The Ultimate Palawan Itinerary for 10 Days (2025)

Are you visiting Palawan for the first time and looking for the perfect Palawan Itinerary? We’ve put together the best Palawan Itinerary for first-time visitors.

Why visit Palawan? Its beautiful white sandy beaches, pristine landscapes, crystal clear waters, impressive limestone rock formations, and amazing marine life will fascinate every visitor.

If there’s one place in the world we’d love to return to at any time, it would be the tropical paradise of Palawan in the Philippines.

Our Palawan Travel Guide includes the best places to visit, how to get there, where to stay, and the best things to do in Palawan. You’ll also find all the useful tips and information you need to plan your 10-day Palawan Itinerary.

Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through our link. This is a free way to support us and allow us to continue to create inspiring travel guides.

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Where is Palawan?

Palawan is the largest island in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. The capital of the province is Puerto Princesa.

Palawan is known as the most visited island in the world and home to amazing places such as Coron and El Nido.

Best Time to Visit Palawan Island

The Philippines has a tropical climate with warm weather and very high humidity throughout the year. Palawan’s average annual temperature is 29°C.

Palawan has two seasons: a dry season from November to May and a rainy season from June to October. Typhoons can also occur during the rainy season.

The best time to visit Palawan is from November to May during the dry season, as the scenery is beautiful and the weather is perfect for island hopping tours. We did this Palawan Itinerary in April.

Recommended post → Coron Guide

Palawan Itinerary for first-time visitors

During the peak season, prices are higher, El Nido and Coron are very crowded, and ferry tickets can sell out quickly.

Get your Ferry Tickets.

The rainy season is ideal for those traveling on a low budget or who want to avoid crowds. However, island hopping tours may be canceled due to weather or sea conditions.

Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! We always choose SafetyWing for our travels.

How to Get to Palawan

You can easily get to Palawan by plane. Most people arrive first in Manila (the capital of the Philippines) and then take a flight to Puerto Princesa. You can also fly to Puerto Princesa from Cebu, but you’ll probably find cheaper flights from Manila.

Use iVisa to check if you need a tourist visa for the Philippines and apply for an e-visa online.

Wondering where to start your Palawan Itinerary?

Puerto Princesa Airport (airport code PPS): Puerto Princesa is the main gateway to Palawan, about a 1.5-hour flight from Manila.
El Nido Lio Airport (ENI): If you are looking for the quickest way to El Nido, you can fly there, but flights are overpriced.
Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU): This airport is located on Busuanga Island. Flights are expensive, but this is the fastest way to get to Coron.
San Vicente Airport (SWL): This is the fastest way to get to Port Barton, Palawan’s most underrated destination. Currently, there are only direct flights from Cebu.

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Use Skyscanner to get cheap flights to Palawan.

Palawan Itinerary for 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

Welcome to the Philippines! We hope you had a great flight and are ready to explore this gorgeous country. Puerto Princesa is the best place to start your Palawan Itinerary, as there are many cheap and direct flights from Manila or Cebu. Most people skip Puerto Princesa and head straight to El Nido once they arrive.

Buy an eSIM and data package for the Philippines.

Wondering what to do in Puerto Princesa City? The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, one of the most beautiful natural attractions in the Philippines, is only a 1.5-hour drive from the city. If you have enough time, we recommend you visit this stunning Unesco World Heritage Site.

Alternatively, you can spend the day relaxing in nearby Sabang village or take an island hopping tour in Honda Bay.

Book your Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour HERE.

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As visiting the Underground River is a full-day activity, add an extra day to your Palawan Itinerary.

Best hotels in Puerto Princesa City

Luxury: Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa
Mid-Range: One Manalo Place or Panja Resort Palawan
Budget: Cleon Villas Pension

more hotels in puerto Princesa

Travel to El Nido

The distance between El Nido and Puerto Princesa is about 270 km, and the travel time is 5-6.5 hours, depending on traffic and mode of transport. We have a detailed post on how to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido with all the information you need.

We traveled to El Nido by minivan. A shuttle minivan to El Nido starts from 10 USD. Once you arrive at the El Nido Transport Terminal, you can take a short tricycle ride to El Nido Town.

Best hotels in El Nido

Luxury: El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island
Mid-Range: Dryft Darocotan Island
Budget: Frendz Hostel El Nido

more hotels in el Nido

Once you arrive in El Nido, book an island hopping tour for the next day.

Day 2: Go on an El Nido Island Hopping Tour

Good morning! On Day 2 of your Palawan Itinerary, start your day exploring Bacuit Bay and take one of the best El Nido island hopping tours. Bacuit Bay is home to 45 paradise islands. On the boat tour, you can visit the surrounding islands, tropical beaches, stunning limestone formations, and some hidden lagoons. Island hopping tours are the best thing to do in El Nido, Palawan.

