El Nido + Coron 7-Day — The Full Palawan Loop

Activities

1. 11:00 Arrive in El Nido (Lio Airport or Puerto Princesa van) 1h

   If you fly AirSWIFT to Lio Airport (ENI), it's a 10-minute drive into town. If you come from Puerto Princesa (PPS), the shared van is a 5-6 hour ride north — tiring and winding, so plan a relaxed afternoon.

   Cost: AirSWIFT $100-180 / van PHP 700-900 TIP: The van road is bumpy and vans drive fast — take a motion-sickness tablet and sit near the front. Withdraw plenty of pesos before arriving; El Nido's ATMs are unreliable. Book your inbound flight or van early in peak season.
2. 12:30 Hotel check-in + lunch in town 1h30

   Check in (town grid, Corong-Corong, or Las Cabanas) and grab lunch at a local grill. Maa's Grill does honest Filipino home cooking — adobo, sisig, grilled fish — at good value.

   Cost: Lunch $4-9 TIP: Confirm your hotel has a backup generator — brownouts are common. Drink only bottled water. Carry a power bank. Town is walkable in 15-20 minutes; tricycles cover anything farther.
3. 14:30 Book tomorrow's tour + walk the town 1h30

   Stop by your hotel desk or a town tour office to book Tour A for the next day, pay the one-time Eco-Tourism Development Fee (PHP 200, valid 10 days), and wander the small grid of shops, cafés, and the pier.

   Cost: ETDF PHP 200 + tour PHP 1,200-1,800 TIP: Book a day ahead — daily tourist numbers are capped and popular dates fill up. Keep the ETDF receipt for all your tours. Bring a dry bag, reef-safe sunscreen, and reef shoes for tomorrow.
4. 16:30 Las Cabanas Beach + sunset + zipline 2h

   Tricycle south to Las Cabanas Beach, El Nido's best sunset stretch — nicer sand than the town beach, casual beach bars, and a zipline running over the water. Settle in for the sunset over Bacuit Bay.

   Cost: Tricycle PHP 150-300 + drinks; zipline extra TIP: Arrive 45 minutes before sunset for a good spot. Agree your tricycle return fare and waiting time first. The zipline is a separate fee. A San Miguel or cocktail in the sand is the classic move.
5. 19:00 Dinner — Sea Slugs or Trattoria Altrove 1h30

   Back in town, choose Sea Slugs for grilled-in-the-sand seafood, or Trattoria Altrove for the town's best Neapolitan wood-fired pizza near the pier (expect a wait at peak times).

   Cost: $8-22 per person TIP: At Sea Slugs, seafood is by weight — confirm the price before grilling. Trattoria Altrove fills up fast, so go early. Cash is safest. Verify hours ahead, as they shift seasonally.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Boat departure for Tour A 30min

   Tour A is the classic, most-popular route. Boats gather at the town beach and head out to the Bacuit Archipelago's signature lagoons. Pickup is usually mid-morning after the fee check at the pier.

   Cost: Included in tour TIP: Take the earliest boat you can to beat the crowds at the Big Lagoon. Wear a rash guard and reef-safe sunscreen. Keep electronics in a dry bag. Life vests are provided and often required.
2. 09:30 Big Lagoon — kayak through the karst walls 1h30

   The iconic stop: kayak (or wade at low tide) into the Big Lagoon, where sheer limestone cliffs rise from shallow emerald water. The most photographed spot in El Nido.

   Cost: Lagoon fee PHP 200 + kayak ~PHP 150 TIP: In peak season (Mar-May) it gets very crowded with boats — an early start helps a lot. Kayak rental and the lagoon entrance are small extra fees. Conditions change with the tide; follow your guide.
3. 11:30 Secret Lagoon + Shimizu Island lunch 2h

   Squeeze through a small opening into the enclosed Secret Lagoon, then stop at Shimizu Island for the included beach barbecue lunch — grilled fish, chicken, rice, and fresh fruit.

   Cost: Lunch included TIP: The Secret Lagoon entrance is a low gap in the rock — easy with care. Tell your guide in advance if you're vegetarian. Snorkel the reef off Shimizu while lunch is prepared.
4. 14:00 Small Lagoon + Seven Commandos Beach 2h30

   Snorkel and kayak the Small Lagoon, then finish at Seven Commandos Beach — a long white-sand stretch with palm trees and a coconut stand — before heading back.

