El Nido’s limestone-framed lagoons and Puerto Princesa’s Underground River are very different sides of Palawan, and this three-day package aims to connect them without making you arrange every tour and transfer yourself. You can book a one-way route or a round trip, with guided outings, meals, and transport included.
I like the mix of boat time and road travel, which lets you see more than one corner of the island in a short stay. I also like that the Underground River visit and an El Nido island-hopping outing are part of the experience described, rather than add-ons you must plan from scratch.
The trade-off is coordination: the route options and published schedule do not line up neatly, and pickup arrangements have caused real uncertainty. Confirm your exact route, meeting point, and daily plan directly before you travel.
- At a glance
- Two Palawan highlights in one short trip
- Day 1: An early start and an El Nido boat outing
- Day 2: A five-and-a-half-hour van ride
- Day 3: The Underground River and a return by late afternoon
- The route options need careful checking
- What the price covers, and what it does not
- Guides and coordination: a real split
- Who should book this three-day package?
- FAQ
- What route options can I book?
- How long is the van transfer between El Nido and Puerto Princesa?
- Is the Puerto Princesa Underground River included?
- Are meals included?
- Is hotel pickup included every day?
- Are the Big Lagoon entrance fee and kayak rental included?
- What should I bring?
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At a glance
- Three days connect two very different stops: El Nido island hopping and a visit to Puerto Princesa’s Underground River feature in the trip plan.
- Choose your direction: Book Puerto Princesa to El Nido, El Nido to Puerto Princesa, or a round trip.
- Expect a long van ride: One listed transfer takes about five and a half hours, before stops or traffic.
- Meals and basic tour gear are included: The package lists lunch on Day 1, snacks on Day 2, a buffet lunch on Day 3, drinking water, and a life vest.
- Confirm the moving parts: The schedule and package directions are not fully consistent, so get your pickup time and location in writing.
- The price can be good value: One-way options start at US$100.99, and the round trip at US$116.80, though extra fees apply.
👉 See our pick of the Best 2 Day Tours In El Nido
Two Palawan highlights in one short trip
This is a join-in package for people who want to connect Puerto Princesa and El Nido without booking each activity and transfer separately. The appeal is practical as much as scenic: one booking is meant to cover guided outings, transport, meals, and selected fees across three days.
The destinations offer different kinds of days. El Nido is the island-hopping part, with a tourist boat included and the usual appeal of lagoons, beaches, and clear water. Puerto Princesa brings a guided outing and a visit to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, one of the trip’s central attractions.
You are not buying a slow, restful beach break. You are buying a compact itinerary with early starts, a long road transfer, and little room to linger. If you have only a few days and want to see both places, that trade can make sense. If you prefer choosing your own pace, separate bookings may be more comfortable.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in El Nido
Day 1: An early start and an El Nido boat outing
The schedule begins with departure between 8:30 and 9:00. Hotel pickup is not included on Day 1, so you will need to get yourself to the departure point. The listed meeting address is on Rizal Avenue in Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa, and the operator may need to confirm the exact location for your chosen package.
At about 10:00, the plan lists a guided tour, followed by lunch and another guided stop. The package description refers to island hopping, and the included tourist boat and Day 1 packed lunch suggest a day built around seeing the coast from the water. But the itinerary does not name the individual stops or spell out precisely how the schedule differs by route.
That gap matters. El Nido’s boat trips can involve swimming and time on beaches, but you should not assume a particular lagoon or island is included unless the operator confirms it. The Big Lagoon, for example, carries a separate PHP 200 entrance fee, and entering it requires a kayak rental: PHP 300 for a small kayak for two or PHP 350 for a larger one for three. Those costs are not part of the listed inclusions.
Bring swimwear, a change of clothes, sunscreen, a hat, and a water bottle. A life vest and towel are listed as included, but a mask and snorkel are not. If snorkeling is important to you, plan to bring your own or ask how rentals work.
Day 2: A five-and-a-half-hour van ride
The schedule gives an early 6:00 meet-up at El Nido Transport Terminal, followed by a van ride to Puerto Princesa at about 6:30. The drive is listed as five and a half hours. That is a substantial chunk of the trip, and it is worth planning for a cramped or tiring day rather than expecting a quick shuttle between towns.
After arrival around noon, the schedule lists drop-off at a city-center hotel or Robinsons Place Palawan. A guided outing is then shown from 13:00 for about three and a half hours, with a hotel drop-off within the city proper. Light snacks and drinking water are included.
The itinerary is not clear about the exact stops on this afternoon outing. It also raises a practical question: the Day 2 transfer is described from El Nido to Puerto Princesa, while the packages include different route directions and a round trip. Treat the published times as a broad outline, not a final, route-specific plan. Before booking, ask the operator to confirm which city you sleep in after each day, where the van leaves from, and what the afternoon tour covers.
The transfer is where this package can save you the most planning. One traveler described a punctual, comfortable ride from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, while others have encountered unclear pickup details and poor coordination. The difference between an easy transfer and a stressful one may come down to receiving clear instructions in advance. Keep your phone available, and provide a working WhatsApp or Viber number as requested.
Day 3: The Underground River and a return by late afternoon
The final day begins with an 8:00 hotel pickup within Puerto Princesa’s city proper. If you stay outside that area, the listed meeting point is the main entrance of Robinsons Place Palawan. After a short drive, the schedule places you at the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park around 10:00.
