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How To Get From El Nido to Puerto Princesa?
Puerto Princesa is the capital of Palawan Island in the Philippines and offers many attractions to travelers, including white-sand beaches, snorkeling and sun-bathing. One of the most popular tourist attractions is the Underground River Tour which is about one hour away from Puerto Princesa.
If you want to travel from El Nido to Puerto Princesa, you have two options. You can either take a bus (6 hours) or a van (5 hours). Costs will vary between 400-600 PHP ($8-$11.50).
Own experience: It was not very comfortable to sit 5 hours in a van and that’s why I wanted to try the bus on the way back from El Nido to Puerto. Unfortunately, this ride wasn’t better. Due to the narrow size of the road, you could feel every turn the bus had to make. The bus offers a bit more leg space than a van, but being swung from side to side wasn’t worth the extra leg space.
| Transport mode | Duration | Costs | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus | 6 hours | 400 PHP ($8) | Check bus tickets |
| Van | 5 hours | 600 PHP ($11.50 | Check van tickets |
View itinerary from El Nido to Puerto Princesa
El Nido to Puerto Princesa by Bus
Duration: 6 hours
Costs: 500 PHP ($9.50)
If you’re traveling from El Nido to Puerto Princesa, the cheapest means of travel is by bus. It may take a little longer, but it’s generally a good experience.
Cherry and Roro bus companies offer multiple trips daily between El Nido and Puerto Princesa. The fare for an air-conditioned bus is approximately 500 PHP ($9.50)while the fare for the non-air conditioned buses is about 400 PHP ($8). However, we recommend to pay 100 PHP ($1.90) and go for the air-conditioned bus.
You can pay for your bus ticket directly at the terminal or book your bus ride online at 12GoAsia.
| Bus Operator | Schedule | Duration | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Bus (Air Con) | 07:00-13:00 09:00-15:00 13:00-19:00 21:00-03:00 | 6h | 500 PHP ($9.50) |
| Cherry Bus (Non - Air Con) | 11:00-17:00 15:00-21:00 | 6h | 400 PHP ($8) |
| Roro Bus (Air Con) | 06:00-12:00 10:00-16:00 14:00-20:00 18:00-00:00 22:00-04:00 | 6h | 500 PHP ($9.50) |
| Roro Bus (Non - Air Con) | 04:00-10:00 08:00-14:00 12:00-18:00 16:00-22:00 20:00-02:00 | 6h | 400 PHP ($8) |
Cherry Bus: This company provides a standard bus service which many travelers, including the locals, seem to prefer.
Roro Bus: This company provides a standard bus service for most routes along Palawan Island.
Buses depart from the Corong-Corong Bus Terminal, with the last stop being the San Jose Bus Terminal, about 6km from the town center. You may need to take local transportation to get to the town center. The local transport fare will depend on the distance you are traveling, but you can expect to pay approximately 80PHP -100 PHP ($1.60-$1.90). A tricycle ride to the airport costs 120 PHP ($2.20).
El Nido to Puerto Princesa by Van
Duration: 5 hours
Costs: 600 PHP ($11.50)
Most travelers opt to take the van for this route because it is faster than the bus. Buses offer a bit more leg space, but from my own experience, the van is a better option when travelling between El Nido to Puerto Princesa. It’s slightly faster and thanks to the smaller size of the van, compared to buses, you won’t be swinged from side to side with every turn.
Vans depart from the El Nido Transport or Bus Terminal and the last stop is at Puerto Princesa Airport. If you wish to get off along the way, you can simply inform the driver in advance.
Vans depart as early as 05:00 and as late as 18:00, although they do not always follow a strict schedule. Expect to pay 600 PHP ($11.50) to 860 PHP ($16.50) for the van ticket.
| Van Operator | Schedule | Duration | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diskubre Transport | 05:00-11:00 06:00-12:00 07:00-13:00 08:00-14:00 09:00-15:00 10:00-16:00 11:00-17:00 12:30-18:30 18:00-00:00 | 6h | 600 PHP ($11.50) |
| Fortwally | 05:00-11:00 07:00-13:00 09:00-15:00 11:00-17:00 13:00-19:00 16:00-22:00 18:00-00:00 | 6h | 650 PHP ($12.50) + free pick-up |
| Eulen Joy Express | 05:00-10:00 07:00-12:00 09:00-14:00 10:30-15:30 13:00-18:00 16:30-21:30 18:00-00:00 | 5h | 860 PHP ($16.50) |
If you are traveling in a big group, there is also an option for you to book an entire van online. Another option is to contact DayTripper and Lexxus Shuttle if the vans from the option below are already fully booked.
Tip: The van is the most preferred mode of transport in Palawan. Seats can fill up quickly, so always try to book your van at least 1 day in advance!