El Nido sits at the northern tip of Palawan, in the Philippines. Most travelers fly into Puerto Princesa City, and from there they need a way to reach El Nido: by van, by bus, or by their own rental vehicle. There are no flights between the two towns, and there is no regular ferry between them either. So in practice, the entire 280-kilometer journey happens by land.

In this article, we’ll cover what you need to know to organize your trip: how long it really takes, how much it costs, and where to book. We’ve done the ride dozens of times ourselves over the years, in just about every type of vehicle, so the recommendations below come from real experience.

How long does it take to go from Puerto Princesa to El Nido?

The time it takes to go from Puerto Princesa to El Nido mainly depends on which means of transportation you’re using. To give you an overview, here is a table with an estimate of the travel time by means of transportation, as well as the average price it will cost you.

Means of Transportation Travel Time Price
Van 5 to 6 hours 700 to 800 PHP
Private Van 5 to 6 hours 8,000 to 9,000 PHP (whole van)
Bus 6 to 9 hours 400 to 600 PHP
Rental Car Around 5 hours 2,500 to 5,000 PHP/day

As you can see, travel times range between 5 and 9 hours. The road follows the North Palawan Highway through Roxas, San Vicente and Taytay, before joining the Taytay-El Nido Highway. It has its share of turns and hillsides, which is why the actual average speed stays around 50 km/h for a van or a car, and as low as 30 km/h for a bus.

That being said, let’s take a closer look at every travel option you have to go from “Puerto” (the local nickname of Puerto Princesa) to El Nido, with their pros and their cons.

Traveling from Puerto Princesa to El Nido by van

Van from Puerto Princesa to El Nido on the North Palawan Highway

For tourists, the van shuttle is probably the most popular way of going between El Nido and Puerto Princesa. There are many companies commuting the two towns and each one of them runs several trips a day.

As soon as you step outside Puerto Princesa Airport, you’ll probably be approached by van drivers asking you if you need a ride to El Nido. So, in a way, you won’t have to look for a van… But there are a few things to take into account.

What is the normal price for a van ride?

People who are used to taking the van between Puerto Princesa and El Nido (locals and expats) will generally get a fare of 600 PHP (or even a bit lower). But the prices asked to tourists can be a bit higher. They generally range from 700 to 800 PHP.

How to book your van

Public van timing. After you booked your ticket, you could suppose that you’ll be going soon. But you have to be aware that, most of the time, the van company will wait until the van is fully booked before leaving. Sometimes, you may even have to wait a few hours (basically, until the next flight has arrived) which can be a bit frustrating. Unfortunately, nobody will tell you that prior to booking.

Private van option. If you’re traveling as a group or prefer the more comfortable option (which we definitely recommend), you can book a private van. The cost is around 8,000 to 9,000 PHP in total, and the driver can pick you up directly at your hotel in Puerto Princesa (or at the airport). You can reserve your private van online by clicking here for a private van to go to El Nido, or there for a private van going to Puerto Princesa.

What to expect during the van ride

Arrival. After 5 to 6 hours, you’ll arrive at Corong-Corong bus terminal, which is just a few minutes away from El Nido town proper. You can take a tricycle from there. It’s preferable to avoid walking to El Nido town (especially at night) as there are no sidewalks. Walking on the road is both disturbing for the drivers and dangerous for you.

Crowding. The public van companies tend to fit a maximum of people into one van, sometimes adding removable extra seats. It’s not rare to have 13 to 14 people in one van, driver included. So, if you’re 6 feet tall and stuck in the last seat row, you won’t be very comfortable, notably because you won’t have much space for your legs.

Best seats (especially if you’re tall). The best seats in the van are in the front seat and in the first seat row behind the driver where you will have more space for your legs. Note that these seats are generally the fastest to be taken. Thus, if you’d like to have them, you should ask if they’re still available before booking and duly specify you want to sit there. The best option though, is still to book a private van instead.

Air-conditioning. Most of the vans are air-conditioned (and sometimes even a bit too cold!). Their general comfort depends on their age and on the model. For sure, a 20-year-old van will be less comfortable than a brand-new one.

Traveling to El Nido by bus

A Roro bus going to El Nido, Palawan

This is the second most popular way for travelers to go from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. There are two companies you can choose from: Roro Bus and Cherry Bus. Both companies operate from the San Jose Bus Terminal, which is 7 kilometers away from the airport. Here is the location on the map.

San Jose Bus Terminal in Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Bus fares and tricycle cost

Bus fare. The bus fares range from 400 PHP for a standard Roro or Cherry bus up to 600 PHP for an air-conditioned Cherry bus. The prices depend on the model of the bus. They stay the same, no matter the hour of the day or night.

