Overview Compare Direct Flight via Puerto Princesa via San Vicente Ferry
How to get from El Nido to Manila
Heading back to Manila after a stay in paradise? Sadly, all good things must come to an end. As you say goodbye to the gorgeous El Nido resorts, bid farewell to the relaxing havens of Miniloc and Lagen islands, and leave Palawan behind, this article will help you plan your route from El Nido to Manila.
The distance from El Nido to Manila is 623 km (387 miles). In this post, we compare the three best options to travel from El Nido to Manila: by direct flight (.5 hours), by indirect flight via Puerto Princesa (6.5-7 hours), by indirect flight via San Vicente (3hr 45m), and by ferry (1-1.5 days). Ticket prices range from 1,680 PHP ($30.50) – 4,500 PHP ($81).
4 ways to get from El Nido to Manila
The direct flight from El Nido to Manila with Air Swift is the fastest but also the most expensive option. Only small planes operate on this route, with airfares starting from 4,500 PHP ($81) if you book ahead. The journey takes around 1.5 hours.
The indirect flight via Puerto Princesa is actually more popular as it’s a lot cheaper. More flights operate from Puerto Princesa Airport daily, and you can find flights as cheap as 1,000 PHP ($18). Including the 5 to 5.5-hour van transfer from El Nido to Puerto Princesa, total travel time takes about 7 hours.
Flights to Manila also operate at San Vicente Airport twice a week. This option is faster than the option via Puerto Princesa since San Vicente is just a 2 to 3-hour minivan ride from El Nido. Airfares are also cheaper than direct flights to Manila. Combined fares for this indirect flight option start from 3,785 PHP ($68).
The ferry is a scenic yet time-consuming option. You can take a 1-day direct ferry with Atienza Interisland Ferries with fares from 2,210 PHP ($40). An alternative is a 1.5-day indirect ferry with 2Go Travel via Coron, which is a good idea if you’re looking to visit this tourist destination too.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Itinerary from El Nido to Manila
El Nido to Manila by Direct Flight
The direct flight is the fastest option from El Nido to Manila, but it is also the most expensive.
Airswift is the only airline offering direct flights on this route, and it takes 1.5 hours from El Nido to Manila.
One-way tickets range from 4,500 PHP ($81) to 7,000 PHP ($125), depending on the day and time of the flight. Note that flight fares can get a bit cheaper if you are booking months in advance.
El Nido Airport
Flights depart from El Nido Airport, which is only 5 km away from the town centre. A tricycle ride from your hotel to the airport costs 300 PHP ($5) for 2 passengers with luggage.
You can also check with your hotel if they offer transport to the airport.
Manila Airport
The direct flight from El Nido to Manila lands at the main airport in Manila: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City. You can take a taxi or Grab outside the airport building.
Note that the Manila Airport has 4 separate terminals that are quite far from one another. This is important to consider when booking a connecting flight. AirSwift flights land at Terminal 4.
El Nido to Manila via Puerto Princesa by Minivan and Flight
The most popular option to travel from El Nido to Manila is a combination of a 5 to 5.5-hour minivan ride to Puerto Princesa and a 1.5-hour flight to Manila.
More airlines operate flights from Puerto Princesa to Manila and fares are cheaper for this route. In fact, combined fares for this indirect flight option are less than half of the direct flight fare from El Nido to Manila.
Step 1: El Nido to Puerto Princesa by Minivan
From El Nido Transport Terminal, there are multiple minivans bound for Puerto Princesa. Fortwally and Eulen Joy Express vans head straight to Puerto Princesa Airport, so you won’t need any additional rides.
The van ride can take 5 to 5.5 hours with fares from 680 PHP ($12).
We highly suggest booking online in advance via BookAway if you have already booked your flight from Puerto Princesa to Manila. This way, you can plan your trip from El Nido to Puerto Princesa Airport accordingly without missing your flight.
Minivan schedule from El Nido to Puerto Princesa
Klook also offers shared transfers between El Nido and Puerto Princesa for 600 PHP ($10.50) per person. Reviews for this activity are consistently 4 out of 5 stars, citing friendly staff.
Note that there are reviews about the lack of legroom and the van not leaving on time. Unfortunately, these are common occurrences when taking a van in the Philippines.
Read more details in our article about going from El Nido to Puerto Princesa.
Step 2: Puerto Princesa to Manila by Flight
The second leg of your trip is a flight from Puerto Princesa to Manila. AirAsia and Cebu Pacific are low-cost carriers operating this route. Philippine Airlines usually offers more expensive flights among the three.
Same as direct flights from El Nido to Manila, it takes 1.5 hours from Puerto Princesa to Manila.
Book your flight ticket in advance
Flights from Puerto Princesa to Manila are as cheap as 1,000 PHP ($18).
Note that flight fares get more expensive if you are booking shortly from the scheduled flight. Also, during peak seasons, ticket fares can get more costly and even sell out.
Aside from booking tickets during seat sales, booking your flight months in advance is the best way to avail cheap tickets for your trip. To find the cheapest available flights, we recommend checking Skyscanner.
