Palawan is one of the most visited islands in the Philippines and has been voted to be “the most beautiful island in the world” in Travel + Leisure’s World Best Awards 2020.
Once you get there yourself, it’s easy to see why. Palawan is home to a total of 1750 islands with white sand beaches, clear water, and limestone formations that are simply out of this world – it’s a true island-hopping paradise!
The mainland of Palawan is filled with dozens of jungle hikes to hidden waterfalls, mysterious caves, and you can even go surfing at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!
To help you plan your trip, I decided to put together this list of the 10 top things to do in Palawan. Plus, at the end of this article, you’ll find a secret tip for a place that almost no one knows about! 😉
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1. Go Island Hopping in El Nido!
One of the first places that comes to mind when thinking of Palawan is the small town of El Nido, featuring long, white sand beaches, majestic limestone formations, and world-famous island hopping.
El Nido’s bay is a true paradise and although it’s very touristic these days, there’s a reason why it’s so popular!
The bay is home to a total of 45 islands, where you can snorkel to explore fascinating coral reefs, walk along stunning sandbanks, and visit the coveted Small and Big Lagoon with turquoise-blue water! Therefore, going island hopping in El Nido is a real must-do in Palawan!
If you’re interested to find out more about the different tours that are being offered, check out my article about the itineraries of El Nido’s island hopping tours!
2. Chill Out in Port Barton!
When visiting Palawan, you should make sure not to overlook the smaller places the island has to offer. Port Barton is an up-and-coming destination for travelers enjoying the calmness of a small fishing village before venturing off to more crowded places like El Nido and Coron!
Having spent a few months in this small village myself, I can assure you that Port Barton is one of the must-see destinations in Palawan! Here, you can hike to several beautiful beaches like White Beach or Coconut Beach, cool off in the Pamuayan Falls, or simply chill out with a drink in one of the bars at Port Barton’s main beach!
You can also participate in some island hopping tours in Port Barton, which brings you to four to five islands in Port Barton’s bay. The islands may not be as impressive as the ones in El Nido or Coron, but they’re also far less crowded and at Turtle Spot, you’ll be almost guaranteed to spot some sea turtles!
3. Visit Palawan’s Beautiful Beaches!
No matter where you go in Palawan, you can be sure to be near some stunning world-class beaches! My favorite beaches in Palawan are Nacpan Beach and Duli Beach – two long, sandy beaches near El Nido that feature the clearest water I’ve ever seen and countless coconut palms.
Furthermore, Palawan is also home to the longest sand beach in the Philippines! With a length of 14 kilometers, you’ll surely find a quiet spot to relax on Long Beach in San Vicente! 😉
Keep in mind, that those are just a few of the incredible beaches you can explore. To find out more about what beaches to visit during your trip, check out my article about the best beaches in Palawan!
4. Head to Coron on a Multiple-Day Expedition!
Another highlight in Palawan is the island group of Coron, which is known for astounding islands with turquoise blue water and mind-boggling limestone cliffs.
It’s located almost 300 kilometers north of Palawan’s main island. From El Nido, you can get there either by ferry, which takes 4-6 hours, or head on a multiple-day expedition, for example with the tour operator Tao.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to do this expedition myself, but I’ve only heard good – no AMAZING – things about it!
Along the way, you’ll stay a night (or more, depending on what tour you choose) on the island group of Linapacan between El Nido and Coron. The islands here are some of the most untouched places in Palawan and are supposed to be incredibly beautiful! Once you’re in Coron, you can join some island hopping tours to see the famous Kayangan and Barracuda Lake as well as Twin Lagoon, which is famous for its unbelievably blue water!
Fun Fact: Did you know that it was a beach in Linapacan that inspired Alex Garland to write his popular novel “The Beach”? Although the story is set in Thailand, Alex Garland was actually living in El Nido, when writing his book!
5. Visit the Puerto Princesa Underground River!
Being one of the new 7 Wonders of Nature in the World, the Puerto Princesa Underground River is another place you definitely have to see when visiting Palawan!
Technically, the river is not located in Puerto Princesa but in a small village called Sabang, which is located about 70 kilometers north of Palawan’s capital. From here, you can visit the spectacular sight with a boat tour – an underground cave with a 7-kilometer-long river, which is lurching its way through the limestone. Impressive!
Your tour guide will point out several interesting rock formations along the way, while an audiobook provides you with interesting facts about the geological site. The tour only takes about 90 minutes in total but it’s certainly one of the top things to do in Palawan if you’re looking to see something else than just beaches and islands!
Tip for Sabang: I recommend staying a night in Sabang, so you can visit some other off-the-beaten-path destinations the small village has to offer. This includes the Monkey Trail, the Pyamaluguan Sabang Waterfall, and the Ugong Rock Adventure Park, where you can zip line across some rice fields!
