Palawan is consistently ranked among the world’s best islands, and it’s easy to see why. From the limestone cliffs and hidden lagoons of El Nido, to the WWII shipwrecks and turquoise lakes of Coron, to the UNESCO-listed Underground River in Puerto Princesa, Palawan packs several lifetimes of adventure into one long, narrow island province.
Best Time to Visit Palawan
The dry season from November to May is the best time to visit Palawan, with the peak months (December to April) offering the calmest seas for island hopping in El Nido and Coron. June to October is the wetter, more typhoon-prone season — some island-hopping tours may be cancelled on rough-sea days, so it’s best to build a buffer day into your itinerary if you’re visiting during this period.
Getting to Palawan: Visa & Airport Guide (2026)
Most foreign travelers, including citizens of the US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, and many other countries, may enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 30 days under Executive Order 408, provided they hold a valid passport (with at least 6 months’ validity) and a return or onward ticket. Some nationalities are subject to different rules, so it’s best to check the latest requirements for your specific country before booking. All arriving travelers should also register on the eTravel platform within 72 hours before arrival.
Palawan has three main airports depending on where you’re headed:
- Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) – the main gateway to Palawan, with direct flights from Manila, Cebu, and other major PH cities. This is your entry point for the Underground River and southern Palawan.
- Francisco B. Reyes Airport, Busuanga (USU) – serves Coron, roughly an hour’s flight from Manila.
- El Nido Airport (Lio/ENI) – smaller airport with limited direct flights; many travelers instead fly into Puerto Princesa and take a 5-6 hour van transfer, or connect from Coron by boat.
El Nido: Lagoons, Island Hopping & Beaches
El Nido’s limestone karst islands and hidden lagoons are the reason Palawan shows up on so many “best islands in the world” lists — think Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Hidden Beach, and the classic Tour A-D island-hopping routes, plus Nacpan Beach and the Taraw Cliff climb.
Read the full El Nido Travel Guide 2026 →
Coron: Shipwrecks, Lakes & Hot Springs
Coron (technically in Busuanga, northern Palawan) has a completely different character from El Nido — think Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, WWII Japanese shipwreck snorkeling/diving, and the Maquinit saltwater hot spring.
Read the full Coron Travel Guide 2026 →
Puerto Princesa: The Underground River
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the officially declared New7Wonders of Nature. Visitors ride a small paddle boat into the illuminated cave system to see its dramatic limestone chambers and rock formations up close.
Because the park enforces a strict “No Permit, No Entry” policy with a daily visitor cap, independent travelers need to secure an official Visitor Entry Permit in advance — simply showing up in Sabang is not a guarantee of entry. This is one of the main reasons travelers prefer booking through an established tour operator, which handles the permit and boat scheduling on their behalf.
Puerto Princesa is also a good base for other side trips, including the Puerto Princesa Underground River Firefly Watching Tour along the Iwahig River in the evening, and the more laid-back Honda Bay island hopping (Starfish Island, Luli Island, Cowrie Island) for travelers not headed further north to El Nido or Coron.
Suggested Palawan Itinerary
For a Focused Trip (3-4 Days, One Destination)
If you only have a few days, pick one base — El Nido, Coron, or Puerto Princesa — rather than rushing between all three. A 3D2N package built around one destination lets you fit in 1-2 island-hopping tours plus a rest day, without losing time to inter-island travel.
For a Full Palawan Trip (7+ Days)
- Days 1-3: Puerto Princesa — Underground River tour, city tour, optional Honda Bay island hopping
- Days 4-6: El Nido — 2 island-hopping tours plus a free day for Nacpan Beach or Las Cabanas sunset
- Days 7+: Coron — Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, and shipwreck snorkeling, before flying home from Busuanga
Traveling between El Nido and Coron is usually done by fast passage boat (around 4 hours) or by flying back through Manila or Cebu, so factor in a travel day when connecting the two.
Book a Palawan Tour with Astrokidd
Skip the permit lines and guesswork — Astrokidd Travel and Tours arranges hotel, transfers, and guided island-hopping tours across Palawan:
- El Nido Palawan 3D2N Package Tour
- Best Coron Palawan Tour Package
- Puerto Princesa Tour Package 3D2N
- Manila to Coron Tours 10D9N – for a longer, multi-stop Palawan adventure
👉 Planning to combine Palawan with other destinations? Check out our full list of Philippine tour packages or message us for a custom multi-city itinerary.
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