El Nido Palawan is perhaps the most popular destination in the Philippines. El Nido does have a small airport however this isn’t the most used route, in fact most people choose to land in Puerto Princesa Airport and get a shared van up to El Nido. You can also reach El Nido by ferry depending on where you’re coming from.
Below we share the routes to El Nido from Manila, Cebu, Coron and Puerto Princesa to help you plan your travel day. The best way to travel will depend on your budget and preference.
Getting to El Nido can take time and be expensive, island hopping in the Philippines doesn’t come cheap but it’s all worth it when you arrive in one of the most beautiful places in the country.
Below we share how to get to El Nido as well as our experience, that in true travelling style didn’t go exactly to plan… but made memories to last.
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Where Is El Nido In The Philippines
El Nido is located on the north-west of Palawan Island, a remote setting that now has plenty of tourist routes in and out although this wasn’t always the case. It sits about 230 km from Puerto Princesa, the island’s capital, and serves as the gateway to the Bay of Bacuit which is famous for its limestone cliffs.
Need help planning? Check out our full El Nido Travel & itinerary Guide
How To Get To El Nido From Manila
There are three main options to get from Manila to El Nido.
How To Get To El Nido From Manila: The Most Popular Way
Flight to Puerto Princesa
1.5 Hours
From $45 pp
Tourist Van to El Nido
6 Hours
From $10 pp
The most popular way to reach El Nido from Manila is by flying to Puerto Princesa, followed by a 6-hour shared van ride to El Nido town.
We recommend you pre-book your shared van although you can get a tricycle to the shared van booking booth. This will cost around ₽100 and the journey is a short 5 minute drive.
The van ride is an experience in itself! Drivers tend to go fast along winding mountain roads, making for a quick (and sometimes nerve-wracking) journey.
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How To Get To El Nido From Manila By Airplane
Direct Flight
1 Hours
From $100 pp
The fastest way to reach El Nido from Manila is by flying into the small Lio Airport. Currently, AirSwift is the only airline operating this route, with multiple daily flights taking approximately 1.5 hours. One-way tickets are regularly £100 and this can be more during peak season.
How To Get To El Nido From Manila By Ferry
Ferry to Coron
12+ Hours
From $15 pp
Ferry to El Nido
4 Hours
From $46 pp
There is no direct ferry to El Nido from Manila, instead you need to get the ferry from Manila to Coron then Coron to El Nido. This is by no means the quickest way to travel and may also mean you need to spend a night in Coron, although this isn’t a bad thing!
As of writing, the ferry to Coron from Manila only leaves once a week on a Friday at 1pm.
How To Get From Puerto Princesa To El Nido
Puerto Princesa To El Nido Via Shared Minivan
Tourist Van to El Nido
6 Hours
From $10 pp
The Puerto Princesa to El Nido travel time is 6 hours in a shared van and costs £8 per person.
The shared vans can be pre-booked or organised on the day and hold around 9 people. They make one stop on the way for the toilet and a chance to grab some food before dropping you off at El Nido Town Square.
If you haven’t pre-booked a van and are coming from Puerto Princesa Airport you will need to get a tricycle to the shared van booking booth. This will cost around ₽100 and the journey is a short 5 minute drive. The trikes park outside the airport which is only a 2 minute walk from the arrivals area. Just tell your driver you would like to get a van to El Nido and they’ll know where to go.
If you’re in a group or family, it might work out more cost effective to just get a private Taxi and of course this will be more convenient as they will drop you directly to your accommodation.
Puerto Princesa To El Nido Via Bus
Public Bus
8 Hours
From $8 pp
If you don’t fancy being squished into a minivan you could opt to take the bus. Although the bus is a little bit more comfortable (you’ll have more room) it costs around the same as the shared van and takes 2 hours longer, mainly as the bus can’t drive as fast as the vans!
Buses depart from the San Jose Bus Terminal throughout the day, with the first leaving at 5 AM and the last at 9 PM. You can choose between air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned options.
How To Get From Coron To El Nido
Coron To El Nido Via Ferry
Ferry to El Nido
4 Hours
From $46 pp
Travelling from Coron to El Nido is a popular route for tourists in Palawan and therefore we recommend you book your tickets in advance. There are multiple ferries throughout the day from operators such as Atienza InterIsland Ferries.
