At a glanceA north to south run down Palawan: three nights around Coron's lakes and wrecks, a four-hour ferry to El Nido for four nights in an island resort, then a short drive to quiet Port Barton for three barefoot nights before flying home from Puerto Princesa. It suits couples who love boats, lagoons and snorkeling more than polish. Go from January to April.
Palawan is the Philippines at its most dramatic: limestone islands, lagoons the color of jade and boats waiting on every beach. The way to see it on a honeymoon is to travel down the island chain, not back and forth from one base.
This route starts in Coron in the Calamian Islands, where you swim in Kayangan and Barracuda lakes and snorkel over Japanese wartime wrecks. A fast ferry then carries you south past the Linapacan islands to El Nido, the splurge stop, with four nights in a resort on its own island in Bacuit Bay.
The last stop is Port Barton, a small fishing village on the west coast with no big resorts and very little nightlife. You spend your days on turtle reefs and empty islands, then eat grilled fish under the palms. From there, it is a drive of three to four hours to Puerto Princesa for the flight out. Philippine Airlines flies nonstop from several US cities to Manila, which keeps the long-haul part simple.
The route
- CoronPhilippines · 3 nights
- El NidoPhilippines · 4 nights
- Port BartonPhilippines · 3 nights
- Best months
- January to April
- Trip length
- 11 days
- Budget
- About $150–1,200 a night for two, from simple Port Barton cottages to El Nido's island resorts (approximate)
Day by day
Days 1–3: Coron
Fly from Manila to Francisco B. Reyes Airport on Busuanga (USU), about an hour. Island resorts meet you for the drive and boat ride. Spend the first evening at your resort and let the jet lag fade.
On day 2, take a private boat tour early. Climb the short, steep stairs to the viewpoint over Kayangan Lake, then swim in its clear water among limestone walls. Continue to Twin Lagoon, where you swim through a gap in the rock from one lagoon to the next. Then try Barracuda Lake, where warm and cool layers of water meet. Floating in Kayangan before the crowds arrive is the romantic moment of Coron.
On day 3, snorkel or dive the Japanese shipwrecks in Coron Bay, some shallow enough to see from the surface. In the evening, soak in the saltwater Maquinit Hot Springs under the stars, or climb Mount Tapyas for sunset over the bay.
Days 4–7: El Nido
Take the fast ferry from Coron to El Nido on day 4, about four hours in calm weather. It is a scenic ride past the Linapacan islands, so sit outside if the sea allows. Your resort meets you at the pier and takes you by boat across Bacuit Bay.
On day 5, kayak into the Big Lagoon and the Small Lagoon, slipping through a narrow gap in the cliffs into still, green water. Go early with your resort's boat, before the town tours arrive.
Day 6 is your slow day. Swim, snorkel the house reef and book a spa treatment. In the evening, take a sunset cruise around the bay, with the islands turning black against an orange sky. That evening on the water is the romantic moment of El Nido.
On day 7, drive to Nacpan Beach, a long curve of sand north of town, or visit Las Cabanas on the mainland for sunset drinks. Make tonight the splurge dinner at your resort.
Days 8–10: Port Barton
Drive south from El Nido to Port Barton on day 8, about three to four hours by private van. In the dry season some operators run an island-hopping boat between the two instead, a full scenic day on the water.
Port Barton is a village of sandy lanes, small beach resorts and fishing boats. The pace drops at once. Spend the afternoon on the beach and eat grilled fish in the village.
On day 9, hire a boat for the islands in the bay. Snorkel with sea turtles at the turtle reef, then stop at German Island and a sandbar for lunch. Swimming beside a turtle as it grazes on seagrass is the romantic moment of Port Barton.
Keep day 10 free. Walk to Pamuayan Falls in the morning, swim at White Beach or simply read in a hammock. Watch the last sunset from the beach and go to bed early, since the drive to the airport starts in the morning.
Day 11: Home via Puerto Princesa
Drive from Port Barton to Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS), about three to four hours. A private car is far more comfortable than a shared van and lets you stop on the way. Then fly to Manila in about an hour and a half and connect home.
Leave plenty of time. Domestic flights in the Philippines can be delayed and a long gap protects your international connection. Many couples spend a final night in Manila or near the airport, which also gives you one last good dinner.
If you have a spare hour in Puerto Princesa, the Baker's Hill area and the bay front make a pleasant stop, though the city itself is mostly a transit point. Pack wet swimwear in a separate bag so the rest of your luggage stays dry.
Getting Between Stops
Fly into Manila (MNL), where Philippine Airlines has nonstop flights from cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. Connect to Busuanga (USU) for Coron, about an hour.
Coron to El Nido is a fast ferry of about four hours in the dry season. It is often canceled in rough weather, so keep a little flexibility.
