Palawan on a Backpacker Budget
The island Jacques Cousteau called "the most beautiful place I've ever seen." And it's still surprisingly cheap — if you know the local way.
The Big Three
Palawan is a long, thin island stretching 450km from north to south. Most backpackers hit three spots. Here's what each is actually like — not the brochure version.
🇵🇭 El Nido
Northern Palawan · 5-6h van from Puerto Princesa
The postcard shot. Towering limestone cliffs rise straight out of turquoise water. Four standard island-hopping tours (A, B, C, D) with slightly different routes. Tour A (Big and Small Lagoons) is the classic. Tour C is the hidden-gem pick — Matinloc Shrine and Secret Beach.
El Nido town itself is small and walkable. The beach in town is meh — save your swimming for the tours. The real secret: rent a motorbike and ride 20 min north to Nacpan Beach. 4km of empty white sand. Free.
🏠 Hostels from $6 | 🚤 Island tours: $15-$22 | 🍚 Meal: $3-$6
🤿 Coron
Busuanga Island · 4h ferry from El Nido ($25)
Coron is the diver's Palawan. WWII Japanese shipwrecks sit in shallow water — you can snorkel some of them without scuba gear. The main tour takes you to Kayangan Lake (that famous viewpoint shot), Twin Lagoon, and Barracuda Lake.
Coron town is grittier than El Nido. Less polished, more local. Better food. The hot springs 15 min outside town are $5 and worth it after a day of island-hopping.
🏠 Hostels from $6 | 🚤 Island tours: $18-$25 | 🍚 Meal: $2-$5
🦇 Puerto Princesa
Central Palawan · Main airport hub
Most backpackers use Puerto Princesa as a transit point — fly in, van to El Nido the next day. But the Underground River (a UNESCO site) is genuinely cool. It's a full-day trip ($20-30 including transport and boat).
Honest take: if you have 7-10 days, skip Puerto Princesa entirely. Go straight to El Nido. If you have 2+ weeks, spend one day here for the river.
🏠 Hostels from $5 | 🛶 Underground River: $20-$30 | 🍚 Meal: $2-$4
How to Get There
Fly into Puerto Princesa (PPS)
Direct flights from Manila ($25-50 on Cebu Pacific/AirAsia) and Cebu ($30-60). Book 2-3 weeks ahead for the best price.
Van to El Nido
5-6 hours from Puerto Princesa. Shared vans leave every hour from 6am-6pm. Cost: $8-12. Book at the airport or any travel agency in town. The road is paved and scenic.
Ferry: El Nido ↔ Coron
4 hours. $25-30 on Montenegro or Atienza shipping lines. Rough seas in wet season (June-Oct) — take motion sickness pills if you're prone.
Where to Stay
All prices are for dorm beds. Private rooms with AC start at $15-20.
El Nido: Outpost Beach Hostel (Nacpan Beach, $10 — worth the splurge for the location), Frendz Hostel (town center, $8), Spin Designer Hostel (newer, $8).
Coron: Hop Hostel ($7, rooftop bar), Dayon Hostel ($6, quieter), The Hub ($8, solid WiFi).
Puerto Princesa: Sheebang Hostel ($5, free breakfast), Banwa Art House ($6, artsy vibe).