How to get from El Nido to Coron: ferry, flight or boat expedition

How to get from El Nido to Coron: the fast ferry, the flight, the slow cargo boat and the multi-day island-hopping expeditions, with times, prices and which to choose.

El Nido and Coron are the two places almost everyone wants to see in northern Palawan, and they’re only about 130km apart. But there’s no road between them: Coron is on Busuanga Island, across open sea to the north. That leaves you with four ways to make the trip, from a 40-minute flight to a three-day boat expedition that sleeps on remote islands.

I travelled from El Nido to Coron at the start of June, at the end of three weeks in the Philippines, and I chose the slowest option of all: a three-day expedition with Keelooma. Here’s how each option works, what it costs and how to decide.

Some links in this article may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you decide to purchase through one of my recommended partners.

El Nido to Coron at a glance

Option	Time	Rough cost	Best for
Fast ferry	About 3.5 hours	Around ₱1,600 to ₱3,250	Most travellers
Flight	About 40 minutes, plus transfers	From around ₱3,850	Saving time
Passenger-cargo boat	Up to 8 hours	From around ₱2,400	Budget travellers with time
Boat expedition	3 days or more	From around ₱17,000	The experience of a lifetime

Prices are a guide only, and they change with the season and the operator, so check before you book.

By fast ferry

The fast ferry is how most people get from El Nido to Coron. Several operators run the crossing, including Montenegro, Atienza, Jomalia and Phimal, with most boats leaving El Nido between late morning and midday and taking about three and a half hours to reach Coron Port. Fares run from around ₱1,600 to ₱3,250, depending on the operator and the season.

Book a day or two ahead in peak season, through your hotel, an agency in town or online. Arrive at the port at least an hour before departure with your passport, as names are checked against the passenger manifest, and expect to pay a small terminal fee in cash.

The crossing is across open sea, so it can be rough. If you’re prone to seasickness, take something before you board, and sit towards the back of the boat. And bear in mind that sailings are cancelled when the weather turns, which happens more often from June to October.

By plane

The quickest way from El Nido to Coron is to fly. Cebu Pacific’s regional airline, Cebgo, which took over the AirSWIFT flights in July 2026, flies from El Nido’s small airport at Lio to Busuanga, the airport for Coron, in about 40 minutes. Fares start at around ₱3,850, and there’s usually one flight a day.

Add the transfers, though, and the time saving shrinks. Lio is about 15 to 20 minutes from El Nido town by tricycle, and Busuanga airport is about 30 to 45 minutes from Coron town by van. Baggage allowances on these small turboprop planes are tight and strictly weighed, so check yours when you book.

By passenger-cargo boat

If you have more time than money, Atienza runs a slower passenger-cargo ship between El Nido and Coron, usually once a week. It takes several hours longer than the fast ferry, with economy seats and an air-conditioned lounge. Tickets aren’t sold online, so check the timetable locally before you plan around it.

By boat expedition

The final option is the one I’d recommend to anyone with the time and budget: a multi-day expedition that turns the journey into the destination. You sail from El Nido to Coron over three days or more, stopping at remote islands in the Linapacan and Culion groups to snorkel and swim, and sleep at basic beach camps along the way.

I did the three-day, two-night trip with Keelooma, and it was one of the highlights of my time in the Philippines. We snorkelled around a shipwreck, swam through a cave into a hidden pool, ate Filipino feasts three times a day and slept in simple cabins on the beach. I paid ₱17,100 per person, and the boat left from Keelooma’s office in Lio at 8am and arrived at Coron Port at about 5.30pm on day three.

Several other operators run similar trips, including Buhay Isla, We Are Juan and TAO Philippines, whose four-day trips are more expensive and more all-inclusive. Compare the routes, camps and what’s included before you book.

Which should you choose?

• Take the fast ferry if you want the best balance of time and cost. It’s the default for good reason.
• Fly if you’re short of time, or if you’re travelling in the rainy season and want to avoid a rough crossing.
• Take the cargo boat only if you’re on a tight budget and your dates are flexible.
• Do an expedition if you can spare the time and the money. It’s far more expensive than the ferry, but it’s three days of the Philippines that most visitors never see.

I nearly talked myself out of the expedition. After days of island hopping in El Nido and a boat trip to the Underground River, I wondered whether I’d rather just take the ferry. I’m so glad I didn’t: the people, the snorkelling and the camps made it unforgettable.

Coron to El Nido

All of these options also run in reverse. The fast ferries leave Coron in the morning, the flight runs from Busuanga to Lio, and the expeditions sail from Coron to El Nido on their own schedules. If you’re travelling south, book the expedition to end in El Nido, then take the van to Puerto Princesa for your flight out.

Planning tips

• Leave a buffer day. Ferries and expeditions are cancelled in bad weather, so don’t plan the crossing the day before an international flight.
• Bring cash. Terminal fees, tricycles and many hotels and restaurants on both sides want cash, and ATMs can run dry.
• Mind the season. The dry season, from December to May, is the best time for the crossing. The rainy season set in during my last few days in Coron, with thunderstorms I’d hate to have been at sea in.

My guide to getting around the Philippines has more on ferries and domestic flights, and my Coron travel guide covers what to do when you arrive.

Read next

• Coron travel guide: the best things to do in Coron
• Keelooma review: island hopping from El Nido to Coron by boat
• 3 days in El Nido: the perfect El Nido itinerary
• El Nido travel guide
• Getting around the Philippines

Love this? Save and share on Pinterest