Where to Stay in Palawan

Palawan is the only island province in the Philippines still classified as malaria-endemic by the WHO and CDC, and El Nido falls within that zone. In practice, the risk for visitors staying in town or at beach resorts is low, highest in inland forested areas, during and after the rainy season (June, November). Health authorities still recommend precautions: use DEET-based repellent, sleep in air-conditioned rooms or under treated nets, and consult your doctor before departure about antimalarial prophylaxis such as doxycycline or Malarone.

Puerto Princesa is the most practical starting point, it has Palawan's main airport, decent mid-range hotels, and easy access to the UNESCO-listed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. From there, most travelers head north by van or domestic flight to El Nido (5, 6 hours overland, or 45 minutes by air via Lio Airport) or cross by ferry to Coron. If island-hopping in the Bacuit Archipelago is your main goal, skip Puerto Princesa entirely and fly directly into El Nido.

El Nido is Palawan's most visited hub, dramatic limestone karsts, island-hopping tours, and accommodation ranging from ₱800 fan rooms to ₱20,000-a-night clifftop villas. Coron, two hours by fast ferry or 45 minutes by plane, draws divers to WWII Japanese shipwrecks and Kayangan Lake, with a noticeably quieter pace and slightly lower prices. Puerto Princesa is the functional capital, best transport links on the island, solid restaurant scene. But it lacks the jaw-dropping scenery of the north and feels more city than beach destination.

Budget fan rooms and guesthouses in El Nido town start around ₱800, 1,500 (~USD 14, 27); air-conditioned en-suite rooms at decent mid-range guesthouses run ₱2,500, 5,000. Boutique hotels and beachfront properties stretch from ₱6,000 up to ₱25,000+ per night at places like the El Nido Resorts island properties. In Puerto Princesa the same budget goes noticeably further, a comfortable business hotel with a pool costs roughly ₱2,500, 4,000, while Coron sits between the two extremes.

El Nido Town is the logistical center, tour operators, restaurants, and bancas all depart from here, making it ideal if you're joining island-hopping tours daily or travelling on a budget. Lio Beach, 4 km north, is the upscale alternative: a planned eco-tourism estate with boutique resorts, a quieter beach, and no vehicle traffic. Nacpan Beach, 20 km further north, is for travelers who want near-isolation and some of the finest sand on the island, though you'll need a hired motorbike or habal-habal to reach El Nido services.

During peak season, December through April, when skies are clear and seas are calm, book El Nido and Coron properties 2, 3 months ahead, for December, Holy Week, and Chinese New Year. Shoulder months (May and November) offer 20, 30% lower rates with manageable crowds and book up just 4, 6 weeks out. July to September brings the southwest monsoon (habagat), which can shut down island-hopping tours for stretches. Some island resorts close entirely, and walk-in rates are readily available.

For many visitors, yes, Palawan's private island resorts represent some of the best value luxury in Southeast Asia when you factor in what's included. El Nido Resorts' four island properties (Miniloc, Lagen, Pangulasian, and Apulit) run USD 400, 700+ per night all-inclusive with meals, kayaking, and guided snorkelling tours. At a more moderate price point, Club Paradise on Dimakya Island near Coron and smaller cottage resorts around Flower Island (Taytay) offer a semi-private-island experience from around USD 80, 150 per night, just budget separately for speedboat transfers, which add USD 30, 80 per trip.

Tap water is not safe to drink anywhere in Palawan, this is standard throughout the Philippines. Virtually all accommodation provides complimentary bottled water or a refilling station on-site; mid-range and above properties typically include unlimited drinking water as standard. Bring a reusable bottle and use the refill dispensers, single-use plastic waste is a serious and visible environmental problem in El Nido, and the local government has introduced restrictions on plastics across the municipality.

Most accommodation clusters around Coron Town on Busuanga Island, which is practical for booking dive trips, catching ferries, and accessing restaurants along the main strip. The town waterfront has the widest range of budget to mid-range guesthouses (₱1,200, 6,000 per night), while the hills above town have a handful of resorts with panoramic views. For a more secluded experience, resorts on the nearby islands, around Coron Island itself or on the northern Busuanga coast, offer better beaches but require a boat to reach diving and tour services.