El Nido vs Coron: Which Filipino Island Should You Visit?
By Daniella from Sampler Platter Travel – this guide to the Philippines contains affiliate links to trusted partners!
Only have a short amount of time to choose between El Nido vs Coron?
While we wish that everybody could have enough time to explore both of these wonderful destinations, we understand that sometimes you have to prioritize.
Planning a trip and deciding between 2 destinations can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Last year, my close friend and I had the pleasure of traveling to tons of destinations in the Philippines over two weeks. We visited both El Nido and Coron in Palawan, and while we loved both, they had drastically different vibes.
If you must, we are here to help you choose.
In this travel guide, we will outline the differences between El Nido and Coron as well as other considerations to keep in mind: outdoor adventure, ease of travel, budget, nightlife, beaches, and more.
Check out the end of the guide for two sample 2 day itineraries El Nido and Coron. Sampler Platter Travel is dedicated to fast itineraries helping you prioritize things to do if you only have a short amount of time.
We want to inspire you to travel even if you only have to pick between two different islands. Busy travelers, this guide on choosing El Nido vs Coron is for you.
Happy sampling!
Too Long, Didn’t Read – El Nido vs Coron
Why El Nido is the Best
- Compared to Coron, El Nido is a lot younger, with a bunch of young adults and backpackers who want to make friends and be social.
- Relax on white sand beaches and take in a fascinating view. El Nido is ‘the nest’ in Spanish, meaning that you are literally immersed within a nest of gorgeous limestone cliffs.
- The prices in El Nido are fantastic, and you can get accommodation that overlooks the ocean for almost nothing. Enjoy beers for 50 pesos, or 3 USD!
- Some people might consider this a hindrance, but El Nido does not have an amazing Wi-Fi connection. This means that everyone is there to get together and relax. Are you on vacation and your boss is bothering you? Those calls won’t be coming through! El Nido gives you a much-needed break and relaxation.
- Boat tours are standardized! There are so many tour operators running boat tours, so El Nido has made it easy by streamlining them and naming them A, B, C, and D. It’s easy to pick a boat tour in El Nido, and rest assured, they will be amazing.
Why Coron is the Best
- Taking a boat tour in Coron is incredibly unique. You can see the cleanest lake in the Philippines, a gorgeous set of lagoons, as well as wreck diving sites from World War II, most of which are only accessible by boat.
- Coron has a mouth-watering restaurant scene, and while its nightlife doesn’t match El Nido, you won’t go wrong picking one of the restaurants in the central town area.
- Sure, relaxing on a beach in El Nido might be fun, but what about getting your heart rate up and doing more activities in Coron? Coron has great outdoor adventures such as hiking up Mount Tapias.
- Coron is a quieter and older crowd. This is great if you are a family or a couple. Coron feels more laid back than El Nido, and you will find that it is more exciting when it comes to boat tours but more relaxing when it comes to the vibe of the city.
Best Experiences in El Nido
Best Experiences in Coron
Best Accommodations in El Nido
El Nido has an ample selection of hostels and hotels for every budget and vibe. We recommend staying out of the town proper and finding a hostel along the beach.
| Price | Name | Benefits |
| Budget Option | Outpost Beach Hostel (where we stayed) | Amazing hotel for backpackers who want to socialize and meet new friendsMultiple floors looking out over the oceanDaily social events |
| Mid-Range Option | Corong Beach Resort | Along the beachfront, just steps from Corong Corong BeachHotel has a terrace and bar |
| Luxury Option | El Nido Bayview Resort | Luxury vibes of Marimegmeg BeachLocated 5 minutes away from the beachHas amazing panoramic views of the rainforestDining area with international and Filipino cuisines |
Best Accommodations in Coron
For the easiest time getting to your boat tours, stay in the central town area of Coron. You won’t go wrong being within close walking distance of wonderful restaurants.
| Price | Name | Benefits |
| Budget Option | AvisalaHostel (where we stayed) | Great for young backpackers who want a homey and clean place to stayGreat breakfast |
| Mid-Range Option | DK’s Inn | Located an 8-minute walk from the center of townFantastic terrace and private rooms |
| Luxury Option | Corto del Mar Hotel | Beautiful resort, garden, and poolElegant restaurant optionGreat for quieter couples and older travelers |
Category 1: Outdoor Adventure
Winner: Coron
- El Nido – To be quite frank, El Nido is more of a relaxing destination where the main attraction is to sit on a picturesque white sand beach. Even when going island hopping, there isn’t a lot of outdoor adventure past snorkeling and kayaking.
Overall, El Nido is not a destination of choice for true outdoor adventurers.
- Coron – Coron is known for beautiful outdoor extravaganzas, from hiking to jungle exploration. Mount Tapyas is a popular hiking destination in the heart of the city, giving you gorgeous views of the town and the ocean below.
