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Where is Coron Located?
Coron is a beautiful island town in Palawan, Philippines. Look at a map of Palawan - it's that group of islands at the very top. Actually closer to Mindoro island than to Puerto Princesa down south.
Here's how it works: The Coron town where you'll stay is actually on Busuanga Island - that's where most hotels, airport and boats are. But all the famous stuff - the crystal clear lagoons, epic dive spots and those Instagram-famous limestone cliffs - those are on nearby Coron Island.
Don't worry about the technical names though - everyone just calls the whole area "Coron". It's all connected and easy to explore.
Coron Map, Palawan: Coron Island, Coron Town & Toursit Map
Getting to Coron By Flight: Best Ways
| Departure City | Daily Flights | Flight Time |
|---|---|---|
| Manila | 11-18 | 1.5 hrs |
| Cebu | 8-10 | 1.5 hrs |
| El Nido | 2 | 40 min |
| Clark | 1-2 | 1.5 hrs |
First things first – Coron's tiny airport (called Francisco B. Reyes) only handles small planes but well-connected. You've got direct flights from several major spots: Manila, Cebu, El Nido, and Clark.
Manila's got the most options - 11 to 18 flights every day. Coming from Cebu? You're looking at 8 to 10 daily flights. If you're not near one of these cities, no sweat. Just connect through Manila - it's got the most flight options by far.
Getting to Coron By Ferry: Alternative
| Departure City | Frequency | Boat Time |
|---|---|---|
| El Nido | 4 ferries daily | 3.5-4 hrs |
| Manila | 4 ferries a week | 12.18 hrs |
| Puerto Princesa | 1 ferry a week | 13 hrs |
Ferries are a classic island-hopping choice, and getting to Coron is no exception. The most popular route is from El Nido, where the ferry only takes about 3.5 hours and costs way less than flying. Honestly, it's almost as fast as flying when you count all the airport hassle.
Longer routes exist (Puerto Princesa/Manila to Coron), but these 12-18 hour journeys run less frequently. Only take them if you're on a tight budget and the timing works.
From Mainila to Coron: 1-1.5 H Flight, 12-18 H Ferry
Getting to Coron usually means going through Manila first - that's where most international flights land anyway. Flying is the way most people do it. Take a 1-1.5 hours ride to finish 309 kilometers (192 miles). With 11-18 daily flights, you can pretty much pick your ideal travel time.
Sure, you could save some cash by taking a ferry from Manila to Coron. Tickets run about $30-55, which sounds good until you realize the ferries don't even run daily. Plus, you're stuck on a boat for like 12 to 18 hours. That's a really long time just sitting there.
Manila to Coron Flight: Best Ways
Actually, when you add up the travel time to Manila airport and from Busuanga airport to Coron town, you're looking at about 3-4 hours total transit time. Still, it's definitely the best way to get there..
Those small planes from Manila - they run pretty often, like 11 - 18 flights every day, so you've got plenty of options. The flight itself is super quick, only about 1-1.5 hours in the air. Price-wise, you're looking at anywhere from $58 to $160+.
It's about 30-40 minutes to Manila airport from downtown, then you'll land at Busuanga (locals call it Francisco B. Reyes Airport). Just remember - Coron town is another 45 minutes by van or taxi from the airport, but there's always transport waiting.
Manila to Coron Ferry: Budget Friendly
Want a budget-friendly way to get from Manila to Coron? The ferry runs on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. It'll cost you around $30-55, and since it's an overnight trip (12-18 hours), you'll save on a night's hotel stay too.
You've got two companies to pick from: 2GO Travel and Atienza. 2GO Travel's your best bet if you want better facilities and more cabin choices. They leave from North Harbor Pier 4 and sail right into Coron Port. Atienza runs from Baseco Port in Manila. The nice thing about both? They go straight from city center to city center - no extra transport needed.
How to Get to Coron from Manila? (2 Best Ways)
From El Nido to Coron: 2 Best Ways (Flights & Ferries)
Yes, it's quite common to include both El Nido and Coron in an itinerary. The distance from El Nido to Coron is about 154 km (or 95.7 miles). There are two popular ways to travel this distance: by plane and by ferry.
El Nido to Coron Flights: Fast But Flawed
Want the fastest way to get from El Nido to Coron? A plane ride is just 40 minutes in the air. Only one airline, AirSWIFT operates 2 daily flights. From Lio Airport (located 15 min north of El Nido town) to Coron's Busuanga Airport (30–45 min from Coron town).
The whole trip takes 3-4 hours when you add in all the travel to and from airports in El Nido & Coron. Sometimes, it's not even faster than taking a boat! Plus, tickets aren't cheap - they cost from USD 80. And watch out - you can only bring a small bag up to 7 kg on board.
The good news? If you get seasick easily, flying is your best bet. No waves to worry about!
El Nido to Coron Ferry: Most Popular Way
| Ferry | Departure | Arrival | Duration | Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jomalia Shipping | 08:00 | 11:30 | 3.5h | From $50 | Fastest |
| Phimal Fast Ferry | 08:20 | 12:20 | 4h | $47 | High speed ferry |
| Arienza InterIsland Ferries | 12:30 | 16:00 | 3.5h | $45 | Cheapest |
| Jomalia Shipping | 12:30 | 16:00 | 3.5h | From $50 | Recommended |
Need to haul bulky dive gear or just hate airport lines? The ferry from El Nido to Coron is your go-to. It's cheap (from $45), lets you pack 40kg of luggage, and skips all that airport stress.
