What awaits travelers in Palawan?
Palawan stretches around 450 km between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea, and has repeatedly been named the best island in the world by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. Puerto Princesa in the center is the administrative seat and gateway to the underground river, while El Nido in the north is the hub for island hopping in Bacuit Bay.
The two towns lie around 240 road kilometers apart, a five- to six-hour bus journey; many travelers therefore combine a domestic flight with one leg by road. Visiting just one of the two towns gives you a very different Palawan: Puerto Princesa is a city and nature park destination, El Nido a beach and boat destination.
How is Palawan structured as a travel region?
The island belongs to the Philippine administrative region of MIMAROPA and is divided into several tourist zones: Puerto Princesa and surroundings in the center, El Nido and Bacuit Bay in the north, and Coron and the Calamian Islands in the far north. Geologically, Palawan is shaped by limestone karst, dense rainforest, and one of the most species-rich marine areas in the Philippines.
Unlike the volcanic islands further east, Palawan is part of an old landmass that split off from Borneo; this explains its distinct flora and fauna, such as the Palawan hornbill and the Palawan peacock-pheasant, found on no other Philippine island.
The province is considered well developed for tourism, but stays noticeably quieter than Boracay or Cebu: outside Puerto Princesa and El Nido, fishing villages, rice fields, and mangrove coasts dominate.
Which places in Palawan are worth visiting?
Puerto Princesa is the starting point for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, and El Nido for the limestone islands, lagoons, and beaches of Bacuit Bay. Travelers with more time extend the trip to Coron in the far north, with its limestone lakes and wreck diving spots.
Puerto Princesa and the underground river
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park lies around 80 km northwest of the city in the Saint Paul Mountains and protects a 22,202-hectare karst landscape. Its centerpiece is an underground river navigable by rowboat for 4.3 km, with chambers such as the 360-m-long Italian's Chamber, home to nine bat species and two swiftlet species. The park became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999 and was named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012; because of limited capacity, a strict "No Permit, No Entry" rule applies, and during the high season from November to May, booking weeks in advance is worthwhile.
The city of Puerto Princesa itself is more an administrative and service town than a classic destination, with a baywalk at the harbor, Plaza Cuartel as a Second World War memorial site, and as a starting point for evening firefly-watching tours on the Iwahig River.
El Nido and Bacuit Bay
El Nido lies at the northern tip of Palawan and is the gateway to Bacuit Bay with its steep limestone islands, hidden lagoons, and beaches. The Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon are reachable by kayak through narrow rock passages, and Matinloc Shrine Island and the Tapiutan Strait are among the bay's most popular island-hopping destinations.
Around 20 km north of the town center lies Nacpan Beach, a 4-km-long, barely developed sand beach considered a quiet alternative to the busy town beach of El Nido.
Coron and the Calamian Islands (for extensions)
Travelers with time left after El Nido or Puerto Princesa extend by boat or domestic flight to Coron in the far north of Palawan. According to the Philippine tourism authority, Kayangan Lake is the cleanest and greenest inland body of water in the country, surrounded by jagged limestone cliffs; off the coast lie several Japanese Second World War warship wrecks, ranking among the best-known wreck diving spots in Asia.
Sources: Department of Tourism Philippines (tourism.gov.ph) · Department of Tourism Philippines (tourism.gov.ph) · Wikipedia (English) · Forever Vacation
When is the best time to visit Palawan?
The dry season from November to May is considered the best time to visit, with the calmest and driest months from December to April. Palawan lies outside the Philippines' main typhoon belt, but is increasingly affected by late storm tracks from October and November onward.
Puerto Princesa throughout the year
| Puerto Princesa | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 |
| Low °C | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Rainfall mm | 67 | 34 | 37 | 56 | 126 | 204 | 216 | 208 | 194 | 209 | 182 | 153 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station PUERTO PRINCESA (3 km, 22 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
In Puerto Princesa, rainfall rises significantly from May to November, with over 200 mm of monthly rainfall from June to October; temperatures stay between around 24 and 33°C year-round, since the island lies near the equator and has almost no seasonal temperature swings.
No separate station data exists for El Nido; the climate is similar to Puerto Princesa's, with somewhat less rainfall tending to occur in the island's far north. Boat trips into Bacuit Bay are occasionally cancelled in rough seas from June to September, which makes the dry season additionally attractive for island hopping.