Tricycle to the terminal. There is a 10 to 20 minutes (depending on traffic) tricycle ride to go from Puerto Princesa Airport to the Bus Terminal. The last time I checked, the official price (displayed inside the tricycle) was 120 PHP. For the Philippines, this is an expensive ride. You may get it cheaper or be able to share the cost if you are two or three in the tricycle.

Total cost vs. van. Taking a tricycle to go from the airport to the bus terminal in San Jose (around 120 PHP) is something you have to add to the total price. If you get a standard bus, it will add up to about 520 PHP. If you take an air-conditioned one, the total lands closer to 720 PHP. As you can see, a bus ride is not necessarily cheaper than a van ride. In any case, it will take you more time to arrive in El Nido.

Schedule and night buses

You can get a night bus since the Roro company also operates during nighttime (the last and first departures should be at 10PM and 4AM). If you’re on a budget, this can be a way to save a night at the hotel. Plus, during the night the buses are usually not full and you may be able to get a seat row for yourself (which definitely is better to sleep). During the night, the ride to El Nido can take only 6 hours, because it will make only a few stops.

What to expect during the bus ride

Frequency. There are buses going to El Nido every one or two hours during the day. These are the ones that can take up to 8 or even 9 hours. The reason is simple: during daytime they make a lot of stops along the road, especially at the hours when school starts and finishes.

Flagging a bus. In the Philippines, you basically just stand along the road and wave to the driver to make a bus stop. When the kids are on their way to school or home, the bus will stop many times to pick them up and drop them off. You should also know that the bus allowance is not limited by the number of seats. Thus, on certain parts of the road, you can sometimes have almost as many people standing in the aisle as there are people sitting.

Arrival. After 6 to 9 hours, you will arrive at Corong-Corong bus terminal, where you can take a tricycle to El Nido town proper.

Renting a car or motorbike to drive to El Nido

Rent a Car (here Mitsubishi Montero) to go from Puerto Princesa to El Nido

You can find companies to rent a car or a motorbike in Puerto Princesa. Prices for a motorcycle (type Honda XRM 125) are around 500 PHP/day, and a little bit lower if you rent for a longer time. More powerful models are more expensive, around 800 to 1,000 PHP/day.

To rent a car that you’ll be able to drive on all roads up to El Nido, count on 2,500 to 5,000 PHP/day, depending on the model. Driving between Puerto Princesa and El Nido can be a real pleasure: the road has very beautiful parts.

If you’d like to book a rental car in Puerto Princesa, it’s now possible with our online tool: Rent a Car in Puerto Princesa.

Is it a good idea to rent a motorbike to drive to El Nido?

It depends on your skills. Five hours on a Honda XRM 125 is exhausting (I’ve done it, so I speak from experience), especially for a non-expert. And one crucial thing to know about Palawan roads: stray dogs are the leading cause of motorbike accidents in the Philippines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the questions we hear most often from travelers heading to El Nido for the first time.

Between 5 and 9 hours, depending on how you travel. A public or private van takes 5 to 6 hours, a rental car about the same, and a bus 6 to 9 hours (longer during the day because of frequent stops, shorter at night).

Not as much as it looks at first. Once you add the 120 PHP tricycle to the San Jose Bus Terminal, a bus ride lands at 500 to 720 PHP total, which is comparable to a public van at 700 to 800 PHP. The bus is still slightly cheaper but the difference shrinks fast, and you will spend 1 to 3 more hours on the road.

Yes, with a private van. The driver picks you up directly at your hotel (or at the airport) and drops you off at your accommodation in El Nido. Most public vans, on the other hand, leave from the airport or a central terminal and do not do hotel pickups.

Yes, the Roro company operates a night service. The last departure is around 10pm and the first one around 4am. Night buses are usually less crowded and faster (around 6 hours), which makes them a good option if you want to save a night of accommodation or arrive in El Nido at sunrise.

It is doable if you are a confident rider, but it is a long, tiring ride (5 hours one way) and stray dogs are a serious hazard on Palawan roads. Most travelers prefer to rent a motorbike once in El Nido for shorter local trips.

No, there are no commercial flights between Puerto Princesa and El Nido at the moment. Travel is by land. The full road takes 5 to 9 hours depending on your transport.

Conclusion

We focused here on how to travel by land from Puerto Princesa. For the other ways to come to El Nido (airplane and ferry), see our dedicated article. For most travelers, the best land transfer option is a van from Puerto Princesa airport. Bus or rental car are also good options depending on your budget and arrival time. Before you go, also have a look at things to know before coming to El Nido.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or send us a message from our contact page. Also, don’t hesitate to check our page on El Nido island hopping Tours and our all-inclusive (transportation, accommodation and island hopping tours) El Nido Tour Packages. I hope this article was helpful and wish you the best stay in El Nido!