Manila Airport
Flights from Puerto Princesa to Manila also land at Manila Airport in Pasay City. NAIA Terminal 2 is exclusive for Philippine Airlines flights.
Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia flights both land at Terminal 4. These two terminals are about 10 minutes away from each other.
TIP: Cebu Pacific and AirAsia offer many promotions annually. Keep an eye out for these promotions to book a cheaper flight for this route!
El Nido to Manila via San Vicente by Minivan and Flight
Aside from El Nido and Puerto Princesa, San Vicente has a small airport where you can take a flight to Manila. This town is located 2 to 3 hours away from El Nido, so travel time is shorter compared to taking a flight via Puerto Princesa.
San Vicente is a budding tourist destination in Palawan. You’ll find here the longest white sand beach in the Philippines, which makes for a good side trip opportunity before heading to Manila.
This option includes a 2-hour minivan ride from El Nido to San Vicente and a 1-hour-45-minute flight with Sunlight Air from San Vicente to Manila.
Step 1: El Nido to San Vicente by Minivan
Since San Vicente is a small town with only two flights a week at its airport, public transportation is not regularly available.
For this reason, Sunlight Air, the sole airline operating between San Vicente and Manila, offers minivan transfers for its passengers. Tickets cost 785 PHP ($14) one way, and you can book your seat through their Facebook page.
The minivan will pick you up from El Nido Terminal and drop you off at San Vicente Airport in time for your flight to Manila.
We suggest booking your seat with Sunlight Air, especially since the flight is early in the morning. If by public transportation, you will need to take a bus or a minivan to Roxas town or junction and then ride an e-tricycle (electric tuk-tuk) to San Vicente Airport.
Step 2: San Vicente to Manila by Flight
Sunlight Air offers flights between San Vicente and Manila twice a week. The flight departs San Vicente at 07:00 on Sundays and Thursdays.
Airfares start from 3,000 PHP ($54), but you can score cheaper tickets during seat sales.
It takes around 1 hour 45 minutes from San Vicente to Manila by flight.
Check Flights with Sunlight Air
El Nido to Manila by Ferry
Travelling by ferry from El Nido to Manila takes the longest. With the ferry options available, you’ll arrive in Manila after 1 to 1.5 days.
The shorter option is a 1-day direct ferry with Atienza Interisland Ferries from El Nido to Manila.
Alternatively, you can take an indirect ferry via Coron with 2Go Travel. This option requires a 4 to 5-hour ferry ride from El Nido to Coron and a 17 to 18-hour ferry ride from Coron to Manila, all in all taking about 1.5 days.
Departure and arrival station
The direct Atienza ferry departs from El Nido Ferry Terminal in the town centre. You will arrive at Baseco Port Area in Manila the day after.
With the indirect ferry option, you need to first take a ferry from El Nido Ferry Terminal to Coron Port. Here, you can take the 2GO Travel ferry to Manila North Harbour Pier 4.
Option 1: El Nido to Manila with Atienza Interisland Ferries
The sole company offering direct ferry trips from El Nido to Manila is Atienza Interisland Ferries with only one departure a week.
The ferry departs El Nido every Sunday at 10:00 and arrives at Manila at around 11:00 the day after. Both passengers and cargo are allowed on the ferry.
Economy class tickets cost 2,210 PHP ($40), while an air-con tourist class ticket costs 2,405 PHP ($0).
Since Atienza does not have a website for online booking, you need to buy your tickets at the port or from a local travel agency. You may also contact the numbers posted on their Facebook page.
Option 2: El Nido to Manila via Coron with 2Go Ferry
2Go Travel is one of the most famous ferry companies in the Philippines, so it is often travellers’ first choice for sea travel.
However, 2Go Travel doesn’t offer direct ferry trips from El Nido to Manila. Instead, you need to take a ferry from El Nido to Coron first and take the 2Go ferry from Coron to Manila.
Step 1: El Nido to Coron by Ferry
There are three fast ferry companies operating between El Nido and Coron.
The cheapest option is Montenegro Lines with daily trips at 12:00. Ferry tickets with Montenegro cost 2,820 PHP ($51).
Judy Ferry Travel and Atienza Interisland Ferries also operate ferry trips on this route. However, tickets are more expensive starting from 3,200 PHP ($58), and their ferry trips are only on select days.
Travel time is 4-5 hours, so you’ll arrive in Coron between 16:00 and 17:30.
For more information, you can visit our page on El Nido to Coron.
Step 2: Coron to Manila by Ferry
The 2Go ferry from Coron to Manila operates only on Mondays and Thursdays. Travel time takes 17 to 18 hours to Manila North Harbour with fares starting from 1,400 PHP ($25).
With the ferry schedules from El Nido to Coron and Coron to Manila, you might not make it in time for the 18:00 trip to Manila in case there are delays.
We suggest taking the 02:00 ferry trip on a Monday instead so that you’ll have enough time between your arrival in Coron and your departure to Manila.
Ferry schedule from Coron to Manila
Atienza Interisland Ferries also offers ferry trips from Coron to Manila every Wednesday and Saturday. The ferry also departs at 18:00, and travel time to Manila is much longer — about 24 hours.
Want more details? Read how to go from Coron to Manila.
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.
