PALAWAN | Coron vs. El Nido vs. Puerto Princesa
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
I have been to Coron twice, El Nido once, and Puerto Princesa thrice. So okay, I think I bit much more than I can chew, promising an answer to the never ending Coron versus El Nido debate. Still unresolved between the two, I decided to complicate matters further by adding Puerto Princesa in the mix.
To have a more objective output, I’ll dissect each destination in categories and rate each one based on my experience. I’ll grade each destination from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the highest, then add everything at the end of the post.
Alright, now that I have my disclaimer in bold, let’s get it on!
EASE OF ACCESS
Busuanga is about an hour away by any major airlines in Manila. From the airport, rented vans will take guests directly to the town. Coron can also be accessed by an overnight route via ferries.
No direct flight from Manila. One has to fly to Puerto Princesa and board a five to six hour bus/van ride to El Nido. Ferries are also available from Coron and Puerto Princesa at premium prices.
The easiest of the three, it has a direct flight from Manila and other parts of the country. You’ll land directly at the city. Hop on a tricycle and you’re at your lodging of choice in a few minutes time.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The town has a lot of low to middle end accommodations with a relatively few high end hotels. The ones I stayed in during my two excursions to Coron were pretty average; although there were some more than decent places at reasonable prices. The only downside in Coron is that there are no beachfront resorts in town.
Most people associate El Nido with five-figure resort rates, but there are so many other options in town. The cheapest one I saw with a very nice interior and a beach front location only goes for P500.00 a night. And yes, most resorts are fronting the beach.
There are lots of reasonably-priced inns and hotels in the city. You’ll have a grand time choosing; only problem is that they’re all in the city. No beachside resorts for you unless you can spend top dough at Dos Palmas.
ISLAND TOURS
Coron offers three island tours; the Coron Island Tour, the Malcapuya Loop and the Culion Tour. The first two are excellent for beach and snorkeling activities, while the last is more of a historical tour.
The town boasts of four island tours, generically named Tour A, B, C, and D. I have tried only the first three, but each one is excellent both for beach lovers and underwater addicts. Hidden coves and beaches add plus points for the tours.
The city has two island tours; the Honda Bay tour and the Dos Palmas Island Day Tour. The first is an average island hopping adventure while the latter is a more luxurious island beach trip complete with an excellent buffet lunch.
OTHER TOURS
In Calauit, one can join a safari to a game park, a rare treat in the country. One can also do some hiking up Mt. Tapyas in town or ride a kayaking adventure through mangroves, trek Mount Lunes Santo and join a starry night tour at Kingfisher Park. At the end of the day, one can relax at Coron’s famed saltwater hot spring in Maquinit. The last time I was in town, they were readying a zipline from Mt. Tapyas all the way down to the seaside boulevard.
An hour away from town, one can enjoy a never-ending stretch of white sand in Calitang. Just near the area, one can dip in its own Makinit Hot Springs and trek a waterfalls on the way back. One can also relax in the quiet beach of Coron Corong which is just a few minutes away by tricycle from town. For the more adventurous ones, there is the Taraw Peak for their climbing pleasure.
One cannot miss the world famous Underground River tour when in Puerto Princesa. While there, rock climbing enthusiasts can also try the Ugong Rock challenge and beach bummers would have a fine time on their way back at Sabang Beach. While in the city, one can hire a tricycle and do an interesting city tour and check out the sunset at the baywalk. A firefly tour of the mangroves is also available during night time.
FOOD & RESTAURANTS
The town has a few aces up its sleeves besides the usual carinderias lining its streets. We were able to try both the expensive and cheap ones and found a few gems from the restaurants. Although you can buy fresh and affordable seafood from the nearby market, I’m not sure if there are lodgings that will allow you to cook.
Expensive restaurants line up the beach in El Nido. There were a few exceptional ones, but most were very average. For more affordable dishes, one can head into the streets where a lot of carinderias offer excellent price per dish. One can buy seafood from the vendors in the beach or the nearby market and have it cooked at the place you’re staying (they allow it at least from where we were staying in Corong Corong).
