12 Days Ultimate Palawan — Self-Launched Island Hopping Adventure
12 days · Palawan, Philippines
UME Travel Co. Ltd charges £1,470
No-markup version: ~£486 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of UME Travel's 12-day Palawan route from Puerto Princesa to Coron, rebuilt for independent travellers. You'll follow the same island-hopping route — Honda Bay, the Underground River, Port Barton, El Nido's Bacuit Archipelago and Coron's lakes and wrecks — but booking group island-hopping trips directly with local boat operators, riding shared vans and public ferries, and staying in good-value guesthouses and budget hotels. Expect to save roughly 70% versus the packaged price while keeping the same beaches, lagoons and reefs. All costs are approximate and assume a solo traveller sharing a dorm/twin where possible; prices are based on 2026 season mid-range backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa
Fly into Puerto Princesa International Airport (direct flights from Manila, Cebu and Clark; ~£35-55 one way from Manila on Cebu Pacific or AirAsia if booked ahead). Tricycle to your guesthouse in the city centre (~£1.50). Settle in, walk the Baywalk at sunset and eat at the Rizal Avenue night food stalls — try tamilok or fresh grilled squid. Pick up a local SIM (Globe or Smart, ~£5 for data) and confirm tomorrow's Honda Bay trip with your guesthouse.
🚌Airport tricycle transfer ~£1.50
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Puerto Princesa city centre (e.g. Sheebang Hostel or Palo Alto Bed & Breakfast) — dorm £8-12 or private twin ~£22
- →Baywalk sunset stroll
- →Rizal Avenue street food
- →Buy local SIM card
Honda Bay Island Hopping
Puerto Princesa
Book a Honda Bay island-hopping join-in tour directly at the Santa Lourdes Wharf or through your guesthouse the night before (~£18-22 per person including boat, environmental fees and usually a simple beach lunch — or bring your own picnic). Typical stops: Starfish Island for snorkelling, Luli Island for cliff jumping and swimming, and Cowrie Island for a beachside lunch and a massage on the sand. Boats leave around 8am and return mid-afternoon. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, cash for entrance fees and a dry bag.
🚌Tricycle to Santa Lourdes Wharf ~£2 each way; boat included in tour
🛏Budget guesthouse in Puerto Princesa (as Day 1)
- →Honda Bay join-in island hopping boat tour
- →Snorkelling at Starfish Island
- →Swimming and cliff jumping at Luli Island
- →Beach time at Cowrie Island
Puerto Princesa Underground River
Sabang / Puerto Princesa
Take an early shared van or bus from Puerto Princesa to Sabang (~2 hours, ~£4-5 each way) — book the Underground River permit in advance online via the official booking portal or through your guesthouse (permits ~£6 plus a ~£4 environmental fee; slots sell out in high season). At Sabang take the short outrigger across to the cave entrance (~£3 return) and join a 45-minute paddleboat tour through the Subterranean River with a local boatman narrating stalactites, swiftlets and bats. Watch for monitor lizards and macaques on the jungle trail. Return to Puerto Princesa in the late afternoon.
🚌Shared van Puerto Princesa–Sabang ~£9 return; outrigger to cave entrance ~£3
🛏Budget guesthouse in Puerto Princesa (as Day 1)
- →Puerto Princesa Subterranean River paddleboat tour
- →Jungle trail wildlife spotting
- →Sabang beach time
Puerto Princesa to Port Barton
Port Barton
Shared van from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton takes about 3-3.5 hours over a partly rough road (~£8-10 per person; book via your guesthouse or at the San Jose terminal). Port Barton is a sleepy fishing village with no ATMs — bring cash. Drop your bag and walk the beach; in whale shark season (roughly April to September) you can join an early-morning whale shark snorkelling trip (~£25-30) arranged locally. In the October-March season, rent a scooter (~£8/day) to visit Mitra's Ranch viewpoint, Baker's Hill, the Palawan Butterfly Ecological Garden and the Crocodile Farm near Puerto Princesa instead — or simply enjoy Port Barton's laid-back beach and sunset bars.
🚌Shared van Puerto Princesa–Port Barton ~£9
🛏Guesthouse or budget beach bungalow in Port Barton (e.g. Ausan Beach Front Cottages or a local homestay) — ~£12-18
- →Whale shark snorkelling (seasonal) or scooter trip to Mitra's Ranch, Baker's Hill and Crocodile Farm
- →Sunset on Port Barton beach
Port Barton Island Hopping
Port Barton
Join a local bangka island-hopping trip (~£18-22 including lunch) covering German Island or Exotic Island, the Turtle Spot where green sea turtles graze on seagrass, the Twin Reef and Fantastic Reef snorkelling sites, Paradise Island and a sandbar stop. Book at the beachfront the evening before — boats are small and fill quickly, so ask your guesthouse to reserve a spot. Bring your own mask if you have one (rentals are ~£2/day) and cash for conservation fees. Back by mid-afternoon for a nap and a beach barbecue.
🚌Walk to the beach departure point
🛏Guesthouse or budget beach bungalow in Port Barton
- →Port Barton join-in island hopping
- →Snorkelling at Twin Reef and Fantastic Reef
- →Sea turtle spotting
- →Sandbar and Paradise Island stops
Port Barton to El Nido
El Nido
Shared van from Port Barton to El Nido takes around 3.5-4 hours (~£9-11), or you can take a bangka ferry along the coast in calmer weather (~£12, ~5 hours). Arrive in El Nido town, check into a guesthouse near the beach, and use the afternoon to sort out your island-hopping tours — Tours A, C and D are the classics (each ~£18-22 including lunch, payable locally, or pre-bookable via Klook). Wander to Las Cabanas Beach for sunset and a drink, and stock up on cash — El Nido has ATMs but they run out.
