6D5N Palawan Tri-City Join-In Tour and Transfers

Palawan’s three headline stops fit into one six-day route: Puerto Princesa’s Underground River, El Nido’s lagoons, and Coron’s island scenery. I like that the transfers and ferry are arranged for you, and that the boat days include meals, drinking water, and useful basics such as life vests.

I also like the mix of land and sea. You get a guided river visit before moving north, then time on the water in El Nido and Coron, with famous places such as Big Lagoon, Kayangan Lake, and Twin Lagoon on the itinerary.

The trade-off is pace. Day two is a long travel day, and this is a shared tour, so you have less control over stops and departure times than you would on a private trip. You’ll also need to budget for some fees and get yourself to your hotel after the El Nido tour.

At a glance

• Puerto Princesa to Coron in six days: The route combines an airport transfer, the Underground River, El Nido, and Coron.
• Expect a long second day: After the river visit, a shared van carries you to El Nido, with arrival scheduled for about 9 p.m.
• El Nido’s lagoons are a main event: The boat outing includes guided time and lunch, with Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon among the area’s named highlights.
• Coron gets a full boat day: Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, and Barracuda Lake are among the iconic spots associated with the tour.
• Some costs remain yours: El Nido’s environmental fee, Big Lagoon entry, and required kayak rental are not included.
• The price buys coordination, not luxury: Shared transport and a ferry make this route simpler to organize, but you’ll need to be comfortable with a brisk schedule.

👉 See our pick of the Best Full-Day Tours In Coron

One booking, three Palawan stops

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This is a practical way to connect Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron without arranging every van, port transfer, and boat tour yourself. The Puerto Princesa to El Nido to Coron version starts at US$256.75 in the package options, while the experience is also advertised from $295.29. Prices can differ by selected route or booking details, so check the amount shown for your dates before paying.

The value is less about a single bargain-priced excursion and more about putting several moving parts under one booking. The package includes shared road transfers, a one-way El Nido to Coron ferry ticket, selected hotel transfers, guided outings, and meals on tour days. You still pay for accommodation and certain local charges, so the price is not an all-in Palawan holiday.

A reverse Coron to El Nido to Puerto Princesa option is also offered. The detailed schedule here is for the northbound route from Puerto Princesa, so don’t assume the reverse version follows the same times or sequence.

Day one: Land in Puerto Princesa

Your first day is for arrival and transfer to a hotel within Puerto Princesa city proper. The operator needs your flight details to arrange the airport pickup, so give them accurate information and a valid WhatsApp or Viber number for coordination.

The transfer is useful after a flight, but it does not include your hotel stay. If your accommodation is outside the city proper, confirm how you’ll reach it, since the included hotel transfer is limited to the central area.

There is no sightseeing listed for this first day. Treat it as a buffer to arrive, eat, and get ready for an early start rather than trying to squeeze in another activity.

Day two: Underground River, then a long ride north

The scheduled day begins with a 7:30 a.m. pickup or meetup at Robinsons Place Palawan. Hotel pickup is limited to the city proper; if you’re staying farther out, you meet at the mall’s main entrance. From there, a van takes you toward Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The guided visit is scheduled for about 30 minutes, followed by a buffet lunch. The river is the day’s major natural stop, but the short listed visit time and the miles still ahead mean this is not a slow, lingering park day. Keep your expectations in line with a transfer-heavy schedule.

At about 2:30 p.m., you change vans at Salvacion Junction. The shared ride continues to El Nido, with arrival at the terminal scheduled for around 9 p.m. That is a substantial stretch on the road after an early start. Bring water, a light layer, and anything that helps you rest in a shared vehicle. One point to consider: noise from other passengers can make a long ride feel longer.

Once you reach El Nido, you’re responsible for getting to your hotel. That final transfer is not included on this day, so choose lodging with the late arrival in mind and arrange how you’ll get there before setting off.

Day three: El Nido’s lagoons by boat

The next morning starts at 8:30 a.m. at Ellen’s Travel and Tours Palawan. The schedule lists two guided tour segments, about two hours and three hours, with lunch between them. The named El Nido highlights include Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon, along with other scenic stops.

This is where the route shifts from road travel to the limestone cliffs, beaches, and clear water that make El Nido so appealing. A boat outing gives you a different view of the coast than you get from town, and the included party pans or packed lunch means you won’t need to stop the day to find a meal. The boat crews and freshly prepared food have been particular strengths of the experience, adding a welcome human touch to a scenery-heavy day.

Budget extra time and money for El Nido’s local charges. The eco-tourism development fee is PHP 400 at the regular rate, and Big Lagoon has a separate PHP 200 entry fee. Kayak rental is required to enter Big Lagoon, at PHP 300 for a small kayak for two or PHP 350 for a larger one for three. Those costs add up, so include them when comparing the tour price with a self-arranged trip.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included for this day. You meet at the tour office, then make your own way back to your accommodation after the outing. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a hat, and water shoes or aqua shoes, and keep a dry change of clothes handy.

Day four: Ferry from El Nido to Coron

A hotel pickup within El Nido city proper is scheduled for 10 a.m., followed by a ferry crossing of about four hours. The package includes the one-way ferry ticket and transfers from your El Nido hotel to the port and from Coron port to your Coron hotel.

