International · Palawan, Philippines
Palawan (Philippines)
Palawan, Philippines · sea level (island province)
Swim through cathedral-height limestone lagoons in the morning, dive a WWII Japanese shipwreck in the afternoon — Palawan delivers two world-class bucket-list experiences on the same trip.
Palawan pairs UNESCO-listed underground river through primeval rainforest with El Nido's jade lagoons and Coron's extraordinary wreck-diving in a single island-hopping arc. It remains one of Southeast Asia's least overdeveloped coastlines, with serious marine biodiversity to match the scenery.
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Go in
In season, days sit around 31° and nights near 23°.
What you'll see & do
The sights worth the trip, and how to spend the days around them.
To see
- El Nido Small and Big Lagoons (Bacuit Archipelago)
- Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Coron WWII Japanese Shipwrecks (Okikawa Maru, Irako, Kogyo Maru)
- Kayangan Lake, Coron — often cited Asia's clearest lake
To do
- Island-hopping Tours A–D in El Nido (lagoons, secret beaches, Shimizu snorkel)
- Wreck diving in Coron Bay — 12 WWII Japanese vessels 5–40 m deep
- Kayaking through limestone karst arches and sea caves
- Underground river boat tour, Sabang (pre-booked permit required)
Before you go
- ATMs in El Nido and Coron regularly run dry on weekends and during peak season — withdraw ample PHP in Puerto Princesa or Manila before travelling north.
- Island-hopping tours are cancelled at zero notice for bad weather; shoulder-month travel (May, November) can lose 1–2 tour days with no refund unless you hold trip-cancellation insurance.
- The Underground River's daily 900-person quota is enforced at Sabang without exception — for January–April travel, permits sell out weeks ahead and must be booked at least 4–6 weeks in advance.
Days, already shaped
3-day plan
- Day 1: Arrive Puerto Princesa; afternoon permitted boat tour through UNESCO Underground River, Sabang
- Day 2: Honda Bay island-hop (Cowrie, Starfish, Luli islands); overnight tourist van to El Nido
- Day 3: El Nido Tour A — Small Lagoon kayak, Big Lagoon swim, Secret Beach; fly to Manila
5-day plan
- Day 1: Arrive Puerto Princesa; Underground River tour + Santa Lourdes waterfalls
- Day 2: Honda Bay snorkelling; afternoon shared van transfer to El Nido (5–6 hrs)
- Day 3: El Nido Tour A — Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island snorkel
- Day 4: El Nido Tour C — Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Star Beach sunset
- Day 5: Morning at Nacpan Twin Beach; fly El Nido/Puerto Princesa to Manila
7-day plan
- Day 1: Arrive Puerto Princesa; Underground River, Sabang beach, Baywalk dinner
- Day 2: Honda Bay island-hop; night tourist van to El Nido
- Day 3: El Nido Tour A — lagoons, Secret Beach, limestone kayaking
- Day 4: El Nido Tour B — Snake Island sandbar, Pinagbuyutan, Cudugnon Cave
- Day 5: Fastcraft ferry El Nido → Coron (4.5 hrs); afternoon Kayangan Lake
- Day 6: Coron wreck diving — Okikawa Maru and Skeleton Wreck; Twin Lagoon swim
- Day 7: Calauit Safari sunrise; fly Coron (Francisco B. Reyes) → Manila; connect to India
Getting there, permits & day trips
By air — Mumbai/Delhi → Manila (IndiGo, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific; ~4.5–6 hrs); Manila → Puerto Princesa (1 hr, ~₹3,500–6,000 one-way) or Manila → El Nido via San Vicente/Lio Airport (1.5 hrs) or Manila → Coron/Francisco B. Reyes Airport (1 hr). Layover in Manila typically 3–5 hrs; total door-to-destination ~10–13 hrs.
By rail — No rail link to or within Palawan (island province); not applicable.
By road — No road connection from Manila (sea crossing); within Palawan, Puerto Princesa → El Nido by shared tourist van ~5–6 hrs (₹700–1,000 pp); tricycles and e-bikes for local transfers in El Nido and Coron towns.
On a Driftibo trip we handle the transfers.
Permits & entry — Since June 8, 2025 (BI Memorandum Circular No. 2025-003), all Indian passport holders may enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 14 days for tourism or business, with no qualifying foreign visa required; Indian nationals who additionally hold a valid, unexpired US, UK, Schengen, Australian, Canadian, Japanese, or Singapore visa or residence permit qualify for 30 days visa-free instead. Both waivers are explicitly non-extendible and non-convertible — the Bureau of Immigration cannot extend a stay admitted under either. Port-of-entry requirements are a passport valid at least 6 months beyond the intended stay, a confirmed hotel booking, proof of funds, and an onward or return ticket. Trips exceeding the applicable waiver window require a 9(a) tourist e-visa obtained before departure via evisa.gov.ph; the single-entry fee at the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi is approximately ₹2,840–₹3,520. The Puerto Princesa Underground River requires a pre-booked Visitor Entry Permit (strict no-permit-no-entry enforced at Sabang; daily cap is 900 tourists); book through the Puerto Princesa City Tourism Office or an accredited operator at least 4–6 weeks in advance for January–April travel, when the quota sells out weeks ahead — no walk-ins are accepted once the day's quota is filled. Tubbataha Reef requires a separate special permit via the Tubbataha Management Office; the liveaboard season runs mid-March to mid-June, April–May berths book out 9–12 months in advance, and the liveaboard adds approximately ₹1.2–2 lakh to trip costs.
Day trips nearby
- Puerto Princesa → Sabang village (2 hr drive + 30 min boat) — Underground River base, firefly tour at night
- El Nido → Nacpan Twin Beaches (45 min by tricycle/van) — undeveloped 2-km arc, low crowds
- Coron → Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary, Busuanga (1 hr transfer) — giraffe and zebra safari on island
- El Nido → Coron by fastcraft (4.5 hrs, ~PHP 2,400) — scenic karst island-hopping transit doubling as a day route
Seasons and access shift — we reconfirm every detail before we quote.