Palawan island has become famous for its tropical scenery and island hopping, but in a head-to-head comparison of Coron vs El Nido which is better?
Both of these places are amazing, and it’s possible to do both (I’d recommend it!), but if you’re limited on time you may have to choose one or the other since the two provinces are separated in the Philippines by 100 kilometers of sea.
El Nido is more popular and more developed than Coron, but that’s not always a good thing. Coron is quieter and has better snorkeling and diving. Both El Nido and Coron have amazing islands and beaches to explore.
In this travel guide I’ll give a complete breakdown of all the differences, and hopefully it’ll help you decide between Coron or El Nido which is better!
Coron vs El Nido – Which Is Better?
Getting There
• El Nido
El Nido town can be reached by air, van, bus, or ferry.
The easiest, fastest, and most expensive (but recommended) way to get to El Nido Palawan is one of the direct flights sold by AirSWIFT.
The El Nido island airport (ENI) is not served internationally, so this means you will first need to fly to one of the big cities in the Philippines — Manila or Cebu — and then fly to ENI from there.
You can shop for flights to El Nido or Coron at Skyscanner.
• Coron
Flights to the Coron airport (USU) are a bit cheaper than El Nido because there are more airline options, including Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.
If you plan to visit both El Nido and Coron, then the most popular way to do that is by taking the fast ferry between the two places.
You can also join a 4-day Palawan sailing expedition from Coron to El Nido (or vice versa) and see some of the amazing secluded islands along the way (I’ll explain more on that later).
Matinloc Island in El Nido
Twin Lagoon in Coron
Things To Do
• El Nido
El Nido is island hopping heaven, with perfect turquoise lagoons, karst mountains, and the best white sand beaches in Palawan.
If you have time, spend your first few days knocking out all 4 of the El Nido island hopping day tours (A, B, C, and D). Next, experience the sunset at Marimegmeg Beach and then explore mainland sights like Nacpan Beac…