Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
A national park around a long underground river flowing through a limestone cave straight to the sea. Visitors paddle into the cave and see chambers of rock formations.
Palawan (El Nido and Coron)
Limestone cliffs, lagoons and shipwreck dives shape the island scenery here, along with the underground river at Puerto Princesa.
Attractive locations
Honda Bay
A sheltered bay north of Puerto Princesa with small islands, sandbars and coral reefs. Island-hopping boat trips are the usual way to swim, snorkel and relax on the beach.
Museum of Palawan
A museum in Puerto Princesa showing the island's natural and cultural history, including exhibits on its Indigenous peoples and local wildlife.
Bacuit Bay
A bay of limestone cliffs and islands off El Nido, used as the base for island-hopping boat tours. Lagoons, small beaches and clear water make it one of Palawan's most scenic stretches.
Tabon Caves
A group of limestone caves on Palawan's west coast where some of the oldest human remains in the Philippines were found. Visitors can see several of the caves and learn about the finds.
Starfish Island
A small sandbar island in Honda Bay, close to Puerto Princesa, with shallow clear water and white sand. Boat trips from the city stop here for swimming and snorkelling.
El Nido
A town at the northern tip of Palawan and the main base for boat trips around Bacuit Bay. Limestone cliffs, clear lagoons and white beaches surround it.
Airports
Puerto Princesa International Airport / PAF Antonio Bautista Air Base PPS
It is about 30 km in a straight line from Palawan (El Nido and Coron).
San Vicente Airport SWL
It is about 76 km in a straight line from Palawan (El Nido and Coron).
El Nido Airport ENI
It is about 148 km in a straight line from Palawan (El Nido and Coron).
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Philippines page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan26.8 °C56 mm
- Feb26.9 °C30 mm
- Mar27.9 °C29 mm
- Apr29.2 °C53 mm
- May29.1 °C125 mm
- Jun28.2 °C212 mm
- Jul27.7 °C224 mm
- Aug27.6 °C207 mm
- Sep27.6 °C203 mm
- Oct27.6 °C216 mm
- Nov27.7 °C174 mm
- Dec27.3 °C137 mm
Driest months: Feb, Mar, Apr. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Oct.
Costs
Prices here are about 33% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
911 (police, fire, ambulance).
ngo
Philippine Red Cross
Helps with: The Philippines' national Red Cross society. Its website describes disaster response, a national blood service, and first aid and CPR training. Its contact page lists an emergency hotline and a head-office address.
Who qualifies: People in the Philippines who need its disaster, blood or first aid services.
Phone: 143
Address: 37 EDSA corner Boni Avenue, Barangka-Ilaya, Mandaluyong City 1550
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines
Helps with: The UN migration agency. Its country office is in Makati City; use the email address to ask about its work with migrants.
Who qualifies: Migrants and others in its migration programmes. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Email: IOMPhilippines@iom.int
Address: 28th Floor Citibank Tower Condominium, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, 1226 Makati City, Philippines
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches police, ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 911