Palawan beaches split into two kinds: long sweeps of sand you can drive to, and small coves on islands that only boats reach. This guide sorts the best-known ones around El Nido, Port Barton, San Vicente, Coron and Puerto Princesa by how you get there, what they are like and when to go, so you can mix free beach days with paid island-hopping tours.
El Nido town has its own beach on Bacuit Bay, but it is a working shoreline lined with bars and tour boats rather than a place to swim. For a beach day, head out of town. About 5 km (3 miles) south, Marimegmeg and its continuation, Las Cabanas, are El Nido's sunset beaches, with bars on the sand, kayaks and snorkel gear for rent, and the small island of Depeldet just offshore, which you can walk to at low tide. Corong-Corong, between the two, is the place to rent a kayak for the bay.
North of town, Nacpan Beach is the long, golden sweep that many travelers rate as El Nido's best beach. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour by tricycle or scooter, the last part on a bumpy road, and has a handful of beach restaurants but plenty of empty sand. It is a good choice on a day when the sea is too rough for boat tours, since it is reached by land.
The small white-sand coves of the Bacuit archipelago are reached by boat, usually as stops on the El Nido island hopping tours. Seven Commando Beach, a short strip of sand under palms and cliffs, is a regular stop on Tour A together with the Big Lagoon, and strong paddlers sometimes kayak there from Corong-Corong in calm weather. Tour C adds Helicopter Island and the tucked-away Secret and Hidden beaches, and Tour B passes Snake Island's curving sandbar.
These beaches are small and every boat arrives at roughly the same time, so expect company from late morning to mid-afternoon in the dry season. A private boat that starts early or reverses the usual order of stops is the simplest way to find space. Do not take shells, sand or coral from any of them.
Port Barton, halfway between Puerto Princesa and El Nido, has a quiet village beach and better ones nearby. White Beach is reached by boat or, in calm water, by kayak in about 40 minutes; Coconut Beach is a walk of under an hour along the shore and a forest path. German Island, a small island offshore, is a standard stop on Port Barton's island-hopping tours, which also visit coral reefs and Turtle Bay. Small entrance fees are collected at several of these beaches.
North of Port Barton in the same municipality, Long Beach runs for about 14.7 km (9 miles), often described as the longest white-sand beach in the Philippines. It is reached by road from San Vicente town, has only scattered resorts so far and is the national tourism zone authority's first flagship development area, so expect some construction over the coming years.
Coron town has no real swimming beach, and its main sights are lakes, lagoons and wrecks rather than sand; see Coron island hopping tours for the classic routes. For beaches, the usual choice is a full-day boat tour south toward Culion that combines Malcapuya, Banana Island (also called Dicalabuan) and Bulog Dos, whose sandbar appears at low tide. By traditional bangka the ride to Malcapuya takes up to about two hours each way, depending on the sea and the boat.
Because the tour crosses open water, it is the first to be canceled when the wind picks up, so book it early in your stay. Bring cash for the island entrance fees, which are paid on landing, along with water, snacks and shade, as there is little of it on the sand. Combine it with Kayangan Lake on another day rather than trying to fit everything into one.
Puerto Princesa city faces a sheltered bay on the east coast and is not a beach destination in itself. The easiest beach day is Honda Bay, where boats from the city visit small islands with sand, snorkeling and lunch huts. On the west coast, the village of Sabang near the Underground River has a long beach for a swim after the cave tour.
If beaches are your priority, plan most of your nights in El Nido, Port Barton or San Vicente and treat Puerto Princesa as the gateway; our where to stay guide compares the bases.
Beaches are at their best from January to May, when the sea is calm and clear and boat tours run almost every day; from June to October the southwest monsoon can bring swells, rougher water and poorer visibility, especially on the west coast. Our Palawan weather guide explains the seasons. Midday sun is intense on open sand, so bring a hat, water and a rash guard.
Use reef-safe sunscreen, do not stand on coral when you snorkel off a beach, and carry your trash back to town, as many islands have no collection. Feeding fish, chasing turtles and buying shell souvenirs all harm the reefs that make these beaches worth the trip.
It depends on the base: Nacpan is El Nido's favorite beach reachable by road, Seven Commando and the Bacuit coves are the best by boat, and Long Beach in San Vicente is the longest.
Yes, but it is busy with boats and bars and not ideal for swimming. Marimegmeg and Las Cabanas, about 5 km south, and Nacpan, 45–60 minutes north, are better beach days.
Many, yes: Nacpan, Las Cabanas, Marimegmeg, Coconut Beach in Port Barton and Long Beach in San Vicente are reached by road or on foot. Island beaches such as Seven Commando or Malcapuya need a boat.
Coron town has no swimming beach, but boat tours reach island beaches such as Malcapuya, Banana Island and the Bulog Dos sandbar, up to about two hours away by bangka.
A standard El Nido boat route for first-time visitors who want lagoons, beaches and swimming in one outing. The trip runs about six hours, so it fits into a single morning and afternoon.
from ~$25 per person
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Suits travelers who want caves and snorkeling stops around Bacuit Bay, including Pupulkan, Snake Island and Pinagbuyutan. A picnic lunch and a guide are included; weather permitting.
from ~$31 per person
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A packed Coron boat day for visitors who want to see many sights without arranging each leg themselves. It covers seven destinations and includes lunch and transfers.
from ~$42 per person
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Afternoon sightseeing around Coron town to learn about the area and its people, ending at the Maquinit hot spring. Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Coron.
from ~$19 per person
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A relaxed Honda Bay day from Puerto Princesa for those who like island stops and downtime. The outing lasts about seven hours, and a massage can be added as an extra.
from ~$36 per person
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A short island trip suited to cruise passengers, couples and families, with swimming, snorkeling and lunch on the islands. A private tour or a shared one can be chosen, so check which is selected.
from ~$114 per person
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A shared boat tour around the islands off Port Barton, a quiet village between Puerto Princesa and El Nido. Suits travelers who want a calmer alternative to the busier El Nido and Coron routes.
from ~$33 per person
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A full-day island hop for travelers who like kayaking and snorkeling, with a buffet lunch on the beach. Lasts 7 to 8 hours; pickup is limited to Corong-Corong between 8 and 9 AM.
from ~$38 per person
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Prices are indicative and may change. The final price is shown by the booking platform. Prices checked: October 17, 2026.
