants. It is the farthest from town and will require transport to join most boat tours.

Corong Corong: Best Spot for Families

This tranquil beach area is just south of El Nido Proper and on a peninsula with some of the most beautiful stretches of sand in the region, including Seven Commandos Beach.

There are a couple of local restaurants, some basic 3-star resorts and a nice cocktail bar called Sip Sunset Lounge & Bar. It's a much quieter area with a few fishing boats, a fabulous sunset, and access to rock climbing, caving, and snorkeling.

Marimegmeg Beach (Las Cabanas): Best Spot for Nature Lovers

This area is even further south than Corong Corong. It's a great location for rustic beach lovers. It features a nice resort and bar, with an incredible view and is described by guests as a little paradise. Mangrove Eco-park and El Nido zipline are in the area as well.

Caalan: Best Overall

Caalan Beach doesn't offer the beauty of Nacpan, but it's closer to El Nido Town Proper and easier to get to. If you want a quiet beach location that's close to the amenities of town, then Caalan is the best option. There are a few small resorts and nicer villas at your disposal on this end.

The Best Accommodations in El Nido

Now that we've detailed all the best areas to stay, let's explore a few of the best hotels in the region. I've included options for each budget bracket.

It should be mentioned that the Philippines, as a whole, is not a luxury beach destination. While the tourist infrastructure is good, the country retains an overall rustic and local feel. There are some 5-star resorts, but they aren't all-inclusive. Most of the accommodations are smaller and locally owned.

Best Luxury Resorts in El Nido

Best Hotels in Nacpan Beach: Nacpan Beach Resort

This 4-star beachside resort features large rooms with tons of natural light, very comfortable beds, and balconies. The resort offers an airport shuttle service, an on-site terrace and restaurant, free parking, and a cocktail bar.

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Best Hotel in Caalan Beach: Lihim Resorts

Lihim Resort is a luxury jungle accommodation featuring thatched villas set in dense tropical forest. It sits on a section of rocky beach but offers its own dock and floating platforms over crystal-clear waters. The villas feature a funky tropical design and large indoor/outdoor bathrooms with stand-alone bathtubs. The resort offers all the amenities you would expect from a 4 to 5-star resort including an outdoor infinity pool, sauna, and fitness center.

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Best Resort in Corong Corong: Buko Beach Resort

Another resort featuring traditional architecture, Buko Beach Resort is slightly less fancy than Lihim and feels more intimate. It boasts a large outdoor pool, easy access to a white sandy beach, and a very good restaurant.

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Best Mid-Range Hotels in El Nido

Best Boutique Hotel in El Nido Town Proper: SANSE Boutique Hotel

Just a few steps from the beach, this boutique hotel provides concierge services, a lush garden, free Wi-Fi, room service, and fun indoor/outdoor bathrooms. It's also right in the heart of the action!

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Best Cottages in Caalan Beach: Bale Cabugao Cottages

These cottages are located a few feet from Caalan Beach and a 3-minute walk from El Nido Beach. Each unit has a private bath and most have a terrace with an ocean and mountain view!

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Best Hotel in Nacpan Beach: Eco Sanctuaries Nature Lodge

This small resort is a collection of traditional thatched villas on a secluded section of beach. It offers an on-site restaurant, spa, private parking, and large family rooms. Guests rave about the location, the hotel staff, and the fabulous events.

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Best Beach Bungalows in Marimegmeg: Sunset at Las Cabanas

This hotel offers simple bungalows right on the beach. They feature comfortable beds, an airport shuttle, and a hearty breakfast served at the nearby resort.

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Best Budget Stays in El Nido

Best Hotel in El Nido Town: Spin Designer Hostel

Known for its quirky interiors and clean, comfortable spaces, this hostel offers dormitory-style and private accommodations with air conditioning, a shared kitchen, and a mix of private and shared bathrooms.

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Best Budget Option in El Nido Town: Frendz Hostel

Celebrated for its lively atmosphere and beachfront location, this hostel is just a 7-minute walk from Caalan Beach. It offers air-conditioned rooms, a game room, an on-site restaurant and bar, and a huge swimming pool.

