Philippines Island Hopping: El Nido, Coron & Beach Bonfires (Self-Launched)
5 days · Palawan, Philippines
G Adventures charges £420
No-markup version: ~£225 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of the G Adventures Roamies El Nido–Coron island hopper: two nights camping or in beach huts on remote islands in the Sulu Sea, snorkelling reefs and eating beach barbecues, then the boat over to Coron for the Mt Tapyas sunset hike and Maquinit hot springs. Instead of a CEO and a private bangka you book the same public expedition boats and multi-day island-hopping trips locally, sleep in hostels/simple beach huts, and join group boat tours for snorkelling. Costs are realistic backpacker estimates in GBP and exclude international flights to Puerto Princesa/El Nido and the return home from Busuanga (Coron).
Day-by-day
El Nido to the remote islands — first bangka crossing
El Nido / Linapacan islands
Start early in El Nido town — the expedition boats leave around 07:00 so be at the port by 06:30. Book a 3-day/2-night El Nido–Coron island expedition (the standard route the tour uses) either through your El Nido hostel or a local operator like海岛-style outfits on Artcafe/El Nido beachfront; expect ~£95–130 all-in for the boat, food and beach-hut camping, payable locally. The first day cruises north past towering karst cliffs and white coves into the Sulu Sea, with snorkel stops on the way. You sleep in a traditional nipa hut on a secluded beach; bring a headtorch, a dry bag and cash — there are no ATMs on the islands.
🚌Tricycle to El Nido port (~£0.50), then bangka boat for the day
🛏Beach hut / basic camping on a remote island (included in expedition fee)
- →Bangka cruise into the Sulu Sea
- →Snorkelling on coral reefs
- →Beach bonfire and barbecue dinner
Full day island hopping and snorkelling
Linapacan / Sulu Sea islands
Wake up to the beach and get back on the boat. Your operator will keep heading north with two or three snorkel and beach stops, looking out for turtles, dolphins and rays. Lunch is usually grilled fish and rice on board or on a beach. Second night camping on another isolated beach, again with a bonfire. Keep valuables in a dry bag and expect no phone signal for most of the day.
🚌Bangka boat
🛏Beach hut / basic camping on a remote island (included in expedition fee)
- →Snorkelling stops
- →Beach time and swimming
- →Second beach camp night
Final crossing to Coron Town
Coron Town, Busuanga
One last morning on the water before the boat arrives at Coron (usually early-to-mid afternoon). Check into a hostel or simple guesthouse in Coron Town — dorms run around £8–12 and private twinshare rooms £18–28. Book tomorrow's land activities at the guesthouse reception (Mt Tapyas is free, hot springs entry ~£3–4, an e-bike tour ~£20–25). Happy hour on the waterfront is very cheap — San Miguel is about £0.80.
🚌Bangka boat into Coron port; walking/tricycle in town
🛏Hostel dorm or simple guesthouse twin in Coron Town
- →Arrival in Coron
- →Waterfront happy hour
- →Book tomorrow's activities
Mt Tapyas sunset hike and Maquinit hot springs
Coron Town
Climb Mt Tapyas' 700-plus steps early morning or late afternoon for the ridge views over Coron Bay — free and takes 30–45 minutes up. In the late afternoon take a tricycle (~£2–3 each way) to Maquinit Hot Springs, a saltwater geothermal pool by the mangroves, entry around £3–4. Alternatively hire a bike/e-bike for the day (~£8–25) and combine both. Optional: a Coron e-bike or inland tour. In the evening join the town's bars and BBQ joints with whoever you've met on the boat.
🚌Walking and tricycle
🛏Hostel dorm or simple guesthouse twin in Coron Town
- →Mt Tapyas hike
- →Maquinit Hot Springs
- →Optional e-bike tour
- →Night out in Coron Town
Depart Coron
Coron Town / Busuanga Airport
No fixed schedule — depart whenever. A shared van to Busuanga Airport (Francisco B. Reyes) takes about 45 minutes and costs ~£2–3, or ~£12–15 for a private taxi. If you have time, squeeze in a half-day Coron shipwreck or Kayangan Lake boat tour (group tours ~£18–25).
🚌Shared van to Busuanga Airport (~£3)
🛏—
- →Optional Coron shipwreck / Kayangan Lake tour
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£225 | £420 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £195 per person (46%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£225
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 Philippines Island Hopping: El Nido, Coron & Beach Bonfires (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £225 per person for 5 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £420 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £225 — a saving of roughly £195 (46%) per person.
How long is the Palawan, Philippines trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 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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