HomeAsiaSoutheast AsiaPhilippinesPalawan 12 Places to Visit in Palawan + Things To Do for First-Timers By Marcos Detourista. Updated on January 2, 2019. Where to go in Palawan? Achieve your travel goals with this list of beautiful destinations, things to do, best places to visit, Palawan tourist spots, attractions & more. Palawan is home to the Philippines’ most spectacular seascapes and island views. It had easily had easily topped my list of beautiful tourist spots in the Philippines from the moment I first made my way to the province many years ago. I have always looked forward to seeing it again because there are so many exciting places to visit, too many to fit in one trip. Palawan is big. It is its own archipelago composed of roughly 1,780 islands and islets. It isn’t so overwhelmingly massive that you cannot see a lot in one trip, but getting between places takes a while, especially if you are hopping from one island to the next. If you have 3 days to spend on your vacation, maximize your experience in one destination. Choose between #1, #2 or #3 on this list. If you have one week, you may be able to visit all three, in a rush. To enjoy a more relaxed pace, I recommend that you spend two weeks in Palawan, or more! What are the best Palawan tourist spots & off-beat destinations? See these scenic places perfect for your epic itinerary in the Philippines. 1. El Nido Location: Palawan province, west central Philippines. Save on Google Maps. You will find dramatic “over water” scenery in El Nido, located on the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan. This place is not just about pretty sandy beaches and mesmerizing waters. Its islands are filled with towering karst mountains that serve as the perfect backdrop for adventures in this tropical paradise. How to go: Most travelers arrive in El Nido on a 1.5-hour flight to Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS), followed by a 5 to 6-hour shuttle ride. If you want to skip the long land journey, fly directly to El Nido from Manila (1 hour), Cebu or Boracay-Caticlan. This is the fastest but more expensive way. For adventurous travelers who want to maximize their trip, book a flight to Coron-Busuanga Airport (USU) and continue the sea journey to El Nido by ferry. El Nido Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts PPS Airport to Puerto Princesa City, El Nido or Sabang Shared Shuttle Van 10% OFF El Nido Tour A – Lagoons and Beaches Island Hopping 6% OFF El Nido Tour C – Hidden Beaches and Shrines Island Hopping Island hopping tour at Bacuit Bay, in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines Calitang Beach, at Nacpan-Calitang Twin Beaches, in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines Sunset view from Corong-Corong Beach, in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines More reasons to visit El Nido Go island hopping around Bacuit Bay islands — See amazing underwater and “over water” views of El Nido. These islands are found just off the coast of the town proper. Explore inland El Nido — See Nacpan and Calitang, the twin beaches of El Nido as well as other natural spots like Makinit Hot Springs, Nagkalit-kalit Waterfalls, Kuyawayaw Waterfalls & Sibaltan Beach. Take a sunset stroll along Corong-Corong and Marimegmeg Beaches — Get away from the crowded main beach of El Nido and enjoy peaceful late afternoon views. These sandy shores can be reached on a quick tricycle ride from the town proper. Try the Bird’s Nest soup — This rare and often expensive Chinese delicacy is made from the nest of swiftlets (Balinsasayaw) that are harvested in El Nido. One kilogram of the edible nest can fetch prices of up to USD1,000 in Hong Kong and the US. Get a taste of it in El Nido, where it is a lot cheaper. 21 Places To Visit in El Nido El Nido Travel Guide Palawan Travel Essentials: Where to stay in Palawan (click below to see rates and book online)Cheapest Rates | Best Reviews Palawan Fares & Transport Palawan Tours & Discounts Philippines WIFI/SIM Card See also: Best Places to Visit in the Philippines | Top Philippine Beaches | The Philippines’ Most Beautiful Waterfalls. To help with your trip planning, I’ve added links to the locations on Google Maps. Feel free to click/tap on the links posted. Then, use the “save” feature on the Google Maps app for easy reference. I’ve also shared photos from my Instagram feed. Use Instagram’s save feature for quick access to your travel/feed goals. Follow me on Instagram 2. Puerto Princesa Location: Palawan province, west central Philippines. Save on Google Maps. Puerto Princesa is the capital and major flight gateway in Palawan, especially popular among El Nido-bound tourists. Stay for a few days to explore beautiful spots around the city. Start with a trip to Puerto Princesa