This day is a useful pause between boat excursions, though it is still a travel day rather than a free day. Ferry times and arrivals can be affected by conditions, and the schedule may shift with weather or traffic. Keep plans for the evening flexible.

At roughly 4:30 p.m., the itinerary has you arriving at Coron Seaport, followed by a hotel drop-off within the city proper. The organized port transfers matter here: they spare you from trying to coordinate a ferry arrival and local transport on your own.

Day five: Coron’s lakes and lagoons

Coron’s boat day begins with an 8 a.m. hotel pickup within the city proper. The guided tour is scheduled for about five and a half hours, with return to your hotel planned for around 4 p.m. Named Coron highlights include Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, and Barracuda Lake.

Expect the day to center on island and water scenery, with time at several of Coron’s best-known natural stops. Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon are the sort of places that reward a camera, but it’s worth keeping one hand free for getting in and out of boats. The tour provides a tourist boat, cottage rental, drinking water, soda, a life vest, and lunch. Entrance fees for the Day 5 attractions are included, which makes this day easier to budget than the El Nido lagoon outing.

Towels are not included for Coron island hopping, and neither are mask and snorkel sets. Bring your own if you want them. Sunscreen, swimwear, a hat, and aqua shoes are sensible choices; the operator also recommends a water bottle and change of clothes.

The schedule is a guided group outing, not a private boat charter. You’ll have less say over how long to linger at each stop, but the shared format helps keep the logistics and boat costs together.

Day six: Transfer to Coron Airport

The final day includes a hotel pickup within Coron city proper and a seat-in-coach transfer to Francisco B. Reyes Airport. Pickup time is confirmed after booking, and the operator asks for your flight details to arrange the transfer.

Keep your phone reachable and your WhatsApp or Viber number current. This is especially helpful when several pickups and transfers are coordinated across different towns. The airport transfer is included one way, but the schedule should be confirmed around your flight rather than treated as a fixed departure time.

What the price covers, and what it doesn’t

The package’s strongest value is the chain of transport: airport transfer in Puerto Princesa, a shared van to El Nido, the ferry, port and hotel transfers, and the airport coach in Coron. It also bundles guided tours, selected meals, and some entrance and terminal charges. If you’re planning to visit all three places anyway, avoiding separate bookings can save time and reduce the chance of missing a connection.

Meals are included on the Underground River day, the El Nido boat day, and the Coron outing. The El Nido meal is described as party pans or a packed lunch; the other listed meals are a buffet lunch in Puerto Princesa and lunch in Coron. Drinking water and soda are included, but don’t count on every comfort being covered: towels are excluded on the Coron boat day, and the Underground River tour’s soda and towels are listed as not included.

Plan for the El Nido fees in particular. The regular eco-tourism development fee is PHP 400, Big Lagoon entry is PHP 200, and required kayak rental starts at PHP 300. Fee rates differ for Palaweños, Filipino students, seniors, people with disabilities, and children; children under six and El Nido residents are listed as free for the eco-tourism fee. Bring extra cash for these charges and personal spending.

Who this route suits best

I’d consider this tour if you have six days, want to see all three destinations, and prefer having the major transfers arranged rather than piecing them together yourself. It is also a reasonable fit if you’re comfortable sharing vans and boats, starting early, and accepting that some days are built around getting from one place to the next.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a relaxed pace or lots of time to explore each town independently. The second day is especially demanding, and the El Nido outing requires you to manage your own hotel transport. The activity is not recommended for people with high blood pressure, epilepsy, heart disease, asthma, other serious medical conditions, pregnant women, or people with disabilities. It is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible.

Children aged zero to two can join free if they do not need a separate seat, and children aged three to six receive a 10 percent discount. The stated same-price rule for all ages is also listed, so confirm the applicable child pricing when booking.

Should you book it?

Book this if your priority is seeing Puerto Princesa, El Nido, and Coron in one organized run, with the big transfers, ferry, and boat days largely taken care of. The standout payoff is the combination of El Nido’s lagoon scenery and Coron’s lakes, with the Underground River adding a very different kind of natural stop.

Skip it if you want leisurely mornings, private transport, or full control of your time on the water. Before you commit, check the final price for your route, add El Nido’s fees and kayak rental to your budget, and make sure the late El Nido arrival and self-managed hotel transfer work for you.

FAQ

Does the tour include hotel accommodation?

No hotel stay is listed as included. Transfers to or from hotels are limited to the city proper where specified.

Is the ferry from El Nido to Coron included?

Yes. The package includes a one-way ferry ticket from El Nido to Coron, plus transfers from the El Nido hotel to the port and from Coron port to the Coron hotel.

Which fees should I budget for in El Nido?

The regular eco-tourism development fee is PHP 400, Big Lagoon entry is PHP 200, and kayak rental is required at Big Lagoon. Kayaks cost PHP 300 for a small one for two people or PHP 350 for a larger one for three.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package lists a buffet lunch on Day 2, party pans or a packed lunch on Day 3, and lunch on Day 5.

What should I bring?

Bring a change of clothes, sunscreen, a hat or cap, swimwear, a water bottle, and aqua shoes. Mask and snorkel sets are not included, and towels are not included for Coron island hopping.

Can I change or cancel my booking?

Changes made at least two days before the activity are free, subject to the stated booking restrictions. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 48 hours before the activity date, using the destination’s local time.