More and more travelers decide to travel to the Philippines and include two of the stars of the Palawan region in their itineraries: Coron and El Nido. In both you’ll find spectacular limestone walls surrounding lagoons, lakes and beaches washed by waters so turquoise you’ll think you’re dreaming. To find the best way to connect 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 options to go from Coron to El Nido: by plane or by boat. Depending on the time or money you want to invest, it will be worth choosing one or the other. To analyze which one suits you best, keep reading because we’re going to tell you everything.
How to get from Coron to El Nido by boat (the “cheap” option)
This is the most common option to get from Coron to El Nido or vice versa. Several companies offer a fast boat service once a day. The trip takes about 3 or 4 hours, depending on sea conditions.
As of June 2025, to go from Coron to El Nido by ferry or vice versa you can choose between:
- Montenegro Shipping Lines: with this company you can go from Coron to El Nido every day at 6:00. In the opposite direction, that is, to get to Coron from El Nido, they depart at 12:00. The ticket price is 2.816 pesos. You can book online here or, if you don’t find tickets on the previous one, here. These sites are 100% trustworthy.
- Atienza Interisland: they operate every day, departing from El Nido at 12:30 (arrival around 16:30) and from Coron at 7:00 (arrival at 12:00). They have Starlink internet on board. Price: 2.800 pesos. You can book online here or here.
- Jomalia Shipping: departs every day at 7:30 from Coron and takes the same as the others (in theory, arriving at 11:10). Since December 2024 they have an additional boat on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 13:00. From El Nido at 12:30 and arriving 16:10. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays they have an extra boat from El Nido to Coron at 8:00. Price: 2.850. You can book online from this link or from this one.
- Phimal: departs every day at 8:20 from Coron and then at 13:00 from El Nido. In theory it takes 4 hours. Be careful because the boat is smaller than the others and moves more. You can book online here or here.
Which one is better? Honestly, although they work similarly, Jomalia seems much better to us because the boat is larger, which means it moves less and you’re less likely to get seasick. The seats are comfortable and it’s a serious company.
What we do advise is that, given the increase in tourism between both places, we recommend that as soon as you arrive in Coron or El Nido, you go buy your tickets so you don’t miss out, or book online. We receive many complaints from travelers who run out of tickets even 5 days in advance, especially during periods of high demand such as Christmas or Easter.
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. These amount to 20 pesos.
It’s very important to keep 2 things in mind: 1) the boat tends to move a bit (although it depends on sea conditions), so if you’re prone to seasickness, take a biodramine or similar 30 minutes before departure; and 2) they blast the air conditioning, so keep a sweatshirt handy.
On the other hand, if the sea is a little choppy, it’s normal for it to take more than 4 hours (sometimes up to 5). Patience.
Boats depart from the Coron Ferry Terminal and arrive at the El Nido Ferry Terminal.
VERY IMPORTANT: at this time (June 2025), only Montenegro, Atienza, Jomalia and Phimal operate. Don’t pay attention if you’re offered other boats because other travelers have been scammed (even buying tickets at that company’s office) and have been put on a bangka not prepared for this open-sea crossing at night, taking almost 9 hours. Please, for your safety, DO NOT HIRE ANY KIND OF PRIVATE BOAT or pay attention to people who want 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 bit farther from the center, but it shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes to get there. Normally a tricycle shouldn’t charge you more than 50 pesos if you’re staying downtown or nearby.
Keep in mind that upon arriving in Coron you will have to pay 200 pesos for Coron’s environmental fees, valid for your entire stay. Still, note that when doing the Coron island hoppings you will have to pay fees in almost every place you visit. Yes, we know it’s annoying, but that’s how it works in the Philippines. Instead of consolidating the fees in one place, you have to pay them at each site.
More information about 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 this town you can walk there. If you’re staying in Corong Corong, you can take a tricycle, which shouldn’t cost you more than 25 pesos per person.
More information about 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. It takes just 25 minutes, so it’s a great alternative to save time and avoid possible seasickness from the boat. Flights from Coron depart from Busuanga Airport or Francisco Reyes Airport (IATA code: USU). From El Nido they depart from Lio Airport (IATA code: ENI), located next to Lio Beach.
The frequency of flights from Coron to El Nido and from El Nido to Coron is 2 or 3 times a week. So you’ll have to fit it well with your travel dates.
Book flights from El Nido to Coron
Air Swift has a small fleet of propeller planes that cover routes like this one and others such as from Manila to El Nido, from Cebu to El Nido, from Boracay to El Nido and from Bohol to El Nido and vice versa.
The price of the journey to get from Coron to El Nido varies a lot depending on the dates you travel and how far in advance you buy the flight. It’s common to pay around 3.000–4.000 pesos. So if you’re sure 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) and thus avoid the boat’s rattling. In fact, right now the price difference with the ferry isn’t that big after the increase in fuel prices, so it’s an option to consider.
How to get from El Nido airport to your hotel and vice versa
The El Nido airport is located very close to Lio Beach. The simplest way to get to/from your hotel is to take a tricycle. It’s common for drivers to ask for around 300 pesos, a little more if you’re staying in Corong Corong or Las Cabañas. The ride will take about 20–30 minutes.
How to get from Coron airport to your hotel and vice versa
The Coron airport is a bit farther from Coron Town. There is a van service (van) that picks up or drops off passengers at their respective hotels. The trip takes about 30 minutes. They cost 250 pesos per person. If you arrive at the airport, you’ll see them parked outside. You just have to tell them your hotel. If you want to pay online and thus not use cash, you can book at the same price via this link (100% trustworthy).
If you need to go to the airport from your hotel, the reception will arrange the transfer for you.
Flights to Coron from El Nido, Philippines
How to get from Coron to El Nido on a multi-day expedition (an alternative and incredible option)
If you have time, budget and the desire, there are boats that cover this route (and, of course, in the opposite direction as well) making stops on incredible islands. The trips last 4 days/3 nights or 3 days/2 nights. We tell you everything in our article Coron – El Nido Expedition, but we’re already telling you that it’s one of the most beautiful adventures we’ve had in our many trips around the archipelago over the last 14 years. TOP!
The trip takes you to discover the islands between Coron and El Nido which are usually uninhabited and where you’ll sleep in little huts by the sea. The stops are, for the most part, different from those on the El Nido island hopping and Coron, so they’re a perfect complement to your trip and a good option if you want to get off the most touristic routes.
You can take a look directly at the calendar of dates (places sell out even a couple of months in advance) by clicking on this link.
If you’re thinking of traveling to Coron or El Nido from other corners of the Philippines, you’ll be interested in reading:
Do you still have any questions about how to get from Coron to El Nido or vice versa? Write us a comment and we’ll reply as soon as possible.
