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Standard Taxi
22.96 AED

Al Ras Station, 400 meters from Deira(herbs and spices)

Burj Khalifa  12:15

Dubai Mall Dubai Fountains (ImO 6pm to 11pm every 30 min )

Jumeirah Beach

(Mall of Emirates.)

Airport 20:30

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Transportation
Train to Glowny 9 PLN

luggage storage main railway station 6LN/day

close to tunnel (be aware when return)

Rynek Glowny (Main Square)
Sernik Babci(cheesecake (Dry)

kielbasa sausages (breakfast)

cart ride (20EUR) with tour guide

or Free walking tour

Wawel Royal Castle

Bar Mleczny(Miodowa 39, Krakow, (Kazimierz))

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Kayangan Lake
Dimakya Island
Twin Lagoon
Tapayas
Maquinit Spring
Mt. Tapyas

Tour Price Range
650 PHP - 1200 PHP

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The islands commonly known as Coron are some of our favorite places in the whole world. We have visited more than 80 countries around the world, but when my mind drifts to our favorite places - it always ends up here. This place is special. Our first trip was in 2014 and we just returned from another amazing week in Coron Palawan in 2019.

What this cluster of islands has become most well known for is the handful of WWII shipwrecks that are permanently entombed off the shores of Coron. Above the surface, Coron is just as majestic and is home to one of the most photographed spots in all of the Philippines. The deeper you look the more breathtaking sights you will find here in Coron, Philippines.

Here is everything you need to know before planning a trip to Coron Palawan in the remote corner of the Philippines.

Where Is Coron?

There are technically two Coron Philippines, one is actually the name of the largest town on Busuanga island and another Coron is a smaller island 30-minutes offshore from Coron Town. Coron makes up the eastern half of Busuanga Island.

Coron Town is a small fishing village with a population is just over 40,000 but it is becoming more and more of a popular tourist destination. Coron is often listed as one of the top tourist places in the Philippines. The Palawan was recently named the most beautiful island in the world and we'd have to agree.
Related Article: El Nido Palawan Guide

How To Get To Coron Palawan

Traveling to Coron by plane
Coron Airport Code: XCN
The quickest way to get on the island is to fly, Cebu Pacific and Philippines Airlines run flights several times per day from Manila. If possible avoid the later flights, the Coron airport (Busuanga) doesn't have runway lights and flights can't land after dusk. There are also flights from El Nido to Coron on Air Swift, click here to check prices and book online.
Coron Palawan Airport to Coron town:
When you arrive by plane all of the local taxi drivers know the flight schedules and they will be waiting to take passengers to Coron Town.

Ferry from Manila to Coron

There is a ferry that runs from Manila and Puerto Princesa to Coron. The ferry from Manila to Coron is 15 hours and runs twice a week, the journey from Puerto Princesa to Coron also takes 15 hours.

The same boat company then runs from Coron back to Manila or Puerta Princesa which is the getaway to El Nido, there are tons of things to do in El Nido we highly recommend adding El Nido to your Philippines travel plans.

Ferry From El Nido to Coron

There are two ferry companies that run an El Nido to Coron ferry each once a day. For our complete El Nido to Coron, ferry guide click here, complete with schedule and ferry tips. The ferry only takes 4 hours and is one of the fastest ways to travel to Coron. The ferry sells out days in advance make sure book tickets online in advance, tickets are 1,760 pesos/$35 USD.

Expedition Cruise El Nido to Coron

One of the coolest and most scenic ways to travel between El Nido and Coron is an Expedition Cruise. This is one of the newest ways its a super unique adventure cruise traveling between El Nido to Coron. The expedition cruises range from three to five-day options and you'll stop and camp at various islands that lie between Coron and El Nido.

If you are wanting a crazy fun Philippines adventure then an expedition cruise is for you. You have to open to beach camping but you'll get to see the islands and beaches that very very few people visit.

We recommend booking an expedition cruise with El Nido Paradise, they have 6 different expedition cruises. The cruises include all your meals, water, rum & coke, snorkel equipment, tents & bedding, and amazing scenery. Prices vary based on dates and length of the expedition cruise. Click here to book online.

3 Days/2 nights Ultimate Adventure Tour from El Nido to Coron | 16,900 Pesos

4 Days/3 nights Ultimate Adventure Tour from El Nido to Coron | 20,500 Pesos

5 Days/4 nights Ultimate Adventure Tour from El Nido to Coron | 24,009 Pesos

3 Days/2 nights Ultimate Adventure Tour from Coron to El Nido | 16,900 Pesos

4 Days/3 nights Ultimate Adventure Tour from Coron to El Nido| 16,900 Pesos

5 Days/4 nights Ultimate Adventure Tour from Coron to El Nido| 16,900 Pesos

Related Article: Things To Do In El Nido

Coron Palawan Itinerary

The diving in Coron could take weeks if you have the time or desire. For most, it's the main draw to Coron, and the most popular sites are a fleet of sunken Japanese warships in 20-35 meters of water.

