natureFull day
El Nido Island Hopping Tour A - Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon
Tour A is the most popular of El Nido's four official island-hopping routes, visiting the Big Lagoon (navigable by kayak or bangka), the Small Lagoon (accessible only by kayak through a narrow cave entrance), Secret Beach (a hidden cove inside a limestone rock), and Shimizu Island snorkelling spot. The Big Lagoon's reflective turquoise water framed by dramatic limestone walls is one of the Philippines' most photographed landscapes.
natureFull day
Puerto Princesa Underground River Tour
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature - an 8.2 km underground river flowing through a cave complex before reaching the sea. Tours paddle visitors by paddle boat through the illuminated cave interior, passing enormous stalactite and stalagmite formations, nesting swiftlets, and chambers of extraordinary scale. A permit is required and must be arranged through an accredited operator.
adventureFull day
Private Underground River Tour with Ugong Rock Cave and Zip Line
This private tour combines the Puerto Princesa Underground River with the Ugong Rock Cave and Adventure Park, where visitors can cave-climb through limestone formations and then zip-line back down. The private format provides a more flexible and personalised experience than group tours. The tour includes hotel transfers, permits, and the boat ride into the UNESCO cave system.
natureFull day
El Nido Island Hopping Tour C - Hidden Beach and Matinloc Island
Tour C covers different destinations to Tour A, visiting the Cathedral Cave (a wide sea cave with dramatic light shafts), Hidden Beach (reachable only through a cave or by swimming), the Helicopter Island snorkelling reef, and the sandy shores of Matinloc Island. Many experienced El Nido visitors rate Tour C's destinations as more impressive than Tour A's, though it is slightly less well-known among first-time visitors.
adventureFull day
Coron Wreck Diving
Coron Bay in Busuanga contains more than a dozen Japanese warships sunk in September 1944, now transformed into some of the world's most famous wreck dive sites. The wrecks - ranging from the 160-metre tanker Okikawa Maru to the supply ship Kogyo Maru - are festooned with soft corals and inhabited by enormous schools of glass fish, barracuda, and batfish. Several PADI dive centres in Coron town offer guided dives for all certification levels.
natureFull day
Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake Snorkelling
Kayangan Lake, frequently cited as the Philippines' cleanest lake, sits inside a limestone karst island accessible via a short hike through jungle from the Coron Bay shoreline. The lake's crystal-clear water over a rocky bottom is ideal for snorkelling and free diving. Nearby Barracuda Lake has a unique thermocline where warm and cold water layers meet, creating surreal visibility effects and a halocline effect popular with underwater photographers.
beachFull day
Honda Bay Island Hopping
Honda Bay, 15 km from Puerto Princesa city, contains a cluster of small islands with white sand beaches and coral gardens accessible by 15-30 minute outrigger boat rides. The most visited islands include Cowrie Island, Starfish Island, and Luli Island (which disappears at high tide). The snorkelling around Starfish Island is particularly rewarding, with large sea stars, turtles, and colourful reef fish visible in shallow water.
nature2-3 hours
Iwahig Firefly Watching River Cruise
The Iwahig River, 15 km south of Puerto Princesa, hosts one of the Philippines' most accessible firefly watching experiences. Silent electric boats carry small groups along the mangrove-lined river after dark, when the trees flicker with thousands of synchronised fireflies (Pteroptyx tener) in a dazzling bioluminescent display. Tours depart after sunset and the 45-minute cruise requires no hiking or physical exertion.
adventure2-3 days
El Nido to Coron Island Hopping Ferry
The multi-day inter-island boat journey between El Nido and Coron is one of the Philippines' most scenic boat experiences, stopping at remote beaches including Port Barton, Flower Island, and various uninhabited sandbanks along the way. The journey takes 2-3 days depending on the operator, with overnight accommodation in simple beach cottages or aboard the boat. It is the most scenic way to travel between the two destinations.
cultureFull day
Puerto Princesa City Tour and Heritage Museum
A private guided city tour of Puerto Princesa covers the Palawan Museum (housing exhibits on tribal cultures and natural history), the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre (crocodile farm), the provincial capitol grounds, and the Rizal Avenue food and souvenir strip. The tour is a good introduction to Palawan's cultural and natural heritage before heading to El Nido or Coron.
adventure4-7 days
Tubbataha Reefs Liveaboard Dive Trip
The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Sulu Sea, accessible only by liveaboard dive vessel from Puerto Princesa during the open season from March to June. The reefs support extraordinary marine biodiversity including reef sharks, hammerheads, manta rays, whale sharks, and vast colonies of pristine coral. Liveaboard trips typically last 4-7 nights and are aimed at experienced divers seeking one of the world's premier dive destinations.
adventure3-6 hours
El Nido Kayaking Through the Lagoons
Rent a kayak in El Nido town or hire one through an island-hopping tour and independently explore the network of sea caves, lagoons, and hidden beaches in the Bacuit Archipelago at your own pace. The Small Lagoon on Tour A is navigable only by kayak, and several other formations require low-profile craft to enter through narrow cave passages. Guided kayaking tours can also be arranged for groups seeking instruction and safety support.
