The short answer: four fast-ferry companies sail between El Nido and Coron most days. Crossings leave El Nido around midday and Coron early in the morning, take 3.5-5 hours, and cost roughly PHP 2,800-4,000 (about $45-65) one way as of September 2026. The only realistic alternatives are the 40-minute Cebgo flight from El Nido's Lio Airport to Busuanga, or a 3-5 day island-hopping expedition. In the June-October southwest monsoon (habagat), crossings can be cancelled at short notice, so leave a spare day.
This guide covers each ferry operator and its timetable, fares, fees, booking and seasonal risks. It also covers the two legs most people pair with it: Puerto Princesa to El Nido by van or bus, and Manila or Cebu to Coron.
Prices and timetables in this guide were checked in September 2026 against operator pages, fare aggregators and recent reports. Schedules in Palawan change often, so confirm your sailing a few days before travel.
Quick Answer: El Nido to Coron at a Glance
| Option | Time | Price (one way, Sep 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast ferry (Montenegro, Jomalia, Atienza, Island Water) | 3.5-5 hrs | PHP 2,800-4,000 ($45-65) | Most travellers |
| Slow RORO (Atienza, weekly) | about 8 hrs | PHP 2,400-2,600 | Vehicles, cargo, flexible budgets |
| Flight ENI to USU (Cebgo) | about 40 min, plus 30-45 min road to Coron Town | from about PHP 3,850-4,000 | Rough-sea season, bad sailors |
| Island-hopping expedition | 3-5 days | PHP 16,000-31,000 | The trip itself is the highlight |
El Nido to Coron Ferry Operators and Schedules
Four companies run fast craft on the route. Departures from El Nido cluster between 11:00 and 12:30, which puts you in Coron Town by late afternoon. Phimal, which older guides still list with an 8:20am departure, had not resumed service at the time of writing. The route is not run by 2GO or OceanJet, whatever some aggregator pages say.
| Operator | Leaves El Nido | Arrives Coron (approx.) | Duration | Fare (as of Sep 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montenegro Lines | 12:00 | 3:30-4:30pm | about 3.5 hrs | PHP 2,816 regular (student, senior and child discounts) |
| Jomalia Shipping | 12:30 | about 4:00pm | about 3.5 hrs | PHP 2,800-3,300 depending on seat class |
| Atienza Interisland Ferries | 12:00-12:30 | about 4:30pm | about 4 hrs | PHP 2,900-3,000 |
| Island Water (Shogun Ships) | around 11:00, days vary | about 4:00pm | about 5 hrs | PHP 3,519 tourist, PHP 3,980 business, plus fuel surcharge |
A few practical notes on each:
- Montenegro Lines is the most widely resold, so it is often the easiest to book from abroad. Check in an hour before departure. Changes need at least 12 hours' notice.
- Jomalia sells an open-air seat and a pricier "high speed" class. Its luggage policy is the strictest: one hand-carry bag, then PHP 200 per extra piece.
- Atienza also runs the weekly slow RORO ship (see below), so make sure you are buying the fast-craft ticket.
- Island Water is the slowest and dearest fast craft. Its published timetable varies by day of the week and was the hardest to confirm in September 2026, so treat it as a backup.
Where the boats leave from: in El Nido, the ferry terminal at the western end of the main town beach, close enough to walk from most town-centre hotels. In Coron, the port in Coron Town. Arrive 45-60 minutes early with your ID and a printed ticket. Boarding is often slow, and some operators still want paper.
Tip: the midday departure means you lose your last El Nido morning to packing, but you get one more island-hopping morning than if you flew in the afternoon. If you want a final Tour A or C, the ferry is the better choice. Our El Nido destination guide has the tour breakdown.
Coron to El Nido
The reverse direction runs on an early-morning pattern, because the same boats have to get back to El Nido for their midday sailing.
| Operator | Leaves Coron | Arrives El Nido (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Montenegro Lines | 6:00am (an 8:00am is also listed on some days) | 9:30-10:30am |
| Jomalia Shipping | 7:30am | about 11:00am |
| Atienza Interisland Ferries | 7:00am | about 11:00am |
| Island Water | varies, check the operator | about 5 hrs |
Fares match the El Nido to Coron direction. Arriving in El Nido by late morning leaves time to check in and catch sunset at Las Cabanas. If you are choosing a direction, El Nido first, Coron second usually works better. Coron has far more onward flights to Manila, Cebu and Clark, so it is the easier place to exit. (See El Nido vs Coron if you are still deciding how to split your days.)
Fares, Fees and Luggage
The ticket is not the only cost. Budget for these as well (all as of September 2026):
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fast-ferry ticket | PHP 2,800-4,000 | Varies by operator and seat class; discounts for students, seniors and children on Montenegro |
| El Nido terminal fee | PHP 20 | Paid at the port |
| El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF) | PHP 400 | Paid once in town, valid 10 days; you will already have it if you did island-hopping tours |
| Coron port fee | PHP 20 | Paid on arrival |
| Coron environmental fee | PHP 200 | Cash on arrival, valid 10 days |
| Extra luggage | about PHP 200 per bag | Mainly Jomalia; Island Water caps you at 2 bags, 15kg total |
Luggage: Montenegro, Atienza and Jomalia generally allow around two pieces or 25kg. Jomalia's own listing allows one hand-carry bag, so check your ticket. Pack a dry bag or rain cover. Bags ride on deck or in open racks on some boats, and spray gets everywhere.
