✦ Top pick
El Nido is the best all-rounder for lagoons and island hopping; choose Port Barton for a quiet, low-key beach town or Coron for the best wreck diving and crystal lakes.
Palawan is a long, thin sliver of island that runs for hundreds of kilometers, so "near Palawan" really means the string of small coastal towns that punctuate its coastline and its outlying islands. Most travelers fly into Puerto Princesa, the provincial capital, then fan out by van, boat or short flight to reach the limestone lagoons, wreck-diving bays and empty beaches that made the province famous.
These are not big cities. They are fishing towns and backpacker outposts where the day is shaped by boat schedules and the tide, and where a good meal is grilled fish and rice by the water. Below we rank eight of the best, from the buzzy lagoon hub of El Nido to slow, wifi-light Port Barton and the far-flung heritage island of Cuyo.
Each entry lists how to get there from Puerto Princesa, roughly how long it takes, and who it suits, so you can slot the right town into your itinerary. Distances are real and long: Palawan's roads are scenic but slow, so budget generously.
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1tours from $31El Nido Google
El Nido is the headline act of Palawan and the base for exploring Bacuit Bay, a maze of jagged limestone islands, hidden lagoons and white-sand coves. The town itself is a compact grid of guesthouses, dive shops and beach bars squeezed between a cliff and the sea, and it gets busy, but the scenery offshore is genuinely world class. The standard island-hopping menu is lettered Tour A through D; Tour A (Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island) is the classic first day out. Sunset drinks at Corong-Corong beach just south of town are the reliable end to any day.
- Kayaking into the Big Lagoon on Tour A
- Snorkeling and secret beaches on Tour C
- Sunset over Cadlao Island from Corong-Corong
- Marimegmeg (Las Cabanas) beach bars
Best for first-time visitors and island hopping
Getting there 5 to 6 hours by van from Puerto Princesa (about 700-800 PHP), or a short flight into nearby Lio Airport
2tours from $245Coron (Coron Town, Busuanga) Google
Coron is a separate island group at Palawan's northern tip and one of the best wreck-diving destinations on earth, thanks to a fleet of Japanese WWII ships sunk in the bay in 1944. Even non-divers come for Kayangan Lake, ringed by karst cliffs and often called the cleanest lake in the country, and for the surreal jade water of Barracuda Lake. Coron Town is scruffier and more workaday than El Nido, but that is part of its charm, and Maquinit Hot Springs is a fine soak after a day on the water. Book an island-hopping boat and you can string together Twin Lagoon, Kayangan Lake and the CYC sandbar in a single day.
- Diving WWII shipwrecks in Coron Bay
- Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake
- Twin Lagoon by kayak
- Maquinit saltwater hot springs at dusk
Best for divers and dramatic lake scenery
Getting there Fly into Busuanga Airport from Manila, or take the fast ferry from El Nido (about 3.5 to 4 hours)
3Port Barton Google
Port Barton is the antidote to El Nido: a tiny, laid-back bay town where the electricity historically ran on a schedule and the pace never rises above a stroll. Its island-hopping trips visit turtle-spotting reefs, starfish sandbars and quiet snorkeling coves with a fraction of El Nido's boat traffic. Evenings are candlelit dinners on the sand and cold beers with fellow travelers who came for exactly this. It is one of the last genuinely sleepy beach towns on Palawan's west coast, so come before it changes.
- Island-hopping to German Island and Exotic Island
- Snorkeling with green sea turtles
- Twin Beach sunset walk
- Waterfront barbecue dinners
Best for a slow, unplugged beach stay
Getting there 3.5 to 4 hours by van from Puerto Princesa (about 500 PHP)
4tours from $59Sabang Google
Sabang is the gateway to the Puerto Princesa Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, where you paddle by banca and then row into a vast, bat-filled limestone cave. Most people visit on a day tour and leave, but staying overnight buys you a quiet stretch of beach, a mangrove paddle trip, and a zipline that flies you back over the bay. It makes an easy, high-payoff stop between Puerto Princesa and the north. Permits for the underground river are limited daily, so book ahead or go with a tour that handles the paperwork.
- The Underground River cave by paddle boat
- Sabang X zipline over the bay
- Mangrove paddle boat tour
- Quiet Sabang beach after the day-trippers leave
Best for the Underground River and a nature day out
Getting there About 2 hours by van from Puerto Princesa (roughly 300-400 PHP each way)
5San Vicente (Long Beach) Google
San Vicente is home to Long Beach, a 14 km sweep of pale sand that is often billed as the longest white-sand beach in the Philippines, with barely a building along most of it. The town is being groomed for tourism (it has its own small airport at San Vicente), but for now it is wide, empty and blissfully quiet compared with the big hubs. It works as a gateway to Port Barton as well as a beach destination in its own right. Come for space, long barefoot walks and sunsets with almost no one else around.