The dive sites are about an hour boat ride from the port in Coron Town and it's typical to do 2 tanks per day, and sometimes 3 depending on the dives. Prices in town are around 3000P for 2 tanks and 3500P for 3 tanks.

How Many Days Should You Spend In Coron?

Well, that depends if you are diving and how much diving in the Palawan you're doing. Outside of diving, we would plan 3 days on top to see the rest of the surrounding islands nearby Coron Palawan.

Coron Day Trips

During the day get on a boat and get out of town, there are a handful of preset tours where you will join other travelers to see some of the top sites in the Palawan nearby, prices are from 650P to 1200P including lunch.

Most tours return after 4 pm leaving you only to find dinner in town. Picky eaters beware we didn't find any options for Hannah's selective pallet. The few good ones we found are in the tips section.

Where to Stay in Coron Palawan?

The easiest place to base yourself in Coron Town on the Island of Busuanga. However, there isn't much to do in the actual town. The beaches on the main island require a drive, but the town you'll find plenty of restaurants, tour operators, and even a little bit of nightlife.

The action and the main draw to Coron is a boat ride away. The small islands clustered around Busuanga are some of the prettiest I have seen, and the diving is one of a kind. Here are a few properties we suggest:

Very basic rooms go for around 1350P ($30USD) which we felt was high for the Philippines. Most were in rough shape too, non-functioning toilets, and extremely poorly done electrical showers (scary). You'd be better off paying more here and get something where you can sleep especially if diving a lot.

There are also options where you can have a boat take you to another island to stay, but you need to bring all of your food and be okay without moving around a lot, if we were to come back we would consider this option.
Avoid - Coron Village Lodge
Stay at a place with a generator - The power goes in and out throughout Coron without any warning or schedule. On average it was 3-5 hours a day and varied from 12 am-5 am, 7 pm-?, 11 am-2 pm.

Having a generator will keep your lights on and your A/C or fan going. You can thank me later. Coron Village lodge did NOT have a generator, but Corto del Mar hotel did. We moved to this hotel later in our trip and loved it, highly recommend Corto del Mar hotel.

Don't forget your insurance! You never know when you'll need it. We suggest getting travel insurance with World Nomads. Which coverage includes medical, trip cancellation, your belongings from theft or damage, baggage, car rental coverage, and much more.

1. Visit Kayangan Lake

Known as one of the clearest lakes in all of Asia this gem and the island that holds it is one of the most stunning places on the planet. Kayangan Lake and the nearby viewpoint are one of the most photographed places in all of the Philippines.

The main viewpoint most people are familiar with is not actually of the lake, but the bay on the other side of Coron Island. Currently, they have parts of the lake roped off for conservation and during our 2019 visit to Coron, there were no Bamboo rafts on offer.

If you visit in the late morning this lake will be at its busiest. If you can try to arrange a trip that goes early in the morning or after lunch. Many of the standard tours all follow the same route which puts a lot of people at the sight in the late morning.

However, just before noon is one of the best times to see the famous viewpoint at the top of the hill at Kayangan Lake with no shadows in the bay. The best approach is to visit in the early morning and visit the lake and then on the way out stop at the viewpoint while it is sunny.

2. Visit Malcapuya Beach

A short boat ride from Coron Town is the stunning Malcapuya Beach. With only a few small hotels on the beach, you can have this picture-perfect stretch of sand mostly to yourself. Seriously some of the most beautiful scenery we have encountered. Bright blue and green waters with white sands.

To get to this beach you can take a day tour visiting this beach and a few other as part of the Beach Tour day trip bookable in Coron Town. (all part of the beach tour #1, 1200P)

3. Shipwreck diving in Coron

One of the main draws for visitors is the fleet of Japanese warships at the bottom of the sea in Coron. Here you can find 12 well-preserved World War II wrecks at diveable depths which is pretty incredible. I dove four of the wrecks as part of my Advanced Open Water Certification with Corto Divers.

4. Visit Coron island

Some of the best things to see and do in Coron are on Coron Island, not the island with Coron Town. The best stuff is a boat ride away. Make sure to take lots of day trips while visiting Coron Palawan.

5. Get a Dive Certification or Advanced Certification

This is a great place to get certified to dive, there are incredibly unique places to explore while diving in Coron. The shipwrecks are a great place to complete an advanced open water certificate.

There is a lot to see on the required dives as opposed to other places where there you may just go through the skills. Here in Coron Philippines on your deep-dive training, you can swim around the shipwrecks which are deeper than 35 meters at some points.

For the other specialty dives, you can again use the shipwreck to fill your wreck dive training. Coron is also an awesome place for a night dive with lots to see including bioluminescent plankton glowing in the dark.

6. Swim into the Hidden Lagoon

One of the coolest swimming holes in the Philippines is only accessed through a small hole in the rocks. Once you are through the narrow passage this lagoon opens up into a stunning grotto.

7. Maquinit Springs

Relax in the Maquinit Springs after a busy trip of diving and exploring the beautiful islands of Coron. The water in the springs is warm and cozy at just over 100 degrees F. Located outside of town you can either arrange a local guide or hire a driver to bring you there too. This is a great place for sunset to relax after a busy day exploring Coron Philippines.

