Remember The Beach (2000) — the box-office darling starring Leonardo DiCaprio? Well, the author of the novel this movie is based on — Alex Garland — wrote his masterpiece while living in El Nido, getting inspired by the area’s hidden beaches and deserted jungles. And while the story didn’t really go into the dream land realm, El Nido is still a destination fit for a paradise getaway: An apron of rugged limestone cliffs, azure waters and powdered sugar-like sand, — it doesn’t get any better than that!
Getting to El Nido, however, is an entire ordeal. You can approach it in several ways, each one with its unique set of pros and cons. After our latest crusade to the land straight out of a LOST episode, we have created this fleshed out list of the best ways to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido in 2024. Enjoy!
Article contents
- How did we get to El Nido?
- Travel options to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido:
● Van (shared transfer) — most popular option
● Bus — slowest option (but not the cheapest!)
● Taxi or private van — the more exclusive option
● Getting to El Nido by plane — the smarter option
● Ferry — the option that didn’t - Things to do in El Nido, Palawan
- Where to stay in El Nido?
- Best time to visit El Nido
How did we get to El Nido from Puerto Princesa?
Before we dive into the many answers to how to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, let us walk you through our own personal journey:
- Even though El Nido has its own airport (more on it later), we opted out of flying directly to our destination and landed in Puerto Princesa, 250km away from our goal, instead.
- We didn’t feel like embarking on a five-hour (at least) long journey fresh off the plane, so a hotel in Puerto Princesa it was!
- We got a cab to our hotel (300₱/$5) — there are no Ubers on Palawan! In fact, there’s a limited number of taxi cars on the whole island: 30 or 40 vehicles in total, and they rarely go outside their respective town limits.
- The next morning was the main event — or shared van transfer that we booked beforehand via Klook. It cost us 700₱ ($12) per person, and went…
Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves! You can read all about what you can expect from a shared transfer experience in the corresponding section.
5 travel options to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido
If you’ve been researching the question of how to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, you might have stumbled upon despairing qualms along the lines of “Should I stay in El Nido or Puerto Princesa?”. We’re pretty sure these attempts to re-plan the itinerary come from the sheer reluctance to get through the drive between the two cities. However, things are never as bad as they seem.
- In fact, El Nido is such a stunning destination that every query whether it is worth visiting or not should be met with a resounding “yes!” each time.
We have been to our fair share of tropical destinations and El Nido comes out as a winner. It is one of the few locations that managed to surprise us with its natural beauty. Before we get to the things you can see and do on the Palawan Island (scroll closer to the end of the article if you’re impatient), enjoy our pictures — and know that the scenery is 100% even prettier in person!
So, it really doesn’t matter how exhausting the journey might be — just knowing what is waiting for you at the tail end of the drive is reason enough to keep going.
Now that we have cleared the air, only one question remains — what is the best way to get to El Nido? Choose one that is most in tune with your needs and circumstances.
Van (shared transfer) — most popular option
Travel Time: 5–6 hours
Price: 500₱–700₱ ($9–$12)
Frequency: Multiple times a day
Consider taking a shared van from Puerto Princesa to El Nido as a happy medium between an expensive private transfer and a budget-friendly bus. Yes, you will have a tad more freedom than you would if you were taking a bus; but you’ll still get cramped with a bunch of strangers in a tight place, much unlike a private van.
Now, let’s get into the details!
A van will usually pick you up from either your hotel in Puerto Princesa or the Puerto Princesa Airport. Do not fall for the drivers parked up at the terminal: Because they work on the first come/first serve basis and are not reserved in advance, the ride will be much more expensive than the one you book online. Plus, you don’t know how long you’ll have to wait before your journey can begin.
- There are a few companies that provide legitimate shared transfers from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. Personally, we chose the one that you can book via Klook. Note that each company has its own timetable that you will have to adapt to.
Some providers let you choose a seat when booking, so make full use of this opportunity: The two seats near the driver and the row right behind them usually have more legroom.
In general, a transfer from Puerto Princesa to El Nido takes about five to six hours. But the road you will be driving on only adds insult to injury! Don’t get us wrong, it’s pretty smooth, but the constant turns…. The winding road from Puerto Princesa to El Nido isn’t for the people who suffer from motion sickness, and, we would say, is not for families with small children.
There can be one or two 15-minute stops along the way. I’s more than enough time to go to the bathroom, stretch out your limbs, and get a quick snack for the road. Our stop was in the middle of nowhere, right by the small cafe where you could even get a full-blown traditional Filipino meal for the price of a high-end restaurant outing.
