The Philippines · TOURS IN PALAWAN

The 15 Best Palawan Tours & Boat Trips

37 tours  ·  from $21 a head

Palawan is long enough that choosing a base is the first decision. These 15 cover El Nido, Coron, Port Barton and the cave river, with prices, crossing times and which combinations actually fit a week.

Underground River Day Trip from Puerto Princesa City - Sabang Beach is a transfer point, not a beach holiday
1-Day Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Palawan, Underground River Tours

Underground River Day Trip from Puerto Princesa City

1.Underground River Day Trip from Puerto Princesa City

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 261 reviews · from $50Our pick

Travel from Puerto Princesa to Sabang, then ride an outrigger boat and paddle into a UNESCO-listed cave. The standard river visit lasts about 30 to 45 minutes. Lunch, transport, permits, and a guide are included. Add a zipline, mangrove trip, massage, or private service if you want a longer day.

“There is a 20 minute boat ride from beach to underground river. The other description is correct. Don’t miss this”

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Seacret Luxury Catamaran Yacht Group Island Hopping Tour - Star Beach, the Tour’s Private Pause
Cruises & Boat Tours, Island Hopping in Palawan, Island Hopping Tours, Sailing, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Palawan, VIP

Seacret Luxury Catamaran Yacht Group Island Hopping Tour

2.Seacret Luxury Catamaran Yacht Group Island Hopping Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 119 reviews · from $155

Spend about seven hours aboard the 50-foot Seacret catamaran, visiting El Nido lagoons, Hidden Beach, Seven Commandos, and an exclusive private beach. You’ll have lunch, a guide, towels, life jackets, and the environmental fee included. Routes change by day, and the tour runs with at least six people.

“Exceptional tour!! The crew was very well trained and they made our whole experience so smooth and special. The places we visited were amazing and we also had access to a private beach. Lunch was delicious as well. I highly recommend this tour!!”

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3-in-1 Adventure: Underground River, Zipline ride, and Mangrove Forest Tour - Lunch is one of the day’s strongest values
ATV & Zipline Adventures, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Palawan, Underground River Tours

3-in-1 Adventure: Underground River, Zipline ride, and Mangrove Forest Tour

3.3-in-1 Adventure: Underground River, Zipline ride, and Mangrove Forest Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 93 reviews · from $79

Start early for Palawan’s Underground River, then visit the mangrove forest and ride an 800-meter zipline above the sea. Expect an air-conditioned vehicle, lunch, safety gear, and a group of up to 13 people. Guides such as Roman, Rich, Jay, and V have been praised for clear explanations and good group care.

“Corazon Travel & Tours are great!! We had a fun day with Roman as our guide and Josh as our driver. The drive over to the Underground River area is about 2 hours. The zip line was short, but absolutely beautiful. After the zip line we did the mangrove boat tour and learned about some of the local ecology. The buffet lunch was the best food we have had our whole trip. A lot of different food options if there are any dietary restrictions also! After dinner we did the underground River tour. Expect a bit of a wait for a boat our to the cave, but it is well…”

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El Nido Island Hopping Tour A with Lunch - Secret Lagoon, a short stop with a tight entrance
Island Hopping in Palawan, Island Hopping Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Palawan

El Nido Island Hopping Tour A with Lunch

4.El Nido Island Hopping Tour A with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 86 reviews · from $24

Spend 6 to 8 hours island-hopping from El Nido, with boat transfers, a local guide, lunch, lagoons, beaches, and snorkeling opportunities. The advertised program offers three route themes, while the listed Tour A stops include Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and Seven Commando Beach. Ariel is one guide named in guest feedback. Extra fees apply.

“We enjoyed the tour a lot and our guide and the rest of the crew were great! They were all very helpful and service-minded, and nice to talk to. They even arranged vegan options for us for the lunch. Overall the tour was great and even tRead more”

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El Nido Private Tour A w/ Lunch - Big Lagoon and its limestone walls
Lunch Experiences, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Palawan

El Nido Private Tour A w/ Lunch

5.El Nido Private Tour A w/ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 70 reviews · from $143

Spend 7 to 8 hours island-hopping with a private guide and crew around El Nido. Visit Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, Seven Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach, with lunch, drinks, fruit, hotel pickup in town, and lagoon entrance included. Kayaks and snorkel gear cost extra.

