Coron is one of the most incredible places in the Philippines and a favorite among many travelers (including us). In Things to do in Coron, we already told you about everything you could do there, but in this article we are going to explain in detail how to get to Coron from different parts of the country.
There are two basic ways to get to Coron: by boat or by plane. We are going to tell you about all the possibilities and departure points.
Where Coron Is and Its Transport Connections
Coron Island is part of the Calamian Islands, in the north of the province of Palawan. Most travelers use Coron Town, located on the island of Busuanga, as their base. The airport is also located there, and the various tours that take you to the island’s most beautiful spots depart from there.
The island has an airport, Francisco B. Reyes Airport. Since it is located on the island of Busuanga, “Busuanga” is the destination you need to select on many search engines. Its IATA code is USU. The airport is called Francisco B. Reyes Airport.
As tourism in Coron has increased, so has the number of flights to Coron. Even so, if you are thinking about getting to Coron by plane, there are several things you need to bear in mind:
- The planes that usually fly to Coron are somewhat smaller, so it is advisable to book in advance to avoid tickets selling out or having to pay more.
- Coron Airport is small, has modest infrastructure and is located in an area surrounded by mountains, which makes landings and takeoffs a little more difficult than usual. For this reason, flights to and from Coron may be canceled in bad weather. We recommend leaving enough time in your itinerary (a full day, if possible) if you have to catch another flight afterward, especially if it is your international flight.
- The price of flights to Coron has risen considerably, with fares climbing above $160 when booked at short notice. If you want to save money, we recommend booking your flights well in advance.
- Since March 2026, there have been no direct flights from Manila to Coron because turboprop aircraft now operate from Clark Airport instead. You do have flights with a layover in Cebu.
- Because the airport has such limited infrastructure, flights cannot land at night, which is why the last flights of the day depart at around 14:00 or 15:00.
There is also a main port in Coron Town. Boats to and from El Nido, Manila and San Jose in Mindoro depart from and arrive here.
When you arrive at either the port or the airport, you will be charged a 200-peso island fee. You will have to pay in cash.
How do you get from Coron Airport to your hotel?
Once you arrive at Coron Airport, you will see lots of vans parked outside to take you into town. The fare to any hotel in town is 250 pesos per person. The trip to the center of Coron Town takes around 20 minutes.
If you do not want to worry about anything and would rather have someone waiting for you with a sign, or you do not want to use any more cash (which is a good idea in the Philippines because banks will charge you around $8 per withdrawal), you can book the transfer online at an even lower price through this link. You can also book an entire van for a private transfer to other parts of Busuanga, such as Concepcion or the north of the island, at a discount.
How do you get from Coron Port to your hotel?
The best option is to take a tricycle. The usual fare is 100 pesos per person to anywhere in Coron Town. If they do not offer you this price, negotiate. If you hire the entire tricycle, which is known as a “special trip,” the fare is around 300 pesos for the whole vehicle.
How to get to Coron from Manila
Unfortunately, since March 29, 2026, there have been no direct flights from Manila (MNL) with any airline. Why? All of these flights now operate from Clark Airport (CRK), a move designed to ease congestion at Manila Airport by transferring lower-capacity aircraft—the turboprops, or propeller planes—to Clark.
From this airport, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and Sunlight Air offer flights to Coron starting at $48 when booked in advance.
Book flights from Clark to Coron
Where is Clark? Clark Airport is 3-4 hours from Manila by road. Buses run between the two airports and also connect Clark Airport with the Cubao area of Manila. You can see the schedules here. Tickets cost 450 pesos and cannot be booked online. Another option is to negotiate with a taxi driver or book one here.
If you want to get to Coron from Manila by plane without going through Clark, you will have to take a flight with a layover in Cebu. Flights usually cost around $160 if you book them reasonably far in advance. If you leave it until a little later, tickets commonly cost around $240, although recently, due to the increase in fuel prices, they can reach $290, so we do not recommend leaving it too late.
Bear in mind that if you travel with Philippine Airlines, some of its fares include a 10 kg checked bag, while with Cebu Pacific you will have to purchase the baggage allowance you want.
Book flights from Manila to Coron
The cheapest way to get to Coron from Manila is to take one of the ferries operated by 2Go. However, they only depart on Fridays from Pier 4 at the Port of Manila at 17:30 and arrive at 6:30 the following morning. You can book your ferry tickets here.
Prices start at 2,000 pesos per person in “super value” class and increase depending on the type of cabin you want. Super value is the most basic option, but it is fine, as you will have your own bed on deck, where you will not freeze because of the air conditioning.
The other ferry company is Atienza Interisland Ferries, which operates this route several times a week at various times, although its boats are in worse condition. The journey takes around 18-20 hours. You can see Atienza Interisland Ferries’ schedules and prices through this link.
Book ferries from Manila to Coron
How to get to Coron from Cebu
The best way to get to Coron from Cebu is by plane because there are no ferry connections. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and Sunlight Air operate flights from Cebu to Coron. There are currently several flights a day between the two destinations. They take 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Prices are around $64 (considerably more at short notice), although you may find slightly cheaper fares by booking early. You will have to add your preferred baggage allowance and pay according to the weight you select.