The drop-offs will usually start to happen around hour five. We thought we would be one of the first ones to get off (since we did book a room in Spin Designer Hostel, which is set in the town center), but we were wrong! Most travelers book some sort of a beachfront accommodation (like Last Frontier Beach Resort) that is usually set on the road before the van enters El Nido proper. Because of the multiple drop-offs, rack up a lot of patience: It’s hard to see people finally getting out of the cramped space you’ve been riding in and you still staying, but your turn isn’t that far off!
Book your shared transfer well in advance, particularly during peak tourist season (a week before your ETA is the standard). Our last trip to the Philippines fell on the low season, so we managed to book a transfer through Klook two days in advance. This is more of an exception to the general rule, so plan out and book everything well before you land on the island.
All in all, a shared transfer might be a good choice if you don’t mind the long drive in a cramped space. The views out of the windows are pretty mesmerizing: That is, if you’re able to look outside with all the twists and turns without getting sick. We also think that apart from being cost-effective, a shared van is a great opportunity to meet and get to know fellow travelers. In such small quarters, it’s guaranteed friends for life (granted you hit it off).
We didn’t know how good we had it when we were driving from Puerto Princesa to El Nido! On the way back, a torrential downpour added a bunch of adrenaline into our already anxiety-ridden bloodstream. Thankfully, the drivers here are usually very experienced and can drive in all kinds of weather.
Side note: El Nido and Palawan aren’t the first islands of the Philippines we’ve been to. Before, we’ve also explored (and already covered on this blog) the island of Boracay — just as beautiful as El Nido yet so much easier to get to.
Bus — slowest option (but not the cheapest!)
Travel Time: 6–7 hours
Price: 630₱–960₱ ($11–$17)
Frequency: 4 times a day
They always say that slow and steady wins the race, but man, why does it have to be that slow? A bus from Puerto Princesa to El Nido only falls an hour or so behind the van category, but a few other circumstances come into play.
There are no door-to-door pick-ups and drop-offs, obviously. You will have to get a taxi to Puerto Princesa Land Transportation Terminal Irawan, which is located on the far outskirts of the Palawan capital. The taxi fare will be 500₱–600₱ ($9–$11) already and eat up some time, adding to the overall hour count of your travel day. The drop-off at the El Nido Transport Terminal isn’t the most convenient option as well: You will have to take another cab to get to your hotel.
Now that you know that your Puerto Princesa to El Nido bus travel time estimates are actually way longer than they seem, let’s delve into other things you need to know before taking the plunge and buying those tickets.
There are three types of buses that you can expect to find yourself in when traveling from Puerto Princesa to El Nido:
- Economy without air conditioning (leaves for El Nido at 7 a.m.),
- Regular with air conditioning (leaves for El Nido at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.),
- and a Lazyboy sleeper bus with air-conditioning, toilet, and reclining seats (leaves for El Nido at 9:30 p.m.).
Trust us, if you’re traveling during hotter months, you might want to adapt to a schedule of the bus with A/C. A natural breeze is not enough, especially if you don’t handle heat well.
Because the buses are way bigger than shared vans, you feel way safer and more comfortable riding in them: Suddenly the hairpin turns aren’t as scary as they seem in a smaller vehicle! The seats on the buses are also set further apart, so you don’t have to get too close to a stranger seating next to you.
The biggest surprise is the fact that a bus ticket to El Nido is more expensive (!) than a shared van fare! Sure, the seats are nicer; but the inconvenient pick-up and drop-off locations and longer travel times should amount to something cheaper, or at least we believe so. Alas, it’s not the case:
- The economy bus ticket will cost you 630₱ ($11),
- the regular A/C one 810₱ ($14),
- and the Lazyboy (we adore the name!) will set you back 960₱ ($17).
The good news is, you don’t have to bear the long lines at bus stations: You can book your ticket online with the help of 12Go Asia.
Why would someone choose a bus in an era of van rides? Good question! For some travelers, it’s not all about the destination; it’s also about the journey! With that, a slower bus ride sounds way more exciting to a Jack Kerouac type — and being “on the road” is way more pleasurable if you’re not squished against another person for hours at a time.
Side note: Take a page out of Boy Scouts’ Playbook and always be prepared! That means bring lots of snacks, some water, a neck pillow, and a couple of downloaded movies with you for the ride. Compression socks will elevate your bus riding game by a hundred percent, trust us!
Taxi or private van — the more exclusive option
Travel Time: 5–6 hours
Price: 6,500₱–7,000₱ ($114–$123)
Frequency: On-demand
So far, the two options we’ve covered sound like hell for introverts (or, you know, people who aren’t fond of socializing during a long and arduous drive). If you want a little more room to breathe inside a vehicle, consider booking a private van transfer!
