HOW DO I GET TO EL NIDO?
THE BEST WAYS TO TRAVEL TO EL NIDO, PALAWAN
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO GET TO EL NIDO, PALAWAN
- Direct flights to/from El Nido with AirSwift (ELN AIRPORT)
- Flying to Puerto Princesa and take a mini van for 6 hours (!)
- Daily ferries from Coron, Busuanga
1. Direct flights with Air-Swift to / from El Nido Airport
This is by far the most convenient and time-efficient way with brand new Aircrafts. Prices vary from 5000php up to 9000php one way. Flights in high season often get sold out. In Typhoon Season August - December expect delays/cancellations/re-bookings.
From El Nido Airport you take a trycicle, reservation is not needed. To our location at Lugadia Beach, CoronCoron it takes 20 minutes, the price is 400php.
INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS: Don't underestimate Manila traffic, Taxi cues and security check just to enter a Terminal. It sums up.
You travel with diving gear?
There are 7kg hand-carry but only 10kg check-in luggage included. You can add another 10kg check-in luggage in advance for extra fees - but PLEASE BOOK IT ONLINE TO AVOID HIGH COSTS. At the airport fees are way higher.
2. Traveling via Puerto Princesa (PPS) with direct flights from / to
- Manila T3 or T4
- Cebu
- Clark
- Taipei (Taiwan)
- Incheon (Korea)
Domestic flights are operated by Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines or Air Asia. Early bookings can be cheap as 2000php one way but arrival times are often inconvenient and you might lose a full day traveling in a tropical climate just to safe 2000php on tickets. Flying direct to El Nido is much easier.
HOW TO GET TO EL NIDO FROM PUERTO PRINCESA AIRPORT?
- Grab a mini van near the Airport.
- Expect delays in departure. Vans leave when they are full, not when you want to.
- Departures are right at the airport or outside the gate until the last flight arrives
- You will always find a ride even without reservation
- The shaky ride takes 6 hours including 2 stops
- The price is 800php per person
- A private van starts with 9000php or more
- Sorry, we do not arrange your transportation.
Under Ground River (Sabang)
If you are planing to visit the Underground River in Sabang go there straight with all your luggage. We recommend to stay 1 night in Sabang rather than in Puerto. This way you safe time and avoid driving the same route twice. Do we recommend the UG River? It takes some patience to visit it: waiting for tickets, boats, food...lot of effort to see a beautiful but often crowded cave.
Port Barton (half way to El Nido)
If you take the trip from Puerto to El Nido you can plan 2 or 3 nights in the cosy village of Port Barton. It is usually less crowded than El Nido and has its own charm. Chose a stay that has a back-up generator as burnouts happen even more often than in El Nido.
Tubbataha Natinal Park (by Liveaboard only)
Puerto Princesa is boring and only good as a hub for flights or if planing liveaboards to Tubbataha National Park - surely one of the best diving sites in the world. The season is very limited due to the rough conditions out there: from mid march to mid june only, with may being the best month in terms of wind and waves. We recommend this trip to experienced divers only with own gear and + 100 dives who enjoy currents and deep dives.
3. Daily Ferry from / to Coron on Busuanga Island
- There are currently 3 companies. Reservation needed
- Ferries can get cancelled on short notice if weather turns rough
- Do not take unregistered small boats - you will regret !!!
The ferries need between3 - 7 hours, depending on wind and waves. Ticket prices start with 2300 php one way. A reservation is usually required in advance. It can be a rough ride so bring enough motion sickness pills.
There are several ferry companies:
IMPORTANT
Cancellations due to weather or engine-problems are not uncommon. Check weather forecasts with windy.tv and PAGASA. If Palawan is under 'Storm Signal' ferries can't operate. We have seen many people being 'stranded' every December due to no reservation or cancellations. DO NOT TAKE ANY LOCAL BOAT INSTEAD - HIGH RISK !!!