The city has everything; expensive restaurants, café, fastfood joints, carenderias and all kinds of street food. From restaurants offering exotic local delicacies to regular yum burgers, foodies would have a field day at the city.
UNDERWATER LIFE
The corals are alive and abundant and the fishes are so numerous they’ll block your camera while shooting your snorkeling buddies. But besides its teeming underwater life, what Coron is really famous for is its array of World War II sunken vessels dotting its seabed. Divers from all over flock the town just for these sights.
There are some sites teeming with fishes and some without. Some places are replete with live corals while there were a few with lots of dead ones. Underwater life in El Nido’s good, but not as excellent as in Coron. According to our boatman, it may take a few more decades to repair its damaged seabed from destructive fishing practices of foregone years.
There are very limited diving and snorkeling sites in the island tours being offered at Honda Bay. The waters near Dos Palmas is a littler better but even though I saw a few schools of fishes, they really don’t compare to Coron and El Nido.
BEACH LIFE
The town has almost no beach. To enjoy the sand, one must ride a boat to the islands. Malcapuya Island has one of the nicest in the area, but the nearby Banol Beach is pretty good too. The sand in the area is cream-colored and very fine.
From the town itself, one can instantaneously enjoy the beach although it can get pretty crowded with the boats and all. It’s better to go all the way out to the islands to really dig in the sand, most have really nice coves where one can just soak in the sun. But the best beach can be found in Calitang, where a long stretch of fine creamy sand awaits those who can endure its long rocky journey.
There are also almost no beach properties in town but the island tours provide the necessary beach action. All three islands along Honda Bay have very nice beaches with the expensive Dos Palmas resort topping the list. En route to the Underground River, one can also enjoy a cool dip along the long shoreline of Sabang Beach.
VIEW & SCENERY
The ride from Busuanga to Coron shows velvet-like hills covered with verdant grass reminiscent of Batanes’ famous hills. The giant Coron Island is where most of the karsts and coves are while the Malcapuya loop on the provides the beach sceneries.
Everywhere you look, you’ll see breathtaking limestone walls; there are a total of 45 of these rocky islands that dot the waters of El Nido. There are beautiful caves one can crawl in and the astoundingly beautiful beaches where one can swim and relax.
There’s not much to see in the city besides the baywalk and the Neo-Gothic Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Karsts formations start to soar once you visit the Underground River though and the famous cave is of course a sight to behold. The long stretch of beach in Sabang is also beautiful.
OVERALL TOWN VIBE
I like how laid back and easy the town of Coron is. I frequently walk along its street to visit the baywalk; checking souvenir stores and munching on street food being offered on sidewalks along the way.
It’s almost the same as Coron, only instead of a baywalk, they actually have a beach. I love hanging out early in the morning in Corong Corong just to see the sky change from black to blue. I also love watching kids play along the beach and I adore the very friendly dogs of El Nido.
Except for their beautiful baywalk, I really didn’t enjoy walking around Puerto Princesa that much. The city is too big and is just too urbanized for my taste.
THE VERDICT
All the scores I gave where from the gut. Sometimes I’d redo a rating ,but most were spot on to what I felt when I stayed there. So, without further ado, let’s tally the scores and see who comes on top.
So alright, El Nido it is! I have an inkling it might be Coron or El Nido but truth to tell, I’m not really sure which would top the list up ‘til the end. And even if everything’s all tallied up, I’m still unsure which my favorite is; is it still Coron, or is it now El Nido. It’s just so hard to say for sure.
But again this is only from my own perspective. Some might bash my head for doing this as they might argue the other two’s better, I’d say just create your own comparison and I’d be interested in seeing it from your point of view too.
I’m also interested with your reaction, did my scores jive with yours or did it totally went the opposite way? I’d love to hear your opinion on the three top destinations in Palawan.