Boats run 3-4 times a day (except Arienza—they take Sundays off). The ride takes around 4 hours, sometimes a little longer if the waves are rough. Expect ticket prices to be somewhere between $45 and $50 USD.
Atienza is often the cheapest. A top recommendation is Jomalia's 12:30 PM ferry. Their boats are generally newer, making for a quieter and smoother ride, and you might even catch a beautiful sunset on the way!
Boats leave from El Nido Ferry Port and arrive at Coron Port or Coron Pier (just 300m apart, 10-15 min from Coron town).
El Nido to Coron: Ferry, Flight, or Island Hop? (2025)
From Puerto Princesa to Coron: Transfer via El Nido or Manila
While both Puerto Princesa and Coron are popular spots in Palawan, direct travel between them is limited to a single weekly ferry by 2Go Travel.
This ferry leaves Puerto Princesa Pier every Sunday at 4:30 AM and is expected to reach Coron Pier after a 13-hour journey. You can choose from four different cabin types, with prices around $74 to $85.
Since this ferry only runs once a week, it doesn't work for many travelers. So, many people opt to travel via El Nido or Manila instead. El Nido provides more ferry connections, while Manila is a better choice for those who prefer a short 1-1.5 hour flight.
Via El Nido
First, take a van from Puerto Princesa to El Nido - there are over 40 vans and 5 buses running every day.
Vans are faster and cheaper at ₱500-700 ($10-14), taking just 5-6 hours. Buses cost slightly less (₱600-900) but take 7.5 hours, so I'd recommend the van.
Once you're in El Nido, you've got two great options to reach Coron:
- Fast way: Take a quick 40-minute flight (2 flights daily), plus transfer to airport need 3-4 h in total.
- Cheap Way: It runs 4 times daily ferry for a 3.5-4 hours cruise with amazing island views
Here's the pro tip: Take the 7am van so you'll reach El Nido by 12am, just in time for the 12:30 ferry. Four hours later you'll arrive in Coron just as the sun sets!
Via Manila
Catch one of the 13-15 daily flights from Puerto Princesa to Manila (just 1.5 hours). There are about 11-18 flights daily for you to choose from. It takes only 1-1.5 hours. Sure, there's also an 18-hour ferry from Manila, but why waste time?
Pro tip: Book early! You can snag tickets for as low as $85 total if you plan ahead.
From Cebu to Coron: Direct Flights is The Best Way
Want to get to Coron from Cebu? Take a plane - it's the easiest way. There are 8-10 flights every day, and it only takes 1.5 hours. Prices range from $37 to $90, so you can find something that fits your budget.
There's no direct ferry, so if you really want to take a boat, you'll have to go through Manila first. That means:
- 22 hours from Cebu to Manila
- Then another 12 hours from Manila to Coron
But honestly? That's 34 hours total - way too long!
Coron to Cebu: Flights, Ferry, Map, Routes
From Boracay to Coron: Via Manila or Cebu
Okay, so Coron is actually west of Boracay - about a 227km trip across the sea. Now here's the thing: there's no direct way to get there, so you'll need to make a connection.
The easiest way is flying through Manila. From Boracay, you've got two airports to choose from. Caticlan (MPH) is right by the boat terminal. With about 26 flights daily to Manila that take just an hour. Prices usually run $45-90 if you book ahead.
The other option is Kalibo (KLO), which is a 2 hours away from Boracay proper but sometimes has cheaper flights ($40-85) with about 4 daily departures.
But here's another way: fly to Cebu first. There's about 8 flights daily from Boracay to Cebu, takes about 1 hour. Honestly though? Unless you really want to see Cebu, I'd stick with the Manila route. It's usually faster with 11-18 flight options daily from Manila to Coron.
How to Travel Around Coron
Coron is small, so relax—no fancy transport needed. For quick trips around town, hop on a tricycle—those motorcycle taxis with sidecars. A short ride costs about 20-50 pesos (under $1). They're perfect for zipping to the hot springs or market.
If you want freedom, rent a motorbike for 400-600 pesos ($8-12) a day. Stick to paved roads—the coastal route to Cabo Beach or up to Mount Tapyas for sunset is smooth.
For Island-hopping book a group tour (1,500-2,500 pesos, lunch included) to hit gems like Kayangan Lake or Twin Lagoon. Want to dodge the crowds? Splurge on a private boat (3,000-5,000 pesos for 4-6 people) and craft your own route.
Plan a customized Coron tour to enjoy the island hopping? Just use Asia Odyssey Travel!
Explore the Coron, Philippines with Asia Odyssey Travel
We are Asia Odyssey Travel, a locally owned travel agency with offices in Manila, Puerto Princesa, and Bohol, offering authentic expertise for first-time visitors to the Coron, Philippines.
To suit every traveler's needs, we provide:
✅ 10 Best Philippines Group Tours - Budget-friendly adventures, small group;
✅ 40+ Private Tours - Fully customized beyond tourist trails
✅ Custom Coron Tours - Island-hopping to Kayangan Lake, wrecks & hidden lagoons
Your Travel Toolkit:
Coron Travel Guides: Choose Island Hopping Tour, Map, Itineraries, What to Do, Transportation, Manila to Coron, El Nido to Coron
Let's discover Coron's crystal lagoons, hidden beaches, and underwater wonders together!
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