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Palawan has a well-earned reputation as one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines. It has beautiful beaches, stunning scenery, and plenty of epic things to see and do. So if you are planning a trip to Palawan, you may be trying to work out how long to spend there.
In this article, we’re going to give you a feel for what you can do in Palawan with different trip lengths and help you decide how long you should spend in Palawan.
We have visited Palawan several times over the years and we are using our own first-hand experience to inform this article. We will give you a feel for the variety of different activities and attractions and how long you should plan to spend depending on your own personal goals and priorities.
WORKING OUT WHERE TO GO? – Palawan vs Cebu Full Guide
WHEN SHOULD YOU VISIT? – When is the BEST time of year to visit Palawan?
A Few Important Things to Know About Palawan
Palawan may be beautiful, but it is also relatively under-developed and it can be slow and difficult to travel around. In a destination like Palawan, things can take a lot longer than you think. Expect setbacks which can slow your trip down and make things take more time. Palawan is not really the kind of place that you can plan a rushed trip. If you have the time, we do recommend spending more time in Palawan.
You do not need to book things in advance in Palawan; you can just turn up and arrange things on the day. You can normally arrange buses through your hotel or guest house. There are also a lot of tour operators and travel agents in El Nido who can book trips and transportation. However, if you only have a short trip in Palawan, we recommend organizing transport, accommodation, and trips in advance.
Five Days in Palawan
Five days is probably the shortest meaningful trip that you can take in Palawan. If you only have five days in Palawan, you will need to prioritize and plan your time carefully. In most cases, you will probably be flying in and out of Puerto Princesa (which is the main town in Palawan). If you only have 5 days in Palawan, we recommend basing your itinerary around Puerto Princesa and the area. You can take an island hopping trip (Honda Bay), enjoy seafood at Baywalk, and you can also take a day trip to visit the iconic UNESCO Palawan Underground River (also known as the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River). Check out our Underground River – Mini-guide
Suggested 5 day Itinerary
- Day 1: Explore Puerto Princesa, settle in, and visit Baywalk in the evening.
- Day 2: Take a day trip to the Palawan Underground River.
- Day 3: Explore Puerto Princesa, visit the beach, and try some local food. Take a firefly watching cruise along the mangroves.
- Day 4: Take an island hopping trip of Honda Bay.
- Day 5: Visit the Palawan Butterfly Garden or take a day trip to one of the beaches on the west coast (e.g. Tagkawayan Beach).
One Week in Palawan
One week in Palawan is the minimum amount of time if you are hoping to see a few more destinations and experience some of the top attractions in Palawan. A week in Palawan is likely to feel quite rushed, so we do recommend spending a little longer if possible.
If you have one week in Palawan, you can go further afield and visit a couple of destinations. We recommend spending two days in Puerto Princesa and spending the rest of your trip in El Nido. In Puerto Princesa, we recommend taking a day trip to visit the Underground River. You need to allow a full day to travel to El Nido (the bus normally departs early in the morning and arrives early afternoon) and also a full day to return to Puerto Princesa. Find out how to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido.
We recommend spending around 3 days in the El Nido area. You can take an island hopping trip to the beautiful beaches, islands, and lagoons in the area (allow a full day for this trip). You can also visit Las Cabanas Beach and ride an epic zipline to an uninhabited island. Don’t miss the El Nido Via Ferrata Canopy Walk. You can also enjoy some time relaxing on El Nido Beach. If you are in the mood for an adventure, you can rent a kayak and explore the stunning coastline around El Nido.
Suggested one week Itinerary
- Day 1: Settle in and visit Baywalk.
- Day 2: Take a day trip to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. Take a firefly watching cruise in the mangroves.
- Day 3: Travel day to El Nido.
- Day 4: El Nido Via Ferrata Canopy Walk and visit Las Cabanas Beach in the afternoon. Try the zipline to an island.
- Day 5: Take an island hopping trip in the El Nido Bay area.
- Day 6: Travel day, return to Puerto Princesa.
- Day 7: Take an island hopping trip of Honda Bay.
10 Days in Palawan (or More)
In our opinion, 10 days is the optimum amount of time to explore and enjoy Palawan. If you have a 10-day trip, we recommend spending two or three days in Puerto Princesa and spending around 5 days in El Nido (remember you will also need to allow two travel days).
With a full 10 days, you can have a less rushed trip, slow down, relax, and enjoy the experience more. 10 days also allows you to travel further afield (if that is something you are hoping to do). Alternatively, you can embrace new and exciting experiences such as taking a scuba diving course or learning to free dive.