- Walking the 14 km Long Beach
- Boat trips to nearby islets and reefs
- Empty sunset stretches
- Fresh seafood in New Agutaya
Best for empty beaches and future-proof quiet
Getting there 3.5 to 4 hours by van from Puerto Princesa, or a short flight to San Vicente Airport
6Taytay Google
Taytay was the old Spanish capital of Palawan, and its centerpiece is Fuerza de Santa Isabel, a 17th-century coral-stone fort that still sits right on the waterfront. Beyond the history, the town is the jumping-off point for Lake Manguao and for the luxury private-island resorts scattered across Taytay Bay. It sees far fewer travelers than El Nido, just an hour or so to the north, which makes it a peaceful, culture-rich stop on the way up. Wander the fort at golden hour and eat cashew nuts, a Palawan specialty grown in the area.
- Fuerza de Santa Isabel seaside fort
- Lake Manguao freshwater lake
- Taytay Bay island resorts
- Local cashew nuts
Best for history buffs and a quieter northern base
Getting there 4.5 to 5 hours by van from Puerto Princesa, or 1 to 1.5 hours south of El Nido
7Narra Google
Narra is Palawan's rice bowl and one of the most overlooked corners of the province, a green agricultural town that rewards travelers heading south rather than north. Its big draw is Estrella Falls, a series of cool cascades and natural pools ideal for a swim, plus the sandbar and islands of Rasa, a protected wildlife sanctuary home to the endangered Philippine cockatoo. It is an easy half-day or overnight from the capital and a glimpse of everyday Palawan life away from the tourist trail. Add nearby beaches and you have a relaxed, low-cost detour.
- Swimming at Estrella Falls
- Birdwatching around Rasa Island sanctuary
- Quiet local beaches
- Farm-country scenery on the drive south
Best for off-the-trail day trips and nature
Getting there About 1.5 to 2 hours by van or bus south from Puerto Princesa
8Cuyo Google
Cuyo is a remote heritage island far off Palawan's main coast, and it is one of the province's best-kept secrets for travelers who want history, empty beaches and next to no crowds. The town is anchored by Cuyo Fort (Fuerza de San Fernando), a well-preserved 17th-century stone fortress that wraps around the parish church. Offshore there is world-class kitesurfing in season and pristine sandbars like Capusan and Manamoc. Getting here takes effort, which is precisely why it stays so unspoiled.
- Cuyo Fort and church complex
- Kitesurfing in the dry-season winds
- Capusan Beach and outlying sandbars
- Slow, traditional island-town life
Best for adventurous travelers and kitesurfers
Getting there Ferry from Puerto Princesa (roughly 8-10 hours) or a small charter flight; check schedules carefully
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✦ Good to know
Before you go
Getting aroundPalawan is long and its roads are slow. Shared vans (locally 'vans for hire') connect Puerto Princesa with El Nido, Port Barton and San Vicente daily; book a seat the day before in peak season and expect longer times than the distance suggests.
When to goThe dry season runs roughly December to May and is best for island hopping and calm seas. Boat tours are frequently cancelled in stormy weather from July to October, so build in buffer days if you visit then.
Book permits aheadThe Puerto Princesa Underground River requires a daily-limited permit. Booking a tour that includes the permit, or arranging it in advance, saves you from missing out on busy days.
Carry cashATMs are limited and unreliable in smaller towns like Port Barton and Cuyo, and many guesthouses and boats are cash only. Withdraw pesos in Puerto Princesa or El Nido before heading to quieter areas.
Plan the El Nido to Coron legThe fast ferry between El Nido and Coron takes about 3.5 to 4 hours and can sell out; book a day or two ahead and expect a bumpy crossing in rough weather.
Palawan rewards travelers who slow down and pick a base or two rather than trying to see everything. Start with El Nido for the lagoons, add Coron for diving or Port Barton for peace, and let the boat schedules set your pace. Whichever towns you choose, book your vans, ferries and Underground River permits ahead and you will spend your days on the water instead of in a queue.
Frequently asked questions
Which town near Palawan is best for a first visit?
El Nido is the best first-time base for its lagoons, island hopping and easy access to Bacuit Bay. Pair it with a couple of nights in Coron if you want wreck diving and crystal lakes.
What is the quietest small town in Palawan?
Port Barton is the quietest of the popular towns, with a small sleepy bay and low-key island-hopping trips. For something even more remote, the heritage island of Cuyo sees almost no tourists.
How do you get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido?
Shared vans make the trip in about 5 to 6 hours for roughly 700-800 PHP, or you can fly into nearby Lio Airport. Book van seats a day ahead in high season.
Can you visit the Underground River as a day trip?
Yes. Sabang, the gateway town, is about 2 hours by van from Puerto Princesa, and most people visit the UNESCO-listed Underground River on a guided day tour that includes the required permit.
Is El Nido or Coron better?
El Nido has the more famous lagoons and a livelier town, while Coron offers the best wreck diving plus surreal karst-ringed lakes like Kayangan and Barracuda. Many travelers do both, connected by the fast ferry.
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