How to get fromCoron to El Nido

Why visit El Nido?

El Nido is Palawan Island’s northernmost tip, popular around the world as the gateway to paradise — the Bacuit Archipelago. This group of picture-perfect limestone islands boasts white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, enchanting lagoons, and beautiful underwater.

El Nido’s town centre leaves much to be desired with its mediocre beach, narrow streets, and mostly backpacker and mid-range hostels. But the island-hopping adventures from here are some of the best you will see in the world. Outside town, you should also include in your El Nido itinerary a visit to Nacpan-Calitang Beach and a hike to Taraw Peak.

There are 3 ways to travel the 277 kilometers (172 miles) from Coron to El Nido. You can choose between the flight, fast ferry and slow boat or ‘Bangka’* . The journey takes 1 hour 45 minutes to 9 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by slow boat or ‘bangka’* with tickets starting at 2,420 PHP ($42).

*IMPORTANT UPDATE: The last time we checked (February 2023), Bunso Transport temporarily suspended its trips between Coron to 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 to 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 ($42) 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 to 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 ($26) 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.

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 Shipping Lines, Atienza Interisland Ferries and Jomalia Shipping. 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 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes.

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 ($58) 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:

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

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 ($5.20) per person.

You can also rent a tricycle from the town proper to the airport for the same amount of 300 PHP ($5.20). 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 ($31).

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 price starts from 3,000 PHP ($52).

Note that their schedules change according to specified dates, so it’s best to check AirSwift or Skyscanner for the latest updates.

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 tricycle or tuk-tuk ride for 150 PHP ($2.60) based on two people which costs around 300 PHP ($5.20) for two people and luggage. You can check with your hotel if they offer airport pick-up service.