August 2023 UPDATE: Montenegro Shipping and Atienza Shipping has started traveling between El Nido and Coron. In order to book your tickets online, you can check here or see the schedules for both here.
Palawan can be enjoyed in as much as 1 week or as little as 3 days, and it should be part of your trip itinerary when planning a trip to the Philippines. There are many places to visit in the island, however, El Nido and Coron should be on your list. To help your trip, we have listed down the best ways to get from both El Nido and Coron.
Related Read: 13 Best Tourist Spots to Visit in Coron Palawan
Best Ways to Get from El Nido and Coron
There are two ways you can get from El Nido to Coron and vice versa. Since both places are amazing destinations, you can get there by boat or by plane. The fastest way from Coron to El Nido and back is by plane. However, the most convenient and cheaper option is by taking the fast ferry. Book tickets here.
Related Read: Top 20 Best Things to do in the Philippines
If your flight is arriving in Coron— you can also cross the sea and explore El Nido if you have enough time to spare. Now that Cebu Pacific and PAL are operating more flights to Busuanga (Coron), more travelers are now choosing this route to start their Palawan adventure in one of the most beautiful islands on Earth.
If you have enough time to explore both islands, here are the best ways to get from Coron and El Nido in both ways.
Spending a night in El Nido? Check out available rooms here.
Comparison of the Best Ways to Get from El Nido to Coron
Boats from El Nido and Coron
These boat companies ply the Coron and El Nido routes so you can easily get the same company if you plan to buy a return trip.
The major difference is that Atienza Shipping ferry is bigger than Montenegro.
| Company | Type | Travel Time | Check Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montenegro Shipping | Fast ferry ( Departs Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays) | 5-6 hours | BOOK HERE |
| Atienza Shipping | Fast ferry (Departs Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays) | 5-6 hours | BOOK HERE |
You can also buy tickets for the ferries at the port or from travel agencies in El Nido or Coron. However, during high season, you might run out of seats and won’t be able to get the right boat you want.
Flight from El Nido and Coron
It is possible to fly from El Nido to Coron and return. There’s only one airline that has been allowed to fly directly from El Nido and Coron. Airswift flies from its own private airfield to Busuanga in Coron.
Flying between El Nido and Coron only takes about 30 minutes. However, the airports aren’t located in the main town so you will need to get another transfer to get to the airport too. You can check the fare and buy plane tickets here.
Fast Ferry Companies between El Nido and Coron Comparison
There are three shipping lines operating from Coron to El Nido and vice versa: Jomalia Shipping, Montenegro Shipping, and Phimal Fast Ferry. Continue reading below for the schedule, ticket prices, duration, and comparison of these three.
Montenegro Shipping – Operating 3 times a week
Jomalia Shipping (Currently not operating – 2023)
This ferry from Coron to El Nido and return company is Montenegro Shipping. This shipping company also offers fast craft services like Jomalia Shipping. It carries up to 144 passengers per route. Customers who have experienced their services usually rate this 3 out of 5 stars. Duration: 3.5 hours – 4.5 hours depending on weather condition.
You can check the ferry schedule and ticket prices here
First one is Jomalia Shipping which offers a fast travel time (approximately 3.5 hours) from Coron to El Nido and vice versa. It also has the newest ferries compared to its competitors in the region thus, considered as the safest. In general, Jomalia Shipping has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
You can check the ferry timings and ticket prices here
Phimal Ferry (Currently not operating – 2023)
Lastly, Phimal Ferry also offers boat trips from Coron to El Nido for only 3.5 hours. It is said to have a more convenient boarding and disembarkation procedure than the other two. Just like Montenegro Shipping, Phimal Ferry also has a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. Duration: 3.5 hours – 4.5 hours depending on weather condition.
Atienza Shipping Lines (Currently Operating)
Atienza Shipping is a new comer to the El Nido to Coron route of fast ferries. They operate 3 times a week currently doing the days Montenegro shipping isn’t operating. Travel time is also 4 – 5 hours depending on weather condition. We suggest for you to book your tickets online as they can become sold out especially during peak season. In order to book your tickets online, you can check here or see the schedules for both here.
