Palawan Region
Long Philippine island with karst landscapes and biodiversity
Palawan island features El Nido's limestone karsts, Puerto Princesa's underground river and extensive mangrove systems; travelers island-hop for snorkeling, diving, karst lagoons and remote beaches.
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Palawan at a Glance#
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Palawan is the long, wild island province stretching toward Borneo - a ribbon of limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, jungle and some of the finest island-hopping and diving on Earth.
Why go / don’t miss: the towering karst lagoons of El Nido, the WWII wreck-diving and lakes of Coron, the Puerto Princesa Underground River, and the remote UNESCO reefs of Tubbataha.
Areas: El Nido and the Bacuit Archipelago; Coron and the Calamian Islands; the capital Puerto Princesa (Underground River); and far-south Balabac for pink-sand sandbars.
Getting around: fly into Puerto Princesa or El Nido; vans link Puerto Princesa to El Nido (5-6 hrs), and boats do the island-hopping.
When to go: the dry season Nov-May is best; Tubbataha liveaboards run only Mar-Jun.
Where to stay: El Nido or Coron for island-hopping, or Puerto Princesa as an arrival base.
Dining: fresh seafood everywhere - grilled fish, kinilaw and Palawan’s famous crocodile sisig in the capital.
Local tips: El Nido and Coron get busy in high season and book out early; go shoulder-season for quieter lagoons.
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