8. Barracuda Lake

Next door to Kayangan Lake is another ultra-clear lake named Barracuda Lake. For a quieter experience than the more popular Kayangan Lake the head over to Barracuda. In addition to the fewer crowds, this lake also has some interesting features like hot springs and underwater mountains. This lake is just as clear if not clearer than Kayangan Lake and is less visited.

9. Snorkel the Lusong Gunboat

One particular shipwreck is so shallow you can actually snorkel it. The Lusong Gunboat is situated just below the surface. After over 70 years it has become part of the environment and corals are growing on it are fun swimming around it.

10. Hike Mt.Tapyas

If you are looking for some adventure that doesn't involve a boat then make the climb to the top of Mt. Tapyas. While probably not technically a mountain, the view from the top is worth the hike up. Here you'll be rewarded with views of Coron town and Coron Island in the distance.

Best Restaurants in Coron Palawan

There wasn't a lot of choices, especially for western food. If Filipino food isn't your thing you will be limited. By far the best western options we found were at Corto Del Mar hotel, with pizzas, pasta, and burgers along with Filipino options. We didn't have a bad meal here.

Altrove Pizza - The same owner the run the Altrove in El Nido has opened a location in Coron as well and it's just as good. There is sometimes a wait outside, but the line moves pretty fast. Worth the wait generally.

Try the Sisig - If you like sisig try it at Lolo Nonoy's cooking station is one of the best I have had in the Philippines, the garlic rice is good too, and beer is always 40P.

Corto del mar hotel - Good thin crust pizza and some of the cheapest happy hour beer in town at 35P from 5-8 pm. Sunday pizza and a beer for 200P is a good deal.

Coron Travel Tips:

Dive with Corto Divers - Their boats are nicely set up for diving, the staff is knowledgeable and they actually care if you have good dive experience. Lunch is included with dives and the food is some of the better food I have had in the Philippines.

From all the other shops I visited, I am confident I made the right choice diving here, you won't be disappointed.

Make sure your tetanus shot is up to date if diving: The ships are awesome to explore, but they are full of tight entries and rusty metal. We saw lots of people walking around town that looked like they had a run-in with a sharp piece of ship metal, so get your shots if you are going under.

Avoid the later flights to Coron Palawan Airport: Taking the last flight to Busuanga you run the risk of it being canceled because the airport stops service at dusk because they have no runway lights.

Coron Palawan FAQs:

Is there an ATM on Coron? Yes, at least 3 machines we saw. Fees were 200P per transaction.

Is there 24-hour power? Yes, over the past few years the power grid is much improved and brownouts or power outages are much less frequent.

El Nido Vs. Coron

This topic seems to come up between Coron and El Nido of which to visit, the simple answer is they both should be visited! If you don't have time in your schedule to visit both - cut something else out because you seriously need to see both of these places.
Do not skip El Nido, and definitely, do not skip Coron Palawan.
Don't Forget to pin me for later!

More on the Philippines

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Everything you need to know about Coron Palawan - Updated 2020 Edition | Getting Stamped

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If you're looking for that picturesque islands in the Palawan head to Coron. Coron is one of the best islands in the Philippines. We've put together this complete guide for the ultimate vacation including where to eat, things to do in Coron, where to stay in Coron, how to get to there, and much more.

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2,200 Tour + 150 Environment Fee

We also need to get permit from city

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Small lagoon
Big lagoon
Matinloc shrine
Snake Island
Hidden beach
Nacpan beach

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El Nido Palawan Philippines has some of the most beautiful scenery we have ever encountered. This cluster of islands is off the tip of the Palawan Island is full of dramatic rock formations and surrounded by bright blue waters. There are a ton of things to do in El Nido so give yourself a week in El Nido if you can. The town itself has enough options for food and the basics for a week-long trip or so. Hotels range from gorgeous over the water beach huts, budget-friendly rooms, or you can even rent an entire beachfront home on Airbnb.

Jump to information about El Nido:

There are 3 ways to travel to El Nido: Air, boat, or land. We went by bus from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, which 137 miles and took 6 hours and cost only 480P or $15 USD. You'll have to fly to Puerto Princesa first, which is easily reachable from most major Philippines destinations and affordable (average $40 USD) with Air Asia or Cebu Pacific. Click here for reverse directions from El Nido to Puerto Princesa.

The easiest and fastest way to El Nido is by air. There are daily direct flights to El Nido from Manila and Cebu. Air Swift is the airline that services El Nido Palawan, flights are on a 50 seater ATR. El Nido flights land at the Lio Airport, which is a 20-minute tricycle ride from El Nido Town. Flights can be booked online here. Flight schedule is as follows:
Traveling to El Nido from Manila

Flights to El Nido from Manila: 8:00, 12:00, 16:00, 17:35 daily.