132 comments
Excellent post, Christian! :)
ReplyDeleteEXCELLENT analysis!!! But what about somebody who is going to move there with kids???
DeleteFor those moving to Palawan with kids, if you want a somewhat city setting with the conveniences of malls, Puerto Princesa is the best. For a more provincial setting, you can choose between Coron and El Nido
DeleteI haven't really explored Puerto Princessa, but as I've read everywhere else, there's really not much in the city itself. While Coron is lovely, El Nido wins for me too!
ReplyDeleteGreat comparison, I am actually torn between El Nido and Coron. I love the corals (and possible diving in the future) in Coron, everything else, its El Nido. Puerto Princesa for easy access and also a gateway to Southern parts and other mostly unexplored parts of Palawan.
ReplyDeleteEl Nido for me too! beach life, underwater scene [especially for someone who finds joy in shallow waters]: 5 stars [hehe].
ReplyDeletewell coron's underwater scene is equally beautiful [hello malcapuya!]. but coron doesn't have beachfront resorts.
for ukay finds, PPS shempre :>
this is very handy bro! planning on doing a trip and those 3 are top choices :D
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely take any or all of them anytime :D
ReplyDeleteel nido it is, then! will go before the month ends!
ReplyDeletelet's go el nido. :] i'll take your word for it. ehehehe
ReplyDeletethey all look very tropical, like perfect honeymoon destinations. or, maybe shoot films there.
ReplyDeletevery nice. i totally agree with this. spot on!
ReplyDeleteReally nice and detailed comparison Xtian! :D
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for my bday El Nido trip naaaa.
Would've liked to know how many gwapo foreigner tourists are in each place though. Hahahaha!
Ang galing mo talaga sir christian!!! :)
ReplyDeletePunta kami El Nido this october and this post made me more excited :)
Definitely El Nido. Great comparison!
ReplyDeleteAng galing ng comparison mo Christian! I have only been to Palawan(quickie) and El Nido during a very stormy weather but I would wanna go back there on a sunny weather! :)
ReplyDeletekelangan mapuntahan to lahat! :D beautiful review :)
ReplyDeleteI like this post. Nabigyan ako ng idea about what to expect. So far, we've only been to Coron, but we're looking into going to El Nido and Puerto Princesa next year. From your point of view, are these destinations kid friendly? We're thinking of bringing our toddler and infant with us when we go.
ReplyDeletekinarir! wow!
ReplyDeletegreat comparison.
I was thinking of doing the same thing pero gusto ko isama ang Cuyo Island..
So until I get there, hold lang xa muna.
But sa tatlo, I go for El Nido anytime..
I soo beach bum!
Given the opportunity, I'd stay in all three spots in Palawan. :D
ReplyDeleteVery nifty comparison, Christian. I've only been to Puerto Princesa so your review of El Nido and Coron is very handy. And oh, the photos that go along in each item... just great!
ReplyDeletewhew! soooooper dooooper! hameyzing :) photos 10/10, content 10/10 = overall: awesome :)
ReplyDeleteKmusta ang El Nido trip mo? hehe ganda talaga ng Palawan :D
ReplyDeleteAng galing! Thank you for this mini "guide". By the way, I saw one of your comments over at Pinoy Adventurista's blog re your planned trip to Biri in NOrthern Samar. You must simply go! My family is from Samar and I have spent all the summers of my childhood there. Kahit anong time of year ata sa biri, maalon (except summer) so that shouldn't hinder you from going there. I was there August 2011 (sadly hindi ko pa rin nabblog but I will soon!) and the waves were quite huge going to the island but it was simply worth it! :) The rock formations were awesome. I look forward to your Samar posts and if you need help in arranging anything or have questions, just let me know :)
ReplyDeleteang husay naman nito sir christian! i have yet to discover el nido and maybe after then i can do such thing - yun eh kung "mai-compare" ko nga talaga:)
ReplyDeleteShekinaharmenta
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
Nina
PPS has the UG River tour and Firefly tour, kaya I rated its other tour high on my list :)
Marky Ramone Go
I'm thinking of checking out brooke's point, something na parang di nafea-feature sa Palawan :)
Anny
Haha nakalimutan ko include yung ukay :P
Romz
Naks, book na!
