El Nido or Coron in Palawan
Part of the Palawan travel guide — see every topic in All Palawan Guides.
El Nido and Coron are northern Palawan's two big island-hopping bases, about 3.5 hours apart by ferry. Both have limestone cliffs and clear water, but they feel different. Here is how to choose.
El Nido: lagoons, beaches, sunsets
El Nido is best for beaches, kayaking in lagoons and sunsets. Tours A to D visit Big and Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Hidden Beach and island beaches for about ₱1,200–1,800 per person, plus lagoon fees of about ₱200 and the ₱400 eco fee. Nacpan Beach, about 4 km of sand north of town, is one of the best beaches in the Philippines. The town has the most restaurants, bars and hotels, and it is busier and pricier.
Coron: lakes, wrecks and reefs
Coron is best for clear lakes, snorkelling and diving. Kayangan Lake (entry about ₱300), Twin Lagoon and Barracuda Lake are on Coron Island, across the bay from town. Coron is one of the world's best places for shipwreck diving, with several wrecks for certified divers and one shallow enough for snorkellers. Coron town is plain, but the view from Mount Tapyas, about 700 steps up, is wide.
Cost, crowds and seasons
El Nido has more choice of rooms but higher prices: about ₱1,500–3,500 for a simple double and much more on the island resorts. Coron is a little cheaper. Both are very busy from December to May, with the most boats on the water from about 10:00 to 14:00. From June to October, sea trips can be cancelled because of weather.
How to choose
With 3–4 days, pick one: El Nido for beaches and first-timers, Coron for diving and lakes. With 6–8 days, do both and take the ferry or a 40-minute flight between them. Fly into one and out of the other to save time: Lio (El Nido) has flights to Clark and Cebu, and Busuanga (Coron) has flights to Manila and Clark.
El Nido or Coron at a glance
| Best for | El Nido: beaches, lagoons, sunsets · Coron: lakes, wrecks, snorkelling |
|---|---|
| Tour price | El Nido about ₱1,200–1,800 · Coron about ₱1,500–2,600 |
| Extra fees | El Nido: ₱400 eco fee + lagoon fees · Coron: ₱100–300 per site |
| Between them | Ferry about 3.5 h; flight about 40 min |
| Nightlife | Busier in El Nido |
| Days needed | 3–4 for one; 6–8 for both |
| Best season | About December–May |