How to get from El Nido to Coron
There are two ways to get from El Nido to Coron. First is by boat and the other is through a plane. Of course, each of these two offers its own pros and cons. Flying between these two islands is the fastest and the most convenient way but it is the most expensive. There’s also only one flight from El Nido to Coron. Check flights and book here.
Where is the El Nido ferry pier?
Where does the El Nido to Coron ferry dock? Here’s the El Nido Pier map.
How to Get to El Nido ferry pier from El Nido terminal?
The best way is to take a tricycle from El Nido bus terminal to the pier. This will cost around 50 pesos per person.
You can check the ferry ticket prices here on too!
How long is the ferry from El Nido to Coron?
The fast ferries like Phimal, Montenegro and Jomalia take about 4 to 5 hours depending on weather condition. While the slower ferries take about 6 to 8 hours depending on weather condition.
How much is the ferry from El Nido to Coron?
Ferry rates start from 2900 to 3500 pesos or $60 depending on the kind of boat that you want to take (2023 rate). You can check the ferry ticket prices here.
How to get from Coron to El Nido
The ferries from Coron to El Nido are the same boats that go from El Nido to Coron. The best way is to just book your return trip or book in advance to know that you have your tickets reserved in advanced.
Where is the Coron ferry pier?
Where does the Coron to El Nido ferry dock? Here’s the Coron Pier map.
How to Get to Coron ferry pier from Coron airport or Coron town?
From Coron town, you can easily get to Coron ferry pier by taking a tricycle from your hotel. From Coron airport, it is longer distance. The best way to get from Coron airport to Coron pier is to take the offered shuttled service outside of the airport. It is usually a shared van that will drop off guests at different hotels in Coron town and can also drop you off at the airport. You can book your shared van from Coron airport here.
How long is the ferry from Coron to El Nido?
The fast ferries like Phimal, Montenegro and Jomalia take about 5 to 6 hours depending on weather condition. While the slower ferries take about 6 to 8 hours depending on weather condition.
How much is the ferry from Coron to El Nido?
The prices are still the same with the El Nido to Coron route. It ranges from Php2800 or $45 depending on your boat choice. You can check tickets here too!
Things to remember when taking the El Nido and Coron ferry
- Don’t forget to do your research and always know where to buy these ferry tickets. It is better to book your ticket online.
- Know the schedule of the ferries and align it with your itinerary. Also give an extra 1-2 hours in case there are unexpected delays that may be caused by the weather condition, and etc.
- Boarding usually starts 30 minutes before the departure time of the ferry.
- Have a valid ID upon boarding.
- Be sure to have a copy of your booking confirmation (or e-ticket) if it still hasn’t been changed to the official ticket.
- For a more convenient ride, try to pack as lightweight as possible.
- Waterproof your electronics and important stuff. If you have important documents like your passport, be sure to keep it in a waterproof bag or a ziplock. The same thing goes for your gadgets and electronic chargers.
Things to Remember When in Coron or El Nido
- ATM machines may not be available all the time. There are cases where the ATM could run out of cash or is offline. This could be very challenging for tourists most especially during peak season. As much as possible, bring enough cash for your trip and don’t forget to keep it in a secure bag/compartment.
- Looking for a place to stay in Coron or El Nido during peak season could be tricky. Be sure to book your accommodation in advance.
- Be prepared for a slow internet connection. However, there are some hostels and guesthouse that have really good connection.
- Expect for frequent power cuts. Good thing it only usually lasts for a few hours. Still, it pays to be prepared in times like these by having your powerbank on standby.
- Help protect this tropical paradise. As tourists, we should all be responsible of our trashes and protect everything that you see in these islands. Most especially during island hopping in El Nido or Coron, be sure not to throw any trash in the sea and respect its marine life.
Did we miss something? Let us know if you have some more information about these trips.
| 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. |
Read all our travel planning articles about Palawan here.
Angie is a travel consultant and blogger who has started by writing her travel memoirs on her blog and then got published on international travel sites. She’s now focused on creating in-depth travel itinerary and articles about planning trips to the Philippines.
