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Glide above the turquoise ocean as you take a breathtaking and incredible ride to a small wild uninhabited island off the coast of Palawan. If this sounds like your idea of an awesome experience, keep reading.
So epic and exhilarating is this experience, we think this deserves its own article. So here it is. In this article, we’re going to tell you everything that you need to know to plan your own trip to the Palawan Zipline Adventure in 2025. We will give you tips on how to get there, the best way to do the zipline, what you need to bring, and things that you need to prepare beforehand.
The Palawan zipline Adventure was certainly one of our top highlights in Palawan. We are very excited to share this awesome, unique, and exhilarating experience with you.
DON’T MISS OUR FULL GUIDE – Palawan with kids – everything you need to know
Zipline to an uninhabited island
The Palawan zipline Adventure is a 500m long zip line off the coast of Palawan. It starts from the top of a tall hill overlooking Las Cabanas Beach, glides over the jungle, beach and ocean, finishing on a small uninhabited jungle island.
Over many years of travel, we have done many ziplines all over the world. The Palawan Zipline Adventure is undoubtedly one of our favorites. But you don’t need to take our word for it. If you’re planning to visit Palawan, make sure you get yourself to Las Cabanas beach and try it out for yourself.
Where is the Palawan zipline Adventure?
The Palawan zipline Adventure is located at Las Cabanas Beach (a short drive from El Nido Beach). Most people who do the zipline stay in El Nido in the northwest of Palawan. The zipline starts from the top of a steep hill overlooking Las Cabanas Beach. The zipline is approximately 500m in length and runs to Depeldet Island. We have pinned the exact location of the entry desk for the zipline (it is situated on the beach by the Orange Pearl Beach Resort). All you need to do is go to this desk and pay for your ticket, and they will take you to the start of the zipline at the top of the hill.
How much does it cost to do the Palawan zipline?
The Palawan Zipline is great value for money. It only costs 600 pesos per person (around £8 or $10). There is sometimes a photographer available. They charge 150 pesos for 8 pictures.
How do you get to Las Cabanas Beach?
1 Travel to El Nido
The first step to get to Las Cabanas Beach is to get yourself to Palawan. Most people arrive at Puerto Princesa (it is normally cheapest to fly into this airport). The journey from Puerto Princesa to El Nido is approximately 270 km, and it normally takes around 5 – 6 hours by minibus (including a stop). You can arrange minibuses through your guest house, hostel, or hotel in Puerto Princesa. Expect to pay around 600 – 800 pesos per person (around £8 – £12 or $10 – $15).
2 Take a tricycle to Las Cabanas
We recommend spending at least a few days in El Nido. It is a very beautiful beach area with a lot of things to see and do. Once you are in El Nido, it is very easy to get to Las Cabanas Beach. There are plenty of tricycle Tuk Tuks in town. Speak to one of the drivers and make sure that you barter for a fair price. It should cost around 150 – 200 pesos (around £2 – £3 or $2.50 – $3.50).
3 Walk to the Zipline Ticket Desk
Ask your driver to drop you off at the McDonald’s. From here, it is a 15-minute walk (we have indicated the route that you need to walk on the map to help you find the way). There is a desk situated by the Orange Pearl Beach Resort on Las Cabanas Beach (This is where you can purchase your ticket for the zipline). Once you have purchased your ticket on the beach, a member of staff will help transfer you to the zipline (in some cases, they may have a van to take you to the top of the hill; in other cases, you may need to walk). When you reach the top of the hill, you will be fitted with a harness and given a safety briefing. From here, all you need to do is wait (which is probably the scariest part of the whole experience!)
Top tip: At high tide, the water level gets right to the top of the beach, so be prepared to paddle a little bit if you are visiting at high tide.
Palawan Zipline Adventure Experience
So once you have made your way to the Palawan zipline Adventure, what is the experience actually like? In the introduction, we mentioned that we have done many zip lines around the world (including incredible jungle canopy ziplines). Palawan zipline Adventure is genuinely unique and stands out in our memory as one of the best.
What happens when you reach the top?
When you reach the top station, you will be given a safety briefing, and they will also fit you up with a harness. It is not normally too busy here, so you will probably not need to wait more than 5 or 10 minutes before you go. The Palawan zipline Adventure is truly exhilarating.
When you stand at the platform and look out over the ocean, the island really does look a long way away. There is something truly magnificent about the scenery.
We particularly recommend doing this zipline at sunset (it is important to be aware that the zipline closes at 5:30pm, so you will need to arrive before then).
The actual ride is not too fast, or at least it doesn’t feel fast because you are traveling across a very large open expanse. There is a team of staff at the bottom zipline station ready to catch you and meet you. I did the zipline with our oldest son (he was 5 years old at the time). We were not traveling too fast when we arrived at the bottom.
How do you get back to Las Cabanas Beach?
When you arrive at the bottom platform, the staff will help you take your harness off. From here, you need to climb down some steep bamboo steps until you reach the coast. You can then walk across a shallow sandbar to reach Las Cabanas Beach (it is very shallow at low tide; however, it may be at least knee-deep at high tide). You may want to take your shoes off and paddle through the water; alternatively, you can keep them on (just remember saltwater can damage shoes).
The Palawan Zipline Adventure – Things to Bring
Remember to bring plenty of cash to pay your driver and pay for the zipline (card payments are not accepted).
It’s important to recognize that you will need to wear good shoes in order to do the Palawan zipline; sandals and flip-flops are not allowed. You will need to wear trainers (that’s “sneakers” if you speak American).
You are also not allowed to wear any loose hanging jewelry or sunglasses. If you have long hair, we recommend you tie it up. If you’re traveling with someone else, we recommend leaving a bag with them; however, if you do need to take valuables with you, make sure that they are zipped up inside a pocket. It would be pretty devastating to see your iPhone free falling into the ocean!
You are allowed to bring cameras on the zipline with you. If you want to be hands-free and not focus on filming, we recommend using an action camera on a head strap (a wide-angle shot will give you the best immersive footage). Alternatively, you are also allowed to use selfie sticks on this zipline. We used an Insta360 with an invisible selfie stick to capture the experience, and we were very impressed with the results.
Is the Palawan Zipline Adventure Suitable for Kids?
Yes, it is possible to do the Palawan zipline adventure with kids. In fact, we did the experience with our 5-year-old boy who absolutely loved it. The main thing is that a child needs to be able to fit safely in the harness (generally speaking, they will not take children under 5 years old). Young children will also need to ride with an adult.
What Else Can You Do at Las Cabanas Beach?
Las Cabanas Beach is a beautiful west-facing beach. It is a fantastic spot to watch the sunset. You can swim, paddle, and kayak in the area. If you are swimming in this water, be aware that there are occasional jellyfish encounters in the area. There are several bars and restaurants along the beach. We particularly recommend the Mexican food at Sunset at Las Cabanas. There are also a range of shops, cafes, and restaurants situated on the footpath between the road and the beach (close to McDonald’s). This is also a great spot to get a tasty ice cream.
MAKE SURE YOU DON’T MISS THIS – There are some stunning Lagoons and islands in this area – you can book an Amazing Lagoon & Island Hopping Tour on KLOOK
