El Nido lagoons, the Underground River, and Port Barton — Palawan's full range in five days
Verified 2026 · Island Seeker Editorial
Day 1
Arrive Puerto Princesa & Afternoon Activities
Fly into Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) — the main gateway to Palawan with direct connections from Manila (1h15m) and Cebu. Collect your luggage and immediately find an ATM — withdraw enough cash for your full 5-day stay. El Nido ATMs are unreliable. Arrange your van transfer to El Nido for Day 2 morning (depart 7–8 am, 5–6 hours, PHP 800–1,000).
Puerto Princesa arrival guide →Puerto Princesa has more to offer than just being a transit hub. The Palawan Museum (free entry) covers the island's prehistoric inhabitants, the Tabon Caves archaeological finds, and indigenous Palawanon culture. The Baywalk seafront promenade is pleasant for a late afternoon walk. Mitra's Ranch on the city outskirts offers views over the bay.
Puerto Princesa's Rizal Avenue has excellent restaurants: Ka Lui Restaurant (famous for fresh seafood set meals eaten on the floor in traditional style — book ahead), Kinabuchs Grill Bar, and numerous inexpensive Filipino canteens. Early night — the van to El Nido leaves early.
Tip: Book your van transfer to El Nido online in advance or arrange it at your Puerto Princesa hotel on arrival. Don't leave it until morning — the early vans fill up quickly, especially on weekends and peak season.
Day 2
Puerto Princesa to El Nido & First Afternoon
Depart Puerto Princesa at 7–8 am for the 5–6 hour van ride along the scenic Palawan highway. The road passes through mountains, rice paddies, and coastal scenery. Stops in Roxas for breakfast and a mid-route rest break. Arrive in El Nido around 1–2 pm. Check in at your hotel and book Tour A for tomorrow and Tour C for Day 4.
El Nido transfer guide →With the afternoon free, walk south from the town pier to Corong-Corong Beach — a quiet stretch of sand with calm water and food stalls. The lagoon views across to the limestone islands in Bacuit Bay from this angle are excellent. The El Nido viewpoint above town gives the best panorama over Bacuit Bay.
El Nido's Real Street has a range of dining options from PHP 80 turo-turo meals to more upscale beachside restaurants. Altrove (Italian), Happiness Bar, and El Nido Boutique Artcafé are popular mid-range options. Brief your tour operator on any dietary requirements — most group tours include a simple lunch.
Tip: El Nido town is small and walkable. Motorbike taxis (habal-habal) charge PHP 20–50 for short town trips and PHP 200–400 for longer runs to Nacpan Beach or other outlying areas.
Day 3
El Nido Tour A — Bacuit Bay's Best
Depart from the town pier at 8–9 am. Big Lagoon is El Nido's most dramatic landscape — towering limestone karsts enclosing a turquoise lagoon, best explored by kayak (PHP 150 rental, available at the lagoon). Small Lagoon requires swimming through a narrow gap in the cliff — inside is a completely enclosed pool of clear green water, one of the most striking natural features in the Philippines.
El Nido island hopping tours →Secret Beach is entered by swimming through a small crack in a cliff face — the hidden sand beach inside is only 30 metres wide but completely enclosed. Shimizu Island has excellent coral snorkelling. 7 Commandos Beach provides the group lunch stop — a long white sand beach with bamboo restaurants and hammocks. Return to El Nido around 4:30–5 pm.
The El Nido Viewpoint (a short steep climb above the town) gives a panorama over the entire Bacuit Bay archipelago at golden hour — the limestone towers lit by evening sun over the water is the image most associated with Palawan photography. Worth doing on your first clear evening.
Tip: Wear water shoes on Tour A — the Secret Beach and lagoon entries involve climbing over slippery rocks. Reef shoes protect against sea urchins at the snorkelling stops and are available for rent at the pier.
Day 4
El Nido Tour C — Hidden Beaches & Matinloc
Tour C visits a different set of islands in the southern Bacuit Bay group. Helicopter Island (named for its silhouette) has a beautiful powdery beach and calm snorkelling water. The Tour C Secret Beach is different from Tour A's — accessed by a longer swim through a cliff gap, with a larger enclosed beach inside.
El Nido Tour C details →Matinloc Island's abandoned Spanish-era shrine sits on a hilltop with sweeping views over southern Bacuit Bay — one of the best panoramas in El Nido. Hidden Beach (Matinloc's secret cove) is only accessible at low tide by swimming around a cliff — the enclosed lagoon inside has white sand and completely clear water. Tour C returns around 5 pm.
Last evening in El Nido — try one of the beachfront restaurants you haven't visited yet for a proper fresh seafood dinner. The grilled sugpo (tiger prawns) and lapu-lapu (grouper) at most El Nido restaurants are excellent, reasonably priced, and freshly caught.
Tip: Tour C is generally less crowded than Tour A despite visiting equally beautiful spots — a good option to book on Day 4 when you've acclimatised to the island routine.
Day 5
Nacpan Beach & Departure
A habal-habal (motorbike taxi) from El Nido town to Nacpan Beach takes 45 minutes on a bumpy but scenic road (PHP 200–300 return). Nacpan Beach is 4km of undeveloped golden sand — consistently rated among the Philippines' finest beaches. Arrive before 10 am for the best solitude. Bring water and snacks — facilities are minimal.
Nacpan Beach guide →Back in El Nido by 12–1 pm. Quick lunch before your van transfer to Puerto Princesa (departing around 1–2 pm) or direct AirSWIFT flight from El Nido airstrip. The afternoon van arrives in Puerto Princesa around 7–8 pm — timing works for evening flights to Manila.
Puerto Princesa Airport has good flight options back to Manila (last flights around 8–9 pm). The airport is small but efficient — 45 minutes before departure is sufficient for domestic flights.
Philippine visa requirements →Tip: AirSWIFT's El Nido direct flights are the most convenient departure option but book out quickly — check availability as soon as you confirm your travel dates, not after arrival in El Nido.
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common questions
5 days is a very good amount of time for Palawan focused on El Nido. You'll complete two full island hopping tours, see Nacpan Beach, and have time to explore the town without feeling rushed. Adding Coron or the Underground River requires 7+ days.
5 days is too short to do both El Nido and Coron justice — the transfer between them (3-hour ferry or short flight) takes half a day each way. Focus on El Nido for 5 days; add Coron on a separate trip or budget 7+ days.
Two options: van transfer (5–6 hours, PHP 800–1,000, departs El Nido daily at fixed times) or AirSWIFT direct flight (1h20m, PHP 3,000–6,000+, limited schedule). Book either in advance — don't arrive in El Nido without a confirmed return transfer.
Tour A (Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, 7 Commandos) is the most popular and most crowded. Tour C (Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Hidden Beach) visits different islands with similarly stunning scenery but fewer boats. Tour B and D are less frequently recommended for first-timers. Tours A and C together give the best overview of El Nido.
Budget PHP 5,000–8,000 per person for 3–4 days in El Nido covering: 2 island hopping tours (PHP 1,200–1,500 each), accommodation (PHP 800–2,500/night for mid-range), meals (PHP 200–600/day), motorbike taxis, and snacks. Bring all of it from Puerto Princesa — El Nido ATMs should not be relied upon.
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