Flights from El Nido to Manila: 6:30, 9:55, 11:00, 14:00 daily

Prices vary based on season average price low season: 5,350P high season 7,500 P

Flight time to El Nido: 55 minutes

Traveling to El Nido From Cebu

Flights to El Nido from Cebu: 15:15 daily

Flights from El Nido to Cebu: 12:55 daily

Prices vary based on season average price low season: 4,550P high season 6,344P

Flight time to El Nido: 90 minutes

There are boats from Coron to El Nido, but we didn't take this nor would we recommend it. After you explored Coron Palawan you could get on a boat heading to El Nido, which on a map this journey makes the most sense. Boats from Coron to El Nido are scheduled to run 4-5 times a week and take 7-10 hours. It is very common for the boat to be canceled for days, as the trip is very dependent on the weather. Seas can be really rough and not suited for those prone to even the slightest seasickness. Ferry price to El Nido averages around 1,800P.
Related Article: Coron Palawan Guide

El Nido Hotels

There are tons of hotels in El Nido, something for everyone's budget. Rooms are becoming more and more available to book online. Below is a general El Nido hotel price range.

Beachside room in El Nido with AC: 2200-4000P

El Nido over the water bungalow room: 15,000P +

Air conditioning room in El Nido town: 1000-2000P (Private Bath, clean, simple, AC) we stayed at Marikit Pensionne which had: free wifi, free breakfast, a really nice family with a clean and simple room.

Fan room in El Nido Town: 600-800P (Private Bath, clean, simple)

Basic room in El Nido: 400-600P (shared bath, no shower in some cases)

Suggested El Nido Hotels
Backpacker Budget El Nido Hotels Less than $25 a night Budget El Nido Hotels $25-50 a night Midrange El Nido Hotel $50-$100 night Luxury El Nido Hotels $100-$300 a night Ultra Luxury $300+ a night
El Nido Airbnb

Why stay in a hotel when you can stay in an epic beachfront home on Air

bnb and be steps from the ocean. Airbnb has listings for luxurious homes to rooms in a local guesthouse. Some rooms are only listed on Airbnb or available in person. Here is $40 off your Airbnb stay, I would opt for a beachfront home on my next visit.

You get so much more for your money when staying in an Airbnb vs a standard hotel. We have used Airbnb around the world and always check our Airbnb options before even looking at hotels.

El Nido is more than just a place it's a cluster of 45 small islands on the tip of the Palawan island. There are plenty of things to do in El Nido to fill a trip itinerary for more than a week exploring all that El Nido has to offer. The islands of El Nido are some of the most beautiful and enchanting in the entire world. Here is a list of the top activities in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines.

#1 - Swim Through The Hole To Secret Lagoon

This hole is what brought me all the way to the El Nido and a big reason for the trip to the Philippines. Secret Lagoon lived up to the hype. Visit Secret Lagoon on El Nido Tour A when visiting El Nido. The secret lagoon is one of the best places in the Philippines and should be on everyone's itinerary.
Related Article: El Nido Tour A
#2 - Stare Into The Turquoise Waters Of The Large Lagoon

The Large Lagoon in El Nido is a magical place. The water here is a one of a kind color surrounded by tall rock formations. It's nothing short of breathtaking. It's paradise!

#3 - Visit Secret Beach

Secret beach is a pristine piece of sand hidden from sight by large limestone cliffs on all sides. Once inside it feels like you are the only people on the planet. Secret beach is one of the best things to see in El Nido hands down. A trip to Hidden Beach is accessible on El Nido tour C.
Related Article: El Nido Tour C
#4 - Visit Snake Island

This island is another great example of the beauty of El Nido. What makes snake island so special isn't necessarily the island itself, but the strip of sand leading up to it. When the tides are right snake island has a thin strip of sand wiggling its way through the bay, pointing right at snake island. Snake Island is the top thing to do on the El Nido Tour B day trip.

#5 - Diving In El Nido

El Nido is home to over 30 dive sites with frequent trips to about 10 depending on the tides and conditions. The Bacuit Bay is home to a wide range of beautiful sea life and interesting structural formations.

#6 - Simizu Island

This island has some of the most remarkable stone structures around El Nido. Large pieces of limestone rising out of the sea forming thin curtains of black rock. Some of these rocks have small holes in them that make you wonder how they were formed. Simizu Island is a popular lunch stop on the El Nido day trip A tour.

#7 - Hike up to Taraw Peak

For the best views of Bacuit Bay takes an average 2 hours round trip, Taraw Peak rises about 230 meters above sea level. On the top is a bird's eye view of Bacuit Bay. Cost: 350 pesos per person for guide

#8 - Spend A Day At Las Cabanas Beach

Las Cabanas is one of the best beaches reachable by land from El Nido town. A long walk or a short tricycle ride to the beach entrance. Las Cabanas beach seems to go on forever and is largely empty. There are a few resorts popping up and a few restaurants to have a beer or a meal. Las Cabanas makes for a great day trip from El Nido and one of the best things you can do independently or without a boat. If you want to spend the night we suggest Las Cabanas Beach Resort.