Set sail on the ultimate journey from El Nido to Coron! Discover hidden lagoons, pristine beaches, and breathtaking views. Book your adventure today!
Coron To El Nido Via Plane
Direct Flight
40 Mins
From $35 pp
The fastest way from Coron to El Nido is a flight from Busuanga airport which serves the island. This flight only takes 40 minutes and costs around $100pp.
AirSwift operates daily flights from Coron with typically one flight per day.
How To Get To El Nido From Cebu
Cebu to El Nido Flight: The Quickest Way
Direct Flight
1.5 Hours
From $100 pp
The easiest way to get from Cebu to El Nido is by taking a direct flight with AirSwift, which operates multiple times a week. The flight takes around 1.5 hours, offering the fastest and most convenient option.
Cebu To El Nido: The Cheapest Way
Flight to Puerto Princesa
1.5 Hours
From $74 pp
Tourist Van to El Nido
6 Hours
From $10 pp
The cheapest way to travel from Cebu to El Nido is by taking a flight to Puerto Princesa. From there, you can hop in a shared van to El Nido for as little as $10 per person, with a travel time of approximately six hours. While this route takes longer than a direct flight, it’s the most budget-friendly and popular option for travelers looking to save money.
How To Get To El Nido The Route We Recommend & Our Experience
How to get to El Nido? Most people will fly onto the island of Palawan and arrive at Puerto Princesa Airport, flights come from all large airports including Manila, Cebu City & Bohol. From Puerto Princesa we found the easiest way to get up to El Nido, 6 hours away, was via a shared taxi van.
In fact, when we landed, Kate had no idea the journey would be 6 hours away, however thanks to the tourist vans, these travel days are made pretty simple and stress free. Our first van seemed to make a few unexpected stops to pile the roof high with fruit and the boot full of parcels, but isn’t this what makes travel fun and exciting… plus we got there in the end.
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If you arrive in Puerto Princesa after 3pm we recommend spending one night in the city then continuing your journey the next day to avoid arriving in the middle of the night. We didn’t do this and arrived at 11pm in the pouring rain… we then had to walk 15 minutes to our accommodation.
We would recommend choosing a shared van over a private car for solo travellers, couples or a group of three because it’s a more budget friendly option.
Best El Nido Tours
Best Time To Visit El Nido
Best Places To Stay In El Nido
El Nido has lots of areas for you to stay in. You could stay in the centre of the town, everything like tours, bars and restaurants will be a walk away as your based in the hub. The town is quiet in the day but comes alive at night. If you don’t want to stay in the town or are on a budget look at other areas such as Corong Corong.
Best Places To Stay In El Nido
$ Budget
Forest Camp
Perched high on the cliff side you can find forest camp. A basic but budget hostel that offers amazing views and breakfast included! Stay in traditional Nipa huts overlooking the famous limestone cliffs.
$$ Mid-Range
Frendz Hostel
Located in El Nido Town you will be able to walk to tours, restaurants and bars. The town is quiet in the day but alive at night. This is a great option if you’re a solo traveller, plus there’s a huge swimming pool.
$$$ High-End
Mua Tala Hotel
A luxury choice, Mua Tala features and outdoor pool, garden, terrace and bar and restaurant. At the base is Marimegmeg Beach plus it’s close to other popular attractions.
Spacing
Best Places To Eat In El Nido
To discover the best places to eat in El Nido download our Philippines Pinned Map, that gives you access to over 300 locations around the Philippines that we recommend or have been recommended!
Top Tips For Travelling To El Nido
Below we share our favourite tips for travelling El Nido:
- Plan your transport: Getting to El Nido takes around 6 hours from Puerto Princesa, book your transport in advance here!
- Be prepared for the boat tours to be busy. Boat Tour A is the most popular and therefore the busiest so perhaps try Boat Tour C or D.
- Eat Local, we found it challenging to find authentic local food in El Nido, but the Western food options were mediocre.
- Rent a scooter to explore the natural attractions. There are so many beautiful beaches in El Nido and waterfalls to explore nearby, just make sure you wear a helmet as it’s compulsory in El Nido Town.
- Don’t miss out the rest of Palawan! Explore more here….