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Best Beachfront Hostel in Corong Corong: Outpost Beach Hostel

Outpost has it all. The staff can help you with day trips and they organize fabulous events. The hostel features air-conditioned rooms and hot water showers. Enjoy a few hours on the huge sun terrace or try out the tasty food in the hotel restaurant!

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2. Where to Stay in Palawan for Diving and Laid-Back Vibes: Coron

Coron is the second most visited part of the Palawan region. It's slightly less touristy than El Nido and a bit harder to reach (unless you fly). It features hidden lagoons amidst towering sea bluffs, stunning lakes, excellent shipwreck diving, and terrific island-hopping day trips.

Coron is made up of several islands, including East and West Busuanga, and several small outer islands like Bulalacao and Dimakya. Most travelers will want to set up in one of these three areas:

Coron Town: Best for First-Timers

The town of Coron is the primary tourist hub of the region. Confusingly, it is not located on Coron Island but in East Busuanga. It features a wide array of accommodations and restaurants as well as easy access to neighboring islands.

West Busuanga: Best for Adventurers

The west part of the island is a bit more rustic. This is where the best shipwrecks are and is popular with kayakers and divers.

Outer Islands: Best for Honeymooners or Luxury Chasers

The outer islands are all about luxury! The secluded beaches and plethora of 5-star resorts make them an optimal honeymoon destination.

Best Luxury Resorts in Coron

Best 5-Star Resort on Bulalacao Island: Two Seasons Coron Island Resort

Bulalacao is one of the romantic southern islands, and its best hotel is the Two Seasons Coron Island Resort. This 5-star beauty offers free airport transfer, watersports rentals, and a private beach. The bungalows feature an elegant, modern design with every luxury amenity. As one of the best hotels in Palawan, it doesn't come cheap, but if you're seeking paradise, the Two Seasons has found it.

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Best Resort in Coron Town: The Funny Lion

The staff at The Funny Lion makes this 4-star resort feel like a 6-star! The resort features an outdoor swimming pool, an open-air bath with Coron Bay views, and a continental breakfast. On-site dining options and the Sea Tree Spa round out the list of awesome amenities.

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Best Island Resort on Dimakya Island: Club Paradise Palawan

Club Paradise is the spot for quintessential island life. The resort offers over 2,000 feet of beach, a house reef for snorkeling, traditional huts, a spa, and Firefish Restaurant. It serves up fantastic food including fresh fish and Filipino favorites.

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Best Mid-Range Hotels in Coron

Best Hotel near the Port of Coron: Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel

Located near the port, Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel offers air-conditioned rooms, an airport shuttle, and a fitness center. Enjoy the swimming pool, an in-house restaurant, and a small bar.

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Best Value-for-Money in East Busuanga: La Natura Resort

Reasonably priced and highly rated, La Natura Resort is located just outside of town. You'll love this hotel for its isolated and rustic elements. It features several fan-cooled villas surrounding a large swimming pool in a jungle setting.

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Best Mid-Rang Option in Coron Town: Corto del Mar Hotel

Corto del Mar is a modern hotel with a Spanish Mediterranean vibe. It features an amazing pool area, with a kids' pool and garden, as well as a wide array of rooms catering to most budgets.

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Best Budget Stays in Coron

Great Simple Rooms in Coron Town: DK's Inn

Guest rave about the cleanliness and friendliness of the staff at DK's Inn. It offers brightly striped, air-conditioned rooms with private baths, free Wi-Fi, and a convenient location.

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Best Private Rooms in Coron Town: Ezekiel Transient House

Conveniently located in the city center, Ezekiel's House offers rooms with private bathrooms and small works areas as well as a shared lounge and garden.

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Budget Place in West Busuanga: White Summerville Tourist Inn

For a budget stay in West Busuanga, book a room at White Summerville. The inn offers a shared lounge and large balcony, air-condited rooms with private bathrooms, a family-friendly restaurant and bar, and a swimming pool.