The park visit is listed as a guided stop of about 30 minutes, though the full outing involves more than the time shown at the attraction itself. The itinerary includes another short drive, lunch at about noon, and a return scheduled around 16:00. A buffet lunch, parking fee, terminal fee, and drinking water are included for Day 3.
The Underground River is a very different experience from El Nido’s open-water scenery. It gives the trip a land-based highlight and makes the Puerto Princesa portion more than a transfer stop. The schedule is tight, though, and weather or traffic can affect timing. The operator notes that the timetable may change for those reasons.
One practical detail: soda and towels during the Underground River tour are not included, even though soda and a towel are listed among the general inclusions. Bring what you need, and confirm which items are supplied on each day.
The route options need careful checking
You can choose a one-way trip from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, a one-way trip from El Nido to Puerto Princesa, or a round trip from Puerto Princesa to El Nido and back. That flexibility is useful if your flights or hotel plans already point in one direction.
The written schedule, however, mixes a Puerto Princesa departure on Day 1 with a Day 2 meet-up in El Nido for a van to Puerto Princesa. It also lists a Puerto Princesa Underground River visit on Day 3. That may reflect different route versions being combined in the schedule, but the information provided does not resolve the mismatch.
Do not assume the same sequence applies to every package. Before you pay, ask for a day-by-day itinerary for the exact option you intend to book. Confirm the starting city, overnight arrangements, transfer direction, and each pickup address. This is especially important for the round trip, where missed coordination could disrupt more than one day.
What the price covers, and what it does not
Prices start at US$100.99 for either one-way option. The round trip is listed from US$116.80, while the experience’s headline price is shown as US$116.15. Prices can change, so check the amount for your dates and selected package before booking.
On paper, the round trip offers a lot for a modest increase over a one-way fare. The package includes guided tours, transfers, a tourist boat, selected entrance and terminal fees, and meals or snacks on each day. If you would otherwise book separate transport and outings, bundling can save time and may be good value.
But the headline price does not cover everything. The Eco-tourism Development Fee is extra, with rates from PHP 250 to PHP 400 for many visitors, depending on age or eligibility. Residents of El Nido enter free, as do children under six. The Big Lagoon fee and required kayak rental are also extra, as are personal expenses, tips, and mask and snorkel gear.
The food is convenient rather than a reason to book. The package specifies a packed lunch on Day 1, light snacks on Day 2, and a buffet lunch on Day 3. One person found the food adequate but expected more seafood; the stated meal description promises fish at most, not a seafood feast. If you have dietary needs, check with the operator in advance.
Guides and coordination: a real split
A good guide can make a packed schedule feel easy. The package includes an English-speaking guide and audio guide, and positive experiences describe guides as accommodating and funny, with lively outings. The island tours and Underground River visit are the parts most likely to reward having someone else manage the basic route and group logistics.
The weaker point is communication around pickups and transfers. Some travelers have had smooth arrangements; others have not known who was collecting them, where to wait, or whether a pickup was happening at all. One person reported being unable to reach the number provided. That is a serious concern when you are standing at a terminal before sunrise or trying to make a long transfer.
Use the WhatsApp or Viber contact details supplied for the operator, and make sure the number you give them is active. Ask for the name or contact of the person handling each transfer, the exact pickup point, and a confirmation the evening before. These are sensible precautions, not extra fuss.
Who should book this three-day package?
This suits you if you have limited time, want to see both El Nido and Puerto Princesa, and are comfortable with group transport and a fairly brisk schedule. It can also suit visitors who would rather have meals, selected fees, guides, and transfers bundled than coordinate each part themselves.
It is less suitable if you need precise, early confirmation, want to choose every stop, or dislike long van journeys. Families may appreciate the child pricing: children aged zero to two are free, and children aged three to six receive a 10 percent discount. Still, the early departures and multi-day transfers are worth weighing against a child’s tolerance for long days.
Book it for the combination of destinations and the convenience, not for a promise of effortless logistics. The sights have strong appeal, and the guides can add a lot to the day. The route details deserve extra checking before you commit.
3D2N Palawan Join-in Tour and Transfers
“The tour was very nice. The tour guides were very accommodating and funny; there was no dull moment with them. The food was just okay. I was expect…”
FAQ
What route options can I book?
You can choose one way from El Nido to Puerto Princesa, one way from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, or a round trip from Puerto Princesa to El Nido and back.
How long is the van transfer between El Nido and Puerto Princesa?
The listed transfer takes about five hours and 30 minutes. Traffic and weather may affect the schedule.
Is the Puerto Princesa Underground River included?
The Day 3 schedule includes a guided visit to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. The package lists the Day 3 parking and terminal fees and a buffet lunch as included.
Are meals included?
Yes. The package lists a packed lunch on Day 1, light snacks on Day 2, and a buffet lunch on Day 3. Drinking water is included.
Is hotel pickup included every day?
No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are listed for Days 2 and 3 within the city proper. Day 1 hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.
Are the Big Lagoon entrance fee and kayak rental included?
No. The Big Lagoon entrance fee is PHP 200. Kayak rental is listed at PHP 300 for a small kayak for two or PHP 350 for a large kayak for three, and a kayak is required to enter Big Lagoon.
What should I bring?
Bring a change of clothes, sunscreen, a cap or hat, swimwear, and a water bottle. A mask and snorkel set is not included.