#9 - Dive The Dilumacad Underwater Tunnel

Located about a mile and a half from the shores of Dilumacad Island (Helicopter island) there is a dive site most local divers call ' The Tunnel'. 12 meters under the surface there is a 40-meter tunnel that you can swim through filled with fish and other sea life. Just another one of the amazing things to do in El Nido. For more info on the Dilumacad Underwater Tunnel

#10 - Splash around in the small Lagoon

After a short ride from El Nido town is the small lagoon. This lagoon sits on the northern end of Miniloc Island. What makes this a thing to do in El Nido is the fact that it's an open top cathedral of limestone. Vertical walls of stone from a lagoon of shallow water in nearly a perfect circle. Once inside, staring up at the imposing walls, it starts to look like a very alien landscape. The water depending on the tides isn't really deep enough for swimming, but it's fun run to splash around a listen to the echoes off the stone. You can reach the small lagoon on the El Nido Tour A day trip.

More Things To Do In El Nido

#11 - Visit The Matinloc Shrine

An abandoned shrine to the Virgin Mary that seems a bit out of place in the middle of this tropical paradise. Also, on the island with the shrine are some amazing lookouts. A quick hike up the rocks brings you to a viewpoint where you can see the entire channel running between the small islands. The viewpoint kind of reminds of Kayangan Lake in Coron, which should also be on your Philippines itinerary.

#12 - Visit Hidden Beach

Tucked away behind high walls of stone, a small opening reveals shallow pools of clear water and soft sands. It's only visible to the open side by a tiny break in the natural stone walls. Visit this island by joining El Nido Tour C day trip.

#13 - Nagkalit-Kalit Waterfalls

A 1-2 hour hike through the lush forest area brings you to the Nagkalit-Kalit waterfalls. The falls are a 10-meter tall trough of water that slides down the rocks and shifting right and left. There are two falls and between them is a pool to take a swim.

#14 - Helicopter Island

Shaped like, you guessed it, a helicopter this island looks remarkably like a giant helicopter sitting in Bacuit Bay. The island is home to a few nice beaches and is part of the El Nido Tour C day trip. There are also many dive trips that will take you to this part of the bay. The biggest draw to the island is the shape and it's best seen from a boat. You don't necessarily need to stop at the island unless you just want to have some beach time, but there are so many things to do in El Nido you might not have time to lie around.

#15- Eat Pizza at Altrove

Of all the amazing things to do in El Nido, it may seem strange to include pizza on the list of things to do, but it's that good. Every night there will be a line down the street, it's worth the wait. | Read Trip Advisor Reviews

#16 - 7 Commandos Beach

Visit the island where 7 Japanese commandos lived for a period of time near the end of WWII. The names of the soldiers are said to be written on stones around the island, but not much else is known about these soldiers including what happened to them.

#17 - Enjoy A San Miguel On The Beach

Enjoy one of Southeast Asia's best beers, while sitting on SE Asia's best beaches in El Nido. Take a break from all the things to do in El Nido and just relax with some cold San Miguels.

#18 - Day trip to Twin Beaches

Nacpan and Calitang Beach are 1.5 hours from El Nido town. To reach twin beaches you can rent a bike, or join Tour E (inland tour), or pay a tricycle driver to bring you (1500 pesos whole day fits 3 ppl).

#19 - Eat Filipino Tocino & Garlic Rice For Breakfast

Get a taste of classic Filipino food. One of our favorites was the garlic rice served with Tocino for breakfast! We ate it daily at our El Nido hotel.
Related Article: Must Eat Filipino Food

#20 - Watch The Beautiful Sunsets Of El Nido

El Nido town is facing to the west so every night you are blessed with an amazing sunset to finish your action-packed day in El Nido. Grab your camera and a Filipino beer and enjoy while reflecting on all the amazing things you've done in El Nido.

Makinit Hot Springs

I would put this on the maybe list, or something to do in El Nido if you are in El Nido for a long time and have done everything else. You can't really swim here - Many other posts about things to do in El Nido listed the hot springs as something to do, but seriously? You are surrounded by some of the most beautiful islands in the entire world, but you are going to go and look at a couple of muddy puddles of hot water? I would recommend doing any one of these other top things to do in El Nido over this.

Eat a Balut egg in the Philippines

Try one of these Filipino classics balut, balut doesn't seem to be as popular in El Nido but there are kids selling them on the beach from the coolers. If you've never tried it, it's a must do in El Nido!
Related Article: Eating A Filipino Balut Egg In Manila
Try The Banana Flower Curry

El Nido has been one of the only places I have seen this dish on a menu. Several restaurants in El Nido make this dish with the flower of the banana tree chopped up in a curry.

Send A Postcard Home

The postage rates to send a postcard home from El Nido are ridiculously cheap. It's cheaper to send a postcard from El Nido to the U.S. Than it is to send one within the U.S. (not sure how that makes any sense).

El Nido Day Trips

I would plan on doing a day trip while in El Nido at least every other day because most of the best things in the Palawan are on the outer islands. There currently are 5 tours A/B/C/D/E. Prices for El Nido Day trips average 1200-1400P per person. For more details & a review of El Nido Tour C, and for El Nido Tour A.