“Professionalism, courtesy and class all the way. Jul and RJ made this an unforgettable experience. They know all the best spots when they’re not crowded, help with everything and know how to take the best pictures. Highly recommend them”

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Puerto Princesa: Honda Bay Tour with Lunch - Leaving Puerto Princesa for the Honda Bay wharf
Honda Bay Island Hopping, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Palawan

Puerto Princesa: Honda Bay Tour with Lunch

6.Honda Bay Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 33 reviews · 1 day · from $39

You’ll leave your Puerto Princesa hotel for Honda Bay, then ride a motorized boat to Luli Island, Cowrie Island, Pambato Reef, and Starfish Island. Expect sandbars, coral gardens, snorkeling, kayaking, banana boats, a buffet lunch, and an English-speaking guide. Bring cash for the environmental fee and rent your own mask and snorkel.

“Please improve the communication regarding the pick up time to be considerate of the participants time. Overall the driver and the guide are great. I would have given the tour excellent overall other than the communication on the pick up time. We feel that the participants time were ignored compared to the other tour providers.”

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El Nido Tour A - Big Lagoon and the limestone walls of Miniloc Island
Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Palawan

EL Nido Tour A

7.EL Nido Tour A

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 29 reviews · from $21

Tour El Nido’s famous island sights by boat, with Shimizu Island, Papaya Beach, Secret Lagoon, and either Big or Small Lagoon depending on the day. Your 7 to 9-hour trip includes a guide, boat and land transfers, life vest, picnic lunch, and pickup within El Nido Town. Extra lagoon fees and kayak rental cost more.

“Fantastic scenery of the local geology. The lunch on the beach was full fare excellent! The ships crew were very attentive and experienced and the other guests were polite and friendly also.”

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Puerto Princesa Palawan tour Underground River with Ugong cave - The drive to the Underground River
Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Palawan, Underground River Tours

Puerto Princesa Palawan tour Underground River with Ugong cave

8.Puerto Princesa Palawan tour Underground River with Ugong cave

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · from $110

Spend about eight hours visiting Palawan’s UNESCO-listed Underground River and Ugong Rock. You’ll cruise into the cave by boat, hear an audio guide, climb through Ugong Rock, and zipline over the countryside. Hotel pickup, lunch, permits, entrance fees, and a licensed guide are included. Guides such as Mall and Xio have been praised for clear, friendly help.

“This was a wonderful tour. Our tour guide and the tour company were both great! We had a spectacular day seeing the Palawan countryside and the beautiful Unesco underground river! I definitely recommend this tour! As a side note, the roRead more”

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El Nido Palawan Zipline Two Way - Seated or Superman: choosing your riding style
ATV & Zipline Adventures, Tour Reviews, Tours in Palawan

El Nido Palawan Zipline Two Way

9.El Nido Palawan Zipline Two Way

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 20 reviews · from $32

You’ll ride a zipline between islands near El Nido, Palawan, above clear water and limestone cliffs. Choose a seated or Superman-style position, and select a solo or tandem ride when available. The short but steep walk to the launch point adds effort, while queues, weather, and two-way availability can affect the schedule.

“We got our tickets from the beach at 12 o'clock, although the zip line was closed for lunch until 1o'clock”

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Shared Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour - Cowrie Island: lunch and the longest island stay
Honda Bay Island Hopping, Island Hopping in Palawan, Island Hopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Palawan

Shared Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour

10.Shared Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · from $38

Spend 6 to 8 hours sailing Honda Bay from Puerto Princesa, with stops at Lu-Li and Cowrie islands. You can swim, sunbathe, rent snorkeling gear, and enjoy a Filipino lunch at Cowrie. Pickup is available from select hotels, and groups are limited to 15 people.

“It is recommended to wear water shoes and the first stop in the van is a place to rent water shoes and snorkel gear. We had already selected to have snorkel gear included but then ended up having to pay to hire water shoes and if we'd knoRead more”

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Underground River Group Tour w/ Lunch & Return to Puerto Princesa - The road from Puerto Princesa to the park
Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Palawan, Underground River Tours

Underground River Group Tour w/ Lunch & Return to Puerto Princesa

11.Underground River Group Tour w/ Lunch & Return to Puerto Princesa

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 17 reviews · from $62

You’ll travel from Puerto Princesa to the UNESCO-listed Underground River by air-conditioned vehicle, cruise through its limestone cave, watch for monkeys, birds, reptiles, and bats, then enjoy a buffet lunch before returning. Pickup is included around the city, with an audio translator and a maximum group size of 50.

“Everything was well organised and the tour guide made the right decision for us to leave very early to beat the crowds. The tour was excellent and the lunch buffet provided was delicious. Great value for money too.”

