More and more travelers are choosing to travel to the Philippines and are including 2 of the Palawan region’s star destinations in their itineraries: Coron and El Nido. In both places, you’ll find spectacular limestone cliffs surrounding lagoons, lakes, and beaches lapped by water so turquoise you’ll think you’re dreaming. To help you figure out the best way to travel between them, today we’re going to explain how to get from Coron to El Nido and vice versa without giving yourself a headache.
Basically, there are 2 ways to get from Coron to El Nido: by plane or by boat. Depending on how much time or money you want to spend, one may suit you better than the other. To work out which one is best for you, keep reading because we’re going to tell you everything you need to know.
How to get from Coron to El Nido by boat (the “cheap” option)
This is the most common way to get from Coron to El Nido or vice versa. Several companies offer a speedboat (fast boat) service once a day. The journey takes about 3 or 4 hours, depending on sea conditions.
At the moment, you can choose from the following companies when traveling by ferry between Coron and El Nido:
- Montenegro Shipping Lines: with this company, you can travel from Coron to El Nido every day at 6:00 a.m. In the opposite direction—that is, from El Nido to Coron—the boat departs at 12:00 p.m. The ticket costs 2,816 pesos. You can book online here. It’s a 100% trustworthy website.
- Atienza Interisland: they operate every day, departing from El Nido at 12:30 p.m. (arriving at approximately 4:30 p.m.) and from Coron at 7:00 a.m. (arriving at 12:00 p.m.). They have Starlink internet on the boat. Price: 2,800 pesos. You can book online here.
- Jomalia Shipping: its boat departs from Coron every day at 7:30 a.m. and takes the same amount of time as the previous boats (in theory, it arrives at 11:10 a.m.). Since December 2024, they have run an additional boat at 1:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The boat from El Nido departs at 12:30 p.m. and arrives at 4:10 p.m. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, they have an extra boat from El Nido to Coron at 8:00 a.m. Price: 2,850 pesos. You can book online through this link.
- Phimal: its boat departs from Coron every day at 8:20 a.m. and then from El Nido at 1:00 p.m. In theory, it takes 4 hours. Be very careful because the boat is smaller than the others and rocks more. You can book online here.
Which one is better? Honestly, although they operate similarly, we think Jomalia is much better because the boat is larger, which means it rocks less and you’re less likely to get seasick. The seats are comfortable, and it’s a reputable company.
Our advice, given the growing number of tourists traveling between the two destinations, is clear: we recommend buying your tickets as soon as you arrive in Coron or El Nido so you don’t miss out, or booking online. We receive many complaints from travelers who find that tickets are already sold out even 5 days in advance, especially during high-demand periods such as Christmas or Holy Week.
You need to add the port fees to these prices. In the Philippines, they are almost never included in the ticket price and are paid directly at the terminal. They amount to 20 pesos.
It is very important to keep 2 things in mind: 1) the boat tends to rock a little (although it depends on sea conditions), so if you are prone to seasickness, take motion-sickness medication 30 minutes before departure; and 2) they blast the air conditioning, so keep a sweatshirt handy.
Also, if the sea is a little rough, it is normal for the journey to take more than 4 hours (sometimes up to 5). Be patient.
The boats depart from the Coron Ferry Terminal and arrive at the El Nido Ferry Terminal.
VERY IMPORTANT: at the moment, only Montenegro, Atienza, Jomalia, and Phimal are operating. Ignore anyone who offers you other boats because other travelers have been scammed (even when buying tickets at the company’s own office) and put on a bangka that was completely unprepared for this open-sea crossing at night, with the journey taking almost 9 hours. Please, for your own safety, DO NOT HIRE ANY KIND OF PRIVATE BOAT or listen to anyone who tries to sell you a different ticket. Make sure they give you a REAL ticket.
How to get to Coron Port from your hotel and vice versa?
Coron Port is a little farther from the center, but it shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes to get there. A tricycle driver should normally charge no more than 50 pesos if you’re staying in or around the center.
