Destinations & ItinerariesBy Clever Tourists · Published
For 2 weeks in the Philippines, stay on Palawan: fly into Puerto Princesa, then Sabang (2 days) for the Underground River, Port Barton (2), El Nido (5) and Coron (4), and fly out of Busuanga to Manila for your connection home. This is our suggested cut of the 29-day route we actually took in November and December 2022, which added Cebu's Oslob and Moalboal. Two weeks is not enough to do both island groups well, so this plan keeps the Palawan half, travels south to north without backtracking, and leaves room for a weather day before the one sea crossing.
• Day 1, Manila to Sabang: fly to Puerto Princesa (about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes), then about 2 hours by van or private transfer to Sabang.
• Days 2–3, Sabang: the Underground River on day 2 with a pre-booked permit, then the mangrove paddle tour and the beach. Our Sabang guide has the rest.
• Days 4–5, Port Barton: a slower beach village with island-hopping boats in its bay.
• Days 6–10, El Nido: two island-hopping tours (A first, then C or D), a spare day for weather, and the town beach at low tide for the view of Cadlao Island.
• Day 11, El Nido to Coron: fast ferry (about 3.5 to 5 hours) or a 40-minute flight to Busuanga.
• Days 12–13, Coron: an island tour to Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon, and the WWII wrecks by snorkel or dive.
• Day 14, fly out: Busuanga airport is 30 to 40 minutes from Coron town, with flights to Manila for your onward connection.
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is why Sabang exists: an 8.2 km underground river, UNESCO-listed since 1999, with a paddle-boat tour of about 45 minutes inside the cave. Visits are capped at about 900 a day and need a dated permit, so book it in Puerto Princesa or through an agency before you go. Staying the night in Sabang lets you take an early slot before the day-tour vans arrive. Our Underground River guide has the fees.
Port Barton is the pause between the cave and El Nido's crowds. We spent 3 days there; here it gets 2. Booking sites put Sabang to Port Barton at around 4 to 5 hours by road with a change, and Port Barton to El Nido at about 4 hours by shared van. If you are short of time, drop Port Barton and give El Nido or Coron the extra day.
Five days in El Nido is enough for Tour A (Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commandos Beach) and one more of the lettered tours, plus a day kept free in case a tour is cancelled. Book a day ahead, since the lagoons have daily caps. Our El Nido Tour A, B, C or D guide compares them.
Budget cash for the ₱400 (≈ $6.3) Eco-Tourism Development Fee (paid once, keep the receipt), the ₱200 (≈ $3.1) lagoon fee for Big or Small Lagoon, and joiner tours of roughly ₱1,200 to ₱1,800 (≈ $18.8–28) per person in 2026. Stay in town near the pier where the boats leave; our El Nido guide covers the town.
The fast ferry crosses the open Linapacan Strait in roughly 3.5 to 5 hours and can be rough in either monsoon; take seasickness tablets if you need them. The flight from El Nido's Lio airport to Busuanga takes about 40 minutes; its operator changed when Cebgo took over AirSWIFT's routes on 1 July 2026, so check the current schedule. Our ferry vs flight guide compares fares and baggage.
In Coron, nearly everything is reached by boat from the town pier: Kayangan Lake, a short steep climb over a limestone ridge, Twin Lagoon, and the Japanese wrecks sunk in a single air raid on 24 September 1944, some shallow enough to snorkel. Our Coron guide covers them.
When to go: our Palawan guides put the boat season at roughly November or December to May, driest from February to April. From about June to October the southwest monsoon brings rough seas, and the Coast Guard suspends tours and ferries whenever a storm signal is up, so keep a spare day in El Nido whatever the month. We went in November, the shoulder month at the start of the northeast monsoon, when late typhoons are still possible.
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With 3 weeks or more: fly from Busuanga to Cebu (directly if a flight runs on your dates, otherwise via Manila) and add Moalboal and Oslob on Cebu's south coast. Our 4-week Philippines itinerary has the full route and the legs between.
It is enough for Palawan: Sabang, Port Barton, El Nido and Coron. Adding Cebu as well in two weeks means a lot of flying, so we would save it for a 3- or 4-week trip.
About 5 days in El Nido for two island tours and a weather day, and 3 to 4 in Coron for Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon and the wrecks. We spent 6 and 4.
Fly into Puerto Princesa and travel north to Sabang, Port Barton, El Nido and Coron, then fly out of Busuanga. That way you never backtrack the length of the island.
Roughly 3.5 to 5 hours on the fast ferry across the Linapacan Strait. A flight from El Nido's Lio airport to Busuanga takes about 40 minutes.
February to April is the driest and calmest. The wider season runs from about November or December to May; from June to October rough seas can cancel boats.
Yes. Visits are capped at about 900 a day and need a dated permit, booked in Puerto Princesa a day or two ahead or through a licensed agency.
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