10 days in the Philippines: Manila and Palawan (El Nido + Coron)

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival in Manila — late landing and rest

   Land at NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), often after midnight from Europe via Doha, Dubai or Singapore — up to 15-18h of cumulative flight time. Pre-paid taxi via official desks or Grab (PHP 500-700 / €8-12 to Makati or BGC). Plan nothing for tonight: the UTC+8 jet lag from Paris is brutal, and burning tomorrow's morning would be an irreparable mistake on a 10-day schedule.

   Hotel in Makati or BGC (Bonifacio Global City) — modern, safe neighbourhoods, 20-30 min from the terminal depending on traffic. Light dinner at the hotel restaurant or Grab Food order, then sleep before 11pm. The only objective of Day 1: survive the jet lag and be operational tomorrow morning.

   Tips

   • · Pick up a Globe Telecom or Smart SIM at the airport (around PHP 500 / €8, 10 GB / 7 days) — public Wi-Fi is patchy on Palawan.
   • · Withdraw cash at the airport: Palawan runs almost entirely on cash, ATMs are scarce in El Nido. Plan for at least PHP 20,000 to cover 7 days on the island.
2. 2

   Day 2

   Manila — Intramuros, museum and a Poblacion evening

   The condensed Manila version, designed for a 10-day trip. Morning at Intramuros (the Spanish fortified old town), Fort Santiago and Manila Cathedral — allow 3h, Fort Santiago entry PHP 75 / €1.20. Light lunch at Ilustrado Restaurant or quick-stop at Barbara's Heritage Restaurante.

   Afternoon at the National Museum of Fine Arts (free entry), excellent for the Juan Luna gallery and for recovering in air conditioning if the heat (35 °C) demands it. Don't add Binondo or Rizal Park — the programme ahead requires conserving your legs. Evening in Poblacion (Makati district): craft cocktail bars, food halls, young and relaxed vibe, meals between PHP 400-800 / person. This is contemporary Manila, very different from Intramuros.

   Tips

   • · Manila traffic is very heavy between 4pm and 8pm — use Grab rather than street taxis for a fixed price and to avoid detours.
   • · Restaurant air conditioning is often freezing — pack a light shirt or cardigan for indoor evenings.
3. 3

   Day 3

   Manila → El Nido flight — settling in on Palawan

   AirSwift flight from Clark Airport (CRK) or from Manila NAIA via Cebu Pacific / Philippine Airlines to Lio Airport (ENI), 1h25. AirSwift serves Lio directly from Manila in season — the most reliable option, book 2-3 months ahead (€80-150 depending on availability). Lio is a private airport 25 min from central El Nido: shared van transfer (PHP 350 / €6) or hotel shuttle.

   Arrive mid-afternoon. Check in, then tricycle to Las Cabanas Beach (PHP 200 round-trip, 15 min) for a first sunset over the karsts — the kind of view that justifies choosing the Philippines on its own. Dinner at SAVA Beach Bar (relaxed vibe, grilled fish, sea view, dishes PHP 400-700) or Trattoria Altrove for the best pizza on Palawan — an address that consistently surprises.

   Tips

   • · Lio airport is private and reliable — avoid the Puerto Princesa alternative, which involves a 5h van ride on a bumpy road to reach El Nido.
   • · Cash is king on Palawan: El Nido ATMs are often empty or out of order in high season. Withdraw at least PHP 20,000 in Manila before you leave.
   El Nido →
4. 4

   Day 4

   El Nido — Tour A (Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon)

   El Nido's most iconic tour. Bangka boat departure at 9am, 7-8h at sea, 4-5 spots back to back: Big Lagoon (kayak entry mandatory, PHP 300 — bangkas can't get through), Small Lagoon (swim through a narrow crevice between two limestone cliffs), Secret Lagoon, 7 Commandos Beach (buffet lunch included on the beach, fish, rice, vegetables). Tour price: PHP 1,400 / €22 including lunch, snorkeling masks and guide.

   Back to port around 4:30-5pm. Shower, free time. Dinner at Republica Sunset Bar — large terrace facing El Nido bay, more authentic vibe than Las Cabanas, cocktails at PHP 350. Not to be confused with the main street restaurants, which are noisier and less well located.

   Tips

   • · Dry bag essential — buy one for PHP 250-300 in any shop in central El Nido, don't forget it for cameras.
   • · Book the tour the evening before via your hotel or a local agency: roughly PHP 50 saved compared to beach vendors, and a guaranteed spot.
   El Nido →
5. 5

   Day 5

   El Nido — Tour C (Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island)

   Variant of Tour A but oriented towards hidden beaches and turtle snorkeling. Programme: Hidden Beach (only accessible by swimming under a rock arch — one of Palawan's most photogenic spots), Helicopter Island (mask diving on sea turtles, 15-20 m visibility), Matinloc Shrine (chapel ruins atop a cliff, 360° view), Talisay Beach (long private beach for lunch). Similar price: PHP 1,400 / €22.

   Tour C is structurally less crowded than Tour A — fewer bangkas at each spot, less noise. Particularly suited to photographers and free-divers. Tours A and C complement each other perfectly and don't overlap.

