How to get from El Nido to Puerto Princesa

Why visit Puerto Princesa?

Puerto Princesa is the capital of Palawan in the Philippines. A popular gateway to gorgeous destinations on the archipelago (like El Nido and Port Barton), travellers often skip a visit to Puerto Princesa.

If you’re just passing through, we recommend that you at least check out the interesting cuisine and cosy cafes in Puerto Princesa. But if you have extra time, why not also explore the iconic Underground River? It’s the longest subterranean river in the world! You can also visit Puerto Princesa’s white-sand beaches during the day and watch fireflies across the Nagsaguipi River at night.

There are 3 ways to travel the 260 kilometers (162 miles) from El Nido to Puerto Princesa. You can choose between the bus, minivan and private transport. The journey takes 5 hours to 7 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by minivan. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 545 PHP ($9.70).

The bus used to be the cheaper option when travelling from El Nido to Puerto Princesa. However, the arrival station is now 10 km away from the city centre, making for an expensive tricycle ride.

The expected travel time is almost the same as the minivan, but it can still get longer as buses make a lot of stops along the way to pick up and drop off passengers. Keep in mind too that the bus is not the most comfortable option for a long-distance ride.

Cherry Bus is currently the only bus company from El Nido to Puerto Princesa. You can choose to ride an economy, standard, or VIP bus with rates from 545 PHP ($9.70).

Departure station

All buses depart from El Nido Transport Terminal. You can buy your bus ticket directly at the terminal, but make sure that you arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. We suggest that you book your bus ride online in advance.

Most travellers opt to take the van from El Nido to Puerto Princesa even though it is more expensive than the bus. From my own experience, the van is the better option for this route. Because of its smaller size, you won’t be thrown from side to side with every turn.

The minivan ride takes about 5 hours to 5 hours 30 minutes with costs starting from 600 PHP ($10.70). The first trip is at 05:00, and there are multiple departures until 18:30.

Departure and arrival station

Minivans depart from El Nido Transport Terminal. In the El Nido downtown area, you can take a tricycle from your hotel to the transport terminal for 50 PHP ($0.90).

Fortwally and Eulen Joy Express both head to Puerto Princesa Airport, while Lexxus Shuttle arrives at San Jose Terminal. From this terminal, a 15-20 minute tricycle ride to the city centre costs 150 PHP ($2.70).

A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from El Nido to Puerto Princesa.

Rates start from 6,200 PHP ($110) for a 10-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about 625 PHP ($11.10) per person.

Private Transport options from El Nido to Puerto Princesa