Seasickness: the open-water stretches of the crossing can be choppy, even in the dry season. Take tablets before you board rather than once you feel ill, and sit low and towards the middle of the boat.
How to Book
You have three ways to buy tickets:
- Online resellers. 12Go.asia is the most complete comparison for this route. Bookaway, Klook and KKday also sell Montenegro and Jomalia seats. Online prices can run a little above the counter price, but you get a guaranteed seat.
- Operator offices. Each company has a ticket office near the port in both towns. Island Water's El Nido office is next to the Petron station by the port. Buying at the counter is cheapest, but seats can sell out.
- Your hotel or a travel agency in town. This is convenient, and some agencies will fold in a tricycle to the port. Some resellers ask for five days' notice.
When to book: from December to January, and around Holy Week (Easter), buy at least a week ahead. The midday boats sell out. From June to October there are plenty of seats. The bigger risk then is cancellation, so book with an operator or reseller that makes rebooking easy.
Weather, Seasons and Cancellations
This is the part most guides skip, and it is the one that wrecks itineraries.
- Best window: December to April. Seas are calmest and cancellations are rare.
- Shoulder: May and November. Mostly fine, with the odd rough day.
- Habagat season: June to October. The southwest monsoon brings swells, and typhoons passing to the north can shut the route for days. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspends sailings whenever it issues a no-sail advisory. Tickets are then automatically cancelled.
This happens every year. On 21 July 2025, the Coast Guard station for northeastern Palawan cancelled all fast-ferry trips between El Nido and Coron. On 10 August 2026, the Philippine Ports Authority's list of habagat cancellations included Coron to El Nido sailings and multi-day expedition boats.
What to do about it:
- Keep one buffer day before any flight out of Coron or El Nido in the wet season. Operators are not responsible for missed connections.
- If your sailing is cancelled, you are normally offered a rebooking or refund. There is no compensation for hotels or flights you miss.
- The Cebgo flight is the practical backup when the sea is closed. Seats fill quickly on cancellation days, so book it early.
- Check that your travel insurance covers trip delay and missed connections caused by weather.
For month-by-month conditions across the region, see our best time to visit Southeast Asia guide.
Alternative 1: Fly El Nido to Busuanga
There is a direct flight from El Nido (Lio Airport, ENI) to Busuanga (Francisco B. Reyes Airport, USU), the airport that serves Coron. It takes about 40 minutes.
The airline has changed name. AirSWIFT, which flew this route for years, was folded into Cebgo (part of the Cebu Pacific group) on 1 July 2026. Flights now carry DG flight codes instead of T6, and schedules were kept the same. Old guides and some booking sites still say "AirSWIFT". It is the same service.
- Fare: from about PHP 3,850-4,000 one way as of September 2026. It can be much more in peak weeks.
- Frequency: reported anywhere from a few flights a week to daily, depending on the season. Check the Cebu Pacific site for your dates.
- Getting to Lio Airport: it is about 4km from El Nido town, a short tricycle ride.
- Busuanga airport to Coron Town: a 30-45 minute drive. Shared vans cost PHP 150-250 a seat, but may wait until they fill. Pre-booked shared shuttles cost about $9 per person, and a private van starts at around PHP 2,300.
Once you add the transfers, flying costs more than the ferry and saves only a couple of hours door to door. It earns its price in the monsoon, or if you get badly seasick.
Alternative 2: Island-Hopping Expeditions
If you have the time, the best way to travel between El Nido and Coron is slowly. Several outfits run multi-day bangka (outrigger) expeditions through the Linapacan and Calamian islands. You snorkel by day, then sleep on beaches, in huts or on basecamp islands. These trips run in both directions.
| Operator | Length | Price (as of Sep 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buhay Isla | 3D2N, 4D3N, 5D4N | PHP 22,900 / 26,900 / 30,900 | Environmental fees included; minimum age 10; groups of 16-24 |
| We Are Juan | 3D2N | PHP 16,000-19,000 | Low-season rate at the bottom of the range; environmental fees (about PHP 900 total) extra; minimum age 16 |
| Big Dream Boatman | 4D3N | about PHP 30,500 | Smaller, long-running local operator |
| Tao Philippines | 4 days | Not published; check directly | The original expedition, with off-grid basecamps and bamboo huts; limited departures |
Things to know:
- Seasonality. Most expeditions run on a reduced schedule, or not at all, during the habagat. For example, Buhay Isla's published season ran from late September to the end of July, and Tao showed no open trips for late 2026 when checked. Outside December to May, confirm your date is running before you plan around it.
