How to Take the El Nido to Coron Ferry (Or Coron to El Nido!)
UPDATED 2020. Flying in the Philippines is cheap, but travelling between islands by ferry is much more fun! For those who have been thinking about heading to the Philippines, it might be the case that you want to explore the beautiful areas of El Nido on Palawan as well as the neighbouring island of Coron. Both areas are pristine, but they can seem like they’re a pain in the neck to access from each other, with many reports of flights being needed from El Nido back to Cebu or even Manila and then onward to Coron or vice versa. This isn’t the case at all, and in fact, the ferry is more alive than ever before. Here’s a brief rundown on using El Nido to Coron (or Coron to El Nido) ferry when traversing these Philippine islands.
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El Nido to Coron Ferry Price
El Nido to Coron boat leaves daily and provide travellers with two very simple options: fast or slow. The slow ferry takes around 6 hours while the fast ferry takes around three, sometimes a bit closer to 4. Either way, booking ferry tickets can be done online easily and without much hassle.
EL NIDO TO CORON FAST FERRY: $35 per person or around 1800 pesos.
EL NIDO TO CORON SLOW FERRY: $25 per person or around 1300 pesos.
Considering the slow ferry takes almost a whole day, I’d recommend the fast ferry for the sake of $10.
El Nido to Coron Timetable
EL NIDO TO CORON FAST FERRY: Leaves El Nido every morning at 6am. It leaves Coron at 12pm (noon). Takes around three and half hours.
EL NIDO TO CORON SLOW FERRY: Leaves El Nido every morning between 730 and 830am. It leaves Coron between 730 and 830am. Takes between five and nine hours.
EL NIDO TO CORON Ferry Comforts
Both types of ferries are comfortable and offer food. The slower ferry seats about 80 people, but often it’s not full, especially if it’s a weekday and not a holiday or weekend. The boat itself is a wooden long boat of sorts that has seating both inside or on the roof, ideal for watching the world go by and catching some sea air. The seats are padded, so it makes for a comfortable trip, even if you’re taking the longer option, allowing you to lay down and spread out if the boat isn’t full.
The food served onboard varies in type, but it can be really delicious. Food can include rice, chicken, vegetables and the like with bread and water or juice.
Source: Jonathan Valencia on Pixabay
More Information
Just because El Nido and Coron are super famous, don’t ignore Sabang Beach in Palawan, I love that place! Regardless of whether you’re going one way or round trip, the ferry from El Nido to Coron offers both options, you can book it online here. It’s sometimes easier to book it in advance and save some money, but only if you know which dates you’re returning to El Nido as the tickets are required to be booked in advance and so aren’t refundable or transferable. That doesn’t overly matter though if you’re on a specific itinerary with set days. If you’re travelling free and easy though, consider booking a one way in the first instance to allow yourself more flexibility.
Source: Jah Cordova on Pixabay
So if you’re getting ready to hit the Philippines and you want to explore the area without too much flying, hopefully, this brief guide to the ferries linking El Nido and Coron – two of the country’s most popular areas – will help you make plans that will create a free and easy trip, with seamless transportation options that take you right form A to B with no hassle. Enjoy!
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