TIP: Make sure you have a big boat for day trip tour C - A big boat is always better and more comfortable, but El Nido tour C goes into the open water outside the bay for a short bit where it gets rough in the afternoon. You will get wet in any boat, but a little boat would be worst. Art Cafe's boat is a good size for that tour. Bring water shoes for El Nido tour C - It seems everywhere they take you on tour C you are walking on sharp rocks. El Nido Tour A is manageable without, but tour C is much better with.

El Nido Basics / FAQ:
Does El Nido have an ATM:? Yes
As of October 2015, El Nido now has an ATM so getting money in El Nido is possible. The El Nido ATM machine is located in the Municipal Hall. Prior to this El Nido didn't have an ATM, therefore, you would have to travel to El Nido with enough money to fund your trip or travel to Puerto Princesa (6 hours away) for a working ATM. We would still suggest bringing cash with you to El Nido, ATM's in such remote locations are known to run out of money often or even be out of service for days at a time. Trust us you don't want to run out of money in El Nido.
Does El Nido have power all day? Yes
As of November 2014, electricity in El Nido is 24 hours a day. Prior to this electricity was only 2pm-6am. Power outages still happen but several places have a generator.

How Much Money Do I Need In El Nido?

The amount of money needed in El Nido will be based on your travel style. Here are some general figures to use. Filipinos have realized they have something special here and the prices are starting to reflect. I guess you can't blame them, but there is a lot of price fixing where everyone raises the price together. Day trips now cost 1200P per person, I say now because all the signs around town use to say 600P, but have a piece of masking tape with sharpie written over to say the new 1200P. Prices below will change as demand is higher and tourism increases.

Best Restaurants in El Nido Palawan

Meal at a local Filipino restaurant: 100-200P

Meal at the average resort: 200-400 with many options at 250P

Beer at a store: 35-55P, once you find a cheap beer store keep going back

Beer at an El Nido bar: 35-70P Happy hour in El Nido on the beach typically has two for one beer at 70P (2 beers)

Water: 1Liter - 35p or 6Liters -90P

Soda: 25-30P a can, 65P for 2L bottle

Eat pizza at Altrove: There is a line for a reason, it's some of the best food in El Nido. They do a good stone oven pizza with a nice crust for 310-400P enough for 2 if you are not too hungry, or if you are each get one, they're good, you'll finish them. The crust is thin but nicely puffed at the edges, with real cheese and good toppings. Some nights there is a 30 person line at Altrove, some nights no wait we went when there was no wait, and just walked by when there was.

We feel in love with the Palawan and can't wait to get back to El Nido ourselves. Hopefully, our El Nido Palawan guide helped plan your trip to paradise. It really is a magical place.

For Additional EL Nido & Philippines Information Check Out Our Other Articles:

Get there soon - Because the road is almost paved to town. Who knows what that will do, based on what we saw compared to what we read about it, it seems as if El Nido has undergone some big changes already.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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The Ultimate El Nido Guide ~ Palawan, Philippines

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El Nido Palawan Philippines has some of the most beautiful scenery we have ever encountered. This cluster of islands is off the tip of the Palawan Island is full of dramatic rock formations and surrounded by bright blue waters. There are a ton of things to do in El Nido so give yourself a week in El Nido if you can.

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Outfit

Alternative Cafe

The Art Cafe

Tour A

Small Lagoon

Big Lagoon

Secret Lagoon

Simizu Island

7 Commandos Beach or Entulala Island

Cost:

Tour C

Hidden Beach

Matinloc Shrine

Tapuitan Island

Secret Beach

Helicopter Island

Cost: 1200 A + 1400 C + 200 Eco-Tour Fee

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El Nido is paradise on earth. This cluster of islands is said to be the inspiration for many movies including "The Beach". In my book, El Nido beats Fiji for having the prettiest water and beaches, it's definitely one of the best places in the Philippines. The best parts of the area can only be reached via a booked day trip, and El Nido Tour A takes you to some of the most famous, and beautiful, parts of the archipelago. When looking for things to do in El Nido be sure to include the El Nido tour A!
Related Article: El Nido Palawan Guide

Small Lagoon

Big Lagoon

Secret Lagoon

Simizu Island

7 Commandos Beach or Entulala Island (depending on the company)

El Nido Tour A cost: 1200 PHP + 200 PHP Eco-Tour Fee (Govt') Good for 10 days and multiple trips

Best tour operator for El Nido Tour A: The island hopping day trip favorites are the Alternative Cafe and The Art Cafe. Just about everyone with a boat will offer a tour, but both of these companies have been around a long time and run quality tours. We traveled with The Alternative Cafe for El Nido tour A (Better Food), and we went with The Art Cafe for the El Nido Tour C (Bigger/Better Boat).

Duration: Full Day (Usually 9 am - 4 pm)
Related Article: El Nido Tour C
After a short ride throughout the bay, our first stop on El Nido Tour A dropped us at Small Lagoon. It's on the northern end of Miniloc Island and is an open top cathedral of limestone. Vertical walls of stone form a lagoon of shallow water in the shape of a nearly perfect circle. Staring up at the imposing walls from the inside, it starts to look like a very alien landscape.

