Puerto Princesa City to El Nido Travel Guide

114 thoughts on “Puerto Princesa City to El Nido Travel Guide”

1. Thanks for this! Akala ko P450 yung bus fare. Next time I’m in Palawan, El Nido naman. Ang galing ng blog mo! Andami ko nang natutunan.

   I totally agree that Palawan is paradise. Pangarap kong tumira dun balang araw.

   • hello guys, san kaya magandang pasyalan sa palawan, my husbnd and I planning na magbakasyon dyan this october

     • hai sana makapunta kami na di ganun sobra ang gastos,,,, ahahahah

     • Puerto princesa- underground river, honda bay; coron- kayangan lake; el nido- the best island hopping experience

       • sir james, ask ko sana kung carry lang ang puerto princesa to el nido for 4n 3 days? i mean thru roro makakabalik ba agad kami ng puerto from el nido just in time for the flyt back to manila? we intend to see the underground river lang in puerto then off to el nido, pls advise thanks 🙂

         • 3 nights pala and 4days

         • kaya yan, unahin nyo na yung el nido. i suggest you take the last bus trip para yung gabi nyo hindi sayang. enjoy.

2. Oh so that’s how you do El Nido from Puerto! *lightbulb moment*

   Been to Puerto Princesa and Coron but not to El Nido yet, so this is next on our stop. Sana!:-D

   Thank you for sharing this, such a great help.

   • go na sa el nido!

     • thanks for being generous in sharing your travel experiences , so helpful for us neophytes in travelling 🙂

3. This is very helpful as we’re planning to do Puerto Princesa-El Nido early next year. Thanks!

4. point of clarification regarding the P500 van fare, i read some blogs that the fare is 600 to 650. do you have the contact number and person of the van terminal? Maraming salamat po

   • the last time i was there was december 2010. i dont know the current fare. but sometimes they make the fare higher especially when the passengers are foreigners or “sosyal-looking” sorry, but i dont have contact number as i used the bus when i went to el nido.

5. Hi,

   I am looking forward to visit Coron this June. Can you please give some nice places to visit?

   Philippine travel blog

   • hi lance. among the must-visits are the kayangan lake, twin lagoon, maquinit hotspring, siete pecados (snorkeling), mt.tapyas (commanding view of the town), island hopping would be great too.
     hope this helps! enjoy

     • hello guys i have three (3) units of motorcycle, if you like to rent i gave it for P350 per day on honda xrm and P450 for kawasaki klx, this is the cheapest mc rental you can find, i can deliver the bike at airport if you want with free helmet just text me at 09178496044 look for utoy.. thanks

       • thanks for sharing your info utoy.

         • hi James. can you recommend the best route/type of transportation to take from el nido to coron (or is it even possible to do so?)? also can you recommend people/accommodations who/that could give the island hopping tour/accommodation in el nido? and also how much thanks!

         • its possible to do the el nido – coron. im just not sure with the schedules. fare is 1,300.
           with regards to accommodations, try this link: http://flipnomad.com/2011/04/accommodation-nido-for-all-budget/
           tour: http://flipnomad.com/2011/04/more-island-hopping-goodness-nido-tour/
           tours in el nido have standard fees

6. good news is that the puerto princesa to taytay route is already paved only on that from taytay to el nido is still rough road. hoping also on that latter route the paving is already started and then the proposed roro port service from taytay, palawan to san jose, antique will push through so that if you want to travel to palawan from iloilo then it would lessen the time. much good for those who want to bring their vehicles.

   • thanks for sharing alan. i hope that the taytay-san jose, antique roro route will really push through.
     still, the iloilo-puerto princesa can be used.

7. Hi James! Would you know if there is night bus going to El Nido from Puerto Princesa? My flight arrives in Puerto Princesa at 5PM and I don’t want to waste anytime to spend in El Nido. By the way, super like your blog, still can’t believe how you do (amazing) things cheap 🙂

   • there is no bus to el nido in the evening, only those 3 scheds lang po 5, 7, 9am.
     thank you for liking the blog. you may want to read pala my BIGGEST Travel Challenge- https://journeyingjames.com/2011/12/100-days-of-backpacking-the-philippines-the-cheapest-way-possible/

     • oh. sad. anyway, thanks for the reply! yup, read and shared it already. Can’t wait to read all about it on your blog. God bless!