Andrew Mamangun
Actually, me too :)
Lakbay Philippines
Wow kasama mo sina Robbie? :)
Whacky Adventures
Haha okay
Fifileigh
They were actually shooting a film on one of the islands :)
Glenn Mendoza
Haha thanks bro
Robbie
Di ko nabilang the gwapo tourists eh, pero yung gwapa tourists nabilang ko :D
Byron
Have a safe trip! Sana di kayo ulanin like us :P
Killerfillers
Babalik na nga ulit kami this March :)
Elal Jane Lasola
Kami din sana sunny na pagbalik namin sa March
Adventurousfeet
Tama Ca!
Coffee With Kim
Hmm medyo hindi sya toddler friendly eh, puro island hopping kasi
Francis Balgos
Nice! Hintayin ko yang Cuyo Island na yan
Markpogi
Haha oo naman, me too
Ryan Mach
I suggest that you do Coron first before going to El Nido :)
Sendo
Thank you :)
Micamyx
Superb Micah :)
The Sunset Goddess
Di naman kaya kami tumaob? Will be going there early October :)
Blissfulguro
Haha ang hirap magcompare ma'am :)
IloveCORON! El Nido is yet to come (hopefully). I thought, you will choose Coron over the latter. Well, the result says it all. Nice comparison, fairly enough.
ReplyDeleteWow! Very nice post! I could attest to this na sana, if our El Nido trip was not cancelled this year. Oh well, there's always next time! PS: I miss dropping by in your blog! :D
ReplyDeleteMitch
ReplyDeleteHaha I guess the scores says it all nga :)
Tina
Sayang naman! Bat na cancel naman? :P
Great comparison. Walang bahid ng paninirang puri. chos! hahaha! But I still love Coron. Hihihi! Hindi kasi ako masyadong beach person. Gusto ko yung mga underwater chenes. hihihi! Pero I do love El nido. Babalik ako dun sa tinirhan ko sa Calitang next year. hihihi! Ninang daw ako ng baby nila e. ^_^
ReplyDeletethere is a direst flight from manila to el nido..mahal nga lang sya..if via puerto you can choose from ordinary and air conditioned bus, shuttle van. trip schedule is from 5am first trip and 10pm ang last trip..
ReplyDeletedude! excellent post! concise & straight to the point, just the way i like it.. having great images too helped a lot.. :D
ReplyDeleteKura
ReplyDeleteWow ang swerte naman! Pwede ba kaming maki gatecrash sa Calitang? :)
Anonymous
Yup, Seair flies directly to El Nido but I really don't find it practical kaya di ko na sya sinama :)
Rian
No problem Rian, but note that all three are great places to visit on their own too :)
I love this blog, I truly appreciate your effort for sharing the beautiful scenery in Palawan. May I ask a favor to share to your readers to sign up for a petition to stop the coal plant in Palawan, the proposal is in Rasa Island, the home of Philippine cockatoo. I am working with the environmental NGO few years ago with the group Katala Foundation. Although the coal plant is in Southern part of Palawan, it will affect the ecosystem and the pristine waters of the whole island. 30seconds to sign up the petition is what we need, protect Palawan! http://www.change.org/petitions/palawan-council-for-sustainable-development-stop-the-coal-plant-near-rasa-island-wildlife-sanctuary
ReplyDeleteSigned, Margie
DeleteHi, there are new island tour beaches in Coron not mentioned in your analysis. The lusong gunboat - coral garden and pass island loop and the black island - calauit loop. please don't forget to include wreck diving. 50 % of the beauty of Coron are the scenery and rich marine life and the other 50% are the numerous shipwrecks for avid divers. There are also new high end hotels like corto del mar, Asia grand hotel, sophia's garden resort and Coron west town hotel.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the info! I'll try and include those after I probably get back to Coron and experience them in real life :)
DeleteI was in El Nido last Sunday.