   Tips

   • · Tours B and D partially overlap with A and C — avoid combining them on this 4-night El Nido programme.
   • · Bring your own mask and snorkel: those provided by the bangkas are often in poor condition and can undermine the snorkeling experience.
   El Nido →
6. 6

   Day 6

   El Nido — Nacpan Beach and a free day

   A boat-free day, necessary to breathe after two intense tour days. Two options depending on energy and mood. Option A (nature): tricycle to Nacpan Beach (PHP 1,200 round-trip, 1h on a rough track — better by tricycle than rented scooter). 4 km of nearly-empty white sand, very different from the touristy centre of El Nido. Picnic at Tabin Beach Lodge (simple meals, PHP 300-500). Sunset on site before heading back before 6:30pm — the road has no lighting.

   Option B (diving): two guided dives around Dilumacad Island or Helicopter Island with Submariner Diving (PHP 4,500 / €70, Open Water+ level sufficient). One of El Nido's best dive shops, known for its English-speaking guides and well-maintained equipment. Cash payment required.

   Tips

   • · Nacpan is even more beautiful in late afternoon — head out around 2pm to catch the sunset around 5:45pm (December-March), and return before the road goes dark.
   • · Dives paid in cash, prices slightly negotiable in low season (May to October) — don't hesitate to ask for a 3-dive / 2-day package.
   El Nido →
7. 7

   Day 7

   El Nido → Coron fast ferry — crossing Palawan

   Transit day between the two poles of Palawan. Fast ferry Montenegro Lines or Atienza Shipping El Nido → Coron: 7-8h at sea, departure at 6 or 7am, PHP 1,800 / €30. Calm sea in the early morning, rougher in the afternoon — another reason to take the early departure. Striking scenery: you pass hundreds of limestone islands between northern Palawan and Coron.

   Arrive in Coron Town early afternoon. Check in to a town hotel (budget option, €50-80/night) or further out at Two Seasons Coron Island Resort (luxury on a private island, €250-350/night — book months ahead). Quiet evening at a local restaurant, recovery after the crossing. Coron Town is rustic and pleasant — no night-life, dinner before 9pm.

   Tips

   • · Ferry frequently cancelled for rough seas July-October — check conditions 24h ahead and keep the Lio → Busuanga flight option (45 min, ~€90) as a backup.
   • · Seasick? Sit at the back-middle of the boat, watch the horizon, and take seasickness tablets 30 min before departure.
   Coron →
8. 8

   Day 8

   Coron — Twin Lagoon, Kayangan Lake and wrecks

   Coron is the world sanctuary for wreck diving: the Japanese WWII fleet sunk in 1944 by the US Air Force counts 7 accessible wrecks between 12 and 38 m depth. Today's combined boat tour covers: Twin Lagoon (two stacked lagoons separated by a swim-through passage), Kayangan Lake (200 staircase steps, then a crystalline freshwater lake surrounded by karsts — often described as Asia's most beautiful lake, PHP 300 entry), Barracuda Lake (half-freshwater half-salt, spectacular thermocline phenomenon), CYC Beach. Tour price: PHP 1,500 / €24.

   Advanced-certified divers can book a wreck dive add-on (2 dives, PHP 4,000 / €64). The difference from El Nido: more interior lakes, fewer beaches, a more mineral and silent atmosphere.

   Tips

   • · Kayangan Lake: 200 steps up and down — avoid flip-flops or flat sandals, closed-sole shoes are essential.
   • · Wreck diving: Advanced Open Water minimum required — wrecks are between 12-38 m, beginners can do a supervised Introduction dive on the shallower ones.
   Coron →
9. 9

   Day 9

   Coron — Malcapuya Island and Banana Island

   Second boat day focused on Coron's most authentic beaches, away from the crowded main tour spots. Programme: Malcapuya Island (long fine white sand beach surrounded by turquoise water, often described as the most beautiful beach in the Coron area — less accessible than Kayangan, therefore less saturated), Banana Island (intact coral reef for snorkeling, fresh banana snacks for lunch on site), swim break on a sandbar.

   Back to Coron Town mid-afternoon. Quiet evening at Sunset Sandbar (drinks facing the sunset, local vibe) or at Levantine for mezze and grilled food. Pack bags for tomorrow — early departure to Busuanga airport.

   Tips

   • · For Malcapuya, prefer a private boat (PHP 5,000 / €80) over a shared tour — the beach is small and groups saturate it quickly in high season.
   • · Last Coron evening: wake early for sunrise from Mount Tapyas (700 steps, 360° view over the islands) if energy allows — descent in 45 min.
   Coron →
10. 10

    Day 10

    Busuanga → Manila flight — international departure

    Last morning on Palawan. Wake before 6am, quick coffee, taxi to Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU) in Busuanga (30-45 min, PHP 800-1,000). Cebu Pacific or PAL Busuanga → Manila flight, 1h15-1h30, €50-100. Booking essential weeks in advance — remaining seats are often expensive.

    Arrive in Manila in the morning. If the international flight is in the evening (after 8pm), 6-8h remain to explore Greenbelt or Glorietta (Makati's air-conditioned malls — no shame, useful at 35 °C for last-minute pasalubong purchases: Goya chocolates, dried mangoes, Benguet coffee). Allow at least 3h between NAIA Terminal 3 and international boarding. Traffic between Makati and NAIA can exceed 1h30 at peak hours.

    Tips

    • · Busuanga → Manila flight: check which NAIA terminal handles your international departure — Terminal 1 vs Terminal 3 makes a big difference (T3 is modern and efficient, T1 is dated and slower).
    • · Recommended pasalubong: Cebu Fruits Farm dried mangoes (PHP 300 / pack), Benguet coffee (PHP 250-400) — available at all NAIA duty-free shops and Makati supermarkets.

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