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3. Where to Stay in Palawan for City Vibes: Puerto Princesa City

The capital city of Palawan Island is skipped over by most, but it actually has a few great activities. You can tour Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, stroll along Sabang Beach, take a day trip to the islands of Honda Bay, and pop into the Palawan Museum for a history lesson.

As you would expect of the capital, Puerto Princesa has a good selection of places to stay. However, even the highest-rated hotels are very moderately priced, much more so than El Nido or Coron.

While you won't want to spend your whole vacation in the city, it's worth a day or two of your time.

Best Luxury Resorts in Puerto Princesa

Astoria Palawan

The beachfront Astoria Palawan is located near Honda Bay. It features a large infinity pool, overlooking a private swath of sand, spacious modern rooms, and a kid's playground. If you want to stay near Puerto Princesa, but on the beach, this is one of the best hotels in Palawan for you.

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Hue Hotels and Resorts

Hue Hotels and Resorts features brightly colored, but chic, guest rooms with all the comforts of home. The resort offers a large rooftop swimming pool, one of the few Palawan hotels with this feature, a fitness center, a concierge, and an airport shuttle. Hue hotels are some of the highest-rated across the Philippines and are usually a great option!

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Aziza Paradise Hotel

You'll never want to leave the immaculate pool and garden at Aziza Paradise Hotel! The resort offers Demeter Diner and an on-site coffee house called Kahve Brew. Coffee by the pool? Don't mind if I do!

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Best Mid-Range Hotels in Puerto Princesa

Hibiscus Garden Inn

This inn is located in a lush garden close to Puerto Princesa Airport. It offers large, air-conditioned rooms with a mini-bar, fridge, and free toiletries. It features a tropical theme and has a large swimming pool. Staff can help organize day trips, car rentals, and luggage storage. The price is a bit higher, given its location near the airport, but it's a convenient and clean place to stay in the city.

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Summer Days

Summer Days is centrally located, less than two miles from the airport. It offers a safe place to land with daytime security, private parking, and a private entrance. The units offer a terrace, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs. There's a coffee shop and mini-mart on site as well. The staff even offers guided tours of the neighborhood.

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Canvas Boutique Hotel

Canvas is a well-rounded place to stay when you visit Palawan. The small hotel offers large rooms fit for families with two beds, a desk, and private bathrooms. Grab some dinner at The Painted Table or spend your evening by the outdoor pool. Breakfast is included and highly rated, and the hotel is within walking distance of the airport. They also offer a free airport shuttle.

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Best Budget Stays in Puerto Princesa

Mongki's Pensionhouse

This condo hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms, free toiletries, and an excellent location. Recent guests state it is extremely clean and the staff is highly accommodating.

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Villa Skanderbeg

This small guest house offers clean rooms with a convenient location, as well as a good breakfast, a cute shared lounge, and bike rentals.

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Cleon Villas Pension

Cleon Villas features a lovely garden and free-standing units with air-conditioning, private bathrooms, and comfy beds. The bed and breakfast is conveniently located and other guests like the area. It also offers free Wi-Fi, a large terrace, and outdoor barbecue facilities.

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4. Where to Stay in Palawan Off the Beaten Track: Port Barton

Port Barton is a small fishing village in Northwest Palawan, in the San Vicente region. The sleepy village offers a less commercialized alternative to other tourist spots on the island.

Known for its pristine beaches, starfish sandbar, and swimming with turtles, Port Barton is an ideal destination for travelers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of more crowded areas.

Nearby San Vicente is also home to the longest beach in the Philippines, brilliantly named Long Beach. It can be reached by boat from Port Barton.

Best Hotels in Port Barton

There are no true luxury resorts in Port Barton, and almost all of the accommodations are below US$50/night. Therefore, I'm going to skip the categories on this one and just give you three great places to stay in town.

Bing-Vice Tourist Inn

Bing-Vice is a highly rated 2-star inn close to Itaytay Beach. It offers air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi, garden views, and small balconies. The hotel offers an à la carte and continental breakfast, room service, and 24-hour concierge.

