The Perfect 5-Day Palawan Itinerary for First-Timers (El Nido + Coron)
Five days in Palawan sounds like enough, and it is, if you plan it right. The challenge most first-timers face isn’t a shortage of things to do. It’s trying to cram everything in and spending half the trip on boats and vans instead of actually enjoying the places they worked so hard to reach.
This itinerary is built around one simple idea: see the best of both El Nido and Coron without exhausting yourself getting between them. I’ve refined it across multiple trips and dozens of travelers I’ve seen go through Palawan, it works.
Let’s get into it.
Before You Go: Key Things to Know
- Flights: Fly into Puerto Princesa (PPS) or directly into El Nido (ENL via AirSWIFT). If you fly into PPS, add a half-day transit to El Nido (₱1,800–₱2,500 van transfer).
- Getting between El Nido and Coron: No road connects them sensibly. Fly with AirSWIFT (35–45 min, book well ahead) or take an occasional ferry. Flying is strongly recommended.
- Book in advance: El Nido and Coron accommodations fill up fast from December to March. Book island hopping tours and flights before you arrive.
- Currency: Bring PHP. ATMs exist in El Nido town and Coron town, but don’t rely on them as your only source.
Day 1: Arrive El Nido, Settle In & Explore Town
Where to stay: El Nido town, Corong-Corong, or Las Cabañas Beach (all within a few minutes of each other)
Get in early if possible, El Nido is a 45-minute flight from Manila via AirSWIFT, or about 1.5 hours from Puerto Princesa by flight or 5.5 hours by van.
Don’t try to do an island hopping tour on arrival day. Instead:
- Walk the main street and get your bearings (it’s compact, takes 20 minutes)
- Scout the tour operators and book tomorrow’s island hopping
- Head to Las Cabañas Beach for sunset, the view of the karst cliffs from the beach as the sun drops behind the islands is something you won’t forget quickly
Dinner: eat along the strip near the beach. Try grilled pampano or fresh prawns at any of the open-air restaurants. Budget ₱300–₱450 per person.
Day 2: El Nido, Tour A (Lagoons & Secret Beach)
This is the crown jewel of El Nido island hopping, and you want a full day for it.
Tour A covers:
- Big Lagoon, kayak or swim through a wide, calm lagoon surrounded by towering limestone
- Small Lagoon, narrower, more enclosed, with brilliant blue water; kayak rental is ₱200
- Secret Lagoon, swim through a small opening in the cliff to reach a hidden pool
- Shimizu Island, one of the better snorkeling spots, with good coral and reef fish
Tours depart around 8am and return by 5pm. Cost is approximately ₱1,200–₱1,500 per person including lunch. Book the earliest slot to beat crowds at the Small Lagoon, the difference between 8am and 10am arrival is dramatic.
Evening: Try a sunset cocktail at one of the beach bars in town. The sky turns colors that make even experienced travelers stop mid-conversation.
Day 3: El Nido, Tour C (Secret Beach & Helicopter Island)
Tour C covers:
- Secret Beach, the most dramatic stop: swim through a cave opening to find a completely hidden cove. One of those moments where you understand why people keep coming back to Palawan.
- Helicopter Island, named for its shape when viewed from above. Long white beach, excellent snorkeling along the reef.
- Star Beach, quieter, less visited, good for swimming
Cost: same as Tour A, approximately ₱1,200–₱1,500 per person.
Evening option: Take a guided firefly tour in the mangroves near Corong-Corong. Small boats paddle through tunnels of mangrove trees while thousands of fireflies blink around you. Surreal and beautiful, about ₱500–₱600 per person.
Day 4: Fly to Coron, Arrive & Explore Town
Morning: fly El Nido to Coron with AirSWIFT (flights are typically at 9–11am, about 35–40 minutes). Book this well in advance, seats sell out.
Upon arrival in Coron:
- Van or tricycle to town (20–25 minutes from the airport)
- Check in, drop bags, rest
- Afternoon: climb Mount Tapyas for the panoramic sunset view. 700+ steps, about 30 minutes up. Tough but worth it. The view of Coron Bay dotted with islands at golden hour is exceptional.