Travelers seeking the most peace and quiet and the lowest shoulder-season prices travel in September or October, but accept a higher risk of short-term weather disruptions in return.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany
What do I need to enter Palawan?
For Swiss, German, and Austrian nationals, the same rules apply as in the rest of the country: visa-free for up to 30 days with a valid passport (at least 6 months' remaining validity), a return ticket, and the mandatory online eTravel registration before entry and exit (as of September 2026).
Since Puerto Princesa is only seasonally and infrequently connected internationally, most visitors first enter via Manila or Cebu and complete eTravel and passport control there; no additional formalities apply for Palawan itself.
The Philippine authorities are authoritative; the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office, and the BMEIA summarize their rules, which can change at short notice.
Sources: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Foreign Office, Germany
What malaria risk exists in Palawan?
Palawan is the only major Philippine holiday island with ongoing malaria transmission: the German Federal Foreign Office rates the southern third as a year-round high-risk area, the middle third as moderate risk, and the northern half, which includes El Nido, as a low-risk area.
Puerto Princesa lies on the boundary between the moderate- and low-risk areas; healthytravel.ch and the CDC recommend consistent round-the-clock mosquito protection for stays in Palawan, and, depending on route and inland activities, malaria chemoprophylaxis after medical consultation before departure.
Dengue fever is transmitted by day-biting mosquitoes and occurs nationwide, including in tourist centers such as El Nido; mosquito protection therefore applies regardless of time of day. Tap water should not be drunk; bottled water is available everywhere.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · healthytravel.ch (Swiss Society of Tropical Medicine and Travel Health) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
How safe is Palawan for travelers?
The tourist-developed areas around Puerto Princesa and El Nido are considered comparatively unproblematic; the structural security risk in the Philippines lies mainly in large parts of Mindanao, far south of Palawan. Check the current situation with the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA.
Ordinary caution still applies: keep valuables in the hotel safe, avoid nighttime travel on remote overland routes, and on boat trips into Bacuit Bay wear a life vest and keep an eye on the weather, since trips are cancelled in rough seas.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
How do you get to Palawan and travel around the region?
Puerto Princesa (PPS) is the larger of the two airports, served mainly by domestic flights from Manila, Cebu, Clark, Davao, and Iloilo, plus a seasonal direct connection to Seoul-Incheon; El Nido is served via the smaller Lio Airport (ENI) with regional aircraft from Manila or Clark and Cebu.
| Airport | Code | Connections |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Princesa International Airport | PPS | Manila, Cebu, Clark, Davao, Iloilo; seasonal Seoul-Incheon (Cebu Pacific) |
| El Nido Lio Airport | ENI | Manila or Clark, Cebu; ATR regional aircraft from the Cebgo/AirSWIFT fleet |
International scheduled flights to Puerto Princesa are rare: there is a seasonal connection to Seoul, while all other international travelers fly in via the hubs of Manila or Cebu and take a domestic flight from there.
Between Puerto Princesa and El Nido, air-conditioned vans and buses run in five to six hours along the roughly 240-km national highway; travelers wanting to save time instead book a direct flight to El Nido from Manila or Cebu. Within the towns, tricycles (motorized three-wheelers) are the most common way to get around for short distances.
Sources: Wikipedia (English) · Wikipedia (English) · Trip.com
What should you know about money and costs in Palawan?
Payment is in Philippine pesos (PHP); credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and resorts, while cash is needed for island-hopping tours, tricycles, and markets. ATMs are available in Puerto Princesa and El Nido, and more sparse on outlying islands such as Coron.
Because of its remote location, Palawan tends to be more expensive than Manila or Cebu: domestic flights to El Nido or Coron, boat trips, and resorts away from the main towns push the budget up. A simple meal in Puerto Princesa often costs under EUR 3, while an island-hopping tour in El Nido with boat, lunch, and equipment usually converts to around EUR 20 to 35 per person.
Admission to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park involves, beyond the base entry fee of PHP 200, further charges for environmental protection, the boat ride, and the audio guide, usually PHP 700 to 800 in total; reservations in the high season should be made early, ideally through a licensed agency.
Sources: Forever Vacation
Where do you stay in Palawan?
Puerto Princesa offers the widest selection of mid-range hotels and is the base for anyone planning the Underground River as a day trip. El Nido concentrates on resorts right on the town beach or on outlying private islands in Bacuit Bay.
