Coron to El Nido: By Ferry, By Flight, By Expedition, By Budget, By Time, By Type of Traveler.

OVERVIEW

Despite the fact that they are situated in similar territory of Palawan, it can be tricky to know how to go between Coron to El Nido. These two famous destinations in the Philippines are separated by 280 kilometers of ocean, along which you'll track down the areas of Culion and Linapacan islands.

When deciding on how to travel between these two majestic parts of Palawan you need to consider four things:

1. Budget

2. Time

2. Comfort

4. Type Of Traveller 

SUMMARY TABLE

 

FERRY OPERATORS, SCHEDULES & HOW TO BOOK

The current most popular ferries from Coron to El Nido and vice versa are 

1. Jomalia

2. Phimal 

3. Montenegro.

The cost of the ferry from El Nido to Coron is around $25-40 USD. 

Do I need to book the ferry in advance?

During peak season yes, they can get very busy,

How do I book the ferry?

You can do it online by clicking the links above or you can do it in Coron town through a hotel, or by going down to the operators themselves and booking. Online is easiest. 

What are the ferry schedules for the ferries from Coron to El Nido and vice versa?

Montenegro Daily Schedule
DESTINATION	DEPART	ARRIVE
EL NIDO –> CORON	12.00pm	3.30pm
CORON –> EL NIDO	6.00am	9.30am

Phimal Daily Schedule
DESTINATION	DEPART	ARRIVE
EL NIDO –> CORON	8:00 am	11:30am
CORON –> EL NIDO	1:30 pm	5:00 pm

Jomalia Daily Schedule
DESTINATION	DEPART	ARRIVE
EL NIDO – CORON	12:30pm	4.00pm
CORON – EL NIDO	7:30am	11:00am

FLIGHT OPERATORS AND SCHEDULES

Currently the flight schedules are continually updating so we suggest checking with the providers directly. The current flight operators between Coron and El Nido are:

1. Air Swift

2. Check additional operators on SkyScanner

EXPEDITIONS: OPERATORS, SCHEDULES AND WHY TO DO THIS OPTION

The truth about Palawan is that everything you really want to see exists on the water away from both the town centres of Coron and El Nido and so, before long in either of these places, you'll end up on a boat trip.

Now if you stay on the land, and do day trips, those boats can only take you so far in one day and so you are sure to hit the crowded places. For this reason alone, it's worth considering doing an expedition.

Now of course we have some bias, but if you look at the reviews of most expedition operators, including ourselves, you will see that most everybody says that the expedition was the best part of their trip to the Philippines. 

So if you have the money, and the time, and you are OK with going without deluxe bedding for a couple of days, we would recommend doing this option. And even if you don't go with us, Big Dream Boatman, we really do believe this is the best way to explore the Philippines and travel from Coron to El Nido.

Which Expedition to Choose?

Again this depends on budget and length of desired travel. The main factors are:

1. Trip Duration

2. Comfort & Budget

3. Company Ethos

What length of expedition to choose?

The shortest expedition between Coron and El Nido an vice versa is two nights and three days and the longest is up to six nights. Our Big Dream Boatman expedition is four days and three nights and we chose that because we think it's the perfect fit. 2 nights there is too much rush and travel and on a slow Banka boat you will spend a lot of the time going from A to B and not really getting to enjoy the trip. And longer than three nights, whilst enjoyable, can get a bit draining and boring and can be a bit too long to go without some of those home comforts. 

How much do they cost and comfort levels?

We put these two together because they go somewhat hand in hand. The cheaper the trip, the less comfortable the boat and the accommodations. Expeditions range between $300-800 USD. Our expedition ranges between $450-600 USD.

What about Company Ethos, why does it matter?

The Philippines is a growing economy and tourism is the main part of Palawan's income. But the desire for money can make many operators irresponsible about the environment and also about how they treat their staff. At Big Dream Boatman we have a strong company ethos about the quality of how our guests our staff and our environment are treated, and would encourage you to make sure that whichever companies you support whilst in the Philippines (and elsewhere) are operating consciously and with sustainability and best practices in mind so that the whole world and future generations can enjoy these beautiful places.

CLOSING SUMMARY

We hope this has answered your questions on how to get from Coron to El Nido and vice versa. If you would like more information on our expeditions please visit our website or contact us. 

We hope you have the most beautiful time on your trip to Palawan, take care!

 

WHAT TO READ NEXT?

1. Our Coron to El Nido Expedition (and vice versa)

2. 7 Day Palawan Itinerary Suggestions - Medium Budget 

3. Getting from Coron to El Nido by Flight, Ferry and Expedition for different budgets and traveller types

4. Most Romantic Things to do in Palawan

5. 5 Things to Expect Travelling with Big Dream Boatman

 

About the Author:

Big Dream Boatman is the number one rated expedition in Palawan specialising in multi-day trips around Coron and El Nido. We have been featured in Lonely Planet as well as chosen by the most famous names in travel. Our main goal is to make people who come to Palawan happy, in any way we can, so even if you read our blogs and never join our expeditions, it's ok with us 😁.