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!
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 Beach and Nagkalit-Kalit Waterfall.
Overall, I think El Nido is the area with the most things to do in Palawan. You could easily spend a week on just the boat tours! And even if you don’t get on a boat at all, El Nido has lots of beaches within reach on the mainland, which can be easily reached with a bit of driving.
• Coron
Coron has an Ultimate Island Tour that takes you to a giant Twin Lagoon and the famous Kayangan viewpoint, along with some coral reefs and other hidden spots.
Other tours like the Island Escapade let you walk across the ocean on a narrow sandbar and visit a bunch of other amazing white sand beaches, complete with hammocks, fresh coconuts, and everything else you need to relax.
Coron has the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Palawan. The coral reefs, exotic fish, and sunken shipwrecks you’ll see in Coron blow El Nido out of the water (no pun).
There are also some great beaches in Coron, although the only way to reach them is with a boat tour, so they’re not quite as accessible as the beaches in mainland El Nido.
Entalula Beach in El Nido
Accommodation
• El Nido
El Nido has a wide variety of budget and luxury hotels, although it tends to be a bit more pricey compared to other places in Southeast Asia. You get less value for your money compared to Bali, for example.
I’m sure that will change. I think tourist demand in El Nido has outpaced development, so it’s just a matter of waiting for more hotels to be built to accommodate the huge influx of island hoppers coming to Palawan now.
• Coron
Accommodation in Coron is a little cheaper and better value than El Nido, although it’s mostly budget hotels with only a few luxury options.
We were on a tight budget last time we visited Coron, so we stayed at the Coron Visitors Hotel, where we got a clean double room with cold A/C. The location was close to some great restaurants.
With a bigger travel budget, you can easily find some nice places to stay in Coron.
Frendz Hostel in El Nido
Aquilah Homestay in Coron
Restaurants
• El Nido
There’s no competition here. El Nido has a way better selection of restaurants, street food, and nightlife than Coron. There are tons of good places to eat.
Just for some examples, you can find cheap Asian food at places like CB Cafe, pizza at Altrove, fruit smoothie bowls at The Vegan Cafe, and top notch international and western food at El Nido Boutique Artcafe.
• Coron
Coron lags behind El Nido in places to eat, but the number of restaurants is growing quickly. Our favorites were Om’s Thai, El Kuvo, and Levine’s Eatery.
These were great and the prices were very reasonable. Overall, you won’t have a hard time finding good food in Coron, but it can’t stand up to the extensive eating choices you have in El Nido.
Shimizu Island in El Nido
Snorkeling in Coron
Karst limestone peaks in Coron
So… Coron Or El Nido? Which Is Better?
Overall, it’s a tough pick because both of these places are amazing.
El Nido has the best hotels and restaurants, and arguably the best island hopping, but Coron also has phenomenal island tours and much better snorkeling. Both places have great beaches, although the ones in El Nido are more numerous and easier to reach.
If you have time, definitely try to visit both places on your Palawan trip! See my tips below on how to do that.
Pinagbuyutan Island in El Nido
How To See Both Places
In the old days, there was no easy way to travel between Coron and El Nido. They weren’t linked to each other by flights or fast ferries, so you had to fly out to Manila or Cebu, and then fly back in to Palawan, which was an expensive hassle.
Thankfully, that’s all changed now. There are multiple companies running a direct ferry between El Nido and Coron, and you can book tickets online at Biyaheroes or Bookaway.
Better yet, if you want to see some of the more secluded and amazing islands between El Nido and Coron, consider doing a sailing expedition with Big Dream Boat Man. They have some expeditions lasting up to 4 days and 3 nights, taking you all the way from Coron to El Nido, or vice versa.
This can be a great way to go island hopping in paradise without the crowds and time constraints of a simple day tour, and you get to see a lot of nice new islands that are off the beaten path and not included on the main day tours.
Happy travels!
Helicopter Island in El Nido
A turquoise lagoon in Coron