Underground River, the 2nd longest navigable underground river in the world, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and New7Wonders of Nature. Then, spend a day beach bumming and snorkeling on an island hopping tour around Honda Bay. Don’t leave without exploring sights in the city center and feasting on fresh seafood in many beachside restaurants. How to go: Puerto Princesa is around 1.5 hours southwest of Manila by plane. Princesa Airport serves direct flights from Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Clark, and Davao. Fly with Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific or AirAsia. You can also go by ferry on the RORO bus from Manila or Iloilo. Puerto Princesa Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts 20% OFF Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour w/ Buffet Lunch PPS Airport to Puerto Princesa City, El Nido or Sabang Shared Shuttle Van 6% OFF Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour Sabang Beach near Puerto Princesa Underground River, in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines Cave formations at the Puerto Princesa Underground River, in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines Baywalk Park, in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Philippines Seafood dinner in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines Starfish Island, in Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines More reasons to visit Puerto Princesa Visit the Puerto Princesa Underground River — Getting there takes 1 hour by land from the city center. The jump-off point is scenic Sabang Beach. Island hopping tour in Honda Bay — There are many beach fringed islands here. The most popular for swimming and snorkeling are Luli Island, Starfish Island, Pandan Island and Cowrie Island. You can find upscale Dos Palmas Island Resort and Spa in Arreceffi Island. Spelunking and ziplining at Ugong Rock — Found along the way to Puerto Princesa Underground River. See the fireflies and mangrove forest at Iwahig. Go dolphin watching. Trek to the waterfalls in Puerto Princesa — Including Bonton Waterfalls, Olanguan Waterfalls, Salakot Waterfalls & Kayulo Waterfalls. 22 Places To Visit in Puerto Princesa 3. Coron & Calamian Islands Location: Palawan province, west central Philippines. Save on Google Maps. In contrast to El Nido’s amazing “over water” views, go to Coron to see stunning underwater views. Here, you can see colorful coral gardens, pristine waters, lots of marine life and even sunken WWII Japanese shipwrecks. Coron can hold its own when it comes to scenic views over the water as well. This paradise is home to hidden lakes and lagoons blessed with emerald to bluish waters, and many fine white sand beaches. How to go: Coron Airport located on the north side of Busuanga Island serves flights from Manila. Book a flight with Cebu Pacific / Cebgo, Philippine Airlines / PAL Express, Skyjet or Air Juan. Travel time by plane is around 1 hour. There are also El Nido-Coron slow ferries route that you can take if you want to visit both destinations + Puerto Princesa in one trip. Coron Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Coron Calauit Safari and Beach Tour Palawan Coron Malcapuya Island Day Trip Coron Island and Lakes Tour More reasons to visit Coron & Calamian Islands Go wreck diving, snorkeling, and island hopping — There are a lot of islands worth visiting during your boat tour in theCalmian Islands. Don’t miss Banol Island, Banana Island, Atuayan Island, Malcapuya Island, Black Island (Malajon Island) & Calauit Island. Meanwhile, popular dive sites include the Irako, Akitsushima & Skeleton wrecks. See the enchanting lakes and lagoons — A major highlight of any trip in Coron. Don’t miss Kayangan Lake and Baracuda Lake. Busuanga inland tour — Watch the sunset at Mt. Tapyas or Lualhati Park. Enjoy Maquinit Hot Springs. Experience safari in Calauit Island 4. Linapacan Islands Location: Palawan. Save on Google Maps. https://www.facebook.com/DaneAndMagnet/videos/733043646863235/ Enjoy an adventure in Linapacan if you want to go off-the-grid and see the “undiscovered” beauty of Palawan. This group of islands can be found spread across the waters between El Nido and Coron. Linapacan had become viral when it was mentioned in a list of places with the clearest waters in the world to swim before you die. How to go: To get to Linapacan, you can go via Coron, which is nearer to the northern islands, or via El Nido, which is nearer to the southern islands. There are no regularly scheduled ferries from both destinations, so you will need to be flexible with your itinerary if you want to go on a passenger boat. From Coron, the boat trip to San Miguel, Linapacan Island takes around 4 hours. At San Miguel you can charter a boat to reach the other islands. From Sibaltan Beach located on the east coast of El Nido, a chartered boat to Maosonan and Magransing Islands takes around 3 hours. 