   Cost: Included in tour TIP: Small Lagoon is best explored by kayak. Seven Commandos is a relaxed finale — grab a fresh coconut. The boat usually returns to town by late afternoon (16:00-17:00).
5. 18:30 Sunset drink + dinner in town 2h30

   Rinse off, then a sunset cocktail at Republica Sunset Bar on Corong-Corong, followed by dinner. Happiness Beach Bar is great for a Mediterranean change of pace.

   Cost: $10-25 per person TIP: Republica is a short tricycle south of town — arrive before sunset. Happiness Beach Bar is strong for vegetarian/vegan. Verify hours ahead. Cash is safest.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Boat departure for Tour C 30min

   Tour C is the most scenic and adventurous route, reaching beaches tucked behind the karst and the best snorkeling stops of the four tours.

   Cost: PHP 1,400-1,800 + small site fees TIP: Quieter than Tour A. Bring reef shoes for the sharp limestone and a dry bag. Reef-safe sunscreen is essential. Life vests provided.
2. 10:00 Hidden Beach + Secret Beach 2h

   Both beaches are reached through narrow gaps in the rock — sometimes a short swim through an opening, tide-dependent. Dramatic, enclosed, and far quieter than Tour A's lagoons.

   Cost: Included TIP: Access depends on the tide — follow your guide through the rock openings. Strong snorkeling along the way. Don't touch the coral.
3. 12:30 Matinloc Shrine + Helicopter Island lunch 2h30

   Climb to the Matinloc Shrine viewpoint (small fee) for a panorama, then a beach barbecue lunch and snorkeling around Helicopter Island.

   Cost: Lunch included; shrine small fee TIP: The shrine viewpoint is a short, rewarding climb. Helicopter Island snorkeling is among the trip's best. Tell the crew if you're vegetarian.
4. 15:30 Return + rest + town evening 3h

   Back to town late afternoon. Rest, then dinner in town — Gusto Grill for a seafood platter or Trattoria Altrove for pizza.

   Cost: $8-22 per person TIP: A lower-key evening after two boat days. Verify restaurant hours ahead. Rehydrate well after a full day in the sun and salt water.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 05:30 Optional: Taraw Cliff sunrise scramble 2h30

   For the fit and adventurous, an early guided scramble up Taraw Cliff above town for a panorama over El Nido and Bacuit Bay. Sharp limestone requires a guide, gloves, and sturdy shoes.

   Cost: Guide PHP 500-800 TIP: Go with a guide — it's a real scramble, not a walk, and risky alone. Skip it if wet (slippery and dangerous). Gloves and grippy shoes essential. Start before dawn to beat the heat.
2. 09:30 Tricycle to Nacpan Beach 1h

   Tricycle (or scooter) about 45 minutes north to Nacpan Beach — a 4km stretch of golden sand that's far quieter than the lagoons. A relaxed beach day after the boats.

   Cost: Tricycle PHP 1,000-1,500 RT TIP: Agree the tricycle fare and waiting time first. The road is rough and partly unpaved. Bring cash, water, and sunscreen — facilities are basic.
3. 11:00 Swim, relax + Twin Beaches viewpoint 3h

   Swim and laze on the golden sand, then walk up to the Twin Beaches viewpoint where Nacpan meets the neighboring cove — a classic photo spot.

   Cost: Free TIP: Nacpan is the antidote to busy island-hopping. The Twin Beaches hike is short and worth it. Watch for currents when swimming.
4. 14:00 Beach-shack lunch + sunset 3h

   Lunch at a beach shack (grilled fish, fresh fruit), then linger for the late-afternoon light before heading back, or stay for the sunset if you arranged a later return.

   Cost: $5-12 TIP: Nacpan sunsets are lovely and uncrowded — but confirm your tricycle will wait, as it's dark and remote after sundown. Bring a flashlight.
5. 19:00 Dinner in town 1h30

   Back in town, a relaxed dinner — Sea Slugs for grilled seafood in the sand or Happiness Beach Bar for Mediterranean.

   Cost: $6-16 per person TIP: Verify hours ahead. Cash is safest. A quieter night to recover before tomorrow's tour or departure.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 06:30 Breakfast + transfer to the pier 1h30

   Early breakfast and check-out, then to the El Nido pier for the morning fast ferry to Coron. Confirm the schedule the day before, as departures are limited.

   Cost: Breakfast $3-7 TIP: Buy the ferry ticket a day or two ahead in peak season. Take a motion-sickness tablet — the crossing can be rough. Keep valuables in a dry bag.
2. 08:00 Fast ferry El Nido → Coron 4h

   The fast ferry (operators such as Montenegro Lines) crosses in about 3.5-4 hours across open water between the two Palawan hubs.