ReplyDeleteHow can I describe the place? It's indescribable!
I never thought I would see such wonder in our country.
I guess I would have to travel more often to appreciate our own natural wonders.
We stayed in Miniloc Island Resort for 3D2N and it was probably one of the best 3 days of my life.
The resort was awesome and the staffs were really friendly and accommodating.
From raincoats, life jackets and towels aboard their banca upon arrival, to packed breakfast and touching goodbyes when we left, they truly gave me a one-of-a-kind experience.
I will never forget you Miniloc!
Island hopping was one of the best parts and the Big Lagoon is a paradise scenery.
Many animals can also be found in the vicinity.
I saw monkeys, hornbills, eagles and many species of birds on the trees.
Not to mention the different kinds of fishes along the coral reefs.
But the best of all, I swam with jack fishes, more than a meter long fishes, and I was really scared at first but managed to control my fear after a few minutes swimming with them.
I've been to few places in our country and so far this El Nido is the best on my list.
More places to visit, for sure.
Coron should be next.
Thanks for this review!
Wow you stayed at Miniloc Island! I can only dream of staying there, sobrang di kasya sa budget ko :)
DeleteI have a booked flight to Puerto Princesa next year. Thanks for helping me decide Christian. It's definitely El Nido for me!
ReplyDeleteNo problem Earl! Enjoy El Nido! :)
Deletethis article is a big help for those undecided ppl! El Nido here we coooooooooome! thank you so much for writing this article! such a big help! ^_^
ReplyDeleteGlad you find it useful! :)
DeleteWow, I love the comparison, Christian! This is really helpful for everyone who are deciding and debating where to go. I've been to Puerto Princesa, took the Honda Bay tour and the Underground River. Honda Bay tour was nice and relaxing and snorkeling was fun, although yes you're right, I didn't see the beautiful colors of coral reefs that I was looking for. Underground River was about 2 hrs in a van, a little disorganized and a lot of waiting around. What I love about Puerto Princesa is the laid back atmosphere and most of all, I can't wait to go back to their restaurant row on Rizal st, to name a couple...outdoor Kinabuchs Grill & Bar, & Ugong Rock! Awesome! I have read and always wanted to go to El Nido. It just looks amazing!!!! This April, I am going there, although I only have a couple of days but that's okay, I can always go back again another time =) Thank you so much for all the info., I sure do agree with you, El Nido is in a class of its own and I can't wait!!
ReplyDeleteLina
Hi Lina! I always tell Palawan first timers to visit Puerto Princesa first since Coron and El Nido is so mind blowing :)
DeleteThank you for this wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteI hope I can visit one of these three beautiful places this year.
Mr. Umbz, you should visit Palawan! You can't go wrong with either coron, puerto princesa or el nido :)
DeleteVery good and informative blog!! :) We are travelling to Puerto Princesa and thinking if we can squeeze in a trip to El Nido or Coron, I realized it would be very time consuming if we travel by land from Puerto Princesa to Coron but we are thinking, the travel and accomodation in El Nido might be too costly. Didn't think there are cheap hotels in El Nido. Thanks for posting this :)
ReplyDeleteHi Bennet, it isn't true that accomodations in El Nido are costly. There are a lot of budget inns and resorts that caters even to the most budget-conscious traveler :)
DeleteHey this post is awesome made me decide on where to go in palawan. So where did you really stay in el nido and how much was the cost of the trip, you didn't post a travel summary and itinerary like the one in coron. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteHi Michael, I stayed in Corong Corong on my first trip and somewhere along the town on my second one. Wait for my El Nido posts, I'll also do a guide once its up. :)
Deletehi christian, this post is really a great help for me, may i ask if how long is the travel via van from coron to puerto prinsesa and how much it cost for the rent, thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Em, there are no vans going from Coron to Puerto Princesa since Coron is a separate island from the rest of mainland Palawan. You can however ride a ferry, which plies the area once a week :)
DeleteAwesome review!
