Getting there
How to get to El Nido from Manila, Puerto Princesa and Coron
By the El Nido Private Tours team
Updated:
5 min read
Short answer
| Route | Time | Cost (as published) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly to El Nido (Lio Airport) | About 1 to 1½ hours in the air | Highest | Few flights a day; check current routes, which have changed between Manila and Clark |
| Fly to Puerto Princesa, then van | About 1 hour 20 minutes, then 5 to 6 hours by road | Shared van from about ₱650; private van more | The most common route, with the most flights |
| Ferry from Coron | About 3½ to 4 hours | About ₱1,760 to ₱1,830 | Weather-dependent |
Flying into El Nido
El Nido’s Lio Airport is about 15 to 20 minutes from town. It is the fastest way in, but flights are limited and usually cost the most. Routes have changed in recent years, so check which airports currently fly direct before you plan around it.
Via Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa has many daily flights from Manila, Cebu and Clark. From the airport or the San Jose terminal, shared vans and buses run to El Nido throughout the day; the road trip takes about 5 to 6 hours with a rest stop. A private van costs more but leaves on your schedule, which helps families and late arrivals. If you only need the drive, Van Hire Palawan runs private vans from Puerto Princesa; if you are also booking a boat with us, we include the van in the same quote.
From Coron
Fast ferries run between Coron and El Nido, usually once a day each way. If you have a few days, a private boat expedition makes the journey itself part of the trip. See El Nido to Coron by boat.
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