8. hi james, can u help me where i can find cheapest flight from puerto princesa to el nido?

   • sorry, there is no flight from pp to el nido. just van or bus.

9. if magaling ka maki-negotiate, you can haggle the price of the van from P10,000 to P6000. seriously. 🙂

   • that’s good news brenna! thanks for the info 🙂

10. Hi! Just to confirm, where is the RORO bus located? Is it also in the San Jose Terminal?

    • yes flo, roro bus terminal can be found at san jose bus terminal. they are easy to spot- apple green buses.

      • tnx sa info..plan ko din pmunta sa oct..malaking tulong ito sa’kin..thanks a lot!:)

      • hi james, so may byaheng 6pm and 10pm yung rorobus going to el nido. ETA ko kasi is 5pm, so nagiisip ako kung pwedeng dumiretso na ng el nido or early morning the next day na lang magtravel to el nido. thanks!!!

        • yes, until 10pm. take the 10pm trip nlang

11. ok. thanks! 🙂

12. Hi james, just want to ask if i need to book with Roro bus in advance or i can just book it when we arrive there on that day? Thanks

    • it would be better if you book n advance especially during the peak seasons of march-may, oct and december. if you cant, just be there about an hour before the scheduled trip

13. Hi james. Tnx for the info. is there a tour from el nido to underground river?

14. Hi James! Thank goodness I found your blogsite! Finally I can have a reliable source at hand! Hahaha! I’ve spent days browsing the net for sensible info/travel guide to Palawan but I can’t seem to find one. Thanks to you!

    My husband and I are planning to visit Palawan this July. We don’t want to waste the chance of visiting Puerto Princesa (for the famous Underground River), El Nido and Coron (for their beautiful white sand beaches and rock (?) formations) all in one travel. I know it is possible but don’t know how. I know you have the answers to all my questions. Please bear with me.

    Number one question is do we need to have a travel or tour agency before we go there to arrange our trip or can we just go there without any prior arrangements? Can we just find random people there offering this kind of service without the risk of us being fooled or charged beyond what the normal charges are?

    Secondly, which point of entry/exit do you suggest? Which airport from Manila to Puerto Princesa, and then coming back, from Coron to Manila?

    Thirdly, how much time or how many days should we allot to each destination? How many days do we have to allot for the entire trip including travel from one stop to another?

    And lastly, what are the places you’d recommend for us not to miss when in those three places? Any recommendations also on where to stay?

    I’m really sorry for all the trouble I have caused you. You’ve been a great help already just reading your blogs.

    Thank you so much and more power!

    • you need a permit to enter the underground river. you should have atleast 2 days on each destination.
      manila-puerto princesa (plane)- puerto princesa to underground river (van) – el nido (van) – coron (boat/ship) – manila (plane), at least a week.

      about recos, all are in the blog.

15. Hi guys

    I´m planning my trip to el nido in april 2013 and I´m wondering what is the last bus from el nido to puerto princessa. I need to catch zest air flight to manila at 7.30 am.

16. Hi James 🙂 would like to know if the RORO bus from Puerto Princesa to El Nido will definitely stop at Taytay. My friend and I are going there soon THX!

    • yes, tried the road trip twice. dont worry, it will stop at the bus terminal in taytay

17. yey! thanks a lot for this! punta kami ppc-el nido on a 5 day trip! thanks again!

18. Hi James..great blog.:-). question po..panu po pumunta sa RORO bus station ( going to El Nido) from Puerto Princesa Airport? and same trip sched po b from El nido to PPC? Thanks.

    • tricycle to san jose terminal, or take the jeepney in front of jollibee going to san jose

19. what time does the earliest bus or van leave el nido going to PPC?

    • its in the photo of schedule, please read po

20. Hi po,

    Where can we stay in El Nido?

    • Hello po,
      I don’t know po

21. James,pwede bang ikaw mag guide sa amin pag mag punta kami dyan wid my family. coz di ko alam about palawan . i ned someone to 2 guide us n a cheap budget.
    pls. reply to my email add.

    Thanks a lots… Cindy

    • Hello Ms. Cindy, i hope my schedule fit into your schedule.