Side note: We use the word “taxi” quite liberally in this section, just to get the general vibe across. In reality, a taxi that will take you from Puerto Princesa to El Nido will be a van that you pay for in full.
The added VIP status (after all, you are literally paying for each seat in the van), obviously, comes with a raised price tag: You didn’t expect a private transfer to be the cheapest option to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, did you? However, if it’s the same kind of van that does shared transfers, why splurge?
We have a few reasons:
- Added legroom: Sit anywhere you want, and stretch those legs, baby!
- Cocoon-like social setting: Bodes well for tourists traveling in their small, close-knit groups that don’t mix well with strangers;
- More room for luggage that you don’t have to pay extra for;
- Flexible schedule: You can book your ride for any time of day or night, no matter how late or early your plane lands,
- No added stops: Because you (or your group) have one drop-off and pick-up location, the travel time is cut short by at least half an hour, guaranteed you’ll be in your hotel room as fast as possible.
If any of these reasons speak to you, then pull the plug: As usual, you can book your private transfer on Klook. The difference in pricing is due to the size of the van you’re booking: A 6-seater van will cost you 6,500₱ ($114), while a 12-seater (great for groups) will set you back 7,000₱ ($123) big ones. After you’ve acquired the goods, get ready to enter comfort town; population: You!
Getting to El Nido by plane — the smarter option
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You could always avoid the long drive and the unfortunate baggage (both metaphorical and physical) that comes with any and all of the aforementioned options by simply flying into El Nido.
So why aren’t more people doing it? Well, there are a couple of reasons:
- There are no international flights to and from El Nido Airport (also known as Lio Airport), and the main airline that operates in the airport (AirSWIFT Philippines) only connects the area to other local Philippine destinations;
- Because there aren’t many flights in or out of El Nido, their prices tend to be on a higher side.
Before we get into the numbers, let us give you a point of reference. We booked our Manila—Puerto Princesa tickets with Cebu Pacific, paying only $30 one-way per person and choosing from 12 (!) different departure times. Now, if we were to bypass Puerto Princesa and get tickets directly to El Nido, we would face an entirely different set of circumstances:
- Direct flights from Cebu to El Nido Airport: $150 one-way; 1–2 flights per day;
- Direct flights from Caticlan (Boracay) to El Nido Airport: $125 one-way; 1 flight a day;
- Direct flights from Manila to El Nido Airport: $100–$150 one-way; 6 flights per day.
The limited options and the raised price tag definitely scare off first-time Palawan visitors from flying directly to El Nido, and we fell for the same trap the first time we planned our Philippine adventure. Now, however, we have the luxury of perspective: From this point on, we would rather drop extra cash on a plane ticket than spend at least six hours on the curvy road with a bunch of strangers disregarding our personal space.
Feel the same? Then book your direct flight to El Nido via Kiwi.com — a great service for buying plane tickets, where you can compare prices and choose the best option for you.
If your hotel doesn’t offer free airport pick-up, then get ready to spend around 750₱ ($13) for a van transfer from the Lio Airport to your accommodation.
Ferry — the option that didn’t
Wouldn’t it be nice to get out on the water, the Curaçao blue sea all around you while traveling between your destinations? Hard agree, it would. Unfortunately, there are no ferries from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, and that’s a hard pill to swallow.
However, there is a ferry circling between El Nido and Coron Island (set to the North-East of El Nido; famous for being an ultimate destination for wreck diving). So, if you have a free day, we would recommend you make a little trip to the northern part of Palawan.
The ferry leaves for Coron at 7 a.m. from El Nido, and then is set out on a trip back at 12:30 p.m. The price of a ticket is 2,800₱ one-way per person.
From El Nido to Puerto Princesa — is there any difference?
There really isn’t much difference between traveling from Puerto Princesa to El Nido and traveling from El Nido to Puerto Princesa: The buses, the vans, the taxis are all the same. One thing that could be different is the departure schedule, so make sure you check it before booking a ticket.
Things you should know before traveling to Palawan
In our opinion, one of the first things you should know before visiting Palawan is the fact that the island’s main scene isn’t revolving solely around El Nido.
Sure, this place is a treasure trove of spectacular sights, but so is:
- Coron Island — dramatic limestone cliffs, fresh water lakes, and shipwrecks galore, — Coron is a strong contender to El Nido’s top position as Palawan’s star attraction! Kayak in the breathtaking Twin Lagoons or dive into the crystal-clear Kayangan Lake, — the island has no shortage of fascinating activities for you to partake in. El Nido or Coron Island? Why choose? As we’ve mentioned before, there’s a ferry service between the two destinations, so you can kill two birds with one stone (or feed two birds with one scone, let’s not be so negative).