5. Taytay Overlooking Taytay Fortress, in Taytay, Palawan, Philippines Location: Palawan. Save on Google Maps. Taytay can be found just south of El Nido. On your way to or from Puerto Princesa, stop over the town proper and visit the Taytay Fort (Fuerza de Santa Isabel), one of the best preserved Spanish-colonial stone fortresses remaining in the Philippines. Extend your trip on a tour to Taytay’s many offshore islands that are still largely unspoiled and undiscovered by mass tourism. How to go: Taytay is around 1 hour south of El Nido or 4 hours from Puerto Princesa by private car. By public transport, shuttle vans and buses can take you to Taytay directly from Puerto Princesa. From El Nido, go on a bus or shuttle to Taytay highway intersection. From there, the town proper is a short tricycle ride away. Taytay Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discounts 6. San Vicente Location: Palawan province, west central Philippines. Save on Google Maps. San Vicente is another town that you can visit on your way between Puerto Princesa and El Nido, in mainland Palawan. This sleepy town is home to Long Beach. At 14 kilometers long, it had been making rounds online for being the longest white sand beach in the Philippines. On my trip there, however, I found that it wasn’t exactly all-white and the uninterrupted length of the sandy stretch was only about 8 kilometers. Still, I was in awe of how long it was. To compare, San Vicente Long Beach, even at 8km, is twice as long as Boracay’s famed White Beach. The best part of going was that I had I did not share the entire beach with any tourist crowds. How to go: The fastest way is by flying directly to the new San Vicente Airport. You can also go by land from Puerto Princesa. Travel time to San Vincente takes around 4 hours from Puerto Princesa by private car. By public transport, you can find shuttle vans at San Jose Terminal, Puerto Princesa to take you directly to San Vicente. From El Nido, you may need to drop off at Roxas Terminal and get on a shuttle or minibus from there. Travel time from Roxas Terminal takes up to 2 hours. San Vicente Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts San Vicente, Palawan Land Tour Port Barton Island Hopping from San Vicente (Join-In Tour) Boayan Island Tour from San Vicente Town 7. Port Barton Location: Palawan province, west central Philippines. Save on Google Maps. Port Barton is another spot to travel in the town of San Vicente. This quiet village is a smaller and more laid-back version of El Nido. It is popular among budget backpackers and travelers who want to experience the relaxed rural atmosphere of the Philippines. Here, you can go about and explore many pristine off-shore islands and beaches on island hopping tours, at a cheaper price that boat tours offered in El Nido. How to go: Port Barton is also roughly 4 hours away from Puerto Princesa or El Nido by land. You can find direct shuttle vans to Port Barton from both locations. From San Vicente Poblacion / Long Beach, you can charter a boat to get to Port Barton. Travel time by boat takes around 1 hour. Port Barton Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Port Barton Island Hopping from San Vicente (Join-In Tour) Boayan Island Tour from San Vicente Town 8. Cuyo Islands Cuyo Fortress Church, in Cuyo Island, Palawan, Philippines Quijano beach, in Cuyo Island, Palawan, Philippines Location: Palawan province, west central Philippines. Save on Google Maps. Go even more off-grid in Cuyo. This remote group of islands is located in the vast open waters of the Sulu Sea, between the islands Palawan and Panay. During the 1800s, it became the province’s second capital (after Taytay). Here, you can find the well-preserved Cuyo Fortress Church built during the Spanish-colonial era as well as many small islands and diving sites. How to go: Puerto Princesa to Iloilo City RORO (slow) ferries make a stopover at Cuyo Island. From Puerto Princesa, the sea journey takes around 18 hours. Meanwhile, the trip from Iloilo takes around 12 hours. 