Overview Compare Fast Ferry Slow Ferry Flight
Once you’ve explored the islands around Coron, there is another island-hopping adventure waiting for you in El Nido. Just like Coron, El Nido is popular for its beautiful dive spots, magical lagoons, and serene beaches. In particular, the limestone karsts mountains are the landscape that makes El Nido so popular with travellers.
How to get from Coron to El Nido
The distance from Coron to El Nido is 277 km (172 miles). In this post, we compare the three best options to travel from Coron to El Nido: by fast ferry (5 hours), by slow ferry (6-9 hours) and by flight (1hr 45m). Ticket prices start from 2,420 PHP ($44) to 3,450 PHP ($62).
The fast ferry is a convenient way to travel from Coron to El Nido. There are several daily ferry trips and tickets start from 2,640 PHP ($48). The boat trip takes around 5 hours to get to El Nido.
Slow ferries operate on this route only once every other week. Although slightly cheaper than fast ferries, we don’t recommend taking a slow ferry because of the long duration of 6 to 9 hours.
The fastest option when travelling from Coron to El Nido is a 40-minute flight. Including the additional transfers to and from the airports, it will take around 1hr 45m. Flights are available only three times a week and it’s the most expensive option with combined costs starting from 3,450 PHP ($62).
Itinerary from Coron to El Nido
Slow Ferry
- Coron
- 6-9 hours
- El Nido
Flight
- Coron town
- 45 minutes
- Busuanga Airport
- 40 minutes
- El Nido Airport
- 20 minutes
- El Nido town
Coron to El Nido by Fast Ferry
Travelling by boat from Coron to El Nido is a beautiful journey. The route passes a few well-known islands, such as Linapacan and San Miguel, all with beautiful beaches and landscapes.
PRO TIP: If you are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in El Nido, check out the Tao Island Epedition. It costs some money, but we can assure you that it will be the highlight of your trip!
If you want to travel from Coron to El Nido in one day, you can choose from several ferry companies, such as Montenegro, Atienza, and Judy Ferry. Two other ferry companies that used to operate on this Coron to El Nido route are Phimal and Jomalia ferries but they haven’t resumed their operations since the pandemic.
The fast ferries from Coron to El Nido operate on alternate days, so it’s important to check before you book which ferry operates on which day. Regardless of which company you book with, all ferries depart in the morning and travel time takes around 5 hours.
Fast ferry schedule from Coron to El Nido
It’s best that you book your ticket in advance. Tickets for Coron to El Nido sell out several days in advance during peak season from December to April. The last time we checked (January 2023), only Atienza and Judy Ferry can be booked online via BookAway.
If you prefer taking the Montenegro ferry, you need to buy your tickets at the Montenegro Lines office in Coron town. Note that the line can get long outside the office, especially during peak season.
On the day of your trip, make sure to arrive at the port at least an hour before the scheduled departure to secure seats on the fast ferry. If you don’t arrive early, you would be forfeiting your ticket, and they would give your seat to a passenger on the waiting list.
Departure port in Coron
All ferries depart from Coron Port, 2 km away from the town centre. From your hotel, you can easily take the 15-minute walk to the port. If you carry (heavy) luggage, you can ride a tricycle for around 20 PHP ($0.30).
Upon entering Coron Port, you need to pay a port fee of 20 PHP ($0.30).
Arrival port in El Nido
The ferries from Coron arrive at El Nido Ferry Terminal. This ferry terminal is within walking distance from most hotels in the town centre, but you can also rent a tricycle for a low price.
Coron to El Nido by Slow boat or ‘Bangka’*
*COVID-19 UPDATE: The last time we checked (February 2023), Bunso Transport temporarily suspended its trips between Coron and El Nido. We’ll update the page once they resume operations on this route. For now, we suggest taking a fast ferry or a flight from Coron to El Nido.
The term ‘bangka’ refers to the boats locals use to cross islands. A slow boat trip from Coron to El Nido takes 6-9 hours, depending on the weather conditions.
Bunso Transport is the sole operator offering slow ferry trips for this route from Coron to El Nido. The ferry departs at 07:00 and is available only every other Wednesday. These slow boats can accommodate only 80 passengers.
Fares start from 2,420 PHP ($44) per person, which includes a free lunch. Since online booking isn’t available, you need to buy your tickets early from any travel agency in Coron. You can also ask your hotel for assistance in booking tickets.
Make sure to only take the slow ferry if the weather is bright and sunny. Sometimes, the currents can be quite strong, which makes for a rougher, longer trip from Coron to El Nido. If the weather is bad, though, the company or port will cancel the trip for the safety of passengers and crew.
Although slow boats are cheaper than fast ferries, we don’t really recommend this option. Taking a slow boat from Coron to El Nido for 6-9 hours is time-consuming and really uncomfortable.
Passenger-cargo ship from Coron to El Nido
Aside from fast ferries and slow boats, a passenger-cargo ship also used to operate between Coron and El Nido: MV May Lillies by Atienza Interisland Ferries.
