Palawan
Palawan · Palawan, Philippines
El Nido's lagoons and Coron's shipwrecks: 'the Philippines' last frontier'
Know before you go
- Don't touch coral or take shells
- don't wear sunscreen into the lagoons (choose reef-safe products)
- don't feed wildlife.
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Culture
Culture & customs
Background
El Nido's Nacpan Beach and Big and Small Lagoons, where limestone islands embrace jelly-like water; the Second World War wrecks of Coron Bay are a divers' sanctuary; and the Puerto Princesa Underground River (a World Heritage Site) runs beneath primeval forest. Lonely Planet calls it 'the last frontier of the Philippines', and it's home to sea turtles and dugongs.
Local customs
- Island-hopping trips are mostly shared boats, so be punctual
- follow your instructor when snorkelling or diving
- tipping is optional.
Religion & beliefs
- Catholicism is the majority religion, with some Indigenous beliefs
- community churches are the centre of local life — keep quiet when visiting and respect fishing-village customs.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Philippines: carry ID
- When your passport is in the safe, carry a copy of its photo page
- Going out without any ID
You must show ID when police ask for it.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Philippines travel advice
Philippines: zero tolerance for drugs
- Stay away from drugs of any kind
- Possessing even a small amount of drugs
Even small amounts of drugs bring mandatory prison sentences.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Philippines travel advice
Philippines: avoid too much intimacy in public
- Behave appropriately in public
- Overly intimate behaviour in public
It may be treated as 'grave scandal', punishable by a fine or 6 months in prison.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Philippines travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Don't touch coral or take shells
- don't wear sunscreen into the lagoons (choose reef-safe products)
- don't feed wildlife.
Locals appreciate DO
- Palawan people are proud of their pristine nature and appreciate eco-minded visitors who don't feed wildlife
- trying fresh sea urchin and joining a firefly night tour are most popular.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Best time | Best November–April |
|---|
Travel tips
- November–April is best. El Nido island-hopping has four routes, A/B/C/D, of which Tour A (Big and Small Lagoons) is the classic — be sure to book ahead
- Coron wreck diving requires an Advanced Open Water certificate
- it's about 1.5 hours' flight from Manila to El Nido or Coron.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Seafood
- Adobo
- Sinigang
Seafood (El Nido / Coron boat-trip barbecue lunches: grilled fish / prawns / pork + fruit), adobo, sinigang, tamilok (mangrove woodworm — challenge level, try with caution), coconut rice / mango desserts
| Where to eat | Restaurants on El Nido town's main street, island-hopping boat meals (included in tour fees), seafood restaurants in Puerto Princesa city |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Lagoon / island-hopping environmental rules: take boat-meal rubbish back, don't take shells; tamilok involves mangrove ecology — decide for yourself |
| Typical price per person | PHP 600–1,300 ≈ CNY 72–156; boat meals included in tour fees |
| Tips | The small town has power cuts and closes early, so eat dinner before 19:00; the boat-trip lunch is the main meal of the day — eat plenty. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
Tamorlan · CC BY 3.0
Photos
Photos
Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0
Yojrel · CC BY-SA 4.0
Philippine Fly Boy · CC BY 2.0
Sources & verification notes
Compiled from Philippines Department of Tourism guides to Palawan
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