El Nido to Port Barton takes roughly three to four hours by van. Port Barton to Puerto Princesa (PPS) takes about three to four hours. Book private vans through your hotels for both legs.
In each place, tricycles serve as taxis. Agree on the fare before you get in. Island tours and resort boats handle almost everything else. Life jackets should always be on board.
Where to Stay
In Coron, stay on an island rather than in town. Huma Island Resort has overwater villas on a small island in the bay. Club Paradise on Dimakya Island has a white beach and a house reef where dugongs sometimes feed nearby. Coron town is fine for one night but hot and noisy.
In El Nido, spend the most. El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island is the most upscale, with pool villas and a long beach. Lagen Island has water cottages in a forested cove and a calm feel. Cauayan Island Resort and Spa has villas on a private island in the bay.
In Port Barton, lodging is small and locally run, from simple cottages to air-conditioned bungalows. Ask about 24-hour power, air conditioning and hot water before you book. A few island resorts in the bay offer more seclusion.
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When to Go
January to April is the window for this route. Seas are calmest, the Coron to El Nido ferry runs most days and boat tours rarely cancel. March to May brings the best visibility for diving but also the hottest days, so start boat trips early.
December and May work too, with a little more risk of wind or rain. Christmas, New Year and Holy Week before Easter are the busiest weeks in Palawan, when Filipino travelers fill the resorts, so book months ahead for those dates.
From June to October, the southwest monsoon brings rain and swells to the west coast. Ferries and island tours are often suspended and some Port Barton resorts close or scale back. Typhoon risk is highest from about July to October.
Budget and Booking
Plan on roughly $400–800 a night for two at Coron's island resorts, $600–1,200 at El Nido's island resorts with meals and tours often included and $50–150 in Port Barton's comfortable beachfront rooms. All figures are approximate.
Book El Nido first, since the island resorts fill early for the dry season, then Coron. Port Barton can be booked a little later, but the best rooms still go early in peak weeks.
Check what each rate includes. Many El Nido packages cover meals and guided island hopping, which changes the comparison. Budget for private boats in Coron and Port Barton, ferry tickets, vans, dive trips and local environmental charges, which are modest.
Make It Shorter or Longer
For eight days, drop Port Barton. Spend three nights in Coron and five in El Nido, then fly from El Nido's Lio Airport back to Manila.
With two weeks, swap the Coron ferry for a multi-day island expedition boat between Coron and El Nido, sleeping in simple camps on remote beaches. It is one of the great adventures in Asia, though basic.
Another option is to add three nights on Boracay or Siargao at the end, via Manila or Cebu. Boracay gives you powdery White Beach and easy dining, while Siargao adds surf, lagoons and a laid-back island scene. Either makes a softer finish if you want more restaurant choice than Port Barton offers.
Honeymoon Tips
Nearly every day here involves a boat. If either of you is prone to seasickness, bring tablets and sit near the back of the boat where the motion is gentler. Take a dry bag for phones and passports.
Wear a rash guard and reef-safe sunscreen. The sun on the water is fierce, especially from March to May. Never stand on coral and listen to boat crews about currents.
In the villages, dress casually but cover up away from the beach. Filipinos are warm and many speak English, which makes the small places easy.
Dengue occurs in the Philippines, so use repellent at dawn and dusk. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices before booking. Entry and visa rules depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government website before you book.
FAQPlanning this trip
How do we get from Coron to El Nido?
By fast ferry, about four hours in calm weather, passing the Linapacan islands. It runs most days in the dry season but is often canceled in rough seas. For a longer adventure, multi-day island expedition boats sail between the two with nights in simple beach camps.
Is Port Barton worth adding?
Yes, if you want a quiet finish. It has no big resorts and very little nightlife, just a village beach, turtle reefs and empty islands. It also sits on the road to Puerto Princesa, so it breaks the long drive to the airport. Skip it if you want luxury at every stop.
Where should we splurge in Palawan?
In El Nido. The island resorts of Bacuit Bay, such as El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island and Lagen Island, are the most polished stays on this route, with their own boats and guided island hopping. Coron's island resorts come second, while Port Barton is simple and inexpensive.
Can we fly directly to Palawan from the US?
Not nonstop. Fly to Manila, where Philippine Airlines has nonstop flights from several US cities, then connect to Busuanga for Coron or to El Nido's small Lio Airport. For the trip home, fly from Puerto Princesa back to Manila and connect.
When is the best time for a Palawan honeymoon?
January to April, when seas are calm and boats run every day. December and May are possible with some risk of rough weather. Avoid June to October for this route, since the southwest monsoon cancels many tours and ferries. Book early for Christmas and Holy Week.