Some of its trips catered to only cargo, while other trips allowed both passengers and cargo. The ship used to leave Coron Port every Monday at 07:00, and the travel time to El Nido was 8 hours. Tickets were about 1,500 PHP ($27) per person.
The last time we checked (January 2023), Atienza Interisland Ferries now plies the Manila to El Nido route as a cargo ship. This means they no longer offer passenger-cargo ships from Coron to El Nido. We also couldn’t confirm if there are other passenger-cargo ships operating on this route.
Coron to El Nido by Flight
If you’re short on time, you can take a short flight with AirSwift from Coron to El Nido. Note though that flights are available only three days a week (Tue, Thu and Sat).
The cost of 3,300 PHP ($60) includes the van transfer from Coron town to the airport, as well as the tricycle ride from El Nido Airport to town.
Taking a flight is the fastest and most convenient way to travel from Coron to El Nido. However, short-haul flights like this have a negative effect on the environment due to the high emissions caused by taking off and landing. If you decide to travel by plane, consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
See here the steps to travel from Coron to El Nido by flight including the steps to get from/to the airport:
Step 1: Coron town to Coron Airport by Minivan
From your hotel in Coron, you can take a minivan to Francisco B. Reyes Airport, also known as Busuanga Airport. Travel time is around 45 minutes.
Some hotels in Coron offer free airport shuttles. But if this is not available in your hotel, you can ask them for assistance in getting a ride to the airport. They can arrange a shared van transfer for 300 PHP ($5) per person.
You can also rent a tricycle from the town proper to the airport for the same amount of 300 PHP ($5). However, it may be an uncomfortable 45-minute ride to the airport, so we suggest looking for a van transfer instead.
If you’re travelling in a group, you can also book a private van that can fit up to 10 passengers. Rates start from 1,800 PHP ($32.50).
Step 2: Coron to El Nido by Flight
Air Swift is the only airline offering flights between Coron and El Nido. Air Swift is a boutique airline operating a small propellor plane on this route. Flights are available every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
The plane leaves Busuanga Airport at 15:20 and arrives 40 minutes later in El Nido. A one-way ticket ranges from 3,000 PHP ($54) to 4,350 PHP ($79).
Note that their schedules change according to specified dates, so it’s best to check AirSwift or Skyscanner for the latest updates.
Step 3: El Nido Airport to El Nido town by Tuk-Tuk
Flights from Coron arrive at El Nido Airport, located about 5 km away from El Nido town centre.
To get to your hotel, you can take a 20-minute tricycle or tuk-tuk ride that costs around 300 PHP ($5) for two people and luggage. You can check with your hotel if they offer airport pick-up service.
About the author(s)
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Abby is a writer who finds joy in mountains, beaches, and road trips. She considers her solo backpacking trip to the rice terraces of Bontoc one of the most fulfilling moments in her life. She’s loyal to the islands of her home country, the Philippines, but Thailand’s beaches also have a special place in her heart.
Hi! Planning to go from Coron to El Nido on a Wednesday in march. Is it safe to assume that the operating days of Montenegro shipping lines will not be changing in the near future? Also any prediction for the reopening of other ferry companies?
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Hi Mateus, we just updated the Coron to El Nido route. Montenegro departs every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday morning. We’ll update the page again if they go back to daily trips in the future.
If you want to book your tickets online in advance, Judy Ferry Travel also offers Wednesday trips available on BookAway. Hope this helps!
Wie ist es jetzt im August/September. Online findet man nicht viel zu Covid Restrictions. Ist etwas groß zu beachten und fahren die Fähren wieder regelmäßiger. Ich würde gern von cebu nach coron fliegen und dann mich runter arbeiten nach Puerto princessa um von da dann nach Bali weiter zu machen (über Manilla). Aber wenn es keine Fährtickets gibt, ist das alles etwas schwierig und die Flüge sind sicher häufig ausgebucht, wenn man kurzfristig bucht oder?
Hi Tom, first of all, sorry for our late reply. I hope this information will still arrive on time.
A travel itinerary that includes Cebu, Coron, Palawan and Bali sounds amazing. And no worries, you can do this without too many problems as long as you plan in advance.
Honestly, it has always been like that when travelling in The Philippines. If you want to get the most out of your trip here, you’ll end up taking a few flights and possibly ferries to travel between the islands. The longer you wait with booking flight tickets, the more expensive they will get. Normally you should book at least one week in advance, but earlier is always better.
Flights between Cebu and Coron operate daily again, but the ferry between Coron and El Nido only a few times a week. We just updated this page with the latest info about the ferry schedules and references on where to book your tickets.
Hope you’ll have an amazing trip.
PS: Diese Antwort ist auf Englisch verfasst, um sie für Reisende aus allen Ländern hilfreich zu machen.
Nice page, good info. How about , ‘moving on from el nido’. Any ships to other area’s or just back to princessa for flight to, cebu etc ???
Hi Tom! Great question! Have you heard about Port Barton? It’s a laidback town located kind of in the middle of El Nido and Puerto Princesa. You can get there with a direct van from El Nido! Here’s our guide on how to get from El Nido to Port Barton if you’re interested!