Hotels in Palawan

Palawan: Limestone Karsts, Underground Rivers, and the Sulu Sea

Palawan is a long, narrow island province stretching 450 km along the western edge of the Philippine archipelago, separating the South China Sea from the Sulu Sea. Puerto Princesa, the capital, sits roughly mid-island and is home to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 — where an 8.2 km navigable underground river flows through cathedral-sized caverns before emptying into the sea. North of the capital, El Nido anchors the Bacuit Archipelago, a cluster of 45 karst limestone islands with lagoons accessed by island-hopping routes labeled Tour A through D. Further north, Coron in Busuanga offers some of Southeast Asia's most-documented wreck diving, with 12 Japanese WWII shipwrecks sunk in a 1944 US Navy air raid lying at depths of 10–40 m.

Where to Stay in Palawan

Accommodation concentrates in three zones. Puerto Princesa carries mid-range city hotels and guesthouses within 3 km of the airport. El Nido town and its barangay of Corong-Corong hold cliff-side resorts and beachfront bungalows. Coron town on Busuanga Island serves divers with waterfront lodges along the main pier road.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) receives direct flights from Manila (75 min) and Cebu; El Nido has a small airstrip served by island-hopper aircraft.
• Best window: November through May avoids the southwest monsoon; June–October brings rougher seas and some tour cancellations.
• Currency: Peso; ATMs in Puerto Princesa are reliable, but El Nido and Coron have limited machines — carry cash.
• Environmental fee: El Nido charges a ₱200 eco-tourism fee per visitor, collected at the tourism office.