What to Pack for Palawan: The Essential Island Hopping Packing List
Palawan is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, but it’s also remote, tropical, and organized around spending long days on boats and in the water. What you pack, and what you leave behind, genuinely affects your experience.
I’ve seen travelers arrive in El Nido with rolling suitcases, no reef-safe sunscreen, and the wrong kind of shoes. I’ve also seen experienced island hoppers with everything they need packed into a single 40L daypack, having the time of their lives. The difference usually comes down to preparation.
Here’s the complete, honest packing list, curated specifically for Palawan island hopping.
Sun Protection (Your Most Important Category)
On a Palawan island hopping day, you’re on the water from 8am to 5pm. The Philippine sun at this latitude is intense, more intense than most visitors from temperate countries are used to.
Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 50+, water-resistant)
This is non-negotiable. Standard sunscreens contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, chemicals that bleach and kill coral. El Nido’s Marine Protected Area technically requires reef-safe sunscreen. Beyond the rules: if you’re snorkeling over coral, the chemicals wash directly off your skin. Use what you’d want someone else using while swimming over the reef you’re trying to enjoy.
Recommended brands available in Manila: Stream2Sea, Raw Elements, or any mineral (zinc oxide-based) sunscreen. Bring your own from Manila, reef-safe options are expensive and hard to find in El Nido town.
Rash guard (long sleeve, quick-dry)
A rash guard provides SPF 50 protection without the need for constant reapplication. For serious island hoppers, a rash guard over reef-safe sunscreen on exposed areas is the standard approach. It also protects against jellyfish, which occasionally appear at some stops.
Pack at least two, one to dry while you wear the other.
Sunglasses with UV protection
Glare off the water is intense. Polarized lenses are a meaningful upgrade if you have them, they reduce glare and let you see more clearly into the water, which makes snorkeling stops much better.
Sun hat or cap
For the boat rides between stops when you’re not in the water. Even with sunscreen, direct midday sun on your head for 8 hours adds up.
Water & Swimming Gear
Snorkel mask (your own)
The rental masks on tour boats are workable, but they often don’t seal well and the lenses fog up. Your own mask, sized properly and defogged before entry, is a dramatically better snorkeling experience. A full set (mask, snorkel, fins) is ideal; just the mask is a significant upgrade over rentals.
Fins
Optional, but if you have them, bring them. Fins let you cover much more ground in the lagoons and reefs, and they make the swim through Secret Beach’s cave entrance much easier. They’re too bulky to buy specifically for one trip, but worth packing if you own them.
Waterproof phone case or dry bag
This is essential, not optional. Boats splash. Lagoon entries require swimming. Your phone will get wet without protection, and even a quick submersion can destroy an unprotected phone.
Options:
- A waterproof pouch (₱200–₱500, widely available in Manila), adequate protection for splashes, can be worn around your neck
- A full dry bag (10–15L), better for keeping everything in your daypack dry
Pack your phone in the pouch and put your daypack in the dry bag. Or at minimum, the dry bag for your pack.
Waterproof camera or GoPro
Optional but worth considering if you’re a photographer. Underwater shots in Palawan’s clear water are spectacular, and a GoPro with the right settings captures the water color beautifully. Bring an extra battery (or charging cable), GoPros drain faster than you expect in continuous shooting.
Water shoes or old sandals
Some beach landings are on rocky or coralline sand. Flip flops work but can slip on wet rocks. Water shoes with grip are more practical, especially for the cave entry at Secret Beach on Tour C.
Clothing
For a Palawan trip focused on island hopping:
- 2–3 swimsuits, you’ll be in and out of the water every day, and a wet swimsuit needs to dry before the next use
- 2–3 rash guards (already mentioned above)
- 2–3 casual outfits, lightweight, quick-dry, for evenings in town
- One slightly nicer outfit, El Nido has some genuinely good restaurants; having one decent dinner option is nice
- Light rain jacket or packable wind layer, for van rides with aggressive AC, and for rain (which happens even in dry season occasionally)
- Comfortable walking shoes, for evenings in town. El Nido’s streets are a mix of sand and concrete; sandals work but shoes are more comfortable for longer walks
- Flip flops / sandals, the daily footwear
What to leave behind:
- Jeans (heavy, slow to dry, too hot)
- Formal shoes
- Multiple layers (you won’t need them outside air-conditioned transport)
- More than one “nice” outfit
Practical Gear
Portable power bank
A must. Long days on boats mean you can’t charge. Your phone’s battery will drain fast from photos, Google Maps, and music. A 10,000–20,000 mAh power bank keeps everything charged through a full day.