ReplyDeleteI wanna ask something, where'd you exactly stay in corong corong? Ithere are so many resort there, plan to go to the resort you visit, thinking its a good choice too.
Thanks.
We stayed at the Double Gem Coron Corong, great spot, within easy reach of El Nido town by Tricycle, heading away from Corong Corong by Tricycle, there is an amazing beach called Las Cabanas beach, a bar with nice food and pristine beach and looking towrds El Nido town views. We loved El Nido, stay out of the water in El Nido town its polluted with diesel and you can smell it. The Art Cafe is a great spot for music, beer and food also try the mid-town bakery, a little bakery that produces and sells lovely fresh bread and cakes.
DeleteSo if anyone has any suggestions where else we could visit, we will only have 2 weeks left, willing to fly.
Safe travels
Fraz
Hi there, we stayed at Telesfora Beach Cottages in Corong Corong :)
DeleteFraz, have you been to Siquijor in the Visayas? You should visit there! :)
DeleteGreat review. Awesome pics
ReplyDeleteI originally had PP as my destination. you've convinced me to add El Nido as well
Where did you stay in PP and El Nido?
Peter
While in Puerto Princesa, I stayed at a backpacker hostel called Banwa Pension, in El Nido, we stayed at Telesfora Beach Cottages and Hadefe Cottages :)
DeleteBy far, the best review i have ever read... Great points! planning to do my 3 day trip El Nido, I'm so 2015...
ReplyDeletesana you could give more update in here... TY>
Hi Duffy, most of everything still holds true today, but sure I will update this sometime in the near future :)
DeleteThis is very informative! Excellent job! :) I haven't been to Palawan. I can't wait to visit this paradise. I bet this is gonna be an awesome adventure, far better than what I have experienced in Cancun and Caribbean islands. Thank you!:)
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to Cancun or the Caribbean so I really don't know haha. It would be nice to hear your view about Palawan :)
DeleteHow many days do you recommend to explore El Nido? :) We'll book a ticket to Puerto Prinsesa from MNL.
ReplyDeleteFive days would be enough for El Nido, but of course, extending to a week would be better :)
Deletegreat post! i just want to ask which would be the best choice for senior citizens? want to take my parents to palawan this october (and, is october a good time to go?) thank you!
ReplyDeleteFor the elderly, Puerto Princesa would be my choice. It is the tamest of the three and the easiest to reach from Manila :)
DeleteI am planning for my trip in June, but I have problem finding a resort that is not fully booked. I went through booking.com, hotel.com, expedia and the rest but all decent resorts are booked. Is there another way where I could find hotels?
ReplyDeleteWhere are you going exactly? Maybe you can compromise and get a lesser resort?
DeleteMy friend and I are planning to visit Palawan for the first time. Hindi ko alam na nakaka-lito pala ang pag bisita dto, lalo na wala masyadong nag ba-blog about the "HOW TO GO TO PALAWAN" T___T maraming salamat po sa post, naka tulong po ng marami :) have a nice day
ReplyDeleteNo problem Sheen, hope you enjoy your Palawan tour! So where did you decide to go among its three spots? :)
DeleteHi, Christian. Thanks for your very informative blog. My friends and I are planning to visit Palawan next year. Three of them are balikbayans and of course want to maximize their vacation. How long do you suggest we stay in each place - Coron, El Nido and Puerto Princesa?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Allesi
For a complete tour of each location, here's my advice; Coron, about 4 days. Puerto Princesa, 3 days. El Nido, 5 days. :)
DeleteExcellent information El Nido it is! Just wandering if you anyone can give us budget tips or how much would be the estimated for the destination just a ballpark will do.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
John
Hi John, during my last trip to El Nido, I spent about PHP 5,000 for five days, inclusive of everything.
