Known as the Philippines’ Last Frontier, Palawan’s name has become synonymous with incredible natural beauty. The stunning island first made headlines around the world for its gorgeous beaches and unbelievable rock formations, as well as having countless hidden gems that remain undeveloped and raw up to this day.

Speaking of beaches and islands, Palawan is home to two municipalities that have become the centers of tourism: El Nido and Coron. While El Nido is the more popular one, Coron is gaining more and more popularity as another Palawan destination that’s worth traveling to.

If you’re planning to visit Palawan soon, but don’t know whether you should go to El Nido or Coron, here is a brief guide to each destination that we hope will help you decide which Palawan paradise to visit.

Location and Accessibility

El Nido

El Nido is located on the mainland of Palawan, where the capital of the province, Puerto Princesa, is found. It is located 622km from Manila, the country’s capital, and 238km from Puerto Princesa.

While there are no commercial planes that fly directly to El Nido, there are chartered flights from Manila or Cebu operated by Airswift that can take you there. For the ultimate in opulent travel, private planes and chopper flights are also available from companies like AirTaxi and PhilJets.

For those who wish to fly commercial, you can take a flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa then travel by land to El Nido, which can take anywhere from 5-7 hours. Public vans, buses, as well as private land transfers are all available.

Tourists who come from Manila can also hop on a 15-hour boat ride to Coron, then take a ferry to El Nido, which can take between 3 to 4 hours in a fast ferry or 9 hours in a slow ferry.

With all that said, flying directly to El Nido is by far the most convenient way to get there.

Coron

Coron is part of Busuanga Island, which is found in northern Palawan. It is part of the Calamian Archipelago and located 442 km from Manila, 276km from El Nido.

Both chartered and commercial planes fly directly to Busuanga Airport in Coron from Manila and Cebu and even from Puerto Princesa, Clark, Caticlan and San Vicente. Chartered planes are operated by AirSwift and SkyJet, while commercial options include the major airlines of Cebu Pacific and Philippines Airlines. Traveling from the airport to the town of Coron takes less than an hour.

If you wish to get on a ferry from Manila, you can take the 2Go Superferry from Manila to Coron, which takes about 15 hours. Boat trips are also available from Puerto Princesa to Coron.

Just like getting to El Nido, flying straight to Coron is the easiest and fastest way to reach the island.

Beaches, Attractions, and Activities

El Nido

El Nido is known worldwide for its spectacular beaches. Among the most popular and the most beautiful include Secret Beach (said to be the inspiration behind the book “The Beach”), Nacpan Beach, Las Cabanas Beach (for the best sunsets in El Nido), 7 Commandos Beach, and a good list of many other jaw-dropping stretches of white sand.

Aside from picture-perfect beaches, El Nido is also home to lagoons, beautiful smaller islands, waterfalls, and hot springs.

There are 4 standardized tour packages offered in El Nido, each featuring different spots and locations tourists can visit. The most popular tours are Tour A, which includes the destinations of Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and 7 Commandos Beach; and Tour C, which includes the destinations and spots of Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Hidden Beach, and Helicopter Beach.

Coron

Coron is much less commercialized than El Nido. It still has, to an extent, the raw island charm that El Nido once had.

While Coron’s main town is not famed for its beaches because of its rocky coast, take this as a great opportunity to go island hopping. Coron’s nearby islands and coves offer gorgeous beaches. Among the most popular destinations include Banol Beach, Atwayan Beach, Malcapuya Island Beach, Banana Island, Dibatoc Island and Black Island, where snorkeling and caving shouldn’t be missed.

Aside from the nearby islands, Coron is also known for being a wreck-diving site. In fact, it is considered as one of the best diving spots in the world.

Other attractions include the famous Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, and the stunning Twin Lagoon.

Accommodation Options

El Nido

Because El Nido has a stronger tourism infrastructure, you won’t have any problems looking for a place to stay. El Nido offers accommodations for every budget, from hostels, mid-range hotels, to high-end luxury resorts and private villas and vacation homes.

Among the most popular luxury accommodations in El Nido include the Cauayan Island Resort, the El Nido Resorts Lagen Island, and the Matinloc Resort.

Coron

Unlike El Nido’s endless list of stays to choose from, Coron offers a smaller number of hotels or resorts. For higher-end luxury accommodations, there are the Huma Island Resort, the Coron Soliel Garden Resort, and the beautiful Bamboo Private Island located on nearby Culion Island.

Dining

El Nido

There are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from in El Nido, offering everything from fresh seafood, local cuisine, and international dishes.

Visit Altrove for great Italian pizza and pasta and Artcafe for fantastic local dishes and seafood options. For a romantic dinner by the beach, check out Vellago Restaurant & Beachbar.

Coron

Because Coron is a much quainter and more laid back municipality, there are fewer dining options on the island compared to El Nido. Despite that, there are still excellent dining places including La Sirenetta Restaurant and Bar for Filipino cuisine and Rosa’s Cantina for flavorful Mexican and Southwestern fare. Also check out Le Voyage Cafe if you’re looking for healthy, vegetarian and vegan options.

Nightlife

El Nido

Since El Nido has rapidly gained popularity among vacationers, it has also seen a rise in clubs and bars setting up shop in this tourist hotspot. The nightlife scene here is a bit more laid-back, with more late-night bars than pulsating nightclub parties.

Some bars that are worth checking out include SAVA Beach Bar, where one can enjoy refreshing cocktails while lounging by the beach; and Panorama, a beachside bar with atmospheric lighting and music that sets a relaxing ambiance.

Coron

Coron has a much more laid-back nightlife vibe compared to the already relaxed El Nido party scene. The bars here are usually quaint and modest, making them ideal spots for chill-out drinking sessions after a fun-filled day at the beach.

One of Coron’s popular watering holes, Sigbin Bar is an artistically decorated bar-cum-tattoo parlor that serves affordable drinks and features live reggae bands every night. Another nightlife spot in Coron is Coco Bar, a tiki bar that serves Hawaiian pub fare paired with a great selection of strong drinks.

 

Considering all these different factors that define both destinations, each of them is equally beautiful in their own ways. So which Palawan paradise do you wish to travel to? Before you decide, consider visiting both. You can take a flight to Coron and explore the islands for a few days, and afterwards, take a quick flight or a fast ferry ride El Nido and continue your Palawan adventure. Or, you can also start in El Nido, and head over to Coron. With one trip to Palawan, you can get the best of the island: the lively and the calm, the crowded and the tranquil, and of course, all the best beaches, coves, and hidden gems that make up this beautiful tropical paradise.

 

Looking for a luxury stay on the island, check out our private villas in Palawan for retreat-style private accommodations.

Visit our travel magazine for more useful and interesting articles about the most beautiful islands in the Philippines.