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Lunazel Guesthouse

Lunazel is located five minutes from Itaytay Beach and offers free-standing units with private bathrooms and walk-in showers. The units feature both sea and garden views, a private entrance, and free toiletries. Continental breakfast is served daily and there is a restaurant on site. Pop in the on-site spa for a massage or a yoga class!

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Lady Ghagha Room Rentals

For a highly-rated, budget stay in Port Barton, you can't beat Lady Ghagha. The pension house sits on Itaytay Beach and offers air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms. There's a lovely little garden, and the staff offers airport transfers, help with tour booking, and 24-hour access. There's an ATM on-site, which is handy, and it has some of the fastest Wi-Fi in the area.

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5. Where to Stay in Palawan’s New Up-And-Coming Hotspot: Balabac Islands

The Balabac Islands are located south of Palawan Island and are famous for their crystal-clear turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs, and powdery white sand beaches. These natural wonders are relatively untouched by mass tourism, but Balabac is moving up the chain quickly.

The Balabac Islands are most easily reached by guided island-hopping tours from Puerto Princesa. Most of the islands are privately owned and very rustic. It's difficult to contact the accommodations on the island without a travel agent due to the lack of signal and infrastructure.

I booked my tour through Lagum Adventures, but WanderWalkers offers the same tour, and it seemed to be a bit more organized. Group trips are typically 4D3N trips and are all-inclusive.

This area was my favorite part of the Philippines! When you think of pure paradise with white sand beaches, towering coconut trees, and crystal clear waters, you are picturing Balabac.

Accommodation Options in the Balabac Islands

Luxury Resorts in the Balabac Islands

Patawan Island Resort (Contact: +63 970 811 1240) is on a stunning private island with two little sandbars and plenty of shade trees. Can you even imagine owning your own private island? I can't fathom, especially one that looks like this!

You will visit Patawan Island on the Balabac tour even if you don't stay the night there. I tried to book directly with the resort but was never able to make contact. Give it a shot. Maybe, you'll have better luck than I did!

Island Base Camps

All of the tours include a stay at one of the rustic base camps, which the tour company chooses. These camps include beachside thatch huts with fans or tents, depending on your preference. This was surprisingly my favorite hotel in the Philippines… if you can call it a hotel. You can also pay extra to stay one night on the most beautiful island I've ever seen: Onok Island.

My tour stayed at Punta Sebaring Base Camp which is located on one of Balabac's most beautiful beaches on Sebaring Island. This camp provides basic bamboo cottages and a communal dining area, where guests enjoy freshly caught seafood and local dishes. It provides basic bathrooms with toilets and bucket showers, as well as hammocks, a small mini-mart, and incredible sunsets.

Where to Stay in Palawan – Frequently Asked Questions

📍 What is the best area to stay in Palawan for first-time visitors?

For first-timers to Palawan, El Nido is highly recommended as it offers easy tours and great accommodation options. El Nido is an excellent base to explore iconic spots like the Big Lagoon, Seven Commandos Beach, and Secret Lagoon.

❓ Are there budget-friendly accommodations in Palawan?

Palawan caters to all kinds of travelers. For those looking to save some bucks, hostels and budget hotels are plentiful, especially in Puerto Princesa and Coron. Additionally, guesthouses and inns in smaller towns like Port Barton provide affordable and authentic stays.

👪 Can families find suitable accommodation in Palawan?

Palawan is family-friendly with a variety of accommodations suitable for kids. Resorts often feature family rooms, kid-friendly pools, and activities that cater to all ages. The small fishing village of Port Barton is a safe and beautiful spot for a family vacation.

Where to Stay in Palawan – Final Words

Deciding where to stay in Palawan is a tough decision, so I hope this list of my favorites has helped. From epic sea bluffs to underwater wonders, there's so much to love about Palawan! Whether you choose the popular tourist hub of El Nido, enjoy the laid-back vibes of Port Barton, or pretend to own your own island in the rustic huts of Balabac, I can almost guarantee you won't be disappointed.

When you visit Palawan, no matter where you stay, it's a feast for the eyes and an adventure you won't soon forget. Enjoy your trip to the Philippines!