Getting around — Palawan

Getting around Palawan relies on a mix of domestic flights, ferries and local ground transport, all of which need to be planned ahead in high season.

The main gateway is Puerto Princesa (PPS), the provincial capital, with multiple daily flights from Manila on Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia. For El Nido directly, the smaller Lio Airport (ENI) handles flights from Manila and occasionally from Cebu — AirSWIFT and Air Juan are the operators. The flight from Manila takes 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 depending on destination. From Puerto Princesa to El Nido by road is a long haul: count on 5 to 6 hours in a shared van or bus, on a road that's mostly paved but twisty in the final stretch. Private vans can be booked from Puerto Princesa (around PHP 5,000–7,000, US$90–125).

Busuanga Airport (USU), 20 km from the town of Coron, is similarly served from Manila in about 1 hour 10. It's the most convenient gateway for Coron. Once on the ground, the town is walkable or covered by tricycle (less than PHP 50, under US$1 for a short hop).

The headline link between the two anchor destinations, the El Nido–Coron ferry, is operated by several companies (2GO, Montenegro, Island Hopper). The crossing averages 4 to 6 hours in a speedboat depending on conditions and stops. The route is genuinely spectacular — it skirts several uninhabited islands — but can be punishing in rough seas. Departures are typically early morning (07:00–08:00). In the wet season or during bad weather, ferries are routinely cancelled: always build a buffer day into your itinerary.

Within each base, bangka outriggers are the workhorses of island-hopping, chartered by the day or half-day. On land, tricycles and motorcycle-taxis cover local transport. Scooter rental is available in both El Nido and Coron for independent excursions to nearby beaches — an international driving permit is recommended.