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Puerto Princesa Honda Bay Island Hopping Shore Excursion - Lu-Li Island adds another stretch of sea and sand
Honda Bay Island Hopping, Island Hopping in Palawan, Island Hopping Tours, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Palawan

Puerto Princesa Honda Bay Island Hopping Shore Excursion

12.Puerto Princesa Honda Bay Island Hopping Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $173Top rated

Meet your guide at Puerto Princesa Port for a private Honda Bay outing of about seven hours. Visit Cowrie Island, Lu-Li Island, and possibly a third stop, with snorkeling gear, fees, and lunch included. If your guide is TJ Echo, expect clear English, careful safety advice, marine-life pointers, and helpful iPhone photo tips.

“We had a remarkable guide for our private tour for 6 people (we aren’t spring chickens), TJ Echo spoke perfect English (Spanish, too), stopped for what we needed, informed us of marine life, considered safety judiciously, and taught us many iPhone photo tricks. The lunch was lovely..”

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El Nido to Puerto Princesa - Private Transfer - What the drive feels like
Private, Private Drivers, Tour Reviews, Tours in Palawan

El Nido to Puerto Princesa – Private Transfer

13.El Nido to Puerto Princesa – Private Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $390

Travel from El Nido to Puerto Princesa in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver. Pickup is available in central El Nido, with drop-off at your hotel or Puerto Princesa Airport. You can also request a two-hour stop at the Puerto Princesa Underground River, though admission is extra. Drivers Greg and Arden have handled this route.

“Both Greg and Arden were great in driving us to Astoria Palawan to El Nido and El Nido to Puerto Princesa Airport. They arrived on time.”

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Puerto Princesa Underground River Shore Excursion - Why the Underground River makes a strong shore excursion
Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Palawan, Underground River Tours

Puerto Princesa Underground River Shore Excursion

14.Puerto Princesa Underground River Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $200

From Puerto Princesa Port, you’ll travel by private transfer to the famous Underground River for a guided visit, Filipino lunch, and light refreshments. The tour is limited to cruise ship guests and your group, with guides such as Roman, Brian, Vel, and Xander praised for friendly, informative service. Allow about six hours.

“I really wanted to give this tour 5 stars because the people are really nice and they really go the extra mile to try and please. But…it’s not very well organised and there’s a lot of waiting around. In all honesty a cruise organised excursion may be better for cruise passengers.”

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El Nido Island Hopping Tour C with Lunch - Secret Lagoon requires a small swim through stone
Island Hopping in Palawan, Island Hopping Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Palawan

El Nido Island Hopping Tour C with Lunch

15.El Nido Island Hopping Tour C with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $32

Join Corazon Travel and Tours for a 6 to 8 hour group boat trip through Bacuit Bay. Swim through the narrow rock opening at Secret Lagoon, visit Hidden Beach, Dilumacad Island, and Tapiutan Beach, and eat lunch on the shore. Hotel transfers, a guide, towels, and boat transport are included, but entrance fees and some equipment cost extra.

“I have been to countless beaches and visited many islands but nothing amounts to how beautiful the islands of Tour C can offer. The views from above the water and underwater are breathtaking. But the real beauty of El Nido is its people, the tour guides were very accommodating, reassuring and helpful. Many thanks to kuya Jason and the rest of his team.”

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New in Tours in Palawan

★ 4.5Puerto Princesa Palawan City TourFrom $185 reviews
★ 4.5Sabang to El Nido Private TransferFrom $3054 reviews
★ 5.04-hour Private Van Rental in Puerto Princesa6 reviews
★ 4.5El Nido to Sabang Private Transfer3 reviews
★ 5.0Port Barton Island Hopping from Puerto Princesa CityFrom $993 reviews
★ 5.0Port Barton Island Hopping – Seaplane Transfer FR Puerto Princesa4 reviews
★ 5.0Port Barton Island Private Highlights Tour with LunchFrom $1013 reviews
★ 5.0Port Barton Full Day Island Hopping with Buffet LunchFrom $444 reviews
★ 4.5Puerto Princesa + El Nido – 4 Days 3 NightsFrom $3903 reviews
★ 5.0El Nido – 4 Days 3 NightsFrom $4003 reviews
★ 5.0Private El Nido Tour A Island Hopping4 reviews
★ 5.0Joiners Firefly Watching TourFrom $604 reviews
★ 5.0Iwahig River Cruise and Firefly Watching Tour in Puerto PrincesaFrom $364 reviews
★ 4.5EL Nido Tour CFrom $355 reviews
★ 5.0El Nido Highlights Tour w/ Island LunchFrom $1824 reviews

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