Best Ways to Get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido

Palawan is one of the many islands in the Philippines which you must put on your list when you come to the Philippines. It has all the characters of your ideal tropical paradise. There are many ways to Palawan, but many fly from Cebu or Manila to the main city of Puerto Princesa. Most stay for a night here or even travel directly upon arrival at the airport. Lookings for the best ways to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido? There are many ways and I’ll list all of them below.

Related Read: Best Ways to Get from El Nido to Coron

Puerto Princesa to El Nido at a Glance

How much is the van from Puerto Princesa to El Nido?

The fastest way to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido is by tourist minivans. These cost from 600 up to 800 pesos per person. You can book your tickets in advance here.

What’s the travel time from Puerto Princesa to El Nido?

The travel time from Puerto Princesa to El Nido is now about 5 to 6 hours depending on you’re taking a bus or a minivan.

Which is better Puerto Princesa or El Nido?

While Puerto Princesa provides you with some island hopping options at Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa is still a city. If you want to see the amazing islands and beaches, you need to head over to El Nido.

Best Ways to Get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido Comparison

TRANSPORT TYPETRAVEL TIMEPICK UP / DROP OFF PRICING
Shared minivan5 hoursPuerto Princesa Airport or PP Hotel/El Nido TerminalCHECK HERE
Tourist Bus5 to 6 hoursIrawan Bus Terminal to El Nido bus terminalCHECK HERE
Private car/van5 hoursPuerto Princesa Airport/Hotel to El Nido Terminal/Nacpan/Hotels outside El nido townCHECK HERE

Puerto Princesa to El Nido by Shared Minivan

If you prefer a faster and cheaper ride to get from Puerto Princesa airport or a hotel in Puerto Princesa city centre to El Nido town, you can take the many shared minivans services that departs a few times a day. This service will be shared by locals and tourists alike and will have a couple of stops along the way. It can be a bit cramped inside and you might get a really small seat. However, this is a cheap and fast way because they have many departures per hour. Minivans price from Php600 and includes a short 20 minute stop in between the travel.

Check here to book your shared minivan transfer

Puerto Princesa to El Nido by Tourist Bus

The most comfortable but slightly slower option to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido is by a tourist bus. You will be able to get a more comfortable seat and just get to relax on your trip especially because the road to El Nido is a bit winding. There’s also a late night departure from Puerto Princesa so if you are arriving late in the day, you will be able to take this option. The difficult part of this option is that you will need to go to Irawan Bus Terminal which is further out of the main airport or town centre. You will need to take a tricycle to bring you there and take the bus to El Nido.

Check here to book your tourist bus transfer

Puerto Princesa to El Nido by Private Car or Van

The most comfortable and cheaper if you are with a group or family option is to hire a private car or minivan with a driver to bring you from anywhere in Puerto Princesa to El Nido. This is best also if your hotel is further out in Nacpan or Lio area of El Nido. The travel time will be at your pace as you can also ask to stop along the way. The only con of this option is the cost if you’re traveling solo. However, I definitely recommend this if you’re with family or friends. It is worth paying extra especially for a 5 hours trip on winding road to El Nido.

Check here to book your private car or minivan transfer

Make sure that you have your flight details correct or your hotel information confirmed directly with your transfer services to make this trip hassle free. Looking for your El Nido luxury hotel? We’ve listed down the best El Nido luxury resort accommodation to help you!

Have you got any questions about traveling to the Philippines? Join our Philippines Travel Planning FB Page to get your answers.

Read all about our Palawan travel articles here.

Don’t know how to start planning your Philippines trip? You can start here.

GO AROUND PHILIPPINES USEFUL TIPS AND LINKS
BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS
To travel around the Philippines, there are 3 local commercial airlines. Cebu Pacific Air, AirAsia and Philippine Airlines. Smaller airlines called AirSwift (El Nido, Boracay) and Royal Air also fly to limited destinations. Book your local flights here.
For international flights, I found Kiwi and Trip.com have cheaper flight options to the Philippines.
BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION
There are many choices of hotels, hostels, apartments and guesthouses to stay in the Philippines. Book through AGODA for the cheapest options and Booking.com. I also use Hotelscombined to see all prices from different websites to choose from.
BOOK YOUR BUS/FERRY/VAN/CAR
The Philippines can be difficult to go around because many buses, ferries and even private vehicles are offline. The best websites to book them are through Bookaway.com and 12GoAsia – they have many partners in different destinations and you can purchase tickets online.
Car rentals are also available for you to choose from here.
BOOK YOUR PACKAGE TOURS
If you don’t know where to go and just want a hassle free trip to the Philippines, you can find package trips to different destinations with Klook – I recommend them for local tours and activities or Get Your Guide.
DON’T FORGET YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is very important to be safe and ready whenever accidents happen, especially in the Philippines where some places don’t have quality hospitals and clinics. I use Safety Wings for whenever I travel in the Philippines or abroad.
Have you got any questions about traveling to the Philippines? Join our Philippines Travel Planning FB Page to get your answers.
Don’t know how to start planning your Philippines trip? You can start here.
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