   Cost: PHP 1,800-2,200 ($32-40) TIP: Sailings are canceled in bad weather, especially in the green season — keep the day flexible. Bring water and snacks; onboard options are limited.
3. 13:00 Arrive Coron Town + check-in + lunch 2h

   Coron Town is the compact base for the area. Check in, grab lunch, and get oriented — it's more spread out than El Nido Town but still small.

   Cost: Lunch $5-12 TIP: Coron Town sits a short drive from the famous dive and lagoon sites. Book tomorrow's tour and confirm any environmental fees. ATMs here are also limited — keep cash.
4. 16:00 Mount Tapyas sunset climb 2h

   Climb the ~700 steps up Mount Tapyas for a sweeping sunset view over Coron Bay and its islands — the classic Coron orientation hike.

   Cost: Free TIP: Go in the late afternoon to avoid the worst heat, and bring water. The view over the bay at sunset is the payoff. Optionally soak afterward at Maquinit Hot Springs.
5. 19:00 Dinner in Coron Town 1h30

   Dinner in town — fresh seafood and Filipino dishes are the staples, with a few international spots for the tourist crowd.

   Cost: $6-16 per person TIP: Verify hours ahead. Cash is safest. A relaxed first evening in Coron before the dive and lagoon days.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Boat tour departure 30min

   Coron's signature island-hopping tour heads out from town to the limestone-ringed lakes and lagoons of Coron Island.

   Cost: Tour PHP 1,500-2,200 TIP: Book through your hotel or a town operator the day before. Bring reef shoes, reef-safe sunscreen, and a dry bag. Environmental/lake fees are extra.
2. 09:00 Kayangan Lake 2h

   A short, steep climb leads to the viewpoint over Kayangan Lake, then down to swim in its strikingly clear water — often cited as one of the cleanest lakes in the Philippines.

   Cost: Lake fee included/extra TIP: The viewpoint stairs are steep but quick — the photo of the lake through the karst is the classic Coron shot. Go early before the crowds build.
3. 11:30 Twin Lagoons + Siete Pecados snorkeling 2h30

   Swim or duck under a low rock wall (tide-dependent) between the Twin Lagoons, then snorkel the vibrant coral of Siete Pecados marine park.

   Cost: Included; lunch on the boat TIP: The Twin Lagoons passage is tide-dependent — at high tide you swim under the rock. Siete Pecados has some of the area's best coral — don't touch it.
4. 15:00 CYC Beach + return 2h

   A final stop at CYC (Coron Youth Club) Beach for a relaxed swim before heading back to town in the late afternoon.

   Cost: Included TIP: A mellow finish to a full day. Rehydrate. Back in town, consider the Maquinit Hot Springs (saltwater hot springs) to soak tired muscles.
5. 19:00 Dinner in Coron Town 1h30

   Dinner in town — more fresh seafood, or try a local specialty. A relaxed evening after a big water day.

   Cost: $6-16 per person TIP: Verify hours ahead. Cash is safest. Confirm tomorrow's plan and your flight time from Busuanga airport.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 07:30 Optional: WWII shipwreck dive 4h

   Coron is famous among divers for its WWII Japanese shipwrecks, sunk in 1944 and now coral-covered. Certified divers can do a morning dive trip; non-divers can relax or soak at Maquinit Hot Springs.

   Cost: 2-tank dive $90-130 TIP: Wreck diving here generally needs at least Open Water certification, some sites Advanced. Only dive with a reputable shop, and never dive within 18-24h of flying — mind your flight time.
2. 12:00 Lunch + pack + souvenirs 2h

   Lunch in town, pack up, and pick up last souvenirs. Confirm your transfer to Busuanga (Francisco B. Reyes) airport, a 20-30 minute drive from Coron Town.

   Cost: $5-12 TIP: Keep pesos for the airport transfer. Leave a generous buffer — the airport is small and a drive out of town. Don't dive on a fly-out morning.
3. 14:30 Transfer to Busuanga airport 1h

   Drive 20-30 minutes to Busuanga airport (USU) for the flight to Manila or Cebu.

   Cost: Van/transfer PHP 150-300 TIP: Flights from Busuanga (often AirSWIFT, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines) can be limited — confirm your booking. Arrive in good time; the airport is small but processes can be slow.
4. 16:00 Departure 1h30

   Fly out of Palawan from Busuanga, typically connecting via Manila or Cebu for onward international flights.

   Cost: Flight varies TIP: Build in a comfortable connection in Manila/Cebu, especially for an international onward leg. Keep some pesos for the airport.

Meal Recommendations