Palawan tours are mostly boat days: island hopping from El Nido and Coron, dives on the wrecks of Coron Bay and the paddle boat into the Puerto Princesa Underground River. This page introduces every type of tour on the island and explains how to choose a shared or private trip, what is usually included and when to book.
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
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
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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Suits travelers basing themselves in Puerto Princesa who want to visit the famous cave river park on a single outing. Allow about eight hours for the whole excursion from the city.
from ~$45 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
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 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
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
A group-format visit to the famous Puerto Princesa cave river, suited to budget-minded travelers. Bring your own meal money, since lunch is not part of this option.
from ~$41 per person
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Snorkel or dive two World War II wrecks and the Lusong coral garden, then relax on the white sand of Pass Island. Suits history fans and snorkelers.
from ~$46 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
Check availabilityvia Viator
Prices are indicative and may change. The final price is shown by the booking platform. Prices checked: October 17, 2026. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.
In the north, El Nido island hopping runs on four official routes, Tours A to D, around the lagoons and beaches of Bacuit Bay. Coron island hopping visits Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon and the reefs around Coron Island, and Coron wreck diving and snorkeling covers the Japanese ships sunk in 1944, from beginner snorkel sites to deep dives.
Around Puerto Princesa, the Underground River is a full-day trip to Sabang that needs a permit, usually arranged by the tour, and Honda Bay is a gentle day of island beaches close to the city. Port Barton offers small-group island hopping with sea turtles, and Balabac, in the far south, is reached only on multi-day trips.
To move between El Nido and Coron, compare the fast ferries and boat expeditions; the camping trips through the islands between the two are covered under El Nido to Coron expeditions.
Shared tours are the cheapest and run on fixed routes with set stops; a private bangka costs more but lets you start early and reach the lagoons before the crowds. Check what the price includes: lunch, snorkel gear, kayaks, hotel pickup and especially the environmental and entrance fees, which are often collected separately on the day.
Package tours that bundle hotels, vans and island hopping save time but tie you to fixed dates, which is a risk in the rainy season. Booking a day or two ahead is usually enough outside the holidays; for Christmas, New Year and Holy Week, or for private boats and dive trips, book earlier and choose free cancellation in case the coast guard keeps boats in port. Our Palawan itineraries show how many tour days fit into each trip.
For most first-time visitors it is El Nido's Tour A, with the Big or Small Lagoon, or Coron's Coron Island tour with Kayangan Lake. The Underground River near Puerto Princesa is the main tour away from the coast's lagoons.
Outside peak holidays, booking a day or two ahead is usually fine. Book earlier for Christmas, New Year and Holy Week, for private boats and for dive trips, and pick free cancellation because rough seas can cancel boats.
Often not. El Nido and Coron charge environmental and site entrance fees that many tours collect separately, so check the listing before you pay.
