How to Get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido
Are you looking for the best ways to get from Puerto Princesa City to El Nido? El Nido is the gateway to the island paradise of Coron and one of the best destinations in the Philippines, so don’t miss it on your Palawan Itinerary.
Spend 2-3 days in El Nido exploring the beautiful beaches and lagoons, taking island hopping tours, enjoying kayaking or ziplining, and joining an expedition tour.
Getting to El Nido may seem difficult, but depending on your time and budget, there are several ways to get there. You can easily get to El Nido by bus, shared minivan, private transfer, or plane.
In this ultimate guide, you will find all the ways to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, such as the cheapest and quickest way to travel, journey times, and how much a plane or bus ticket costs.
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Puerto Princesa to El Nido Distance
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.
Scroll down for more information about which transport is the best for you, how long the journey takes, and how much a taxi or bus ticket will cost.
Read our → El Nido Guide
Puerto Princesa to El Nido by Flight
There are no direct flights from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. Therefore, you must first fly to Manila and from there to El Nido.
El Nido has a small airport with domestic flights only, the Lio/El Nido Airport (airport code ENI). The airfare and extra airport transfers make this one of the most expensive options to get to El Nido, so we don’t recommend it.
The flight time takes about 5-6 hours, including the connection, and plane tickets start from 150 USD (without luggage) per person for one way. In high season, flight tickets may be even more expensive.
TIP
Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights to El Nido.
Puerto Princesa to El Nido by Taxi, Private Transfer
One of the easiest and fastest ways to get to El Nido is by taxi. The journey takes 5 hours, depending on traffic.
A taxi cost from Puerto Princesa to El Nido starts from 110 USD, depending on the number of passengers, time of day, etc. If you are not traveling alone, the price is affordable.
Before you get in the taxi, be sure to agree on a price with the driver. The taxi drivers do not accept card payments, so you should bring local money!
Alternatively, you can book a private transfer to El Nido (any hotel) starting from 119 USD, and 10 pax are allowed.
Puerto Princesa to El Nido by Bus
The cheapest way to reach El Nido is by bus. As these are direct buses, you don’t have to worry about additional transfers to get to El Nido.
The travel time is approximately 5.5-6.5 hours, depending on traffic.
The Cherry buses run from Puerto Princesa International Airport (airport code PPS) or Irawan Bus Terminal. Irawan Bus Terminal is a 20-30-minute drive from the city center, and you can get there by tricycle for around 5-8 USD. We recommend you arrive at the bus station at least 30 minutes before departure.
As buses only run five times a day at 7 AM, 8 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, and 9:30 PM, tickets sell out quickly. Therefore, we recommend buying them days in advance online (especially in high season).
The bus tickets start from 9 USD per person, depending on the type of bus (economy, standard, VIP, etc.). Economy buses are non-air-conditioned.
El Nido town can be easily reached by a 5-10 minute walk or tricycle ride from the El Nido Transport (Corong-Corong) Bus Terminal.
Puerto Princesa to El Nido by Minivan
One of the best and most popular ways to get to El Nido is by air-conditioned minivan. The minivans run between 3 AM and 7 PM from Puerto Princesa Airport or the city.
A shuttle minivan to El Nido starts from 10 USD. The journey time is 5-5.5 hours, depending on traffic.
Where to Stay in El Nido
There are many luxury hotels and resorts in El Nido, but accommodation options are available for all budgets. These are our recommendations.
Best hotels in El Nido
- Luxury: El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island
- Mid-Range: Dryft Darocotan Island
- Budget: Frendz Hostel El Nido
More Travel Guides about the Philippines
- Palawan Itinerary for 10 Days
- Ultimate Travel Guide to Coron
- Coron Itinerary for 3 Days
- 8 Best Things to Do in El Nido
- El Nido Island Hopping Tours
- Best Boracay Hotels in Station 1
We hope our post on how to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido 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
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The Ultimate Palawan Itinerary for 10 Days (2025)
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