22. Hi James 🙂 what transpo do you prefer going to el nido from PPS?? thanks 🙂

    • RORO bus

23. Thanks mig!

24. hi james!
    I will be travelling with friends on summer next year. what hotel do you recommend na hindi masyadong mahal and maganda na? both in puerto princesa and el Nido. thanks!

25. hello po..we will have our flight schedule next month po nov.17,2012..and our departure time would be 3:05pm then,maybe arrived in puerto at 4:05pm..can we still be arrived at san jose terminal before 6pm?and go to elnido via roro bus?thanks

    • yep, from the airport san jose terminal is less than 30minutes

26. hi. tanong lng po pwede kaya na 10pm trip to el nido then 10pm trip din the next day pabalik puerto? ma-eenjoy na kaya namin ang el nido nyan? thanks po.

    • havent tried it yet. i guess you will be tired

27. Hi James. kaya ba ng 4d/3n un el nido – Puerto princesa na ksama un underground river tour? kaya ba ng walang travel agency? hiwalay kase pag book ko sana ng hotel and airfare then hanap na lang don ng tour packages. possible kaya? thanks James.

    • kaya po 😉 possible!

28. Arriving at Puerta Princessa airport on Nov. 13th in the afternoon, I spotted a notice from a small tour operator that there was a 9 passenger van leaving for El Nido at 5:30 pm. straight from the parking space at the airport. Price 700 pesos per person. Promo return ticket 350 pesos!One 30 min stop in Tatay for food and restroom. Arrival El Nido at midnight. Tricycle driver found us a nice hotel (only 2 rooms) 800 pesos for a room. Coffee served on balcony at sunrise.. Palawan, El Nido – all is perfect. Except one thing: Plastic bags and bottles lying all over, on the beaches and in the water near El Nido, Las Cabanas, on the surrounding islands.. Perhaps somebody like yourself might want to try to encourage the locals and the banka skippers to clean up this scourge of modern civilisation, especially on the otherwise fantastic beaches…

    • thanks for the info jotzen… that’s very sad to know. will check this myself next month. will report on the blog

29. Hi James, Is there a reliable regularly scheduled boat ride from El Nido to Coron? I checked Montenegro Lines and Superferry but no info–travel time mid Feb 2013. Salamat.

    • yes, everyday po meron. last trip is 8am. travel time, 8hours to 12hours depending on the boat you boarded.
      ticket price: 1,300 – 2,400 pesos

30. Hi, James,
    I would like to book for two tickets from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, RORO BUS, with air con. The number they left just couldn’t be connected through, could you help us to book the tickets in any way? Thanks. 12/23, leaving at 4pm. Puerto Princesa to El Nido.
    You can contact me trough my personal email which I left for you here. Thanks a lot.

    • hello ms.alice, im sorry but im not a booking agent, dont worry, just go there at the terminal 30minutes before the scheduled trip and you will have your own seat.

31. Even though it’s during Christmas time (12/23)? Thanks.

32. hi. can you suggest cheap accomodations in el nido ?tnx in advance

33. Hi James. happy new year!

    Three of my friends and I are planning on a trip to Palawan in August. We start with Coron, then El Nido, last stop would be Puerto Princesa. We only have 5 & 1/2 days to spare. We arrive in Coron at 3pm (half day of 1st day) and then leave Puerto Princesa by 9pm of the (of the 6th day).

    You seem to be knowledgeable about must-see places and transportation routes/schedules in Palawan.

    I hope you can help me plan our itinerary (by the way, we are on a tight budget) from Coron, EL Nido, then Palawan para masulit namin ang aming trip.

    Thank you very much!

    • i guess all i knew about palawan are already written in this blog. if that is your route, i guess most of the 5 1/2 days would be spent traveling, bus and boat.

34. Whenever I’m planning to travel your blog is the first I visit for reliable info /reference. You have helped a lot of people through your blog,KEEP IT UP! Thanks for inspiring us to travel on a shoestring budget. Hope to meet you on the road. TC and GOD Bless!

35. BTW In your opinion for a group of 4 traveling on a weekday Monday- Thursday (April 15-18 ) Would you suggest for us to get an organized tour for El Nido? I’m worried if it’ll be hard for us to hire a boat for island hopping.
    I’m used to DIY travels but since I’ll be traveling with two “Balikbayans” I want this trip to be more relaxed.I would really appreciate your response. THANK YOU SO MUCH James! 😀

    • hi shelly! if you have balikbayans in your group, i suggest you book a packaged tour. please message me on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyingjamesFB i offer tours in el nido now.