There are four El Nido tours to choose from: A, B, C, and D. Each offers a different route and a wonderful experience. The boat trips last around 7 hours, starting around 9 AM and finishing between 4-5 PM. During the island hopping tour, you can swim, snorkel in the crystal clear water, rent a kayak, or sunbathe on the boat.

We booked the Island Hopping Tour A via GetYourGuide.

If you want to do two El Nido tours and explore the waterfalls in the area, add an extra day to your Palawan Itinerary.

Most tours do not include the Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF), which is 400 PHP (7 USD) and valid for 10 days. All visitors must pay this fee to visit Bacuit Bay.

The 2019 environmental rule has limited the number of tourists in El Nido’s three most visited places, the Small Lagoon, the Big Lagoon, and the Secret Beach. Nowadays, these sites cannot be visited on the same day.

Read the full post → El Nido Island Hopping Tours

Day 3: Visit the Best Beaches in El Nido, Palawan

The keyword for this day is relaxation, so spend the whole day on the most beautiful beaches of El Nido.

Did you know that Palawan has been voted the most beautiful island in the world many times?

Palawan is a tropical paradise with beautiful white sand beaches, stunning limestone rock formations, crystal clear waters, wonderful islands, and hidden lagoons.

If you want a unique experience in your Palawan Itinerary, don’t miss the zipline between the islands.

The best way to explore El Nido is to rent a scooter. Motorbikes are cheap to rent and provide a lot of freedom and flexibility to reach the attractions and beaches. You can rent a scooter for around 400-600 PHP (7-10,50 USD) per day.

These beaches are a must-see in El Nido: Nacpan Beach, Coron Corong Beach, Lio Beach, Duli Beach, and Las Cabanas Beach. These beautiful beaches are perfect for snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, and relaxing.

In the town, you can rent a double kayak and explore the nearby beaches on your own. Renting a kayak for a full day costs around 500 PHP (8,60 USD).

Recommended post → Things to Do in El Nido

Day 4: Travel to Coron

It’s time to say goodbye to El Nido for a short time and continue your Palawan Itinerary to the beautiful island of Coron.

Coron is one of the most famous destinations in the Philippines, with its picturesque beaches, stunning rock formations, crystal clear waters, and World War II shipwreck scuba diving spots.

You can get from El Nido to Coron by plane, slow or fast ferry. The port fee is 20 PHP (0,35 USD) per person.

We have a detailed post on how to get from El Nido to Coron with all the information you need.

Good to know
Upon arrival, you must pay the Environmental Fee of 200 PHP (3,50 USD) at the port of Coron. It is valid for 10 days.

We took a fast ferry from El Nido to Coron. The fast ferry takes just 3.5 hours (depending on the sea and weather conditions) and is one of the best ways to travel to Coron.

Ferry tickets from El Nido to Coron start from 46 USD per person for one way. As the ferries run rarely, tickets can sell out quickly (especially in high season), so we recommend you buy online!

You can easily buy your ferry tickets online through 12Go or Bookaway, where you can get the best prices.

Day 5: Go on a Coron Island Hopping Tour

Coron was the best part of our trip to the Philippines. So plan your Palawan Itinerary to allow enough time to do two island hopping tours. But it’s good to know that Coron Island hopping tours are more expensive than El Nido tours.

Coron Island hopping tours usually start around 8:30-9 AM and finish between 4-5 PM. On the first day, we did tour A (like in El Nido).

See also → How to Spend 3 Days in Coron

The best sights on Tour A are CYC Beach, Las Islas De Coral, Kayangan Lake, and Sunset Beach. The most photographed spot in Coron is the crystal clear emerald green waters of Kayangan Lake, the cleanest lake in the Philippines.

The group tour A prices start from 28 USD. Most group tours include hotel pick-up and drop-off, drinking water, a buffet lunch, a life vest, entrance fees, and government taxes.

Book your island hopping tour HERE.

Day 6: Take another Coron Island Hopping Tour

Are you ready for one of the highlights of your Palawan Itinerary? It’s time to discover more of Coron and go on another island hopping tour.

The Island Hopping Tour B includes Barracuda Lake, Smith Beach, Skeleton Wreck, Twin Lagoon, and Reef Garden.

The group tour B starts from an average of 32 USD. As the boat tours are popular, you should book a Coron Island hopping tour in advance! You can easily book private or group tours online.

Book your Coron Island Hopping Tour HERE.

Barracuda Lake is the most stunning diving and snorkeling spot in Coron. The water is so crystal clear that you can see the dramatic limestone walls and rock formations even from standing on the wooden platform.

Wreck diving is also a popular activity in Coron. A Japanese shipwreck sunk during World War II can be seen at the Skeleton Wreck.