DeleteI thought you fav most Coron! I love how u described it. I think I am going to Coron! And stop by ElNido along the way ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi Salie, to be honest, I'm torn between Coron and El Nido :P
DeleteI will be in Palawan next year! Feb 11-14,2017. Feeling ko I'll be on suicide since I'll be going there alone. On a Valentine's week. Hope to have some companion there! Thanks for this blog! I'll stay in Puerto Prinsesa for a day tour in Honda Bay, the rest will be El Nido! :D
ReplyDeleteHaha, Palawan is solo traveler friendly, no need to worry :)
DeleteBest guide ever, been looking for a week for a post this good. Brings area to life, 1000 times better than lonely planet. GREAT JOB
ReplyDeleteThank you! Enjoy Palawan :)
DeleteHey Christian Sangoyo.
ReplyDeleteI've decided to go to PP, stay a couple of days, then head up to El Nido for remaining 4 days...get two out of the 3 experiences. Will save Coron for to do on its own when I get good at the underwater snorkeling/scuba diving. That way, I can experience Coron to its fullest and for what it is known for.
Great work bro.
Ross
Good plan! After those, you can also do Balabac, Port Barton and San Vicente :)
DeleteHi! Your blog's very informative. Thank you very much for this blog post :) However, I was wondering what resort offers 500/ night in El Nido and do you have a contact with them? Thank you very much! -Xanne
ReplyDeleteHi Roxanne, you may check Agoda for that :)
Deletehttp://www.agoda.com/?cid=1649989
hi Christian,
ReplyDeleteam torn between el nido and coron... but i guess these sums it all, for now el nido first. planning to go there summer of 2017 with my family. great info, thanks. what resort/hotel will you recommend in el nido?
There are a lot hotels in El Nido, you can browse and book them from here
Deletehttp://www.agoda.com/city/el-nido-ph.html?cid=1649989
this is great information in advance...our company is planning to have an outing March of 2017 with this i can suggest now El Nido instead of Puerto Princesa.
ReplyDeleteWell, you can actually do Puerto Princesa and El Nido in one go, if you have at least five days to spare. Make sure to do PPS first just so you won't get disappointed with it. :)
DeleteGreat advice. My family (me, my husband, 2 kids- 8 and 2 years old) have 6 days in total. We intend to spend 3 days in Coron then go to El Nido by ferry and then fly back to Manila. Is it too tired for the 3 year-old kid? Do you have any suggestion? Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Mai, that might be too tiring. My advise would be to simply spend a day or two in Puerto Princesa and do the island tour and underground river tour (since that's where you'd be flying to) and spend the rest of your vacation in El Nido. :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks Christian. I will not fly to Puerto Princesa. I already booked fly from Manila to Coron, but not yet book return flight because I intend to stay in Coron 3 days, then take ferry to Elnido, stay there 2 days then fly back to Manila. Im not sure about the ferry, is it suitable for childen. Do you think 6 days in Coron maybe too long?
DeleteHi Mai, 6 days in Coron is a day too long. 5 days would be enough, as for the ferry to El Nido, I really haven't tried it yet, but I assume it would be okay for kids
DeleteWhich is better and nearer? puerto princesa airport or coron (Busuanga) to El Nido? Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteHi Gladys, the airport at Puerto Princesa is nearer to El Nido :)
DeleteHi. I wanted to visit the lagoon the one with the dark waters and my parang bundok sa globe commercial ni solenn. where is it located? Considering na 7 wonders ung underground is it okay if I miss it and go to the lagoon instead? thanks:D
ReplyDeleteI think that is in Coron. Coron and Puerto Princesa, where the Underground River is located has two different airports. :)
DeleteHi, may I ask about the hotel you saw in El Nido for 500/night? What was the name of the hotel? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Dielleacosta, I can't remember the name of the resort, but I think I saw that in Corong-Corong part of El Nido :)
DeleteGreetings Sir! Can I ask what camera and lens are you using? Thank you in advance for the reply
ReplyDeleteHi, I use a Tokina 11-16mm and a Nikkor 16-85mm lens most of the time :)
DeleteHi Christian, may ask if you know about the Seair flights? I read something about it that they have flights from El nido to busuanga? :)
ReplyDeleteHi Rain, unfortunately Seair is now for chartered flights only. For more info on going from El Nido to Busuanga, check this out: Coron Travel Guide
DeleteMy relatives are from Busuanga and Coron, but I do agree with the scores. El Nido wins!