36. Do you think a PHP 10,000/person budget(Excluding plane tickets) is too much for a 5-day trip during the Holy Week? We plan to do Puerto-El Nido trip plus a side-trip to the Underground river?

    • yep, that’s enough. why not join this tour for only 10,500* –https://www.facebook.com/notes/journeyingjames/the-great-palawan-backpacking-tour/539526956072000

37. Is it still okay to go to El Nido or Coron in September – November?

    • yep, all-year long.

      • Isn’t it rainy there during those months? From June to November, what month would rain be less?

38. Hey James, so about the rented van. is the PHP 14,000 the daily rate for the Van? So PHP 24,000 for 2 days?

    • nope, its just 14,000 for round trip (2days)

      • Thanks James. So the PHP 14,000 is for a round trip to El Nido? Not the rent days? So I could rent a van for say, 4-5 days and I would only pay PHP 14,000? Sorry, I’m a bit confused. Isn’t 14,000 a bit high?

39. Hi James,

    I successfully booked a flight to MNL-PPS-MNL this coming July 13-16, 2012. My plan is to visit El Nido. Thank you for this very helpful blog.

    God Bless!

    Marlo

40. Hi James, how about hitchhiking til El Nido?? U think it’s possible? Cheers!

    • everything is possible.

41. Hi James, your blogs are really great help.
    We’ll be in Puerto Prinsesa this Feb, this is our planned itinerary, please comment…ETA PPS is 12:30pm Saturday, city tour till evening, take 10pm Roro bus to El Nido, do day tour on Sunday, take evening Roro Bus El Nido to Puerto Prinsesa if any (please advise schedule), do underground river on Monday morning, fly out 6pm same day.
    Inquiries: >sched of El Nido-PPS >do you have underground river tour? we plan to just to go to tour office, since we’ll be coming straight from El nido, they normally ask for pickup point….Possible or very tight? Thanks so much 🙂

42. Hello.
    Would you recommend the air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned RORO bus to El Nido? Will travel July 2013. I usually get motion sickness with extended travel by bus, air conditioner seems to aggravate it. But I’m worried that if I take the non-a/c bus, I’d be inhaling severely polluted air and dust from the road.

43. hi james,is august a good month to visit?i heard from other people saying that the water is not always that clear and beautiful compared to the published ad??planning to be there aug.5th-9th.tips to must see in El Nido.and is it safe there?i also heard about real pirates kidnapping people??thanks.

    • mam, dont believe everthing you read. el nido is beautiful and safe.

44. i also want to ask you how long do we have to endure the rough ride from Taytay to El Nido?and how bad is it?are there like holes on the street or big rocks??is it a curvy road or just straight and how about deep ravines??i am a nervous flier and rider.thanks again..

45. Hi james

    Is october a good month to visit el nido?

46. Hi! Thank you for the very informative blog! Used this to plan our trip to El Nido last Holy Week. I put your site on my blog so that others can learn from it too.

    Thanks! Wish you more travels!

47. Hi James,

    I loved reading your travel blogs. very informative.
    By the way, me & my husband have booked a flight to PP on June 6 arriving PP @ 9am. then leaving PP on June 8 @ 5:20pm. Basically 3 days 2 nights only. We would like to go underground river and El Nido? Is it possible with that schedule? what can you suggest? How can we maximize the limited time and still enjoy? thanks!

    shyla

48. Hi james,

    wer going to PP by july may I ask if magkano po kaya ang budget for tour in elnido yung may van na tapos e ttour na sa place

    pls help.thanks

49. Thanks James, this is very informative. But, do you have an idea how to get back to PPC from El Nido using RORO? I’m planning my trip there, so I’m plotting our time table. Thanks again.

50. Hi James!
    May question ako, 10am kasi ang ang sched ng flight ko back to Manila.. May way ba para hindi ako malate sa flight? Kasi parang alanganin parin yung 4am? Thanks for your reply.