Best hotels in Coron

Luxury: Two Seasons Coron Island Resort
Mid-Range: Bacau Bay Resort Coron or Tag Resort
Budget: Vela Terraces Hotel

more hotels in Coron

Day 7: Go Back to El Nido

We know how you feel when you leave Coron Island, as it is the highlight of every Palawan Itinerary.

But don’t worry! You can still spend some time in El Nido visiting the waterfalls, hiking the Taraw Cliff Canopy Walk and enjoying the nightlife, or relaxing on one of the best beaches.

From Coron, you can return to El Nido the same way you arrived, by fast ferry. The port fee is 20 PHP (0.35 USD) per person.

Get your ferry tickets via 12Go or Bookaway.

Day 8: Travel to Port Barton, San Vicente

Port Barton is a hidden gem on the Palawan Itinerary, perfect for those who want to avoid the crowds of El Nido or Coron. It is a quiet, small coastal village with stunning snorkeling spots, fantastic island hopping tours, white sandy beaches, and the most beautiful sunsets.

The distance between El Nido and Port Barton is about 170 km, which is 4-6 hours, depending on traffic and mode of transport.

We traveled to Port Barton by minivan. A shuttle minivan from El Nido Transport Terminal to Port Barton Bus Terminal starts from 10 USD. As the vans only run twice a day at 8 AM and 1 PM, tickets can sell out quickly (especially in high season), so we recommend you book in advance!

Get Minivan Tickets here.

Best hotels in Port Barton

Mid-Range: Parrots Boutique Resort or Sunset Colors
Budget: Ausan Beach Front Cottages

More Hotels in San Vicente

Day 9: Go on a Port Barton Island Hopping Tour

Port Barton is the perfect place for relaxation and island hopping tours, so add it to your Palawan Itinerary.

Boat tours last about 7-8 hours. Most group tours include drinking water, a buffet lunch, a life vest, island entrance fees, and a snorkeling mask.

Port Barton island hopping tours start from 1500 PHP (26-27 USD). Most tours do not include the environmental fee, which costs 50 PHP (1 USD) per person.

Check island hopping tour prices and availability HERE.

We did a combined island hopping tour and visited beautiful places like the Twin Reef, Fantastic Reef, Wide Reef, Turtle Spot, German Island, Starfish Island, and Paradise Island. While snorkeling, we saw many turtles, colorful fish, corals, and starfish.

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In Port Barton, be sure to visit White Beach and Long Beach.

Day 10: Leave Palawan

We hope you enjoyed your 10-day Palawan Itinerary! But it’s time to say goodbye to Palawan and return to Puerto Princesa City. Then, you can fly home or continue exploring the Philippines.

You can get from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa by bus, taxi, or minivan. The journey time is 3.5-4 hours, depending on traffic and mode of transport.

The cheapest way to get to Puerto Princesa is by bus. However, these buses are not air-conditioned, so we do not recommend traveling by bus. The bus tickets start from 6 USD, while minivans cost around 8-13 USD.

Get Minivan Tickets here.

What to Pack for Island Hopping Tours

Since this Palawan Itinerary includes many exciting island hopping tours, see the list below for what we recommend you pack.

Sunscreen: You don’t have to worry about sun damage with this reef-friendly UVA/UVB sunscreen.
Quick-dry towel: This microfibre quick-drying towel is ideal for traveling, hiking, swimming, bathing, and sports.
Power bank: An essential accessory for anyone who needs reliable power on the go.
Grayl Filtered Water Bottle: The Grayl filter removes viruses and bacteria and filters microplastics, chemicals, and heavy metals. Fill up your filtered water bottle anywhere and drink crystal-clear water wherever you go.
Swimsuit
Hat and sunglasses
Waterproof bag
Medication (seasickness or headache tablets)
Flip-flops, Water shoes
Extra snack
Local money
Camera gear
GoPro or Waterproof phone bag
Own snorkeling gear

Join an Expedition Tour on your Palawan Itinerary

Are you looking for an unforgettable experience in Palawan, Philippines? You can join a 4-day, 3-night from El Nido to Coron boat expedition tour or vice versa. Explore paradise islands, visit hidden gems, and enjoy magical sunsets and delicious food.

Although there are several boat expeditions, we recommend Big Dream Boatman.

Expeditions usually cost around 600 USD. The price includes meals, beverages (including alcoholic beverages), towels, snorkeling gear, and three nights of island-style accommodations (cottages and camping).

Book the best boat expedition tour HERE.

We hope our 10-day Palawan Itinerary will help you plan your next trip to the Philippines. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.

Travel Resources

Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Ferry/Transfer – 12Go

The Ultimate Palawan Itinerary for 10 Days (2025)