Travelers seeking quiet stay at one of the island resorts of Bacuit Bay, usually reachable only by boat from the mainland; travelers wanting flexibility stay in El Nido's town center, with short distances to restaurants and tour offices. Nacpan Beach now has simpler beach accommodations, but far less choice than El Nido itself.
What do you eat in Palawan?
Fresh fish and seafood dominate the cuisine, often grilled or served as kinilaw (marinated in vinegar or calamansi). The best-known local specialty is tamilok, a shell-less mollusk from rotting mangrove logs, eaten raw with calamansi and chili.
According to Puerto Princesa's city tourism office, locals consider tamilok superior to some oysters; it's usually tried at simple eateries such as Kinabuchs in the city center, served either raw or fried for newcomers.
In El Nido, beach restaurants often serve boodle fights: rice, grilled fish, and vegetables served together on banana leaves and eaten by hand. Fresh coconut water and local rums such as Tanduay are common companions to sunset.
Sources: Puerto Princesa City Tourism
What culture shapes Palawan?
Palawan is ethnically more diverse than many other Philippine provinces, with indigenous groups such as the Tagbanua and Batak alongside Tagalog-speaking settlers from other parts of the country. The proximity to Borneo and Malaysia is noticeable in cuisine, fishing, and boat building.
The Tagbanua, one of Palawan's oldest indigenous groups, traditionally live from fishing and forest livelihoods and manage their own protected areas on the Calamian Islands near Coron, including Kayangan Lake. Puerto Princesa itself promotes its reputation as a "clean and green city", an environmental program pursued since the 1990s that includes a strict plastic bag ban.
What are the best experiences in Palawan?
Among the most memorable experiences are the boat ride through the underground river near Puerto Princesa, kayaking through the Big and Small Lagoon of El Nido, a day at Nacpan Beach, and, for divers, the wrecks of Coron.
- Underground River: a guided rowboat ride through up to 4.3 km of navigable cave passages, most memorable early in the morning before the day-trip groups arrive.
- Big and Small Lagoon: a kayak tour through narrow rock passages in Bacuit Bay, part of practically every standard island-hopping tour from El Nido.
- Nacpan Beach: a 4-km-long, barely developed sand beach around 20 km north of El Nido, easily combined with sunset at the twin "Nacpan-Nagkalit-Kalit" beach.
- Firefly watching on the Iwahig River: an evening boat ride from Puerto Princesa to mangroves full of fireflies.
- Wreck diving in Coron: several Japanese Second World War warships lie at diveable depths off the coast, one of the best-known wreck diving spots in Asia.
Travelers wanting to experience both combine three to four nights in Puerto Princesa with four to five nights in El Nido; extending to Coron requires at least two additional nights and its own boat or flight connection from El Nido.
Sources: Wikipedia (English) · Department of Tourism Philippines (tourism.gov.ph)
How do you travel responsibly in Palawan?
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park limits the number of simultaneous visitors through its permit system to protect the cave and its bat colonies. In Bacuit Bay, an environmental fee applies to many lagoons and reefs, flowing directly into conservation measures.
Sunscreen containing reef-damaging chemicals should be avoided before snorkeling or kayaking; several operators in El Nido and Coron now explicitly require "reef safe" products. Plastic bottles are easy to avoid in Puerto Princesa thanks to the city's long-standing plastic bag ban policy, as water refill stations are widespread.
What can Palawan be combined with?
The obvious extension is to Coron and the Calamian Islands in northern Palawan, reachable by boat or domestic flight from El Nido. Travelers wanting to see more of the Philippines combine Palawan via a domestic flight with the Philippines page for Manila, or with the Visayas for Cebu and Boracay.
A common route runs from Manila by domestic flight to Puerto Princesa, overland to El Nido, and by boat or return flight to Coron, before continuing on via Manila; at least ten to twelve days should be allowed for this combination.
Who is Palawan suited for, and who should think twice?
Palawan suits travelers who prefer natural landscapes, boat trips, and quieter beaches to a metropolis. It is less suited to anyone seeking a lot of nightlife or a wide range of international direct flights on a short trip.
For families with small children, Puerto Princesa with its shorter boat rides suits better than the sometimes more open waters of Bacuit Bay; divers interested in wrecks are best served in Coron. Anyone looking purely for parties and nightlife is better served in Boracay or Cebu.