Book flights from Cebu to Coron
How to get to Coron from El Nido
We have already covered how to get to Coron from the Philippines’ main cities (Manila and Cebu), but many travelers arrive from the neighboring island of Palawan, specifically from El Nido, one of the most visited destinations in the entire archipelago.
We have a dedicated guide to this route, but we also give you plenty of information here:
How to travel from Coron to El Nido and vice versa
a) Getting to Coron by boat from El Nido
This is the most common route to Coron for travelers visiting several places in Palawan. Although there used to be only slow bangkas between the two destinations, as we explain in the article about how to get to El Nido, you can now get to Coron from El Nido on fast ferries. These are the main options in 2026, all costing around 3,000 pesos following the rise in fuel prices:
- Montenegro Shipping Lines: offers a fast boat from El Nido to Coron every day at 12:00. The journey takes around 3-4 hours. You can book it HERE. The website is 100% reliable.
- Atienza Interisland Ferries: operates a ferry from El Nido every day at 12:30 (arriving at approximately 16:30). You can book it HERE.
- Jomalia Shipping: operates a ferry from El Nido every day at 12:30, arriving in Coron at 16:10 (in theory). Since December 2024, it has operated an additional sailing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 8:00. You can book it HERE.
- Phimal: operates a ferry every day at 13:00 which, again, theoretically takes 4 hours. It is the cheapest option, but bear in mind that the boat is smaller, which can make motion sickness more likely. You can book it HERE.
Which is the best? In our experience, Jomalia has larger boats that rock a little less (believe us, you will appreciate this) and is also a reliable company.
We strongly recommend bringing warm clothing for this boat trip and, if you are prone to motion sickness, taking a motion sickness tablet.
VERY IMPORTANT: as of today, only the companies mentioned above are operating. Do not trust anyone offering you a trip on a different boat, because other travelers have been scammed (even after buying their tickets at the company’s office) and put aboard a bangka that was completely unsuitable for this open-sea crossing at night, with the journey taking almost 10 hours. Please, for your own safety, DO NOT BOOK ANY KIND OF PRIVATE BOAT or trust anyone trying to sell you a different ticket.
b)Getting to Coron by plane from El Nido
You can also take one of the AirSWIFT flights (the airline is now owned by Cebu Pacific Air), which operate almost every day of the week. If you book early, the price is around 3,000 pesos, making it a very good option considering that a ferry ticket costs roughly the same and that the ferry is not suitable for people who suffer badly from motion sickness. The journey takes barely 45 minutes.
Even so, bear in mind that this flight tends to sell out quickly because the planes are very small. Therefore, if you do not book it well in advance, you may not find a seat or the price may be more than twice as high.
Book flights from El Nido to Coron
c) Getting to Coron from El Nido on an expedition
This is the most adventurous and coolest option for traveling between the two destinations. It is a 3- or 4-day journey exploring the islands between the two places. You will feel like a castaway as you sleep in little huts by the sea and go snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding… You will also be able to take a break during your trip, as EVERYTHING is included.
For us, it is one of the best things you can do in the country (and we have been living and traveling here since 2010). That is why we have done it several times with Big Dream Boatman, the best company of them all. This expedition lasts 4 days and 3 nights (we promise you will not get bored) and only runs between October and July. However, if you want to do a 3-day expedition or travel at other times of the year, we can recommend this other company. Booking through our link and using the code TRAVELPHILIPPINES gives you a discount of 1,000 pesos.
You can read more and check out some videos in our El Nido to Coron expedition guide.
We recommend booking as soon as possible because spots are selling out 1 or 2 months in advance.
How to get to Coron from Port Barton
From our perspective, it would not make much sense to skip El Nido if you are already in Palawan because we think it is an incredible destination. However, if you want to travel from Port Barton to Coron without spending a few days in El Nido, you would have to do the following:
- First, travel to El Nido: the best way to do this is to take one of the vans that depart from the Port Barton terminal for El Nido. The journey takes around 3 hours, and you can book your seat here. They will drop you off at the El Nido transport terminal, on the outskirts of El Nido Town. If you have a lot of luggage, you can take a tricycle to the port (it should not cost you more than 50 pesos); otherwise, you can walk. If you choose to fly, the fare from the terminal to the airport should be 300-350 pesos for the entire vehicle.
- Then, travel to Coron: as you have already seen, you can choose between taking the ferry (you can check schedules and book here) or flying (take a look here). Neither option is better; simply compare the prices and schedules to see which works best for you.
If you need to spend the night in El Nido, take a look at Where to stay in El Nido, where we give you plenty of alternatives for different budgets.
How to get to Coron from Puerto Princesa
If you are thinking about skipping other places in Palawan, such as El Nido or Port Barton, and want to get to Coron from Puerto Princesa, the ferry company 2Go operates a boat every Sunday at 4:30 in the morning, arriving at Coron Port at 17:30 the following afternoon. Tickets cost more than 2,600 pesos per person in “mega value class.” You can book your seat here.