ReplyDeleteHi Yanna, I agree too, although Coron and El Nido is really almost at par with each other when it comes to beauty :)
DeleteThanks for posting this!! Going to El nido in April but Im not too sure where to stay in el nido. Do you recommend staying in corong corong over the main area of el nido?
ReplyDeleteFor me, Corong Corong over El Nido town, definitely
DeleteVery helpful to idol. Nag-iisip ako ngayon eh haha!
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha. My tip, unahin mo pps, then coron, then el nido. That way, di ka madi disappoint
DeleteThings have improved already especially in Coron. What I love there is the ease of transpo and travel time. It's much peaceful as well compared to El Nido, but El Nido is a bit bigger. So I'd say they're neck to neck now.
ReplyDeleteHear, hear :)
DeleteHi, Sir Christian! Which do you think is best for a family trip? My child will be 1yr and 8 months old on September (our planned date), so I'm wondering which of the three is best if you have a little one with you. Thanks in advance!
ReplyDeletePuerto Pricesa is the most child-friendly of the three :)
DeleteOkay! Was hoping you'd say El NIdo, hahaha. But thank you so much! We'll consider your advice and will definitely read more from your blog. Daghang salamat!
ReplyDeleteHaha, if you go for El Nido, you still need to ride a five-hour van or bus from pps, and that might be too stressful for your child :)
Deletewell done sir,thank you for sharing to us.
ReplyDeleteWelcome! Which one did you choose in Palawan? :)
DeleteHello where did u stayed in el nido?
ReplyDeleteWe stayed at the Corong Corong part of El Nido, much quieter than the beach area in El Nido Town. :)
DeleteI've always planned for a trip to Palawan. Always confused though, where to go first. Based on your comparison, it would be Coron for me, since I don't like long trips (6 hour bus ride to El Nido). Maybe if I had more time, or if there comes a shorter route, I can venture to El Nido. Thank you for your article, it helped me to decide the where, now if I can only schedule the when.
ReplyDeleteWelcome! Enjoy your Coron trip! :)
DeleteThanks you so much, you gave me all what I needed to know with special mention to the score table. I'd choose el nido..
ReplyDeleteEnjoy El Nido! But if you're planning to go to all three, I suggest you start with Puerto Princesa first. :)
DeleteHello we’re planning to visit el nido and coron this coming July, can you please give me a website or travel agencies where we can get a great and affordable tour package? Thank you so much
ReplyDeleteHi Mylez, for tours in El Nido and Puerto Princesa, you may contact Northern Hope tours at these numbers +63 (939) 902-2216, +63 (927) 735-3221, +63 (942) 375-2441
DeleteWe have 2 kids and they love beaches, and snorkeling. Kids are 14 and 17. Where would you suggest they will enjoy between coron and el nido. And are they doable to be visited if we have 1 week in palawan? And how far are they from the main airport of Palawan? Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteFor me, El Nido would be best, although Coron wins when it comes to snorkeling. El Nido is accessed via Puerto Princesa airport, about five hours away by van, and Coron is accessed via Busuanga airport which is an hour away by van.
DeleteI wish I could go to El Nido <3
ReplyDeleteNow that the pandemic's over, it's now the perfect time to go to El Nido!
DeleteGandaaaaaa talaga
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Whether its PPS or El Nido or Coron, you can't go wrong with Palawan. And there are other places too like Balabac, San Vicente, and Port Barton :)
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