9. Stay at Amanpulo Resort Location: Pamalican Island, Cuyo, 5318 Palawan. Save on Google Maps. Looking for the ultimate luxury retreat in Palawan? Say hello to Amanpulo Resort, one of the Philippines’ most expensive holiday destinations. This private island resort is located in Pamalican Island, one of the remote northern islands of Cuyo. Stay in one of the exquisitely designed beachfront, treetop or hillside Casitas with gorgeous views of turqouise waters and the powdery white-sand beach. Guests can also enjoy the resort’s signature spa experience and top-class dining with ingredients sourced from locally-caught seafood and island-grown vegetables/herbs. A stay in Amanpulo Resort will set you back (at least) USD1,485 per night for a treetop casitas, good for two with breakfast. How to go: Amanpulo Resort offers twice daily flights, directly from Manila to Pamalican Island. Flight duration is around 1 hour. 10. Tubbataha Reef & Cagayancillo Islands Location: Cagayancillo, Palawan. Save on Google Maps. The Tubbataha Reef is another remote spot to see in Palawan. This 970 square kilometer national park is especially a must visit to divers. It is the place to see one of the highest biodiversity of marine life in the world. Along with the Puerto Princesa Underground River, Tubbataha Reef is one of six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines. How to go: The easiest way is to go on a liveaboard dive boat from Puerto Princesa. The boats typically leave the city in the evening and arrive at Tubbataha Reef early morning. 11. Tabon Caves & Quezon Tabon Caves Complex in Quezon, Palawan, Philippines Entrance to Tabon Cave, at Tabon Caves Complex in Quezon, Palawan, Philippines Location: Quezon, Palawan. Save on Google Maps. Another place to go for off-the-beaten-path adventures is Tabon Caves in Quezon town of South Palawan. This important archaeological site is where the Tabon Man was found. Filipinos who have been attentive in history class may remember that the fossilized remains of the Tabon Man was believed to be the earliest human remains known in the Philippines (until the discovery of the Callao Man in Peñablanca, Cagayan Province). For travelers, the Tabon Cave Complex is a great place to explore cave formations and learn about the archaeology diggings. There are also a few off-shore islands and beaches nearby. How to go: Quezon is around 2.5 to 3 hours south of Puerto Princesa by land. From San Jose terminal, ride a shuttle van to Quezon poblacion. Then, a chartered pumpboat to Lipuun Point / Tabon Caves Complex, which takes around 30 to 45 minutes, from the pier. You will need to make a stopover at the National Museum in the poblacion to secure a permit before visiting the caves. 12. Balabac Islands Location: Palawan province, west central Philippines. Save on Google Maps. Balabac is the southernmost islands in Palawan. It is so far south that Sabah in East Malaysia is nearer to Balabac than Puerto Princesa. The main draw here is 31 gorgeous islands still vastly undiscovered by tourist crowds. These islands are surrounded by pristine, crystal clear waters and white sand beaches. Yes, the sandy shores of many beaches here are a blinding white to off-white, many even have a blushed pink hue! If you’re looking for the best beaches & most vibrant waters in the Philippines, Balabac is worth a spot at the top of your bucketlist. How to go: To get to Balabac from Puerto Princesa, you will need to make a transit stop in Rio Tuba, Bataraza where you catch boats to the islands of Balabac. Rio Tuba is 4 to 5 hours south of Puerto Princesa by land. From Rio Tuba, you can go on a passenger boat to Balabac Island (mainland). Or, hire a boat for your island hopping tour. The sea journey from Rio Tuba to Balabac Island takes around 4 hours. Camiaran “Pink” Island, in Balabac, Palawan, Philipipnes Marcos at Melville Lighthouse, in Balabac Island, Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Beyond Palawan Cebu Location: Central Visayas region, central Philippines. Save on Google Maps. Cebu Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsTours + discountsCheck Fares Manila Location: Metro Manila, Luzon, northern Philippines. Save on Google Maps. Manila Travel Essentials Where to stayTours + discountsCheck Fares Top discounts Manila-Luzon Shuttle Transfers – Tagaytay, Baguio, Laguna, La Union & more Intramuros Bambike Tour Manila-NAIA Airport Shuttle – MNL Transfers for Makati, Taguig, & More What places have you added to your bucketlist? Have you been to beautiful places in Palawan that should be on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts! Places to visit in Palawan Palawan tourist spots, things to do in Palawan, where to go in Palawan & more. 1. El Nido 2. Puerto Princesa 3. Coron & Calamian Islands 4. Linapacan Islands 5. Taytay 6. San Vicente 7. Port Barton 8. Cuyo Islands 9. Stay at Amanpulo Resort 10. Tubbataha Reef & Cagayancillo Islands 11. Tabon Caves & Quezon 12. Balabac Islands Cebu Manila Note: Destinations featured above are not listed by rank. Book your way to Palawan How much does it cost to travel to Palawan? Click below to compare flight, ferry & buses fares posted on these booking sites: BookAway Where to Stay in Palawan Click below & search recommended Palawan hotels/hostels/home rentals within your budget. Remember to set your min/max price, travel dates, and sort