Coron is also home to Calauit Safari Park, located about 1.5 hours away. There are giraffes and other safari animals, making it a great choice for both children and adults alike. Not going to lie, I’d like to see some giraffes!
Category 2: Beaches
Winner: El Nido
- El Nido – The place to go if you want to relax on a white sand beach and take in the warm weather. El Nido has wonderful beaches along the coastline, where the most beautiful hotels and hostels are located.
The entire strip between Corong Corong and Marimegmeg Beach is a beautiful shoreline with great views. Other than that strip of beach, most of the beaches are only accessible by boat, meaning that the island hopping tours have an element of relaxation as well as adventure.
Plus, Marimegmeg Beach has cabanas for rent, so if you want a more traditional beach day under sun cover, this is your place. It is an easy tricycle ride from the town of El Nido. It even has a café where you can grab drinks and hang out for the entire day.
- Coron – While Coron has beautiful natural wonders such as the Twin Lagoon and Kayangan Lake, it is not the destination that comes to mind when you think of going to a sandy beach.
There are a few islands that have nice beaches, but they are only accessible by boat, meaning that you have to be part of an island-hopping tour or charter a private boat for the day.
It is important to note that none of Coron’s white sand beaches are on the mainland!
This is something we learned the hard way.
We ended up walking 1.5 hours to what we thought was a beach, but when we arrived, it turned out that it was just dirt and a small cliff leading into the ocean. Now, of course, we had a great time, but we weren’t expecting the lack of sand!
If you want that traditional Caribbean island vibe – sitting on a beach with a drink in hand – Coron will disappoint, while El Nido will not. In the El Nido vs Coron debate, El Nido certainly wins here!
Category 3: Ease of Travel
Winner: Tie
Looking at El Nido vs Coron, both cities are accessible and also a little bit difficult to get to. They are not near any other major cities in the Philippines. If there are ferry or plane delays, the journey can be drastically impacted.
- El Nido – The town can be accessed in 3 main ways:
- Option 1 – Flying into Puerto Princesa
The first option is to fly into Puerto Princesa, a city located on the island of Palawan, further south. Palawan is a long and skinny island, with El Nido all the way at the northern tip. The drive from Puerto Princesa to El Nido is relatively long, lasting about 5 hours. However, the benefit of flying into Puerto Princesa is that you can spend a day touring the Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park. If you have time to spare, definitely consider seeing this natural phenomenon. If your itinerary is short, you may want to skip out on this activity.
- Option 2 – Flying into El Nido
The second option is to fly directly to El Nido. The flights are not as expensive as you may think, even though the airport is very small. It is located close to the town of El Nido, and taking a tricycle from the airport should never cost more than 600 pesos. However, given the small size of the airport, flights can run into delays surrounding bad weather and poor conditions. It is super convenient but unpredictable as well.
- Option 3 – Ferry into El Nido
The final option is to take a ferry into El Nido, usually from Coron. It is convenient because the ferry terminal is located in the heart of the town.
We made the opposite journey, transiting from El Nido to Coron and thought it was a very smooth process. Ferries do tend to be delayed, but if you don’t mind waiting an extra hour, it’s a lot easier than flying.
Remember to bring cash, as credit cards are not accepted. On the day of your ferry, we suggest arriving at the terminal about one hour before departure time.
- Coron – There are 2 easy ways to get to Coron, depending on where you’re traveling from:
- Fly to Busuanga Airport: The nearest airport to Coron is Francisco Reyes Airport, also known as Busuanga Airport. While it is a one-terminal airport with two gates, there are still quite a few flights arriving and departing from Busuanga, connecting Coron with the major cities of Cebu City and Manila. If you are flying in from Manila, the flight is only 1 hour long!
Once you have arrived at the airport, the town of Coron is a 30 to 45-minute tricycle or van ride away.
- Ferry to the Coron Ferry Port: If you are arriving in Coron from a closer location in Palawan such as El Nido or Puerto Princesa, the easiest way to travel is via ferry. The ferry ride from El Nido takes an average of 3.5 hours, although delays are frequent.
Apart from delays, the ferry is a convenient way to travel from El Nido to Coron, especially if you aren’t in a time crunch.
For budget travelers who have a lot more time to kill, you can take a ferry from Puerto Princesa to Coron, a trip that takes around 7 to 9 hours. The ferry will be cheaper than flights, but make sure you’re okay with sailing for that long!
Category 5: Cost
Winner: El Nido
- El Nido – Due to its young population, El Nido is slightly cheaper than Coron. Overall, it’s not that much more expensive, but hotels and meals in El Nido will be cheaper. You will spend around 500 pesos for a full meal and around 3,000 pesos for a boat tour.
- Coron – While not that much more expensive, a full meal averages around 600 pesos, and boat tours hover around 3,500 pesos. However, restaurant quality is higher overall.