- What is included. Meals, snorkel gear and camp accommodation are standard. Drinks and tips usually are not. Your luggage travels on the boat, so pack light and keep a dry bag.
- Booking. Book directly with the operator. Direct prices are often lower than the same trip on Klook or GetYourGuide.
Puerto Princesa to El Nido by Van or Bus
Most travellers reach El Nido overland from Puerto Princesa, Palawan's main airport. The trip is about 260-280km and takes 5-6 hours by van or 6-7 hours by bus, with one or two rest stops.
| Option | Price (as of Sep 2026) | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared van (Lexxus, Palajuanders, Island View, Fortwally, Eulen Joy and others) | PHP 600-800 per seat | 5-6 hrs | Airport or hotel pickup; frequent departures from early morning to mid-afternoon |
| Cherry Bus | PHP 610 economy to about PHP 1,100 for reclining "Lazy Boy" seats | about 6 hrs | Scheduled departures from 7:00am, plus a night bus; 15kg free baggage |
| Roro Bus | similar to Cherry Bus | 6-7 hrs | Roughly hourly departures through the day |
| Private van | PHP 5,500-9,000 per vehicle | 5 hrs | Worth it for groups of 4-6 or families |
Where to catch it: vans pick up at Puerto Princesa airport and at hotels. Buses leave from the Irawan land transport terminal (Puerto Princesa Land Transportation Terminal), not the old San Jose market terminal that older blogs mention. Both drop you at the El Nido transport terminal in Corong-Corong, a short tricycle ride from town.
Van vs bus: vans are faster, but seats are tight and some drivers take the curves hard. The deluxe buses have more legroom, air-con and a toilet, and they are the calmer ride if you get motion sickness. Book a van a day ahead in peak season. Buses rarely sell out except around holidays.
Doing a full loop? A popular one-way route is Puerto Princesa, El Nido, Coron by ferry, then fly out of Busuanga. It avoids backtracking and fits into 7-10 days. Our Palawan travel guide covers the Underground River and other stops along the way.
Manila and Cebu to Coron
If you are going straight to Coron, or flying out of it after the ferry:
- By air. Busuanga (USU) has flights from Manila, Cebu and Clark on Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific/Cebgo and Sunlight Air. Manila to Busuanga takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. PAL alone runs several flights a day. Round trips from Manila started from around PHP 8,400 for October 2026 dates when checked.
- By sea. 2GO runs an overnight ferry from Manila North Harbor to Coron, usually once or twice a week. It takes about 13-14 hours, and fares run from about PHP 2,600 to PHP 4,100 depending on the class. Timetables shift, so check 2GO's site directly. Arrive 3-4 hours early.
- From Batangas. Atienza's weekly RORO runs Batangas, Coron, El Nido. It is slow but useful if you are bringing a vehicle.
When you arrive in Coron, our Coron destination guide covers Kayangan Lake, the WWII wrecks and where to stay.
FAQ
How long is the ferry from El Nido to Coron?
Fast ferries take 3.5-4 hours on Montenegro, Jomalia and Atienza, and about 5 hours on Island Water. Rough seas can add an hour. The weekly Atienza RORO takes about 8 hours.
How much is the El Nido to Coron ferry?
As of September 2026, fast-ferry tickets cost PHP 2,800-4,000 one way (about $45-65), depending on the operator and seat class. Add PHP 20 terminal fees at each end and the PHP 200 Coron environmental fee.
What time does the ferry leave El Nido for Coron?
Most fast ferries leave El Nido between 11:00am and 12:30pm and reach Coron by 4:00-5:00pm. From Coron, departures are between 6:00am and 7:30am.
Is there a flight from El Nido to Coron?
Yes. Cebgo (which took over AirSWIFT's routes on 1 July 2026) flies from El Nido's Lio Airport to Busuanga in about 40 minutes. Busuanga is 30-45 minutes by road from Coron Town.
Do El Nido to Coron ferries get cancelled?
Yes, mainly between June and October, when the southwest monsoon and passing typhoons bring rough seas. The Coast Guard suspends all sailings when it issues a no-sail advisory, so keep a buffer day before international flights.
Should I do El Nido or Coron first?
El Nido first is usually easier. You arrive via Puerto Princesa, take the ferry to Coron, then fly out of Busuanga, which has more flights to Manila, Cebu and Clark.
How do I get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido?
Take a shared van (PHP 600-800, 5-6 hours) from the airport or your hotel, or a Cherry Bus or Roro Bus (PHP 610-1,100, about 6-7 hours) from the Irawan terminal. A private van costs PHP 5,500-9,000.
More Waddat guides for your Palawan trip:
- El Nido Travel Guide - tours, beaches and where to stay
- Coron Travel Guide - lakes, wrecks and island hopping
- Palawan Travel Guide - the whole island at a glance
- El Nido vs Coron - which one suits you
- Where to Stay in El Nido - hotels and hostels by area
- Travel Insurance for Southeast Asia - what to buy before you go
Last updated: September 2026. Fares and schedules change often in Palawan; always confirm with the operator before travel.