- Port Baton — a laid-back cousin of El Nido. This small town is a perfect stopover between Puerto Princesa and El Nido if you’re traveling by car — it’s a great place to catch a breath, lie on the beach, and eat good Filipino food. Port Baton is not as popular with tourists as the aforementioned Palawan locations, so a pleasantly quiet stay is in order!
- Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park — one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature and a UNESCO Heritage Site, this underground river cave system is a curious attraction not for the faint-hearted! The surrounding jungle is a stark contrast to what you see once you enter the dark caves, — the scenery so breathtaking you will remember your outing for the rest of your life! As is the case with other dimly lit spaces, prepare to see some bats: We thought we would warn you in case you aren’t a fan of these winged creatures.
- San Vicente — do not sleep on the lesser-known Palawan treasures! Home to the longest white sand beach in the Philippines (some would argue that it’s one of the best beaches in Philippines just because of its sheer novelty), San Vicente is where you come for some necessary beach-bumming!
Now that you have other possible Palawan holiday destinations under your belt, it’s time to learn some useful tips that can make your island adventures as fun and exciting as they can be:
🔹In Palawan, cash is king. Stock up on Philippine Pesos and forget your credit card at home! While it might be shiny, it won’t buy you a refreshing coconut water on the beach!
🔹Groceries aren’t fun. We had to eat out almost every night just because supermarkets in El Nido rarely have something substantial that can curb one’s appetite: Every time we came in, we just got some sodas and snacks; canned goods at the very best!
🔹Get ready to start living by island time. It’s a real thing, folks! Some schedules on the shops’ windows are mere suggestions, and locals aren’t that type A about keeping up with strict timetables. It’s for the best, really — we felt like we learned to be a tad more laid-back after staying on Palawan.
🔹Waterproof everything is the way to go: Due to the sheer range of island hopping tours and the general abundance of water activities, you will want to invest in some dry bags and waterproof phone cases to keep your belongings in tip-top shape!
Things to do in El Nido, Palawan
What to do in El Nido? Now, that’s the question we’ve heard before! Palawan in general is great and all, but here we focus on the star of the show — El Nido.
- Island hopping. This activity will eat up most of your time in El Nido, and it should — the four available tours are among the best ones that we’ve experienced globally (truly!). The most popular are tours A and C, but don’t disregard the other two; they have more opportunities for small-group adventures that feel more exclusive due to the lack of crowds.
- Beach bumming. The main El Nido Beach is nothing to write home about, but the others will definitely make your list of top ten! We would start with Nacpan Beach — it has sand so white it can be part of a Colgate commercial! Las Cabañas Beach and Lio Beach are both perfect for watching phoenix-colored sunsets that are so prominent in the island’s postcards.
- Hiking. Going to the top of Taraw Cliff is in no way as pleasurable as lying on the beach, but the view from the summit will make the arduous hike worth it: The mix of mountain and sea panoramas is a thing of beauty, no doubts about it!
- Nightlife. One of the main allures of El Nido for tourists is its prominent afterhours festivities program. Once the sun comes down, the area comes to life: You can go on a beach bar crawl (they know how to make a mean mojito), listen to live music that booms from behind every corner (sway together with palm trees, as God intended), and end the adventure at one of the many late-night food stalls that will help you soak up all that alcohol with yummy Filipino street food.
How many days is enough for El Nido?
How many days is enough for El Nido? We’re tempted to say however many you have at hand, but it wouldn’t be wise. A belief that great things are better experienced in small doses, to keep up the excitement, is the one we try to live by.
In reality, a week is more than enough to take in the majority of what El Nido has to offer:
- You will spend 1–2 days exploring El Nido itself and taking small detours to its nearby beaches;
- Then, allot 1–4 days for island-hopping tours. During our last El Nido adventure, we chose Tours A and B, but the last one got canceled due to bad weather (take the cancellations into account as well);
- Leave out the first and last day of your trip to the curse of the transfer — trust us, you won’t be able to do much after five long hours in a small vehicle on the winding road.
We had five blissful days in El Nido — in our opinion, a perfect amount to get a taste for that coveted paradise life everyone’s talking about. A little more and we would’ve overfilled on the sheer joy that is a beach vacation in El Nido; a little less — and we would be dissatisfied by not experiencing it all.
One thing you need to remember when planning your itinerary for El Nido is that here, a perfect plan is no plan. Let the island vibes guide you, and don’t be too hard on yourself for lying that extra hour on the beach, staring at the sky.