We noticed that in Coron, boat tours are more expensive while less is covered. El Nido has a blanket price that includes everything on the tour, but our Coron tour had us pay for each little thing including kayaks, snorkels, life jackets, and more.
Category 6: Nightlife
Winner: El Nido
- El Nido – El Nido definitely wins when it comes to nightlife in Palawan. Not only is it an incredibly young city that brings in backpackers, but most of the hostels along the beachfront are very social with nightly events.
While there aren’t any traditional nightclubs, there are ample bars. If you are interested in social events and meeting fellow travelers, we highly recommend staying in the Outpost Hostel, which was our absolute favorite.
The town of El Nido has a couple of popular bars, including SAVA Beach Bar.
- Coron – The center of the town has a fun area with restaurants and bars along Real Street. However, compared to El Nido, it doesn’t have the same young vibe when it comes to nightlife.
Furthermore, a lot of the hostels and hotels in Coron are usually quieter and tucked away into the mountainside.
If you are looking for more of a party and nightlife scene, El Nido is the place to go.
Also, Coron has a slightly older median age, catered towards older travelers, couples, and families.
Category 7: Kid Friendly
Winner: Coron
- El Nido – Overall, El Nido has some kid-friendly qualities, so please don’t scratch it off your list if you are visiting with children. We are choosing Coron over El Nido because of El Nido’s reputation as a younger city with backpackers. You might feel more left out as a family.
In terms of activities, El Nido is relaxing, with boat tours that focus on beaches and snorkeling. These may be a bit boring for children.
Of course, the nightlife aspect of El Nido (which turns a lot of hostels and accommodations into parties at night), is not the best option for kids.
While you can of course bring kids to El Nido and stay in smaller hotels, make sure to do your research into where to stay.
- Coron – The town takes the cake for being the most kid-friendly, although not by much. Coron has a bit more for kids to do apart from boat tours.
For instance, kids will love the Calauit Safari Park, relaxing in Maquinit Hot Springs, or grabbing a bite to eat around Coron town, with tons of food options.
While not a lot more kid-friendly than El Nido, Coron has a laid-back and quieter vibe.
Sample Itineraries in El Nido and Coron
2 Days in El Nido
Day 1
- Hang out in El Nido Town
- Relax on a white sand beach
- Explore El Nido’s nightlife scene
Day 2
- Spend the day on a boat
- That is all – you will be so pooped when you arrive home
2 Days in Coron
Day 1
- Take a full-day boat tour
Day 2
- Hike up Mount Tapyas
- Relax in the Maquinit Hot springs
- Check out Coron’s restaurant scene
FAQs About El Nido and Coron
Is El Nido or Coron, Palawan better?
Coron and El Nido are both fantastic islands in the Philippines, but they definitely have different vibes. Both areas have wonderful island hopping and full-day boat tours which make it difficult to choose between El Nido vs Coron.
El Nido has a younger crowd with more nightlife, partying, and a lot of beautiful beaches along the shoreline. Most hostels and accommodations will have a beachfront property.
On the other hand, Coron is more laid back and quieter, although their center area has fantastic restaurants to try. Coron is a bit more expensive than El Nido but is better for couples and older travelers.
Also, Coron has no inland beaches, and a boat is needed to get to all of the sandy beaches. We walked over an hour and a half to what we thought was going to be a white beach. While it was very beautiful, there was no sand at all!
How long to stay in Coron and El Nido?
Coron and El Nido can both be explored in two days each, making them perfect weekend locations. This allows enough time for one full-day boat tour and one full day to explore the town and neighboring areas.
Most things in Coron are only accessible by boat, whereas El Nido has a bunch of great white sand beaches to hang out in.
However, where Coron lacks in white sand beaches, it makes up in wonderful natural environments and hiking opportunities.
Is El Nido too touristy?
El Nido has a fair amount of tourists, which can either excite you or throw you off, depending on what kind of style of trip you would like.
El Nido is not too touristy for young people looking to meet fellow travelers, be social, and engage in a bunch of events.
However, if you are an older couple or a family looking for a quiet destination far from tourists, you may not enjoy the sheer number of travelers in El Nido. In that case, Coron is best for you.
Concluding Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed this comparison between El Nido vs Coron in Palawan, the Philippines. Regardless of what decision you make, we know that you will have a great time. Don’t forget to check out the beautiful island of Bohol and the beach town of Moalboal during your stay in the Philippines.
Whether you want to party the night away, relax on a beach, or explore every island on a hopping adventure, El Nido and Coron are both wonderful destinations with something for everyone. You will have a great time regardless of whether you choose El Nido vs Coron.
It is a must-add to your Philippines bucket list, and don’t forget to check out the rest of beautiful Asia!
Happy sampling!