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Travel from Puerto Princesa to El Nido to make the most of your stay in Palawan when you visit Puerto Princesa and to enjoy more of Palawan’s beautiful coral reefs!
The Puerto Princesa International Airport is the most accessible airport in Palawan as it has the most number of daily flights among the four airports in Palawan. This post focuses on options on how to go to El Nido from Puerto Princesa.
Puerto Princesa Underground River (Photo from Klook)Puerto Princesa in Palawan offers a lot of activities and sights for everyone. You can go exploring the Underground River, island hopping and snorkeling at Honda Bay, watching fireflies at Nagsaguipi River, and more!
I visited Puerto Princesa to mainly witness the Underground River, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, but Puerto Princesa made me experience so much more. I enjoyed roaming around the city with friends and enjoyed really good food, too! You can read more about places to visit and things to do in Puerto Princesa here. 🙂
We just witnessed one of the New 7 Wonders of the World!
How to Go to El Nido from Puerto Princesa
Travel 260 km from Puerto Princesa to El Nido by bus or van. You can book tickets on the transportation terminals onsite but I recommend booking ahead online if you can. You can book ahead online through Bookaway here.
The land trip from Puerto Princesa to El Nido takes around 5 to 6 hours. You can choose between traveling by bus or by van. You can also opt to choose a private transfer so you can have the ride all for yourself or your group.
All options have multiple departure schedules throughout the day. The road to El Nido from Princesa can be too winding and bumpy, too. Here are some pros and cons for the three options which you might want to consider before deciding which option to choose.
At Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan (Photo from Klook)Puerto Princesa to El Nido by Bus
Pros:
• Cheapest option which starts at 400 pesos (Php400 ~ USD8) for an Economy Bus
• More comfortable compared to traveling by van according to travelers
Cons:
• All buses start from San Jose New Market only
• Passengers can only drop-off at El Nido Bus Terminal
• Fare is not refundable
• The ride can be shared with too many or different people
• Some buses are not air-conditioned
Puerto Princesa to El Nido by Van
Pros:
• Passengers can be picked up from Puerto Princesa International Airport or hotel
• Passengers can be dropped at a hotel in downtown El Nido
Con:
• Seat spaces can be too cramped.
Puerto Princesa to El Nido by Private Transfer
Pro:
• Have the ride all for yourself or for your group for convenience
Con:
• Most expensive option
You can browse more options online at Bookaway for more details and feedback so you can decide which transportation option suits you best. Some of the options are below for the Puerto Princesa to El Nido route.
Standard Minivan (Book Here)
Operator: Eulen Joy Express
Travel time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Fare: USD17 ~ Php850
Route: Puerto Princesa International Airport to El Nido – Any hotel located in El Nido downtown area
Standard Minivan (Book Here)
Operator: Eulen Joy Express
Travel time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Fare: USD15 ~ Php750
Route: Puerto Princesa International Airport to El Nido Bus Terminal
Tourist Bus (Book Here)
Operator: Cherry Bus
Travel time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Fare: USD13 ~ Php650
Route: San Jose New Market to El Nido Bus Terminal
Economy Bus (Book Here)
Operator: Cherry Bus
Travel time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Fare: USD9 ~ Php450
Route: San Jose New Market to El Nido Bus Terminal
Private Transfer by Standard Minivan (Book Here)
Operator: Fortwally
Capacity: Up to 10 Passengers
Travel time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Fare: USD107 ~ Php5k
Route: Puerto Princesa International Airport/Hotel Pickup to El Nido Bus Terminal
You can book onsite at the bus or van terminals before traveling. You can also book ahead online. If you choose to go to El Nido from Puerto Princesa by bus, just head to San Jose New Market in Puerto Princesa. If you choose to travel by van, you can arrange for pickup at your hotel or from the Puerto Princesa International airport.
At Puerto Princesa with my friends. That’s the Underground River at the back! 🙂You have to save and fuel your energy during the approximately 6-hour ride from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. You will need a lot of your energy to enjoy what El Nido has to offer.
Once you are already in El Nido, you can go island hopping at Miniloc Island, Shimuzu Island, Helicopter Island, Pinagbuyutan Island and Snake Island. If you want some white sands and the beach, you can head to the Secret Beach, Ipil Beach and 7 Commando Beach. Since you are already in El Nido, you might as well visit the lagoons and caves such as the Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Cove, and Cudugnon Cave, too!
If you can freedive (I recommend learning freediving!), you can enjoy the corals in the deep and the World War II shipwrecks with just a snorkeling gear!
Are you heading to Puerto Princesa and El Nido soon? Tell me about your experience! 🙂
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Natasha was a full-time banker who got to take a breather when she traveled. She loves the outdoors so much. She is currently in the UK pursuing postgraduate studies!
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