How to Get From El Nido to Coron: 2020 Updated Schedules & Fares

One of the must-visit places in the Philippines is Coron, Palawan. Unlike other destinations in Asia, Coron is not yet over-commercialized so you can look forward to raw, authentic experiences. From stunning corals to friendly locals, you’re sure to have a great time in Coron.

If you’ve decided to travel from El Nido to Coron, you’re in the right place!

Today, I’m sharing with you the many ways on how to get from El Nido to Coron and vice versa.

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El Nido to Coron Ferry

Riding a ferry to Coron is your cheapest option but has will take you hours of travel time.

There are several ferries traveling from El Nido to Coron and vice versa. You can choose from these three types:

The Fast Ferry (3.5 to 4 hours travel time)
Slow Boat or Bangka (5 to 9 hours travel time)
Passenger Cargo Ship (around 8 hours travel time)

The Fast Ferries (Highly Recommended)

Jomalia Shipping

Jomalia Shipping has one of the high-speed ferries from El Nido to Coron. Each ferry has toilets and air conditioning. There’s also a luggage allowance of up to 2 bags per passanger. You can also choose to sit in the open air or inside with the A/C.

You can reserve your tickets below:

El Nido to Coron: RESERVE A TICKET HERE
Coron to El Nido: RESERVE A TICKET HERE

Fare: 1800 PHP (39 USD) for both Economy and Aircon class
Travel Time: 3.5 to 4 hours only
Schedule:
- El Nido to Coron – 12:30 PM daily
- Coron to El Nido – 7:30 AM daily

Montenegro Shipping Lines

You can also choose to ride ferry from Montenegro Shipping Lines.

You can reserve your tickets below:

El Nido to Coron: RESERVE A TICKET HERE
Coron to El Nido: RESERVE A TICKET HERE

Fare: 1760 PHP (37 USD) for both Economy and Aircon class
Travel Time: 3.5 to 4 hours only
Schedule:
- El Nido to Coron – 6:00 AM daily
- Coron to El Nido – 12:00 PM daily

PHIMAL

PHIMAL is another ferry you can take from El Nido to Coron and vice versa. It has toilets, air conditioning, and luggage allowance of 2 hand luggage items.

You can reserve your tickets below:

El Nido to Coron: RESERVE A TICKET HERE
Coron to El Nido: RESERVE A TICKET HERE

Fare: 1760 PHP (37 USD) for both Economy and Aircon class
Travel Time: 3.5 to 4 hours only
Schedule:
- El Nido to Coron – 8:20 AM daily
- Coron to El Nido – 1:00 PM daily

Slow Boat or Bangka (Regular Ferry)

If you’re on a budget, you can choose to ride the regular ferries. These are slow boats made from wood.

Despite being cheap, these have a longer travel time. They’ll usually tell you it will take 5 hours of travel time but this will depend on the weather. Often, you’ll find yourself traveling for 8 hours!

Bunso

Fare: 1400 PHP (~28 USD)
Travel Time: 5 to 10 hours (depending on the weather)
Schedule:
- El Nido to Coron – 8:30 AM daily
- Coron to El Nido – 8:30 AM daily
Contact Numbers: 0910-720-8443 or 0906-637-4258

MBCA Jessabel 2

Fare: 1400 PHP (~28 USD)
Travel Time: 5 to 10 hours (depending on the weather)
Schedule:
- El Nido to Coron – 7:30 AM (Tuesday, Friday and Sunday)
- Coron to El Nido – 7:30 AM (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday)
Contact Numbers: Smart: 0918-967-6837 or 0918-967-6838 and Globe: 0915-850-1391.

Passenger Cargo Ship

The passenger cargo ship is the cheapest option but only travels once a week so make sure to plan ahead.

Fare: 1150 PHP (~23 USD)for air-conditioned seats and 1000 PHP (~20 USD) for non-air-conditioned seats
Travel Time: around 8 hours
Schedule:
- El Nido to Coron – 7:30 AM (Wednesday)
- Coron to El Nido – 7:00 AM (Monday)

Other Fees

Be prepared to pay the ferry tax which is around 20 PHP (0.4 USD).

Note: I’d recommend you to book your tickets in advance to secure a seat. Seats sold out fast especially during the high season.

Port Maps and Locations

Here are the maps to the ports to help you plan your trip!

El Nido Ferry Terminal

Coron Port

El Nido to Coron Flight

Your second option is to ride on a plane. This is more expensive but has a faster travel time. Flights take around 40 minutes.

You can book a direct flight from El Nido to Coron via Airswift.

Departure time is at 8:40 AM from El Nido to Coron and 9:30 AM from Coron to El Nido.

Responsible Travel Tips

When traveling to one place, make sure you practice responsible tourism. Here are some tips to do so.

1. Respect the environment

Don’t litter. Please hold onto your trash until you find a garbage can.

2. Avoid single-use plastic

Bring your eco bag and refuse single-use plastic.

3. Shop local

Keep the traditional crafts alive and support local artisans. Buy from them. And try not to haggle, P20 may seem small to you but it can mean a lot to them.

4. Always ask permission

Be sure to ask for permission first when taking photos or videos especially when it comes to children.

5. Don’t bring home sand and seashells

Take nothing but photos. Removal of seashells can harm the ecosystem and endanger creatures such as hermit crabs. You’ll often also find seashells sold as decorations, ornaments, or keychains. Please avoid supporting these and don’t buy.