- Evening: dinner in town. The market area has excellent fresh seafood at very fair prices.
Accommodation: Coron has good mid-range options. Budget ₱1,500–₱2,500 for a comfortable air-conditioned room. Book in advance during peak season.
Day 5: Coron, Island Hopping (Kayangan Lake & Twin Lagoon)
Your one full day in Coron, make it count.
Classic Coron day tour covers:
- Kayangan Lake, the iconic viewpoint and the lake itself. Arrive as early as possible. We joined a boat leaving at 7:30am and had the overlook almost to ourselves, by the time we were leaving, five other groups were queuing.
- Twin Lagoon, swim through the rock passage between two connected lagoons at low tide
- Barracuda Lake, unusual thermocline lake, fascinating for swimmers and snorkelers
- CYC Beach, lunch stop on a gorgeous white sand beach with calm, clear water
- Skeleton Wreck / Coral Garden, snorkel over a WWII shipwreck visible from the surface
Cost: approximately ₱1,200–₱1,500 per person including lunch.
Evening: Maquinit Hot Springs (₱200 entry) just outside town, volcanic hot springs at 40°C, perfect for sore muscles after a full day on the water. Highly recommended.
Fly home the next morning from Coron.
5-Day Palawan: Sample Budget
| Item | Estimated Cost (per person) |
|---|---|
| Flights (Manila–El Nido, El Nido–Coron, Coron–Manila) | ₱8,000–₱12,000 |
| Accommodation (4 nights, mid-range) | ₱6,000–₱10,000 |
| Island hopping tours (2 in El Nido, 1 in Coron) | ₱3,600–₱4,500 |
| Meals (5 days) | ₱3,000–₱4,500 |
| Miscellaneous (tricycles, entrance fees, tips) | ₱1,500–₱2,000 |
| Total estimated | ₱22,100–₱33,000 |
Book a complete Palawan package with CMT and we can reduce the logistics cost significantly, bundling accommodation, island hopping, and transfers saves both money and planning time.
Optional Add-Ons If You Have More Time
- Day 2.5 (El Nido): Tour B or Tour D for more island variety, or a night in Nacpan Beach (one of the best beaches on mainland Palawan)
- Extra Coron day: PADI discover scuba or a proper wreck dive at Akitsushima or Olympia Maru
- Add Puerto Princesa (Day 0 or Day 6): Underground River tour, then continue to El Nido or Coron
FAQ: 5-Day Palawan Itinerary
Q: Is 5 days enough for Palawan?
Five days is enough to get an excellent Palawan experience, but you’ll need to choose between destinations. This itinerary splits between El Nido and Coron. For Puerto Princesa’s Underground River, add at least one more day.
Q: Should I start with El Nido or Coron?
Starting with El Nido makes more logistical sense for most travelers, you can fly directly from Manila to El Nido, then hop to Coron, and fly back to Manila from Coron. The reverse also works but is slightly less common.
Q: How do I get between El Nido and Coron?
Fly. AirSWIFT operates daily flights (when available) between El Nido and Coron. The flight takes about 35–45 minutes. Book well in advance, this route has limited seats and sells out during peak season.
Q: What’s the best time for a 5-day Palawan trip?
November through April offers the best weather. December to February is peak season with the most consistent sunshine. March to April is also good but busier. Avoid June to October (typhoon season).
Q: Can I do El Nido and Coron without a tour package?
Yes, but it requires significantly more planning, booking transfers, accommodation, and island hopping tours separately. A package from CMT bundles these and often costs less overall while saving you hours of logistics work.
Q: What island hopping tours should I prioritize?
In El Nido: Tour A (lagoons) and Tour C (Secret Beach) are the top two. In Coron: the classic day tour covering Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, and CYC Beach.
Ready to Book?
Stop planning and start packing. CMT’s Palawan tour packages handle your island hopping, accommodation, and all transfers, so your 5 days are spent in the water, not on the phone arranging logistics.