The Big Lagoon portion of the El Nido Tour A is all about cruising. For me, this was the best part of the day. The whole tour was great, but the water in the lagoon...just look at it. When I die, sprinkle my ashes here. There were a few spots to jump off the boat and swim but there wasn't a ton of sea life besides the giant sea urchins. This part of the El Nido Tour A experience was more about being in the turquoise water surround by dark, jagged, limestone cliffs. The lagoon is extremely shallow and the deckhand (the boy in the red shirt) sat off the bow of the boat helping the captain miss rocks our entire trip in the lagoon. Some of my favorite pictures from El Nido Tour A, and the Philippines, in general, are from here. I love the photos with this boy, his red shirt stands out in such contrast to the crystal clear, blue water.

The lunch stop was yet another ridiculously beautiful island. I almost got tired of looking at such amazing scenery, it made my eyes hurt and made me never want to leave. Lunch on El Nido Tour A had several options. It included the Philippino version of paella, grilled fish, chicken, salads, fresh fruit, and more. We took this trip with the Alternative Cafe and their food, both onshore and on tour, was great. The most striking feature of the island was an outcropping of rocks a short walk from where we docked the boat. A razor-thin blade of the black limestone found all over El Nido stuck straight out of the sand. This piece reminded me of the top fin of a fish, and I wondered how it just stood straight up in the bright white sand. This place is just amazing.

This picture is what sold me on making the trip to El Nido, and is a good part of the reason we came to the Philippines. You will find a mess of boats jockeying for position while their passengers jump out to swim through the hole in the rocks that leads to the secret lagoon. Though, these days it's more special than it is secret. El Nido Tour A seems to be the most popular tour and for good reason. The scenery they show is stunning, it's one of the shortest rides, and of course, it has the secret lagoon as an ace up its sleeve. The view ties as to as epic as Kayangan Lake in Coron.

Seven Commandos Beach would be a great beach in any other part of the world but is just okay by Palawan standards. Most tours finish here because it's close to El Nido and it's an easy place to stop. The story behind the beach is arguably more interesting than the beach itself. As the legend goes, Seven Japanese commandos took refuge here during WWII and ended up living here for a time (actual information is a little cloudy, but this is what the guides told us). Other companies like the ArtCafe stop at a different beach off the mainland for their last activity. By the looks of it, it's prettier beach and there are fewer people who stop there. It might be something to check out and consider when booking (ask first, things change) if you want to do a tour other than El Nido Tour A.

See if the operator would be willing to run the tour in reverse order. This will get you to most group's last stop first, and miss the crowds at every stop on EL Nido tour A.

Find a boat that is leaving earlier than the rest, another great way to have the stops to yourself.

Book with an established place to ensure you tour leaves as scheduled.

Rent the snorkel gear, it's a little extra, but you'll be disappointed if you don't.

Rent or bring a water bag for camera and other gear (50 PHP rental).

Bring water shoes - El Nido Tour A is manageable without, but it would still be nice to have them, El Nido tour C you really should have them.

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El Nido Tour A Review - Palawan Philippines

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El Nido is paradise on earth. This cluster of islands is said to be the inspiration for many movies including "The Beach". In my book, El Nido beats Fiji for having the prettiest water and beaches, it's definitely one of the best places in the Philippines.

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Cebu City to Balian
Bus ( about 600PHP roundtrip)
20-30 min walk

https://www.rome2rio.com/de/trip/wziripag

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Kawasan Falls [other link]
(20 pesos entrance)

-> Canyoneering
(about 1500Php)
Tumalog Falls
15 min from oslob

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Cebu City - Oslob - Tumalog Waterfalls - Kawasan Falls - Moalboal...

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SavedTrip itinerary: Cebu City, Oslob, Tumalog Waterfalls, Kawasan Falls, Moalboal, Cebu City

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Cebu to Bohol ferry
-> 17 EUR roundtrip/person

Tagbilaran- Panglao
Tricycle or van ( 500 pesos) when sharing van
-> Rent tricycle/ day 800-1000peso

-Loboc
(bridge/ river)
Zip lining (350peso/ person)

- chocolate hills
(50 peso/person)
-> Bus to Carmen

- Dumaluan Beach
-> entrance fee 150 peso
(other beaches not recommanded)

-Dolphin watching and virgin beach (island hopping)
(boat rental 1500peso )

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2 days tour for only P2000/person

Tour A day 1

Tour C day 2

Tour inclusions

Buffet picnic lunch

Service of local license tour guide

Eco-Tourism Development Fee

Free use of mask and snorkel

Puerto Princesa Airport to Elnido Terminal

P700/person (in shared van)

Hotel - Nacpan Beach

P350/person (one way)

P600/person (Roundtrip)

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Japanese Shipwreck -  Requires advanced open water

Recommended Shop:
Corto Divers

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Lusong Gun Boat

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Oslob whale shark tours is one of the most popular adventures here in the Philippines. Tourists from all over the world flock to this little spot in Cebu to get this once-in-a-lifetime experience: swimming and taking pictures with the biggest species of fish in the ocean.