🚌Shared van Port Barton–El Nido ~£10
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel in El Nido town or Corong-Corong (e.g. a local pension house) — ~£15-22
- →El Nido town orientation
- →Book island-hopping tours
- →Las Cabanas Beach sunset
El Nido Island Hopping Tour A
El Nido / Bacuit Archipelago
Tour A is the big-lagoon day: an early start from El Nido's main beach for the Small and Big Lagoons, where you kayak through the limestone karst entrance (kayak rental ~£6-8, or included on some tours). Then Secret Lagoon (squeeze through a hole in the cliff), snorkelling at Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach and 7 Commando Beach for lunch and lounging. Join-in tours cost ~£18-22 via local operators or Klook; book the earliest departure to beat the crowds. Bring water, dry bag and a packed lunch if you want to save money.
🚌Walk to El Nido beach departure point
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel in El Nido
- →El Nido Tour A join-in boat trip
- →Kayaking in the Big Lagoon
- →Secret Lagoon and 7 Commando Beach
- →Snorkelling at Shimizu Island
El Nido Island Hopping Tour C
El Nido / Bacuit Archipelago
Tour C heads further north: snorkelling off Helicopter Island (Dilumacad), the dramatic cliffs of Tapiutan Island, the hidden Secret Beach reached through a gap in the rock, Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine if your boat includes it. Join-in price ~£18-22 including lunch. If you'd rather mix it up, swap in Tour D (Cadlao Lagoon and Bukal Island) or a half-day kayak rental (~£10) to paddle Bacuit Bay at your own pace. Evening: fresh seafood grill on Corong-Corong beach.
🚌Walk to El Nido beach departure point
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel in El Nido
- →El Nido Tour C join-in boat trip
- →Secret Beach and Hidden Beach
- →Snorkelling at Helicopter Island and Tapiutan
Ferry El Nido to Coron
Coron Town, Busuanga
Take the fast ferry from El Nido to Coron (Montenegro Lines or Jomalia, roughly 3.5-5 hours, ~£22-30 one way; book online in advance in high season and travel in the morning as seas get rough later). Arrive in Coron Town, check into your guesthouse, then climb the 700+ steps up Mt. Tapyas for sunset views over the bay (~free, small donation) and soak at Maquinit Hot Springs (~£3-4 entrance, tricycle ~£3 return). Eat at the Coron public market or a local grill house.
🚌Fast ferry El Nido–Coron ~£25
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel in Coron Town (e.g. a family-run pension near the pier) — ~£15-20
- →Mt. Tapyas sunset hike
- →Maquinit Hot Springs
- →Coron Town market dinner
Coron Island Hopping — Lakes and Lagoons
Coron / Calamian Islands
Book a join-in Coron 'Ultimate' or Tour A boat trip the afternoon before (~£20-25 including lunch and entrance fees; the Kayangan Lake permit is ~£5 and included on most tours). Highlights: the climb and swim at Kayangan Lake (often called the cleanest lake in Asia), snorkelling in the Green Lagoon, the coral gardens at Quin Reef/Malwawey, Atwayan Beach for lunch, CYC Beach and Las Islas de Coral. Boats leave around 8am from Coron pier and return late afternoon. Bring cash, reef-safe sunscreen and a rash vest.
🚌Walk or short tricycle to Coron pier
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel in Coron Town
- →Coron join-in boat tour
- →Kayangan Lake viewpoint and swim
- →Green Lagoon snorkelling
- →Atwayan Beach and CYC Beach
Coron Reef and Wrecks Tour
Coron / Calamian Islands
The signature Coron day: a join-in reef-and-wrecks boat trip (~£22-28 including lunch and wreck permits) to Pass Island for its white sandbar, snorkelling the Lusong Coral Garden, and the shallow WWII Japanese wrecks at Lusong Gunboat and East Tangat Wreck — both visible from just a few metres down, so snorkellers get the full show. Many boats also stop at Calumbuyan Island or Skeleton Wreck. If you're a diver, add a Discover Scuba intro dive on the Irako or Okikawa Maru (~£45-60) instead of the boat trip.
🚌Walk or short tricycle to Coron pier
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel in Coron Town
- →Coron reef and wrecks join-in tour
- →Snorkelling Lusong Gunboat and East Tangat Wreck
- →Lusong Coral Garden
- →Pass Island sandbar
Depart Coron
Coron / Busuanga Airport
Depending on your flight time, squeeze in a last swim at Cabo Beach or a coffee at a Coron Town café. Shared van to Francisco B. Reyes (Busuanga) Airport takes about 30-40 minutes (~£3-4; tricycle to the van terminal ~£1). Fly out to Manila (~£45-70 one way) or onward to Cebu. If you're continuing, ferries from Coron run to Manila (Aklan/2GO, ~12-16 hours) or El Nido.
🚌Shared van Coron Town–Busuanga Airport ~£4
🛏None — depart
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping at Coron market
Self-launched vs. UME Travel Co. Ltd
| This itinerary (self-launched) | UME Travel Co. Ltd | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£486 | £1,470 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £984 per person (67%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more UME Travel Co. Ltd-style trips? Check them out here.~£486
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 12 Days Ultimate Palawan — Self-Launched Island Hopping Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £486 per person for 12 days in Palawan, Philippines. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with UME Travel Co. Ltd?+
Yes — UME Travel Co. Ltd charges around £1,470 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £486 — a saving of roughly £984 (67%) per person.
How long is the Palawan, Philippines trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Palawan, Philippines.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, beaches, backpacker trip through Palawan, Philippines, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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