Nature
Big Lagoon dawn kayak
Paddle a bamboo kayak into the sheer limestone amphitheatre of Big Lagoon before the tour boats arrive, when the water turns glass-still and herons work the shallows.
Named the world's best island so many times the title feels redundant, Palawan strings limestone karsts, sunken World War II wrecks, and an underground river through jungle into a single archipelago — a place where the water is named for its clarity and every lagoon still feels newly discovered.
A timing note — Palawan's best window is Dec–May: dry season for island-hopping; typhoon window July–October
Where you'll base yourself
El Nido townCoron townPuerto PrincesaPort Barton
Things to do
Mornings
Nature
Small Lagoon swim through the crack
Squeeze through a narrow gap in the cliff face into a hidden turquoise pool ringed by vertical karst walls, best swum at first light before the tour-boat current arrives.
Nature
Puerto Princesa Underground River
Paddle by lamplight eight kilometres into a UNESCO World Heritage cave system past bat colonies and cathedral-scale limestone formations on one of the longest navigable underground rivers on earth.
⏰ Needs advance booking — reserve 2–3 weeks ahead
Nature
Kayangan Lake summit swim, Coron
Climb a wooden staircase over jagged karst to reach the country's cleanest lake, then swim past submerged limestone pillars in water so clear the cliffs seem to float.
Beach
Nacpan Beach sunrise walk
Four uninterrupted kilometres of pale sand meet the Sulu Sea at this twin beach north of El Nido, nearly empty at sunrise but for a few fishermen hauling nets.
Hike
Mount Tapyas sunrise climb, Coron
A steep 719-step staircase behind Coron town climbs to a giant white cross and a 360-degree view over the harbour's outrigger boats as the sky turns orange.
Nature
Iwahig mangrove paddle-board
Glide a stand-up paddleboard through a tunnel of mangrove roots on the Iwahig River, spotting monitor lizards and kingfishers in water still cool from the night.
Afternoons
Adventure
Bacuit Bay Tour A island-hopping
The classic El Nido boat route strings together Shimizu Island's coral wall, Secret Lagoon's hidden pool, and Seven Commandos Beach's coconut grove in a single outrigger-boat day.
Nature
Twin Lagoon swim, Coron
Swim between two lagoons separated by a limestone wall, one warmer and murkier where fresh and salt water mix, the other startlingly cold and clear beneath overhanging cliffs.
Adventure
Barracuda Lake snorkel, Coron
A thermocline halfway down this crater lake means snorkellers feel the water temperature jump mid-stroke, while the jagged rock walls plunge to a floor divers rarely reach.
Diving
Japanese shipwreck snorkel, Coron Bay
A dozen WWII Japanese naval wrecks lie scattered across Coron Bay in water shallow enough for snorkellers, coral now colonising the hulls of the Akitsushima and Okikawa Maru.
Beach
Las Cabanas Beach afternoon
A curved stretch of sand a short tricycle ride from El Nido town, backed by simple beach bars serving grilled squid and cold San Miguel until the tide turns gold.
Beach
Port Barton island hopping
A quieter alternative to El Nido's crowded bay, where German Island's reef and Exotic Island's sandbar are shared with a handful of boats rather than a flotilla.
Beach
Honda Bay island hopping, Puerto Princesa
Hop between Starfish Island's shallow sandbar, tiny Luli Island that vanishes at high tide, and Cowrie Island's coral garden, all a short bangka ride from Puerto Princesa.
Culture
Baker's Hill afternoon, Puerto Princesa
A hillside garden bakery famous for hopia and ube pandesal, with quirky dinosaur statues and city views that make it a favourite stop between the airport and the pier.
Evenings
Wellness
Maquinit Hot Spring soak, Coron
One of the few saltwater hot springs in the country, three stone pools fed by a volcanic source stay warm after dark, perfect for aching muscles after a day of diving.
Nature
Iwahig firefly river cruise
A paddle-boat drifts silently under mangrove branches lit by thousands of synchronised fireflies, a Palawan ritual best done on a moonless night away from town lights.
⏰ Needs advance booking — reserve a few days ahead
Dining
Sunset dinner, Corong-Corong beach
The quieter beach just south of El Nido town lays out low tables in the sand at dusk, grilled catch of the day arriving as the sky over Bacuit Bay turns crimson.
Views
Las Cabanas sunset viewpoint
El Nido's best sunset unfolds over a scatter of limestone islets from this west-facing beach, best watched with a bottle of Red Horse from one of the bamboo bars.
Nightlife
Republika sunset bar, El Nido
A cliffside bar above El Nido town serves cocktails on wooden decks stacked toward the water, the Bacuit Bay islets silhouetted as a local string band plays after dark.
Food
Coron night market food crawl
Coron town's evening stalls grill fresh tanguigue and squid over charcoal beside carts of halo-halo, busiest around the plaza once the dive boats have all come in.
Market
Puerto Princesa baywalk night market
Families gather along the seafront promenade for barbecue skewers, buko juice, and karaoke drifting from open-air stalls as fishing boats bob at anchor just offshore.