Here's what you need to know: Swimming with whale sharks is generally okay, as long as certain responsible practices are followed. But this isn't always the case...

In the Philippines, two areas are visited for its whale shark tourism. Oslob in Cebu is the more popular one, but it's also not good for the ecology. On the other hand, the lesser-known Donsol in Sorsogon is the better, ethical choice.

Whale sharks: Get to know them first

Whale sharks are known as the gentle giants. They are the largest fish in the sea, measuring up to 40 feet. They are plant-eating animals, hence the monicker.

They can be seen in a few places on earth, including Australia and select places in Asia. In the Philippines, whale sharks can be seen in Cebu, Sorsogon, Leyte and even in Palawan. Of these places, Cebu and Sorsogon have the more established whale shark tourism.

Whale sharks are locally known as butanding.

Why the Oslob whale shark tourism is not good

The whale sharks are a big tourist attraction in Oslob. It draws hundred thousands of tourists every year. It provides local income, and it has essentially put Oslob in the world map.

In Oslob, the locals regularly feed the whale sharks with krills to keep them in the area. This guarantees sighting all-year round.

There are various reasons this is not a responsible practice. One is that the animals suffer injuries from constant rubbing with boats and contact with tourists, despite a regulation that instructs everyone to keep a 4-meter distance from them.

People think that injury from human contact is only caused by irresponsible tourists, but this isn't necessarily true. We were in Oslob about 2 years ago, and with the enclosed space as well as the whale sharks' tendency to swim close or beside humans, it can be difficult not to hit or get hit by them. At least 3 in our group then experienced this. While this isolated cases might not be serious, taken collectively it may take a toll on the whale sharks' bodies.

This leads me to the next item...

Whale sharks become accustomed to being human fed that they automatically associate human presence with food. This makes them easy bait for shark hunters or conditions them to come close to any boat, which is dangerous if the boats sport propellers.

The whale sharks are also not fed enough by the locals. Since the whale sharks miss out on the nutrients from various plankton growing in other areas, they suffer from lack of nutrition.

Lastly and perhaps the most important, this changes their migratory pattern. Normally, the whale sharks would stay in Oslob for about 2 months before moving to another place. With the regular feeding, they become mainstays in Oslob. Scientists fear that this may eventually harm their breeding cycle and thus reproduction.

To learn more about the effects of the Oslob whale watching tourism, head on to Dive in Bohol and LAMAVE.org.

The better alternative: Swimming with whale sharks in Donsol, Sorsogon

The whale shark tourism in Donsol, Sorsogon, is a more responsible practice. In fact, it's supported by the World WildLife Fund. Here, whale sharks are not fed by the locals.

Whale shark watching in Donsol is a seasonal activity following the animals' natural migration pattern. Tourists are accompanied by spotters and guides to see the whale sharks in the wild. The best time to go in Donsol is from February to April.

Even during peak season interaction is not 100% guaranteed so it's best to book for a whale shark tour for at least 2 days in Donsol Bay.

I'm not sure how the Oslob whale shark activity affects that in Donsol, but observations aren't positive. My close friend who lives in Sorsogon says that fewer whale sharks are being spotted in Donsol, possibly because many have preferred to stay in Oslob for the food. Similarly, another blogger wrote about the declining sightings of whale sharks in Donsol since 2011.

I think we'll know for sure in a few years' time, although I hope we wouldn't have to get to that point.

TIP: Looking for other places to visit in Sorsogon? Read about the places we'd visited here and here.

What can you do to promote responsible tourism

Simple. Share this information to your friends and family who might not be aware yet of the ecological implications of Oslob whale watching tourism. You might also want to read up more on sustainable tourism and how you can be a responsible traveler wherever you go.

We were in Oslob before and found out about its implications only after our trip. Even today, not many people are aware of the effects of regular feeding to the whale sharks in Oslob and some of those who do are in denial.

In addition, people are divided on the issue of closing down the operation in Oslob, as it supports the local livelihood of about 300 people who work in the feeding site. Income is the primary reason the current practice in Oslob continues despite public pleas from researchers.

I would advise people to skip Oslob based on the facts given above. It's basically a glorified underwater zoo. A lot of us feel bad about the maltreatment of animals in local zoos, but isn't the same thing happening in Oslob? Furthermore, we can never really predict how it will affect the reproduction and survival of whale sharks or any ecological effect it may have in the future. Whale shark swimming in Donsol, Sorsogon, remains the ethical choice.
Please share this to your friends and keep them informed.
If you like this post, save it in Pinterest.
Note: Featured image is by Jon Hanson (Wikimedia).

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Planning on Oslob whale shark watching in the Philippines? READ this first - Tara Lets Anywhere

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Oslob whale shark tours is one of the most popular adventures here in the Philippines. Tourists from all over the world flock to this little spot in Cebu to get this once-in-a-lifetime experience: swimming and taking pictures with the biggest species of fish in the ocean.