by review ratings. I often book online with these trusted booking sites below for rock-bottom prices & convenient bookings. AgodaBooking.com Book sooner rather than later if you already have your dates set. Cheaper-priced rooms and hotels with high reviews tend to get fully booked faster, especially during busy days like weekends, holidays & peak tourist seasons. Palawan Essentials & Top Discounts Philippines Mobile Data SIM card/Pocket WIFI Travel with ease & confidence throughout your trip. Get a data SIM card or pocket WIFI device! Access Google Maps and all your favorite travel apps. Share your travel stories instantly with all your friends. Click below and choose your pick-up location: Philippines 3G/4G SIM cardPocket WIFISee all discounts Popular discounts and tours booked by other travelers: 20% OFF Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour w/ Buffet Lunch PPS Airport to Puerto Princesa City, El Nido or Sabang Shared Shuttle Van 10% OFF El Nido Tour A – Lagoons and Beaches Island Hopping 6% OFF Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour 6% OFF El Nido Tour C – Hidden Beaches and Shrines Island Hopping Taraw Via Ferrata (Taraw Cliff, Canopy Walk Viewdeck and Dreamcatcher) Ticket in El Nido Puerto Princesa City Hotel – El Nido Shared Transfers 17% OFF El Nido Tour B – Caves and Coves Island Hopping 10% OFF El Nido Tour D – Islands & Beaches Island Hopping 7% OFF Puerto Princesa Firefly Watching w/ Buffet Dinner Click below to see more on: Klook Don’t Stop Here Click below for more travel inspiration: 22 Places To Visit in Puerto Princesa El Nido Travel Guide 32 Places To Visit in The Philippines Philippine Airports – Terminal Fee, Travel Tax & Flights Guide Philippines Waterfalls 16 Beautiful Countries in Asia Share your travel goals with #detourista Where to find beautiful landscapes 🏞️ #TamCoc Colors of Hue, Vietnam . Sitting at the steps of T Da Nang city by the river 🐉 reminds me of home One of the places I want to visit again. Joined an You are my light in times of darkness ♥️ Hanoi 💛 Someday, but not today Follow on Instagram Pin on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/detourista/best-of-detourista/ Don’t leave yet. There’s more! 32 Places to Visit in The Philippines + Things To Do…19 Places to Visit in Hong Kong + Things To Do for…13 Places to Visit in Cambodia + Things To Do for…20 Places to Visit in Malaysia + Things To Do for… Discover more blogs and travel tips in: Puerto PrincesaEl NidoCoronCuyoSan VicentePort BartonBalabac Southeast AsiaPhilippinesAsia See all places Find more posts about:FeaturedBest TravelBest PlacesBest Things To Do Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.Comments Alice says November 9, 2017 at 4:04 am Hi Marcos, For first timers, you highly recommended going to El Nido among the top Islands in Palawan (Puerto Princesa and Coron) and take Tour A and C. Do you have a travel agency to recommend? Thanks and hope to hear back from you. NOTE: we plan to visit the Philippines in September 2018. Reply Marcos Detourist says November 17, 2017 at 10:07 pm Hello Alice, I’ve written a detailed El Nido Travel Guide including where to book your tours. I hope you can check it out. https://www.detourista.com/guide/el-nido/ Reply Walter says November 25, 2018 at 11:46 am Hi, you have to update your post ’cause they’ve just opened a new airport in San Vicente: https://www.rappler.com/business/202227-tourists-san-vicente-airport-palawan-opening ;) Reply Marcos Detourista says November 26, 2018 at 11:26 am Thanks for the heads up Walter. Reply Glorias says December 6, 2018 at 6:28 pm Thanks for the post Marcos! El Nido is my dream place to go with my husband. You made me crazy about the places through your writing… I will plan my trip for Palawan sooner :) Reply
Alice says November 9, 2017 at 4:04 am Hi Marcos, For first timers, you highly recommended going to El Nido among the top Islands in Palawan (Puerto Princesa and Coron) and take Tour A and C. Do you have a travel agency to recommend? Thanks and hope to hear back from you. NOTE: we plan to visit the Philippines in September 2018. Reply
Marcos Detourist says November 17, 2017 at 10:07 pm Hello Alice, I’ve written a detailed El Nido Travel Guide including where to book your tours. I hope you can check it out. https://www.detourista.com/guide/el-nido/ Reply
Walter says November 25, 2018 at 11:46 am Hi, you have to update your post ’cause they’ve just opened a new airport in San Vicente: https://www.rappler.com/business/202227-tourists-san-vicente-airport-palawan-opening ;) Reply
Glorias says December 6, 2018 at 6:28 pm Thanks for the post Marcos! El Nido is my dream place to go with my husband. You made me crazy about the places through your writing… I will plan my trip for Palawan sooner :) Reply