Keep in mind that when you arrive in Coron, you’ll have to pay 200 pesos in Coron environmental fees, which cover your entire stay. Even so, remember that when you go on the Coron island-hopping tours, you’ll have to pay fees at almost every place you visit. Yes, we know it’s annoying, but that’s how things work in the Philippines. Instead of paying all the fees in one place, you have to pay them at each location.
More information on Where to stay in Coron
How to get to El Nido Port from your hotel and vice versa?
The port of El Nido is right next to the main beach in El Nido Town, so if you’re staying in town, you can walk there. If you’re staying in Corong Corong, you can take a tricycle, which shouldn’t cost more than 25 pesos per person.
More information on Where to stay in El Nido
How to get from Coron to El Nido by plane (a slightly more expensive option)
Since 2018, there have been flights from Coron to El Nido and vice versa, operated by a single airline: Air Swift. The flight takes just 25 minutes, so it’s an excellent alternative that saves time and avoids potential seasickness on the boat. Flights from Coron depart from Busuanga Airport, also known as Francisco Reyes Airport (IATA code: USU). From El Nido, they depart from Lio Airport (IATA code: ENI), located next to Lio Beach.
Flights from Coron to El Nido and from El Nido to Coron operate 2 or 3 times a week. So you’ll need to plan your travel dates carefully around the flight schedule.
Book flights from El Nido to Coron
Air Swift uses a small fleet of propeller planes on this and other routes, such as Manila to El Nido, Cebu to El Nido, Boracay to El Nido, and Bohol to El Nido and vice versa.
The price of the trip from Coron to El Nido varies greatly depending on your travel dates and how far in advance you book your flight. The usual price is around 3,000–4,000 pesos. So, if you know when you’re going to travel from Coron to El Nido (or vice versa), it’s worth booking as soon as possible (the planes are small, so seats sell out quickly) to spare yourself the bumpy boat ride. In fact, after the rise in gasoline prices, the price difference between flying and taking the ferry isn’t that great right now, so it’s an alternative worth considering.
How to get from El Nido Airport to your hotel and vice versa?
The airport in El Nido is located very close to Lio Beach. The easiest way to travel to or from your hotel is to take a tricycle. Drivers usually ask for around 300 pesos, a little more if you’re staying in Corong Corong or Las Cabañas. The journey will take about 20–30 minutes.
How to get from Coron Airport to your hotel and vice versa?
The airport in Coron is a little farther from Coron Town. There is a minivan service that picks passengers up from or drops them off at their hotels. The journey takes about 30 minutes. It costs 250 pesos per person. If you arrive at the airport, you’ll see the minivans parked outside. You just have to tell the driver which hotel you’re staying at. If you want to pay online and avoid using cash, you can even book for less through this link (100% trustworthy).
If you need to get to the airport from your hotel, the front desk will arrange the transfer for you.
How to get from Coron to El Nido on a multi-day expedition (an incredible alternative)
If you have the time and budget and you’re up for it, there are boats that operate on this route (and, of course, the reverse route as well), stopping at incredible islands along the way. The trips last 4 days/3 nights or 3 days/2 nights. We cover everything in our article Coron – El Nido Expedition, but we can tell you right now that the expedition is one of the most beautiful adventures we’ve had during our many trips around the archipelago over the past 14 years. Top-notch!
On the trip, you’ll discover islands between Coron and El Nido that are usually uninhabited and where you’ll sleep in little cabins by the sea. The stops are, for the most part, different from those on the Coron and El Nido island-hopping tours, making them a perfect addition to your trip and a good option if you want to venture beyond the most touristy routes.
You can view the schedule directly (spots sell out up to a couple of months in advance) by clicking this link.
If you’re thinking about traveling to Coron or El Nido from other parts of the Philippines, you’ll want to read:
Do you still have questions about how to get from Coron to El Nido or vice versa? Leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
