Palawan sits at the western edge of the Philippine archipelago — an elongated island of jungle mountains, white-sand beaches, and a coastline studded with limestone towers that create some of the most striking seascapes in the world.
El Nido is the visual peak: kayaking through enclosed lagoons whose cliff walls block out the sky, then emerging into a hidden beach no larger than a tennis court. The island-hopping circuits cover most of the highlights in a few days of boat days. Coron adds a completely different dimension — the WWII Japanese shipwrecks here are among the most accessible and dramatic wreck dives in the world.
Puerto Princesa's Underground River is a UNESCO World Heritage site worth the half-day excursion from the capital. The whole island rewards slow travel — give yourself ten days and you will feel like you barely scratched it.
In-depth guide
The Southeast Asian Coast Adventure Guide
6 min read