By the way: If you’re interested in unique landscapes, you may also like the Chocolate Hills on Bohol Island!
6. Go Diving in Palawan and Explore Fascinating Underwater Worlds!
Divers heading to Palawan will be amazed by the remarkable dive sites the island has to offer! Both El Nido and Coron offer some magnificent dive spots, but if you want to see the best of the best, you should head to Tubbataha Reef. This World Heritage Site is one of the best dive sites on the planet, and seeing this underwater wonder yourself will definitely take your breath away!
Tubbataha Reef is located in the Sulu Sea, about 160 kilometers from Palawan’s capital Puerto Princesa. Here, you can find more than 500 species of fish as well as Reef Sharks, Mantas, and even Whale Sharks!
Although I don’t dive myself, my very good friend has gone diving in Tubbataha Reef and the excitement in his eyes said it all!
Are you planning to do a lot of diving in the Philippines? Then, you should check out Malapascua Island as well, which is famous for Tresher Sharks and is known to be ‘the dive capital’ of the country!
7. Go Surfing at Duli Beach!
If you haven’t heard of the swell in Palawan, you’ll be happy to find out that the island is home to some exceptional surfing spots! One of the most popular spots for local surfers is Duli Beach, which is located about a 45-minute drive north of El Nido.
Between September and March, you’ll get beautiful waves for beginners as well as for advanced surfers. Just head to “Duli Beach Resort” to rent a board and jump on the waves yourself. If you’re inexperienced, you can also book a surf lesson with a private teacher through them. Doesn’t this sound like the perfect way to spend a day at the beach?!
Some other great spots to surf in Palawan include:
- Nagtabon Beach: Nagtabon Beach near Puerto Princesa is one of the best surf spots on the island, as you’re almost guaranteed to have waves!
- San Vicente: White Beach in San Vicente is the perfect surf spot for beginners! If you happen to be here in February, you can also attend a yearly surf competition!
- Sibaltan: Sibalten is a small village on Palawan’s east coast, which is known for flat water and lots of wind, making it the perfect place to go kitesurfing!
8. Head off the Beaten Path in Southern Palawan!
Although most of the highlights in Palawan are located in the northern part of the island, you should definitely visit the South of Palawan as well!
Almost no one heads to the south, which makes it an “off-the-beaten-path-paradise” for adventurous travelers like myself. I spent two weeks here and have absolutely loved my time. Southern Palawan is not part of the generic tourist route, which means you’ll be able to have an authentic travel experience and experience Filipino culture that hasn’t been altered by tourists yet. The locals are outstandingly friendly and the nature is astonishingly beautiful! What more could you ask for?!
Head to Narra and Brooke’s Point to see some mind-blowing waterfalls, visit the Tubong Caves in Quezon (, where the oldest human fossils in the Philippines were found), and go island hopping in the phenomenal island group of Balabac in the Sulu Sea! I guarantee, that visiting the south of Palawan is an unforgettable experience – for me, it was certainly one of the best things I did in Palawan!
Note: Several governments have placed travel warnings for the South of Palawan, which are mainly connected to piracy and kidnappings in the Sulu Sea. With that being said, I haven’t heard about any recent incidents in the area!
Personally, I have not been to Balabac, as it was still closed to Covid when I was there (I would have loved to go though!). Still, I visited the rest of Southern Palawan very thoroughly and I have not felt endangered at any moment!
9. Explore Palawan’s Waterfalls!
Keen to chase some waterfalls? Then you’ve come to the right place! Waterfalls are scattered around the whole island of Palawan and during your vacation, you should make sure to visit at least a few of them!
My favorite one is the Tumarbong Fall in Quezon, which consists of three layers and is set in a Tarzan-like jungle setting. Surprisingly, almost no one knows about this fall, which means chances are good that you’ll have the whole spot to yourself!
Some other waterfalls worth checking out include:
- Estrella Falls: About a two-hour drive south of Puerto Princesa, you’ll find the amazing Estrella Falls in Narra. Here, you can dive into the cold water, enjoy the peacefulness of the jungle, and if you’re lucky you may even spot some monkeys!
- Bulalacao Falls: This waterfall is located near El Nido in the north of the island. To get here, you have to cross several water beds that can be ankle to knee-deep. Once you arrive, you’ll be welcomed by a beautiful waterfall with a refreshing pool to swim in!
- Nagkalit-Kalit Falls: Another Waterfall you should hit up when visiting El Nido is the Nagkalit-Kalit Waterfall. Here, you can’t only swim in refreshing water, but also climb on top of the fall to enjoy the view!
