El Nido Palawan
El Nido is situated in the North of Palawan and is famed for the surrounding cluster of islands, which offer some of the finest coral reefs, diving, snorkelling and beaches in the world.
How to get to El Nido
To get to El Nido, there are a few flights operated by a company called Air Swift, who fly directly to El Nido. The locations they currently operate between are Basco, Clark, Coron, Manilla, Puerto Princesa, Sicogon Island and Bohol, but they do not fly every day to some locations, so you will need to check on their website, which is
Currently Air Swift are not showing on Skyscanner, so you will need to book them directly from their website.
A flight from Cebu to El Nido is currently listed as costing PHP 8,918 one way or $172 , so this method of transport is not a cheap option.
Vans are another option and they are available from Puerto Princesa Airport or there is a company called Daytripper, who have good reviews and will pick you up from your hotel. Their website is here http://www.daytripperpalawan.com/
The journey by road from Puerto Princesa to El Nido takes 5 – 6 hours depending on how many stops are made.
Travelling to El Nido by bus
A more comfortable mode of transport for this journey is the bus. A company called Cherry Bus offer air conditioned buses with large leather reclining chairs and they make 3 or 4 cafe stops on the way – you can book online here http://www.phbus.com/cherry-bus/ or you can book at their ticket office in Puerto Princesa. If you book at their ticket office, make sure they enter the correct dates for your departure and return! Their prices are currently PHP 875 per person one way.
Making your own way to El Nido
If you have a hire car or motorbike, you can make your own way to El Nido. The route is more or less straight all the way and the road is concreted from start to finish. As mentioned, it will take 5 to 6 hours, but beware of stray dogs crossing the roads especially if you are on a motorbike – they can appear from nowhere. Dogs crossing the road are one of the biggest causes of road accidents in the Philippines.
Useful links
Where to stay in El Nido – hotel guide
Leave a Reply