Where to stay in El Nido?
We hope we’ve convinced you to plan your next vacation on Palawan — the island in the Philippines that is so rich in natural wonders! El Nido (and the surrounding areas) offers a wide range of accommodation options suited for each type of traveler. So, whether you need a central location, a hilltop resort, or a beachfront property, El Nido’s here for you!
Because of the sheer variety, we believe that the topic of where to stay in El Nido deserves its own spotlight in a separate article. Still, we cannot possibly leave you without mentioning at least a few of our favorite El Nido stays:
- 2* Spin Designer Hostel (from $40 per night) — our personal choice of an affordable place to stay in El Nido. We were particularly looking for a hostel that had a private room option, and this one had the best reviews.
- 3* Bill Tourist Inn (from $80 a night) — great hotel option that is located a little bit further away from the city center’s hustle and bustle, while still remaining close (within a five-minute walk) to the town’s main strip. That’s the place where our sleep isn’t interrupted by loud music and general evening shenanigans of El Nido’s guests. The spick-and-span amenities of the inn, as well as its amazing outdoor pool area, will guarantee your stay to be a pleasant one!
- H Hotel El Nido – Vegan Friendly Hotel (from $180 a night) — one of the few El Nido resorts that markets itself as a health-forward destination; H Hotel is a safe haven for vegetarians, vegans, and general public that doesn’t mind delving into plant-based foods from time to time. Its other amenities do not lack in fervor and pizzazz: Ocean view rooms opening up on the wide panorama of the azure bay dotted with boats, the state-of-the-art spa and gym facilities, the rooftop bar.
- 3* Last Frontier Beach Resort (from $180 per night) — a true last frontier you have to “overcome” between your stress-filled days and a holiday filled with blissful relaxation. Located south of the El Nido town, the resort is nothing short of idyllic: Tall coconut trees and lush tropical shrubbery surround the gorgeous villas, — a scene straight out of a sunscreen commercial. The water is right there: Come out of your villa (built using traditional Filipino craftsmanship practices and natural materials; a rarity in 2024, where every hotel is modernized to a T), make a few short steps and find yourself right on the beachfront! It’s also worth mentioning that the resort is for adults only.
- Nacpan Beach Villas (from $200 a night) — amazing beachfront complex fit for a once-in-a-lifetime beach getaway! Because the resort is located further north (a 45-minute drive away from El Nido proper), getting to Nacpan Beach Villas makes for a longer transfer from Puerto Princesa. Still, the journey is worth it: Beautiful standalone villas ensconced on all sides by verdant lush greenery and a pristine white sanded beach right in front of you, — if it isn’t the dream, we don’t know what is!
Before you book your stay, keep in mind that the prices drop significantly during off-season (with good reason, you’ll see). If you want a more budget-friendly option (but want to avoid as much of torrential rain season as possible), might we suggest looking into shoulder season months of April, May, and November? El Nido’s not as crowded during these months, and the probability of getting caught in a downpour is less than during low season, — that’s a win in our book!
Best time to visit El Nido
Speaking of the best time to visit El Nido, here’s where one of the main perks of the destination finds its footing. When the majority of the Northern Hemisphere plunges into coldness and wetness, El Nido’s just waking up to great weather!
- Winter months are the new spring/summer in the Philippines, so treat yourself to some much needed Vitamin D after a stressful holiday season, — months of December through February in El Nido are the cream of the crop!
Of course, you can always plan to spend Christmas, or at least New Year’s Eve, in the Philippines — but the holiday season sees a significant surge in tourists arriving on the island, so even some otherwise remote and idyllic locations would be crowded like a Christmas market! The obvious follow up to the rising numbers of guests is increased prices for hotel stays. Finally, have you forgotten what started all the Kevin McCallister’s unfortunate incidents? You must have a Christmas tree for Christmas, that’s the rule (unless you want to replicate your own troubling Home Alone misadventures; in this case, be our guest!).
So, the general gist of when to visit El Nido comes down to this:
- Peak season: December through February. This period is marked by mostly dry and pleasantly warm days.
- Shoulder season: March, April, May, November. Spring months are all about the heat and occasional rainfall. November is at the tail end of the rainy season, so this month in El Nido is also usually pretty humid.
- Low season: June through October. The wettest period in El Nido.
However, every pattern can be broken once in a while: We last traveled to El Nido in the middle of September (!), but the days were as sunny as they come, with minimal rainfall (it rained during one out of five days of our stay). We admit, the prices during off-season in El Nido are very tempting: But the odds are usually against the traveler, so we wouldn’t recommend you gamble the only vacation you get for the foreseeable future.