- Pamuayan Falls: The Pamuayan Fall is only a short hike from Port Barton and one of the local hang-out spots. Come here with friends, bring some drinks (+ insect repellent, as for all jungle hikes in Palawan!), and just enjoy your time!
- Kuyawyaw Falls: Travelers passing through Taytay should make sure not to miss the Kuyawyaw Falls, which is one of the highlights in the small town. The Falls consist of three levels and is perfect for cliff jumping!
10. Explore the Surrounding Islands by Kayak!
Palawan is home to plenty of islands that you should definitely explore during your vacation. However, there’s no need to spend money to go on an island hopping tour every time you want to head out to the bay. In my opinion, renting a kayak to explore the surrounding islands yourself is one of the most fun things to do in Palawan. Also, it’s a great way to save money if you’re traveling South East Asia on a budget!
These are the best places in Palawan to go kayaking:
- Port Barton: In Port Barton, a kayak allows you to head to most islands yourself. Starfish Island (my favorite place in Port Barton’s bay) is a long sandbar near a coral reef, which is only a 30-minute kayak ride from the main beach.
- El Nido Main Beach: In El Nido, I recommend renting a kayak at El Nido’s main Beach to explore Cadlao Island – the largest island in the bay with several nice beaches and majestic limestone cliffs. The nearest beach on Cadlao is only a short 30-minute kayak ride away. If the sea is calm and you’re feeling adventurous, you could also make it to Helicopter Island, which takes 60-90 minutes depending on your speed and the size of the waves!
- Kayaking in Vanilla Beach: Alternatively, you can also rent a kayak at Vanilla Beach in El Nido and visit the beautiful Papaya Beach and 7 Commando’s Beach, which is also part of El Nido’s island hopping Tour A!
Secret Tip: Hike Up to Eagle’s Nest in El Nido
As promised, I also have a secret tip on what to do in Palawan for you: Eagle’s Nest in El Nido!
Eagle’s Nest is a viewpoint situated in between El Nido and Nacpan Beach that overlooks the bay. It takes about 30 minutes to hike up to the top, where you’ll find an elevated platform. Here, you can chill out and soak in the 360-degree view with Palawan’s countryside to one side and a mind-blowing view of El Nido’s islands on the other side.
When I first came here, I couldn’t believe how few people knew about this place. I’ve lived in El Nido for over a year at this point, and I haven’t heard many people talking about this – even most locals and ex-pats I know haven’t made it up here! Still, for me, this hike was one of the highlights in Palawan!
While hundreds of people venture out on island hopping tours each day, only a handful of people per day make their way up to this viewpoint. So, if you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path-place to explore during your vacation in Palawan, this is definitely it!
It can be a little tricky to find, as the location is quite obscure, but that’s part of the adventure.
It’s not located on Google Maps, so I’ll try my best to give you instructions on how to get there:
- From El Nido, head towards Nacpan Beach.
- About 8,5 kilometers north of Lio (a suburb of El Nido), you’ll see a weirdly shaped hill with a thin top on the left-hand side of the road. Watch out for a sign on the side of the road indicating the hike.
- Stop here and ask for a guide to take you up!
Update: A reader has sent me the location on Google Maps. Check here.
Note: Since the viewpoint is located on private property, you need to pay for a guide to take you up there, which costs a few hundred pesos per head (the total price varies on your negotiating skills).
As you can see, there are many things to do when traveling to Palawan in the Philippines! Island hopping in El Nido and Coron are certainly the main highlights in Palawan but there are also a lot of other great places to explore!
Helpful Travel Resources for Your Trip
Do you still need to book your trip? Here, I’ll show you what resources I use:
TRANSPORTATION
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Skyscanner*: I book (almost) all my flights through Skyscanner. This site scans the web for the best deals within the blink of an eye. Plus, it shows you prices for the whole month, which makes it easy to find the cheapest day to fly!
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12GoAsia*: This site specializes in providing cheap tickets for planes, buses, and trains all over Asia!
ACCOMMODATION
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Agoda*: Agoda usually has the best prices for accommodation and offers unbeatable 24-hour flash deals!
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Booking*: Alternatively, you can also find good deals and a wide selection of hotels and guest houses on Booking.com.
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Hostelworld*: If you’re looking specifically for a hostel, you’ll be amazed by the variety of options Hostelworld has to offer!
You are reading: Top 10 Things to Do in Palawan
Photo credits:
Photo of Balabac: https://unsplash.com/photos/1FWlno_goyQ
Photo of Coron: https://unsplash.com/photos/IL-fBBnF-GU
Photo of Whale Shark: https://unsplash.com/photos/Abj_zUko6Mg
Photo of Underground River: https://unsplash.com/photos/di6jbU-o3u4
