Coron vs El Nido: Which Is Better? All Differences Explained
Palawan island has become famous for its tropical scenery and island hopping, but in a head-to-head comparison of Coron vs El Nido which is better?
Both of these places are amazing, and it’s possible to do both (I’d recommend it!), but if you’re limited on time you may have to choose one or the other since the two provinces are separated in the Philippines by 100 kilometers of sea.
El Nido is more popular and more developed than Coron, but that’s not always a good thing. Coron is quieter and has better snorkeling and diving. Both El Nido and Coron have amazing islands and beaches to explore.
In this travel guide I’ll give a complete breakdown of all the differences, and hopefully it’ll help you decide between Coron or El Nido which is better!
Coron vs El Nido – Which Is Better?
Getting There
El Nido
El Nido town can be reached by air, van, bus, or ferry.
The easiest, fastest, and most expensive (but recommended) way to get to El Nido Palawan is one of the direct flights sold by AirSWIFT.
The El Nido island airport (ENI) is not served internationally, so this means you will first need to fly to one of the big cities in the Philippines — Manila or Cebu — and then fly to ENI from there.
Coron
Flights to the Coron airport (USU) are a bit cheaper than El Nido because there are more airline options, including Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.
If you plan to visit both El Nido and Coron, then the most popular way to do that is by taking the fast ferry between the two places (more on that later).
Things To Do
El Nido
El Nido is island hopping heaven, with perfect turquoise lagoons, karst mountains, and the best white sand beaches in Palawan.
If you have time, spend a few days knocking out all 4 of the El Nido island hopping tours (A, B, C, and D) and then explore mainland sights like Nacpan Beach and Nagkalit-Kalit Waterfall.
Overall, I think El Nido has the most things to do. You could easily spend a week on just the boat tours!
Coron
Coron has an Ultimate Island Tour that takes you to a giant Twin Lagoon and the famous Kayangan viewpoint, along with some coral reefs and other hidden spots.
Other tours like the Island Escapade let you walk across the ocean on a sandbar and visit a bunch of other amazing beaches, complete with hammocks, fresh coconuts, and everything else you need to relax!
Coron has the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Palawan. The coral reefs, exotic fish, and sunken shipwrecks you’ll see in Coron blow El Nido out of the water (no pun).
Accommodation
El Nido
El Nido has a wide variety of budget and luxury hotels, although it tends to be a bit pricey compared to other places in Southeast Asia. You get way less value for your money compared to Bali, for example.
I’m sure that will change. I think tourist demand in El Nido has outpaced development, so it’s just a matter of waiting for more hotels to be built to accommodate the huge influx of island hoppers coming to Palawan now.
Coron
Accommodation in Coron is a little cheaper and better value than El Nido, although it’s mostly budget hotels with only a few luxury options.
We were on a tight budget so we stayed at the Coron Visitors Hotel, where we got a clean double room with cold A/C. The location was close to some great restaurants.
Restaurants
El Nido
There’s no competition here. El Nido has a way better selection of restaurants, street food and nightlife than Coron.
Just for some examples, you can find cheap Asian food at places like CB Cafe, pizza at Altrove, fruit smoothie bowls at The Vegan Cafe, and top notch international and western food at El Nido Boutique Artcafe.
Coron
Coron lags behind El Nido in places to eat, but the number of restaurants is growing quickly. Our favorites were Om’s Thai and Levine’s Eatery.
So… Coron or El Nido? Which Is Better?
Overall, it’s a tough pick because they’re both amazing.
El Nido has the best beaches and arguably the best island hopping, but Coron also has phenomenal island tours and much better snorkeling.
If you have time, definitely try to visit both! See my tips below on how to do that.
What If I Want To See Both Places?
In the old days, there was no easy way to travel between Coron and El Nido. You had to fly out to Manila or Cebu, and then fly back in, which was an expensive hassle.
Thankfully, that’s all changed now. A company called Montenegro Lines runs a fast ferry between El Nido and Coron 3 times a day, and you can book tickets online at Biyaheroes. One way tickets cost 1,750 Peso (US $35) and the journey takes 3.5 hours.
Our experience with this service was great! Very comfortable and safe. Happy travels!
More Palawan Travel Tips
I hope this comparison of Coron vs El Nido was helpful.
Looking for more travel tips on Palawan and the Philippines? Need more island hopping info for Coron or El Nido before you visit?
Check out my full El Nido Travel Guide and Coron Travel Guide with free tips, info, and loads of photos!