If you do not want to take the ferry from Puerto Princesa, the other options are:
- By land and sea: travel from Puerto Princesa to El Nido by van (5-6 hours; you can book here) and then take one of the boats from El Nido to Coron mentioned above (4-5 hours; you can book here).
- By air: take a flight from Puerto Princesa to Coron with a layover. It certainly will not be the cheapest option.
How to get to Coron by boat from San Jose, Mindoro
If you want to explore Mindoro before getting to Coron, perhaps because you feel like diving at the fabulous Apo Reef or swimming with turtles at Pandan Island, Bunso Transport operates a route from the port of San Jose, Mindoro, to Coron. Boats depart on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 9:00. The journey takes around 5 hours and costs approximately 1,400 pesos. If you want to travel in the opposite direction (from Coron to San Jose), boats depart on Mondays and Fridays at 8:00.
We have made this journey a couple of times and recommend it. In our case, we have always traveled on a large, comfortable bangka that is not usually very crowded, so you have room to lie down and travel comfortably. Even so, there are also RO-RO ships, which are slower (6-7 hours) but are also more stable and comfortable because they have beds. A meal is included in the price.
You will also have to follow this route (plus a few additional steps beforehand) if you are thinking about traveling from Boracay to Coron by public transportation.
How to get to Coron from other parts of the Philippines
We have already given you the alternatives for getting to Coron from the most common destinations and nearby places in Palawan, but, of course, you can reach the island of Busuanga from many other parts of the archipelago. If you are on islands such as Siquijor, Bohol, Siargao or Malapascua (among many others), the most practical option will usually be to head back to Cebu and take a flight to Coron from there. That is why you will find it very helpful to read How to get to Cebu first.
With that said, we are going to give you a brief overview of the possible routes:
- How to get to Coron from Bohol: you have the option of traveling from Bohol to Cebu by boat (2 hours; schedules and bookings here) and then taking a flight from Cebu to Coron, or looking for a flight from Bohol to Coron with a layover. We explain everything in much more detail in How to travel from Bohol to Coron.
- How to get to Coron from Malapascua: you will have to travel back to Cebu by bangka and then by bus, van or car before taking a flight from Cebu to Coron. It is important to plan the timing of your journey to Cebu City carefully, as it will take at least 5 hours. You may prefer to spend the night in the city.
- How to get to Coron from Siquijor: you can travel from Siquijor back to Cebu by boat (4 hours; schedules and bookings here) and then fly from Cebu to Coron, or travel from Siquijor to Dumaguete by ferry (45 minutes; schedules and bookings here) and look for connecting flights from Dumaguete to Coron (via Manila or Cebu).
- How to get to Coron from Siargao: once again, it will be best to travel back to Cebu. You can then search for Siargao-Coron flights with a layover or, alternatively, take a boat from Siargao to Surigao, then another boat from Surigao to Cebu and fly from Cebu to Coron.
- How to get to Coron from Camiguin: the most practical option is to look for a flight from Camiguin to Coron with a layover in Cebu. If none of the schedules work for you, you may have to spend the night in Cebu City.
- How to get to Coron from Boracay: unless you want to spend many hours traveling, it is more convenient to look for a flight from Caticlan to Coron. If you prefer a cheaper option, you can make the crossing from Caticlan to Bulalacao (Mindoro), travel from Bulalacao to San Jose and, from there, take one of the boats from San Jose to Coron mentioned above. Since these boats do not run daily, you need to coordinate the travel days very carefully. We explain it in more detail in How to travel from Boracay to Coron.
As we mentioned, if you are not planning to travel to Coron from Manila or Cebu, you will also find regular flights to Coron from Clark (around 3 hours by car from Manila) operated by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and Sunlight Air.
If you need help with any other route to Coron, you can leave us a comment and we will reply as soon as possible.
Frequently asked questions about getting to Coron
Before we finish, here is a summary answering the most common questions travelers have about getting to Coron:
Which airport should you fly to for Coron?
You need to fly to Francisco B. Reyes Airport, also known as Busuanga Airport, whose IATA code is USU.
How do you get from Manila to Coron?
There are no longer any direct flights, so you can either fly with a layover in Cebu or go to Clark Airport, around 3 hours from Manila by road. You can also take a ferry, but bear in mind that the journey takes between 14 and 20 hours.
How do you get from Cebu to Coron?
Since there are no ferries, the best option is to take a flight. They are offered by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air (Cebgo) and Sunlight Air. The journey takes a little over an hour. Bear in mind that tickets can cost around $80 if you buy them in advance.
What is the name of the airport in Coron, Philippines?
Coron Airport is called Francisco B. Reyes Airport and its IATA code is USU.
How do you get from El Nido to Coron?
You can travel by plane (on Cebu Pacific Air flights, following Cebu Pacific Air’s acquisition of AirSWIFT) in around 45 minutes or by ferry (4-5 hours). If you book early, flight prices are similar to ferry fares. There is also the option of taking a 3- or 4-day boat expedition that visits the islands in between.
Coron guide
You will find much more information in our Coron guide: things to do, where to stay and other useful information.
Questions? Suggestions? We would love to hear from you in the comments.
