Traveling to El Nido
THE BEST WAYS TO TRAVEL TO EL NIDO
- Direct flight to El Nido with Cebu Pacific (former AirSwift)
- Fly to Puerto Princesa and take a mini van for 6 hours
- Daily ferries from Coron, Busuanga island
- Last Option: fly via San Vincente
1. DIRECT FLIGHTS: IMPORTANT NEWS
CEBU PACIFIC TAKES OVER AIRSWIFT
Starting April 2025, all Airswift flights will be booked via the Cebu Pacific booking system. Flights between Manila and El Nido now depart and arrive at Terminal 2 in Manila.
WHY CHOOSE A DIRECT FLIGHT?
A direct flight is the fastest and most convenient way to reach El Nido. Ticket prices range from 5000 PHP to 9000 PHP one way, depending on season and demand.
HIGH SEASON ALERT: Flights often sell out quickly, so booking in advance is highly recommended.
TYPHOON SEASON (AUGUST – DECEMBER): Expect possible delays or cancellations due to weather conditions.
EL NIDO AIRPORT (ELN) TO OUR LOCATION:
- Tricycles are available outside the airport—no reservation needed.
- The ride to Lugadia Beach, Corong-Corong takes about 20 minutes and costs 400 PHP.
INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS – PLAN EXTRA TIME!
- Manila traffic, long taxi queues, and strict security checks at airport terminals can take longer than expected.
- Plan accordingly to avoid missing your next flight.
TRAVELING WITH DIVE EQUIPMENT?
- Standard Cebu Pacific allowance: 7kg hand-carry + 10kg check-in luggage.
- Need more? Add an extra 10kg online at a lower cost.
- At the airport, excess baggage fees are significantly higher.
2. Traveling via Puerto Princesa (PPS) with direct flights operated by
- Cebu Pacific
- Air Asia
- Philippines Airlines
- Most International flights are on hold since the pandemic
Domestic flights can be cheap as 2000php one way. Keep in mind you will spend a full day traveling in tropical climate just to safe some bucks on your ticket, than need a hotel and mini van. Flying directly to El Nido is usually worth the money.
HOW TO GET TO EL NIDO FROM PUERTO PRINCESA AIRPORT?
- Grab a mini van near the Airport.
- Expect delays in departure. Vans leave when they are full, not when you want to.
- Departures are right at the airport or outside the gate until the last flight arrives
- You will always find a ride even without reservation
- The shaky ride takes 6 hours including 2 stops
- The price is 800php per person
- A private van starts with 9000php or more
- Sorry, we do not arrange your transportation.
WHAT IS ON THE WAY BETWEEN PUERTO PRINCESA AND EL NIDO?
Under Ground River (Sabang) - world famous !
If you are planing to visit the Underground River in Sabang go there straight with all your luggage. We recommend to stay 1 night in Sabang rather than in Puerto. This way you safe time and avoid driving the same route twice. Do we recommend the UG River? It takes some patience to visit it: waiting for tickets, boats, food...lot of effort to see a beautiful but often crowded cave.
Port Barton - super cute !
If you take the trip from Puerto to El Nido you can plan 2 or 3 nights in the cosy village of Port Barton. It is usually less crowded than El Nido and has its own charm. Chose a stay that has a back-up generator as burnouts happen even more often than in El Nido.
Tubbataha Natinal Park - by Liveaboard only !
Puerto Princesa is boring and only good as a hub for flights or if planing liveaboards to Tubbataha National Park - surely one of the best diving sites in the world. The season is very limited due to the rough conditions out there: from mid march to mid june only, with may being the best month in terms of wind and waves. We recommend this trip to experienced divers only with own gear and + 100 dives who enjoy currents and deep dives.
2. Traveling via Puerto Princesa (PPS)
Direct flights to Puerto Princesa are operated by:
- Cebu Pacific
- AirAsia
- Philippine Airlines
Most international flights remain on hold since the pandemic.
Domestic flights can be as low as 2,000 PHP one way, but keep in mind:
- You will spend a full day traveling in a tropical climate just to save money on airfare.
- You will likely need a hotel and a van transfer to El Nido.
- Flying directly to El Nido is usually worth the extra cost.
How to Get to El Nido from Puerto Princesa Airport
- Grab a shared minivan near the airport.
- Expect delays — vans only leave when full, not on a fixed schedule.
- Vans depart from the airport or just outside the gate until the last flight arrives.
- The ride takes ~6 hours, including 2 stops.
- Price: 800 PHP per person.
- Private van: Starts at 9,900 PHP
- OR TAKE THE LAZYBOY BY CHERRY BUS (see link bellow)
- We do not arrange transportation
What’s on the Way Between Puerto Princesa and El Nido?
Underground River (Sabang) – World Famous!
- If you plan to visit, go straight to Sabang with all your luggage instead of staying in Puerto.
- Stay 1 night in Sabang rather than Puerto to save time and avoid backtracking.
- Do we recommend it?
- Visiting requires patience: waiting for tickets, boats, and food.
- The cave is beautiful but often crowded.
Port Barton – Super Cute!
- A cozy village along the route to El Nido.
- Less crowded than El Nido, with its own charm.
- Plan to stay 2-3 night if you want a relaxing stopover.
- Choose a hotel with a backup generator —power outages are more frequent than in El Nido.
Tubbataha National Park – By Live-aboard Only!
- Puerto Princesa itself is kind of boring, mainly serving as a transit hub.
- If you are planning a dive trip to Tubbataha National Park, this is the place to go.
- One of the best dive sites in the world — but only accessible by liveaboard.
- Limited Season: Mid-March to mid-June (May is best for wind and wave conditions).
- Recommended for experienced divers only with their own gear
- We recommend 100+ dives due to strong currents and deep dives.
3. Daily Ferry from / to Coron on Busuanga Island
- Advance reservation is required as ferries often sell out.
- Travel time: Between 3 to 7 hours, depending on wind and wave conditions.
- Ticket price: Starts at 2300 PHP one way.
- The ride can be rough, so bring motion sickness pills if needed
There are usually 3 operators
IMPORTANT REMINDER
Ferries can be canceled on short notice due to bad weather or engine issues.
Check the weather in advance via windy.tv or PAGASA.
If Palawan is under a Storm Signal, ferries are not allowed to operate.
Do not take unregistered small boats, as this is extremely dangerous.
Many travelers get stranded in December due to lack of reservations or canceled ferries. Plan ahead to avoid being stuck.