10 Fun Things to Do in Palawan, the Philippines

Close your eyes and think of the most beautiful tropical paradise in the world. Got it? The image you’ve conjured up probably looks something like Palawan – a string of over 1700 islands and islets found southwest of Luzon in the Philippines.

Stretching from Busuanga and Coron in the north down through El Nido and Puerto Princesa before reaching Rio Tuba, these islands are often referred to as the last frontier of the Philippines.

A haven of white sand beaches and coral reefs, the islands boast an impressive variety of marine life, shipwrecks, and limestone cliffs rising from crystal clear water. Tucked between all this nature, there are a few small villages and towns where you can get a good taste of island life at its finest.

The four main destinations here are El Nido, Puerto Princesa, San Vicente, and Coron. During an island-hopping adventure through Palawan, I visited three towns and countless small islands (some inhabited, others deserted). Follow along for some of the most incredible things to do in this tropical paradise:

Visit Kayangan Lake in Coron

The Philippines is famous for its crystal clear water, and Kayangan Lake is often dubbed the clearest in the country. So, naturally, it was one of the first stops on my itinerary.

The lake is tucked away between towering limestone cliffs and lush jungle shrubbery. You have to join a tour or hire a private boat to get here, and the journey is just a short boat ride from Coron. Tours start in Coron and cost around $30 to $40 for a three-hour trip. Alternatively, we rented a private boat skipper and sailed through without a guide for under $20.

To get to the lake, you need to stroll over some rickety wooden platforms and endure a short hike over the cliffs. But when you arrive, you’ll be rewarded with a refreshing swim in deep blue water that almost looks too good to be real.

Pro Tip: The underwater scenery is equally impressive. I recommend bringing a mask and snorkel to explore the rock formations and admire the schools of fish under the surface.

Join a Tao Boat Trip Through the Islands

Joining the Tao boat adventure was undoubtedly one of the best decisions we made on this trip. The expedition departed on a traditional bangka (boat) in Coron and Traveled for five days through the gorgeous seas around Palawan until we reached El Nido, passing countless little islands and islets. Until this trip, I had never set foot on a deserted island before.

The crew on board prepared three incredible meals for us each day, and there was always hot herbal tea and coffee on the boil. Some meals were enjoyed on the boat, others on the beach. At the end of each day of traveling, we would paddle our way to shore with a dry bag and set up camp for the night in hand-made bamboo shelters just steps from the lapping water.

This was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had in all my Travels—and there have been a lot of them. A four-day, four-night adventure costs around $650 to $750 per person. A shorter trip for three nights costs $550 to $600. Whatever you have time for, this trip is absolutely worth the price.

Pro Tip: There are a few other companies that offer similar expeditions, some even on liveaboard vessels. Use the trip as a way to get from one destination to the next. Go with an open mind and a willingness to make new friends. This is not a private boat trip, and you will be Traveling alongside others.

Check out the El Nido Marine Reserve Park

The El Nido Marine Reserve Park is a beautiful national reserve that puts on an impressive display of Palawan’s rich and diverse marine life. The sanctuary is the largest of its type in the country, located in the Northern Palawan archipelago. It’s one of the Pacific’s best-preserved marine areas with around fifty islands and only a few low-key eco-resorts.

The park is great for lounging on the beaches, but the real magic lies beneath the surface. Snorkeling, diving, and kayaking are popular, where you can dip beneath the surface and find yourself in a world of coral caves, underwater mountains, and countless sea life.

For the divers, there are some 30-meter dive sites, usually with around 20-meters of visibility. The reserve charges an eco fee of just $4 per person, and the ticket is valid for ten days.

Rent a Boat and Go Island Hopping Around Coron

Island hopping is easily the best way to explore Palawan. After all, the region is made up of close to two thousand unique islands. The first thing I did on arrival in Coron was chat with local boat owners along the harbor front. After some negotiation, we paid a kind man and his wife around $30 to take us on a little adventure through the islands of Coron.

Hiring a private boat allowed us to customize our itinerary. We visited pristine beaches with not a soul around, snorkeled over untouched reefs, and cruised over the deep blue sea at our leisure. We even went to the Coron market and grabbed some fresh fruit, aubergines, and sweet potatoes, which our boat driver barbequed for us on an isolated beach.

I can’t remember the names of all the islands we visited that day, but some highlights include Siete Pecados and Malcapuya Island.

Stroll Through the Local Market in Coron

One of my favorite things to do in any new location is wander through a local market or grocery store. Coron’s market was located close to the water and was filled with plenty of fresh fish, meat, tropical fruits, and vegetables.

While it wasn’t anything to write home about, it gave us a good understanding of the food grown in the area.

Snorkel over Shipwrecks from World War Two

Other than stunning islands, beaches, and lakes, Coron is famous for the abundance of shipwrecks and sunken fighter jets that lie at the bottom of the bay. Most of the wrecks are Japanese vessels from World War Two that were sunk by the US Navy.

The wrecks are relics of the past and are now home to vibrant coral reefs and fish colonies. It’s a little creepy, but it is one of the most unique underwater landscapes I’ve ever witnessed.

Some of the most popular wreck sites include Lusong Gunboat, Akitsushima, Okikawa Maru, and Irako. Some are shallow enough to snorkel over, while others are sunk deep and require a more challenging dive with scuba equipment.

Spend The Day on a Deserted Island

Is there anything cooler than hopping off a boat and spending a day on a white sand island with no one else to share it with? If you’re lucky (and if you travel out of peak season), it’s possible you could dock at an empty beach and have the whole place for yourself.

For me, this lasted about two hours before some other tourists found their way to the island to join me.

Barbecue on a Boat

As far as I know, there aren’t too many places where you can actually barbeque on the back of a boat. In the Philippines, these small traditional bangka boats have a small BBQ that sits over the water on one of the outriggers.

Pro Tip: We purchased our own ingredients at a local market on land and let the skipper cook for us. That said, some boats will prepare a meal for you, included in the day rental fee.

Explore The Streets of El Nido

El Nido is a small town that somehow feels busy and laid back at the same time. The streets boast a mix of cafes, traditional Filipino homes, boutique shops, and restaurants. It’s one of those places where nothing really fits in, yet everything looks well-curated.

Ver De El Nido was my favorite restaurant in the town. Serving a unique blend of Mexican and Italian dishes, the modern jungle-inspired interiors and interesting menu offered a welcome break from the local food we had been eating for the five days prior on the boat expedition.

Pro Tip: Carry cash. Many restaurants and small shops prefer to be paid in cash. However, be cautious about only drawing money from reliable ATMs. I always Travel with multiple cards in case one gets swallowed by a machine abroad.

Take a Trip to the Underground River in Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa was one of the least impressive destinations on our Palawan trip. We spent some time exploring the city and shopping, but the city didn’t have that island feel we had gotten so used to.

The best way to spend your time here is to visit the Subterranean River National Park, which features incredible limestone karst cliffs edging and covering an underground river. The covered river leads into the sea and is home to various marine animals and plants. It’s considered one of the world’s most impressive cave systems and protects one of the continent’s most diverse and important forests.

There are plenty of kayak tours that visit the river daily. A typical day tour between 8 and 10 hours from Puerto Princesa costs between $40 and $50 per person.