Palawan Island Tours & Trips

What our customers ask about Palawan Island Tours & Trips

• Is Palawan really just one island?

  You might think Palawan is a single destination but it's actually the Philippines' fifth-largest island and wow there's so much more to it. We're talking about more than 1,700 islands and islets spread across 1.5 million hectares of pure paradise. The main island stretches about 450km from Mindoro to Borneo and you'll find these incredible limestone formations dense rainforests and over 11,000 square kilometers of coral reefs just waiting to be explored.

• How do I get around different parts of Palawan?

  Getting around Palawan is pretty straightforward with the main transport network linking Puerto Princesa El Nido and Coron. If you're heading from Puerto Princesa to El Nido you'll want to catch one of the air-conditioned vans that run regularly from 5am to 5pm costing between ₱500-700 for the 5-6 hour journey. To get from El Nido to Coron hop on a fast ferry it's about 4 hours and costs ₱1,800-2,500. For the more remote spots like Port Barton the transport gets a bit more basic but you can reach most places combining land transport with bancas those traditional Filipino boats perfect for island hopping.

• What's the real difference between El Nido and Coron?

  If you're trying to choose between the two El Nido's your spot for amazing limestone lagoons and beaches with the Big and Small Lagoons Secret Beach and Seven Commandos Beach being absolute must-sees. You'll find better infrastructure here and more nightlife options around Bacuit Bay. Coron on the other hand is wreck diving heaven with 12 WWII Japanese shipwrecks plus you've got Kayangan Lake which they say is Asia's cleanest and the super unique thermoclines of Barracuda Lake. El Nido tends to draw bigger crowds while Coron keeps things more chilled and laid-back.

• Where can I experience real Filipino culture in Palawan?

  You'll find authentic cultural experiences everywhere once you step away from the tourist spots. Try the Islander Experience in Port Barton where you can learn traditional fishing methods and cook with local families. The Tagbanua communities around Coron are fascinating they're one of the Philippines' oldest ethnic groups. Check out the traditional weaving in Binuatan near Puerto Princesa or time your visit for the Pangalipay sa Baybay festival in November it's an amazing celebration of Palawan's maritime heritage.

• Which spots are best for seeing Palawan's wildlife?

  You'll be amazed by Palawan's wildlife it's right up there with the Galapagos Islands. Head to Honda Bay near Puerto Princesa any time of year for incredible snorkeling with sea turtles and reef sharks. Want to see dugongs? Your best bet is Dugong Bay between October and March with a 90% chance of spotting them. Over at Rasa Island you'll find 10% of the world's Philippine Cockatoos which is pretty special. For unique local species the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center in Puerto Princesa is great you can see Philippine crocodiles and bearcats there. Don't miss the Underground River it's home to thousands of swiftlets and some really unique cave-dwelling creatures.