Palawan is often called the last frontier, but this reputation is more a reflection of the fact that much of Palawan is still unexplored than of the island’s accessibility. It’s actually really easy to get to here and flights to Palawan take about 65 minutes from Manila. You can come by either plane or ferry.
How to get to Palawan By Plane
Palawan Airports
1. Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) is the major gateway to and from Palawan island. The flight time is approximately 65 minutes to reach Puerto Princesa from Manila and about 70 minutes from Cebu to Puerto Princesa. Learn more about Puerto Princesa.
Philippines AirAsia has direct flights to Palawan from both Manila and Cebu to Puerto Princesa.
PAL Express has direct flights to Puerto Princesa from Manila, but most of their flights from Cebu have stopovers in Manila. The flights are about 1,000PHP.
Cebu Pacific Air has direct flights from both Manila and Cebu to Puerto Princesa. They often have promotional flights and the total cost of this airfare can be as low as $45USD round trip.
Zest Airways has direct flights to Puerto Princesa from Manila but not from Cebu.
2. Busuanga Airport – Coron (USU) only has direct flights from Manila.
Philippine Airlines has direct flights from Manila.
Airphil Express has daily direct flights to Busuanga from Manila, but the flights from Cebu have stopovers in Manila.
Cebu Pacific Air has direct flights to Busuanga from Manila, but the flights from Cebu have stopovers in Manila.
3. El Nido
Seair offers direct flights from Manila to El Nido on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays.
AirSwift Previously known as Island Transvoyager is an air taxi/air charter service that offers 2 daily direct flights from Manila to El Nido. It is more pricey than Seair, with one-way fares at almost 7,000PHP. The flights should be booked 5 days in advance and keep in mind that there’s a 10kg weight restriction.
The easiest way to get to Palawan is to fly from Manila or from Cebu. If you have some time to spare and don’t get seasick, you could also hop on board a number of ferries that service various destinations in Palawan.
Get to Palawan By Ferry
Palawan has boat connections to and from Manila, Iloilo on Panay island and San Jose on Mindoro island. There are ferries headed for Puerto Princesa, Coron, and El Nido. Please keep in mind that the Manila to Puerto Princesa route is one of the most dangerous in the Philippines and it is highly recommended you take the trip with a reputable company. There are many ferries that service this route, but we recommend sticking with the ones listed below:
Ferry Services to Palawan:
2Go Travel Is a new company formed by a merger of SuperFerry, Negros Navigation and others. They sail weekly from Manila to Puerto Princesa via Coron for a little less than 2,000PHP including meals. The trip takes 28 hours, departing Manila on Friday, stopping in Coron on Saturday, then arriving in Puerto Princesa later the same day. The ferry leaves Puerto Princesa on Sunday, again stopped in Coron on the same day, then arriving back in Manila on Monday.
- Economy 1,717.07PHP per person
- Tourist 2,208.42PHP per person
- Cabin 2,759.68PHP per person
- Stateroom 6,681.81PHP per two persons
Negros Navigation sails weekly from Manila to Puerto Princesa. The trip takes 23 hours and it departs Manila on Thursday and arrives in Puerto Princesa on Friday. From Puerto Princesa, you can board the ferry back to Manila on Saturday. It arrives on Manila on Sunday.
- Economy 1,702.21PHP
- Tourist 2,193.41PHP
- Admiral 2,744.68PHP
- Suite 3,325.95PHP
Note: SuperFerry and Negros Navigation are our preferred choices. The rest are listed more for informational accuracy and breadth of choice. For up to routes, schedules and delays please check the 2Go Travel website.
San Nicolas Shipping offers three trips per week between Manila and Coron for 800PHP, including meals. All trips leave Manila at 4 PM on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and arrive in Coron at 5 PM the next day. From Coron back to Manila, you can catch the ferry at 4 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The ferry arrives in Manila at 5 PM the next day.
Atienza Shipping Lines leaves Manila at 6 PM on Wednesday and stops at Coron and El Nido before arriving at its final destination at Liminancong. The fare is 940PHP, with meals included.
Milagrosa Shipping has a bi-weekly ferry route between Iloilo and Puerto Princesa, with a stopover at Cuyo Islands in between. The ferry leaves Iloilo at 7 PM on Monday and Thursday and arrives in Puerto Princesa at 9pm on the following day. The route back leaves Puerto Princesa at 3 PM on Wednesdays and Sundays and arrives in Iloilo at 5 PM the following day.
San Nicolas Shipping has a weekly overnight trip from San Jose to Coron, leaving San Jose at 10 PM on Saturday and arriving in Coron at 4 AM the following morning.
Please keep in mind that flight schedules and ferry schedules are subject to change, as well as delays. Check with the airline or shipping company you decide to travel with for expected delays.
How are the cabins like onboard the ferries to Palawan? Is there a double bed, own bathroom and aircon?
Is there a smoking area on the ferry?