Travel advisory · PhilippinesSome governments advise against travel to parts of Philippines.The warnings cover only these areas: Basilan, Central and western Mindanao, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Misamis Occidental, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Southern Sulu Sea, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Sulu archipelago, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX), Zamboanga Sibugay, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur (excluding Davao City), Misamis Oriental, Northern Celebes Sea, Remainder of Mindanao, Surigao del Sur.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Basilan · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Central and western Mindanao · avoid all travel · New Zealand, UK
- Lanao del Norte · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Italy
- Lanao del Sur · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Maguindanao · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Misamis Occidental · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, Italy
- North Cotabato · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Sarangani · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France
- South Cotabato · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Southern Sulu Sea · avoid all travel · France, New Zealand
- Sultan Kudarat · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Sulu · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, Italy
- Sulu archipelago · avoid all travel · Germany, France, New Zealand, UK
- Tawi-Tawi · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Zamboanga del Norte · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Zamboanga del Sur · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) · avoid all travel · Germany, New Zealand
- Zamboanga Sibugay · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Agusan del Sur · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France
- Bukidnon · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France
- Davao de Oro · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France
- Davao del Norte · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France
- Davao del Sur (excluding Davao City) · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France
- Misamis Oriental · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France
- Northern Celebes Sea · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
- Remainder of Mindanao · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, New Zealand, UK
- Surigao del Sur · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France
Also named by one government: Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) (Germany), Cotabato City (Spain), Samal Island (France), Soccsksargen (Region XII) (Germany), Southern half of Palawan maritime zone (France), Agusan del Norte (Canada), Davao Occidental (Canada), Davao Oriental (Canada), Mindanao (whole region) (Italy), South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) (France), Sulu Sea (Spain), Surigao del Norte (excluding Siargao Island) (Canada), Zamboanga City (Italy)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country; parts of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago excluded (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Exercise increased caution | Sep 1, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Keine Reisewarnung für das übrige Land (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | vigilance renforcée sur la majeure partie du territoire (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Palawan
Go to Palawan to choose between El Nido's limestone cliffs, Coron's wreck dives and the Puerto Princesa Underground River, then plan around the long distances between them.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Palawan is an island province in the western Philippines, between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. Most travelers visit three places: El Nido, where limestone cliffs rise from clear lagoons; Coron, where Japanese ships sunk in the Second World War draw divers and freshwater lakes sit in the limestone hills; and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, an underground river that runs to the sea and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The island suits travelers who want boats, snorkeling and scenery more than city sights. Plan for the drier months, roughly December to May. Each base has its own focus: El Nido is built around lagoon tours, Coron around dive boats and lakes, and Puerto Princesa is the city you pass through for the river. Because the places are far apart, count the transfers between them as travel days.
Palawan in five
- Book the Underground River aheadVisits to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River need a permit with a daily limit. Book through your hotel or an accredited operator.
- Pay the local environmental feesEl Nido and Coron charge fees for island-hopping tours and protected areas. Amounts change, so keep the receipt for your whole stay.
- Allow a day between El Nido and CoronThe ferry takes several hours and can be cancelled in rough seas. Do not book a flight the same day.Cebu next
- Choose your airport by basePuerto Princesa (PPS) is the main hub. El Nido has a small airport, and Coron uses Busuanga (USU).Manila gateway
Neighborhoods
El Nido
- Price band: $$
Coron
- Price band: $$
Puerto Princesa
- Price band: $$
Sabang
- Price band: $
Things to do in Palawan
See all attractions in Palawan
Need to know
- Airport
- Puerto Princesa (PPS), El Nido (ENI), Busuanga for Coron (USU)
- Getting there
- Flights from Manila and Cebu; ferries between El Nido and Coron
- Getting around
- Vans, tricycles and island-hopping boats
- Best base
- El Nido town or Corong-Corong; Coron town
- Time needed
- 6–8 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain21 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Dry, calmJanuaryRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 180 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- FebruaryRain18 rainy daysHigh28°Low24°Dry, calmFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 124 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, calm
- MarchRain18 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°DryMarchRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- AprilRain20 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Dry, hotAprilRain
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 106 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- MayRain26 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°HotMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 214 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- JuneRain27 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Rains startJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 271 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- JulyRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Wet, roughJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 227 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, rough
- AugustRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°WetAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 220 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- SeptemberRain27 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°WetSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 267 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- OctoberRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°ShowersOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 341 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- NovemberRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Drying outNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 250 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
- DecemberRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°BusyDecemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 284 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy
Average daily high and low in El Nido, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Palawan
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 32°
- Humidity
- 77%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Palawan
04:36 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today28°23°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed28°23°94%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Thu28°22°94%Thursday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Fri28°23°100%Friday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat27°22°100%Saturday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun28°22°88%Sunday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 88%.
Updated 01:02 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 63.7 PHP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- El Nido island hoppingfull day by boatTours to lagoons, beaches and snorkel spots in Bacuit Bay.
- Coron lakes and wrecksfull day by boatKayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon and Japanese wrecks.
Before you go to Palawan
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Palawan, checked
- Visa-free entry depends on your nationality, and immigration sets your length of stay at arrival. Check current entry rules at immigration.gov.ph before you book.Source
- Book ahead for Underground River trips from Sabang, and confirm the permit and booking rules with the Puerto Princesa city tourism office before you travel.
- Palawan restricts single-use plastic, so carry a refillable bottle and a cloth bag, and check the rules in the town you visit.
- Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in the Philippines.
Plan around Palawan
Islands, entry rules and how to link them
Read the guideManila travel guideWhere most flights to Palawan start
Read the guideCebu travel guideMoalboal and Bohol after the lagoons
Read the guideBoracay travel guideA white-sand finish via Caticlan
Read the guideTours and ticketsIsland hops and permit-based visits
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for cancelled boats and monsoon weeks
Read the guidePalawan FAQ
El Nido or Coron?
El Nido for lagoons and beaches, Coron for wreck diving and freshwater lakes. With a week, do both.
How do I get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido?
By van or bus in about 5–6 hours, or by a short flight to El Nido's airport.
When is the best time to visit Palawan?
January to April, when seas are calm and it is dry. From June to October the southwest monsoon can cancel boat trips.
Can you visit El Nido and Coron in one trip?
Yes, with six to eight days. Fly to one, take the ferry or a flight between them, and leave a spare day for weather before your flight home.
Is the Puerto Princesa Underground River worth it?
For a half-day trip, yes, if you book a permit slot ahead. It is a boat ride through a lit cave, so skip it if you are short on time and already have El Nido plans.