If you come to the Philippines from abroad, you will most likely end up in the country’s bustling and chaotic capital, Manila. While this great city has some fantastic attractions, you will certainly want to leave Manila as soon as possible to enjoy other more exotic destinations in the country. El Nido, on the island of Palawan, is located in the southwestern part of the Philippines and is a great travel destination. Here you can enjoy beautiful beaches and completely crystal clear water. Whether you want to relax or are looking for adventure, you can disconnect from it all or snorkel among the corals and explore the sunken karst landscapes. Do not hesitate and read on to find out what are the best ways to travel from Manila to El Nido.
Travel options from Manila to El Nido
Until recently, traveling to El Nido was quite an adventure. Although connections have improved significantly as the area gains popularity as a tourist destination, the drive from Manila to El Nido can be a long one. It may not seem that far on the map, but El Nido is on the island of Palawan, and there are a few more islands along the way from the capital. This of course means that you cannot take the road from Manila to El Nido, because you would have to cross several straits of water. Therefore, flying is the fastest and easiest option. Another option is to travel by ferry, but there are several disadvantages to choosing this mode of transport. Also, there is no direct ferry from Manila to El Nido, so it’s not a particularly practical option. Nevertheless, we’ve gathered the necessary information so you can make the best decision when traveling from Manila to El Nido.
Flights from Manila to El Nido
AirSWIFT plane at El Nido Airport © easyknotcoco / Shutterstock.com
The flight from Manila to El Nido has its advantages. The first and most important is that it is the easiest way to travel between these two destinations. You can board a plane in Manila and fly over several islands until you arrive directly at El Nido Airport. Not all islands in the Philippines have their own airports, so the fact that El Nido has its own airport is a great advantage for anyone who wants to visit the place.
El Nido airport is quite small and belongs to AirSWIFT, the only company that operates it, so direct flights on this route can only be found through this airline. This usually means that the price and schedule are quite limited, but the truth is that AirSWIFT offers around six flights a day every weekday from Manila to El Nido. Moreover, the prices are quite reasonable. The flight time is only 1 hour and 15 minutes, so if you leave Manila in the morning, you can be in El Nido by lunch time.
Just remember that if you choose to fly by plane, you will need to allow extra time to get to the airport, check in and go through security. If you are in Manila for a few days, take a few hours to get to Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport, or plan your trip so that after landing in Manila you can catch your flight to El Nido without having to drive into the city. If you don’t have a few hours between the arrival of your first flight and the departure of your next flight, this may involve some risk, so it may be a good idea to spend the night in an airport hotel. Once you land at your destination, getting to El Nido will be easy as the airport is just 4 kilometers from the city.
Cebu Pacific flies from Manila to Puerto Princesa © Rainier Martin Ampongan / Shutterstock.com
If you want to fly but prefer to fly with a larger airline, you will have more options when looking for flights from Manila to Puerto Princesa, but you will need to use a bus or van to take you from there. While this is a fairly common option among travelers, it won’t save you time or money. In fact, your journey will be quite long as it can take up to 5.5 hours to drive from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. The only reason for choosing this connection would be the lack of a direct flight from Manila to El Nido. You can easily book flights from Manila and transfers to El Nido on a combo ticket through the travel website 12Go.asia.
From Manila to El Nido by ferry
Whether you choose a direct flight from Manila to El Nido or a flight to Puerto Princesa, you will save time compared to traveling by ferry. Still, the ferry is a viable option if you’re going to be in the Philippines for a while and are in no rush to get to El Nido. It is perfect for travelers who take their time and think that traveling is half the fun of traveling. Traveling by ferry from Manila to El Nido will give you time to rest and relax, enjoy the scenery and meet other Filipinos traveling by ferry.
But ferry travel from Manila to El Nido can be quite limited. There are no direct ferries from Manila to El Nido, so you will need to take two different boats: one to go from Manila to Corón and the other from Corón to El Nido. Taking into account the waiting time of the second ferry, the total travel time can be around 21 hours, which means taking a whole day to travel. However, it is quite an experience.
Montenegro Line Ferry © Kim David / Shutterstock.com
Manila to Coron ferries are operated by 2GO Travel and there is only one service available on Fridays, so as we mentioned earlier, this option may limit your plans a bit. The good thing is that there are different types of tickets available and you can save some money if you choose one of the cheapest accommodation options on the ship. Classes range from Super Value to Business. The Coron to El Nido ferry is operated by Montenegro Lines and is a fast ferry that takes approximately 4 hours to cross. You can buy both tickets at the same time through the 12Go website, which makes the buying process simpler and you don’t have to go to the trouble of looking for both routes separately.
If you don’t want to make a very long journey, a flight from Manila to El Nido is probably the best travel option. However, if you have plenty of time, like to travel slowly, and don’t mind that the ferry only runs on Fridays, the Manila to El Nido ferry is definitely an adventurer’s option.