Universal power adapter
Philippines uses 220V, Type A and B sockets. Most modern electronics (phones, laptops) handle this automatically. But check your charger’s voltage compatibility.
Headlamp or small flashlight
Some guesthouses have dim lighting. Useful for evening walks, particularly if your accommodation is away from the main street.
Basic first aid supplies:
- Motion sickness tablets (Bonamine or equivalent), take 30–60 minutes before boat trips if prone to seasickness
- Antihistamine, for unexpected allergic reactions or itchy insect bites
- Antiseptic wipes, small cuts from rocks or coral happen
- Lip balm with SPF
- Pain reliever (ibuprofen, paracetamol)
Reusable water bottle
Palawan’s plastic waste problem is real. A reusable bottle reduces your single-use plastic consumption and saves money, you refill from water stations at many guesthouses and restaurants for ₱5–₱10 per fill.
Documents & Money
Cash in PHP
This is critical. Bring enough from Manila or Puerto Princesa, ATMs in El Nido and Coron can run out of cash during peak season, and third-party ATMs charge ₱250+ per withdrawal. Budget your trip needs and bring a reasonable buffer.
GCash
Set up GCash before your trip if you don’t already have it. An increasing number of El Nido restaurants, shops, and tour operators now accept GCash, making transactions easier.
Passport (or valid ID)
Some guesthouses require ID upon check-in. Environmental permits for Palawan’s marine parks may require ID documentation.
Printed or offline booking confirmations
Download your hotel confirmations, tour bookings, and flight tickets to your phone offline. Mobile data in El Nido and Coron is workable (Globe SIM with data recommended) but can be spotty.
What to Buy in Manila (Not El Nido)
These items are cheaper, more available, and better-quality in Manila than in El Nido or Coron:
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Snorkel mask and fins (if buying new)
- Dry bags
- GoPro accessories
- Motion sickness medication
- Insect repellent (El Nido has limited stock of DEET-containing repellents)
- Any specific medications you need
El Nido’s stores carry basics, snacks, water, cheap flip flops, basic toiletries, but specialty items like quality reef-safe sunscreen or good snorkel gear are hard to find.
Bag Recommendation
For a 4–7 day Palawan trip focused on island hopping:
- 40L backpack as your main luggage (fits in overhead bins on domestic flights, manageable on boats)
- 10–15L daypack or dry bag for daily island hopping use
Rolling suitcases are technically workable in El Nido town (most streets are flat enough), but they’re impractical on boats and difficult in the sand. A backpack setup is dramatically more practical.
FAQ: What to Pack for Palawan
Q: Is reef-safe sunscreen available in El Nido?
Limited availability and much higher prices than in Manila. Bring your own reef-safe sunscreen from the city.
Q: What’s the dress code in El Nido?
Very casual. Beachwear during the day, light casual clothes in the evening. There are no formal dress code requirements anywhere in El Nido.
Q: Do I need to bring cash to El Nido?
Yes, bring enough PHP for your full trip before you leave Puerto Princesa or Manila. ATMs in El Nido work but can run out of cash. GCash is an increasingly useful backup.
Q: Should I bring fins for El Nido snorkeling?
If you own them, yes, fins make snorkeling in the lagoons significantly more enjoyable. They’re not worth buying new specifically for one trip.
Q: Is a rain jacket necessary for Palawan?
For dry season (November–May): a light layer is useful for cold van AC and occasional rain showers. For wet season: a proper rain jacket is essential.
Q: Can I do laundry in El Nido?
Yes, laundry services are available in El Nido town for approximately ₱80–₱120 per kilo. A 4–7 day trip can be done with fewer clothes if you plan to launder mid-trip.
Pack Right, Travel Better
A well-packed bag makes the difference between a stressful and a seamless Palawan trip. Once you’re on the water with the right gear, the only thing left to do is enjoy one of the world’s most spectacular island hopping experiences.
CMT’s El Nido and Coron packages handle accommodation, transfers, and island hopping, you just need to pack.