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How to Travel from Puerto Princesa to El Nido

05/05/2019 by Kristin Addis 9 Comments

El Nido is a popular destination in the north of Palawan, approximately 230 kilometers from Puerto Princesa. Known for white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and stunning limestone formations, you’ve probably seen photos showcasing the jaw-dropping beauty of this Filipino treasure.

There are multiple ways to get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido including a shuttle van, bus, and even direct flights.

The goal of this post is to give you all the resources you need in order to make the best decision for your trip and be on your way!

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Van: The Most Popular
  • Bus: The Longest
  • The Flight: The Fastest
  • READ MORE
  • How to DIY Honda Bay Island Hopping
  • The Ultimate Philippines Itinerary
  • What to Pack for Backpacking in Southeast Asia

Van: The Most Popular

Time: 5-6 hours
Price: 500-600 PHP

Time prediction is a bit misleading as Google Maps does not account for road conditions.

Many travelers opt for the shuttle van service between Puerto Princesa and El Nido because of the convenience factor and the shortened travel time compared to the unpredictable bus.

When you step out of the airport in Puerto Princesa, you’re likely to be approached by van drivers who are looking to fill their vans and depart for El Nido. Opting for this means you don’t have to search for a van, but keep in mind that many drivers will keep you waiting until their van is full, which can take an undetermined amount of time – potentially even until the next flight lands.

The two main providers for the van trip between Puerto Princesa and El Nido are Lexxus Shuttle and EULEN JOY Express. If you are not departing directly from the airport, both of these providers offer a hotel pick-up option.

The Lexxus Shuttle can be booked here for 600 PHP. They have vans running throughout the day, but it’s best to book your ticket in advance to ensure a spot. They also have a booking option through their Facebook page.

EULEN JOY Express is available to book online here, costs 600 PHP, and gives the option to select either airport or hotel pick up.

If you prefer not to book online or in advance, you can show up at the San Jose Terminal where both buses and vans are available. There are more van services than the two I’ve listed above, but those are the most popular and reliable. The less prominent operators are viable and will get you where you need to go – it just takes showing up at the bus terminal to have direct communication with them.

Disclaimer: Although the van is the faster option for ground transportation, van drivers do their best to fill vehicles to their maximum capacity, which some travelers (especially taller folks) may find uncomfortable. If this is a concern, the bus may be your preferred option for space. However, most vans are air conditioned and general comfort, of course, depends on the age and model – if you’re picky about this kind of stuff, you can ask to see the vehicle before booking.

Bus: The Longest

honda bay palawan
Honda Bay in Palawan

Time: 6 to 9 hours
Price: 380-480 PHP (non-air con vs air con)

It is a common assumption that the local bus is always the cheapest way to travel, but after accounting for the transportation cost to get to the bus station, in this case the prices of bus vs. van become nearly identical. The fact is the bus will take longer. Factoring in the time of day and frequency of stops, the bus can take up to 9 hours from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. The drivers will pick up any and all locals along the route, which adds to the time discrepancy. You may get lucky and arrive in 6 hours, or you may be on the bus longer. But hey, the journey is the destination!

Buses do offer wider legroom and bigger breathing space overall compared to the vans, so if this is important to you, the bus is a great option.

There are two companies to choose from when it comes to taking the bus from Puerto Princesa to El Nido: RoRo Bus and Cherry Bus, both of which operate from the San Jose Terminal located 7 kilometers from the airport. They both arrive to El Nido Transport Terminal in Corong-Corong. From there you’ll be able to take a tricycle to El Nido town proper or directly to your accommodation.

The following are the timetables for each bus service:

RoRo Bus

Cherry Bus

The Flight: The Fastest

el nido tour
You’ll get to El Nido in no time!

Time: 50 minutes
Price: Approximately 2,000 PHP

If time is of the essence and money is less of a factor, the flight between Puerto Princesa and El Nido may be the best option for you. Or, if you just want to skip the chaos of buses and vans and get straight to the beauty and adventure that awaits in El Nido, I certainly don’t blame you!

El Nido has its own airport, Lio Airport, but the short runway prevents most airlines from landing here with relatively big planes. AirSWIFT offers direct flights from Puerto Princesa to El Nido but fares and schedules fluctuate, so it is important to plan accordingly.

This is the option that I picked since I had spent the previous week on jeepneys and ferries in Romblon Island and the surroundings and just wanted to have a quicker and easier journey to El Nido. In hindsight I might have even skipped Puerto Princesa and gone straight from Manila to El Nido, which you can do on the same airline. If you’re dying to see the underground river or want to island hop in Honda Bay, which you can read more about here, then it could be worth the stop in PP, but if I had it to do over again I’d probably skip it for reasons I note in the linked post.

Either way, when traveling in the Philippines always remember that delays are part of it, and keeping calm and enjoying the journey are the best things you can do. Happy travels! It’s always an adventure.

READ MORE

How to DIY Honda Bay Island Hopping

The Ultimate Philippines Itinerary

What to Pack for Backpacking in Southeast Asia

Get the guidebook for solo female travelers!

About Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

« The Ultimate Honda Bay, Palawan Guide – DIY
El Nido Tour A: How to Do it Right »

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I'm Kristin, and my vision of a better world is one where more women are empowered and living out their dreams. Solo traveling is the best method I've found to become the best, bravest version of me. This site is all about how YOU can have the adventure of a lifetime in an easy, fun, approachable way, so that you can feel empowered, too. Want to learn more about me?

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Comments

  1. Angela says

    09/10/2019 at 6:13 pm

    Hi Kristen

    Was wondering I been looking at Airswift flight from ElNido to Puerto Princesca and there are no flights available. Are these still running it doesnt seem to be anymore.

    Thanks Angela

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/16/2019 at 1:42 am

      Hmm, it should be, but they don’t run every day.

      Reply
  2. Luis says

    10/14/2019 at 9:36 pm

    Thank you so much for all your wonderful videos and information you have provided. You truly are making our planning much easier. Keep up the amazing content! My wife and I will be definitely use your advice. Cheers!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/19/2019 at 12:01 pm

      Awesome have fun!

      Reply
  3. Nita says

    10/21/2019 at 3:05 pm

    Hi …
    The flight from Puerto Princesa to El Nido is suspended for now. They said they’re not sure when it will open again.
    Thanks
    Nita

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/22/2019 at 3:06 pm

      Thanks for the update!

      Reply
  4. Bianca says

    01/06/2020 at 4:30 pm

    Any one know about flying from princess to el nedo? Or renting Priavte plane possible?

    Reply
  5. David says

    02/01/2020 at 5:37 am

    Really good blogs and using lots of information and you will save me lots of time .
    Sadly i had booked to land in P.P and then booked to stay there for 3 days… i dont mind 1/2 day to get over the flight and acclimatise etc but 3 was a bad decision ,i will lose £20 and leave early.
    You mention Coron ,can you tell me your experience getting the boat from el nido to Coron ,ive heard its not great .
    Many thanks for the info.

    David

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      02/01/2020 at 9:22 am

      Hey David, I actually flew from El Nido to Coron although you have options. If you have time I’ve heard the Tao Expedition is amazing and I will do that at some point in the future. Otherwise, yeah, ferries in the Philippines can be long and have delays but they aren’t THAT bad. I’ve taken many and it’s all just part of the experience.

      Reply

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