Palawan Holidays — Underground River, El Nido & Coron
Palawan
Holidays
The world's best island — the UNESCO Underground River, El Nido's limestone lagoons, Coron's WWII wrecks and some of the finest diving on earth
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Flight Time
14–15h from London (via Manila; then 1h15 to Puerto Princesa or 1h to Busuanga)
Best Time
December to April (dry season); avoid June–October (typhoon season)
Country
Philippines
Suppliers
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Palawan Holiday Guide
Palawan is consistently voted the world's best island — a long, narrow island of extraordinary natural beauty stretching 450km along the western edge of the Philippines, flanked by the South China Sea to the west and the Sulu Sea to the east. Palawan is one of the most biodiverse places on earth — its forests, mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass beds support an extraordinary range of wildlife, including the Philippine cockatoo, the Palawan bearcat and the dugong.
The island has three distinct destinations. Puerto Princesa, the provincial capital, is the gateway — the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature) is 80km north of the city. El Nido, at the northern tip, is the most spectacular — a bay of towering limestone karst islands, hidden lagoons and white-sand beaches that is the most photographed place in the Philippines. Coron, on the island of Busuanga to the northeast, is the world's premier WWII wreck diving destination and has extraordinary above-water scenery (Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon).
Palawan is best visited from December to April (dry season). The island is reached via Puerto Princesa (direct flights from Manila, 1h15) or Busuanga/Coron (flights from Manila, 1h).
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Average Temperatures
Jan
26°C
Feb
27°C
Mar
28°C
Apr
30°C
May
30°C
Jun
29°C
Jul
28°C
Aug
28°C
Sep
28°C
Oct
28°C
Nov
27°C
Dec
26°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Palawan
The UNESCO underground river, extraordinary limestone lagoons, world-class wreck diving and pristine beaches that make Palawan the finest island destination on earth.
Puerto Princesa Underground River — UNESCO World Heritage
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is one of the most extraordinary natural wonders in the world — an 8.2km navigable underground river that flows through a spectacular cave system of stalactites, stalagmites and cathedral-like chambers before emptying directly into the South China Sea. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. The river is reached by boat from Sabang (1.5 hours from Puerto Princesa) — book permits in advance as daily visitor numbers are strictly limited.
El Nido — The Big Lagoon & Small Lagoon
El Nido's island-hopping tours are the highlight of any Palawan visit — Tour A visits the Big Lagoon (a vast enclosed lagoon of turquoise water surrounded by 200-metre limestone cliffs), the Small Lagoon (accessible only by kayak through a narrow gap in the rock), the Secret Lagoon and the Shimizu Island snorkelling site. Tour C visits the Secret Beach (accessible only by swimming through an underwater gap), the Hidden Beach and the Matinloc Shrine. Each tour departs by outrigger boat from El Nido town and costs around £15–20 per person.
Coron Wreck Diving — The Best in the World
Coron Bay is one of the world's premier wreck diving destinations — the site of a Japanese supply fleet of 12 ships sunk by American aircraft on 24 September 1944, now lying at depths of 10–40 metres and encrusted with hard and soft corals, sponges and an extraordinary variety of marine life. The Irako (a refrigeration ship, 147m long), the Okikawa Maru (a tanker, 169m long) and the Kogyo Maru are the most spectacular. Most wrecks are accessible to recreational divers — Coron has numerous dive shops offering guided wreck dives.
Kayangan Lake — The Clearest Lake in Asia
Kayangan Lake, on Coron Island, is consistently rated the clearest lake in Asia — a freshwater lake enclosed by towering limestone karst cliffs, accessible via a 10-minute climb over a rocky headland from the beach. The water is extraordinarily clear — visibility of 20+ metres — and the underwater landscape of submerged limestone formations is extraordinary for snorkelling. The viewpoint at the top of the climb, overlooking the lake and the bay, is one of the most photographed spots in the Philippines.
Nacpan Beach — Palawan's Finest Beach
Nacpan Beach, 45km north of El Nido, is one of the finest beaches in the Philippines — a 4km arc of golden sand and clear water backed by coconut palms, with virtually no development and very few tourists. The beach is reached by motorbike or tricycle from El Nido (45 minutes on a rough road). The twin beaches of Nacpan and Calitang are connected at low tide. A handful of simple beach huts and restaurants serve fresh seafood. Nacpan is best visited on a day trip from El Nido.
Tubbataha Reef — UNESCO World Heritage Diving
Tubbataha Reef, 180km southeast of Puerto Princesa in the Sulu Sea, is one of the finest dive sites in the world — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of two coral atolls with extraordinary biodiversity (over 600 fish species, 360 coral species, 11 shark species, manta rays, hawksbill turtles and whale sharks). Tubbataha is accessible only by liveaboard dive boat from Puerto Princesa, during the season (March to June). It is one of the most remote and pristine dive sites in Asia — a bucket-list destination for serious divers.
Honda Bay — Island Hopping from Puerto Princesa
Honda Bay, 12km north of Puerto Princesa, offers excellent island hopping for those based in the provincial capital — a series of small islands (Starfish Island, Luli Island, Pandan Island, Cowrie Island) with white sand, clear water and good snorkelling. The island hopping is less spectacular than El Nido or Coron but far more accessible and much less crowded. Luli Island (the name means 'half submerged' — it disappears at high tide) is the most photogenic.
Port Barton — Palawan's Hidden Gem
Port Barton, on the west coast of Palawan between Puerto Princesa and El Nido, is one of the most beautiful and least-visited destinations in the Philippines — a small fishing village with a beautiful bay, excellent snorkelling, a handful of simple guesthouses and restaurants, and a pace of life that feels completely removed from the tourist trail. The island hopping around Port Barton (German Island, Exotic Island, Capsalay Island) is excellent. Port Barton is 3–4 hours from Puerto Princesa by van.
Explore Palawan on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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