    • mas maganda po kung the day before nasa puerto princesa na kayo

51. hi james…could you suggest a good hotel in el nido shere may magandang service and view and budget friendly…???thank you for your reply

52. hello po sir james,
    napakalaking tulong ng inyong mga kwento dito sa site nyo.
    sa aug 29,30,31 ang aming schedule. pwede po hingi ako ng advice kung ano ang una namin gagawin first time po namin ito. regalo lang po ng aming anak ang vacation na ito. sa ngayon dun po sa mga nilagay ninyon inn mag iinquire pa lang. small budget lang kasi kami. mag asawa kami. medyo may takot kasi hindi namin talaga alam ang lugar and ano ang gagawin. sana po matutulongan nyo kami. god bless.

53. Hi there, James!

    I’d like to know if it is possible to enjoy a PPS-El Nido trip in a duration of 3 days? ETA in PPS is 9am of the first day. Any advice on how we can manage our trip? We are 13 pax and are planning to have Underground River trip and Honda Bay tour in PPS and enjoy the rest of our stay in El Nido. But our ETD from PPS is 8pm of the third day. Hope you can help me here. Thanks! 🙂

54. Hello James! Just to update you since we just came from Palawan – Roro’s operations are now suspended by the LTFRB. I suppose this is from their reckless driving behavior and the accidents they’ve had and caused. Their reputation is not that good according to the people we talked to in Palawan. While it’s good you are advertising for them, I suggest you also take into account these things (the bad side) when posting about such services.

    • thanks for the update arlene

55. Hi Sir, Thanks for this site. it is very helpful. Do you have any updates regarding bus lines going to El Nido from Puerto? Have plans to go next year!More power.

    • its still on going. the schedule is the same. im not sure with the price though

56. hi my visit to puerto prinsesa is on aug 30 to sept. 2, is it a good month? usually ba umuulan dun?

57. This is a very helpful blog. I’ve been trying to look the best and recommended place to stay in Puerto Princesa and trip to Coron. This is my early gift on February for myself. Thanks couchsurfer! 🙂

58. good am po….ask ko lang po is it advisable to have a pp-elnido if we only have 4 days nyts….we plan to go there sometime may 2015….we are 11……3 oldies from 67-75 y/o, 1 10 y/o boy….and the rest po adult frm 12y-49y/o…..we will arrive pp at about 6:25pm n leave pp at 6 pm on the 4th day……i am just worried baka masyado namang super hectic sched at mapagod ang mga kasamang oldies at kids…if will push through with the pp-el nido iterinary……gus2 ko rin po xe mapuntahan ang turtle at bird sactuary sa pp 4 d kids…..marami po xe di mapupuntahan din po sa pps kung mag go kami elnido with such limited time….. please help me decide……tnx po…….advance merry xmas n happy new year

59. Hi James. We’re set to go there next weekend! Dec 13 to 16 although Dec 13 gabi dating namin sa PPS Airport. Could you suggest which are the best places to visit/ stuff to do from 14 to 16?

    Plan ko sana 13 night trip to El Nido (Dec 14 to 15) Then Dec 16 Puerto Princesa.

    But, kaya ba El Nido – Coron – Puerto Princesa? And can you recommend places? Thank you!

60. We’re planning to go to palawan july next yr. kaso 3 days lng kmi, is it possibe na makapunta parin sa best tourist sites sa el nido at puerto princesa within limited time? What is the best place na mairerecommend nyo sa el nido at puerto princesa, tig isang day lng.

61. Hi Mr. James!
    Will be in Puerto Prinsesa Jan 16 arriving from Manila by 12noon. We plan to go to El Nido as soon as we arrive. Is it safe to travel by Roro Bus afternoon to El Nido? And will there be available transportation once we are in El Nido by night? Planning only overnight in El Nido. We should be in Puerto Prinsesa by Jan 18 because our flight back to Manila is on this day.
    Thanks a lot!

62. hi james me and my family will be in puerto princesa palawan on march 4 to 11,we are on a budget trip…can you pls help us with the details on how to make trips to el nido and coron..your reply will be much appreciated tnx in advance..

63. Hi James! Rough road prn b ang taytay to El nido? We’ll be there on July 10-13 and doing the roro since you said it’s convenient.

    • Most of the road is already cemented, maybe 3-5% nalang yung rough road sir Talet.

64. Hi until what time po sa gabi nabyahe multicab to San Jose Terminal?

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