Palawan is the long, thin island province in the far west of the Philippines, and most visitors split their week between El Nido and Coron. El Nido is the lagoon and limestone-cliff postcard, explored on island-hopping boat tours. Coron, a ferry ride north, is known for Kayangan Lake and some of Asia's best wreck diving on Second World War Japanese ships.
Flights are the biggest part of the bill, at A$1,682 for two, because getting there usually means connecting in Manila. On the ground Palawan is good value: A$651 covers a comfortable room for the week, and A$802 covers meals and day-to-day spending. Most island-hopping tours include a beach lunch, which helps.
What Palawan is known for
Best time to visit: November to May
Cost by month
A week for two from Sydney (est. flights, stay & food), by the month you travel.
From other cities
The same week for two (est. flights, stay & food), by the city you fly from.
Where Palawan ranks
How we priced this: two travellers, seven nights, at the Comfortable level, from Sydney unless another city is shown, with no month chosen (a year-round average). Prices checked on 4 November 2026. Totals are estimates of return flights, accommodation, and daily food and spending; they aren't package prices. The flight price from Sydney is a model estimate because we don't yet have cached fares for that route. The month list uses each month's flight and hotel season. Open the trip to change the dates, city or comfort level and see it re-priced.
Questions
When is the cheapest time to go to Palawan?
From Sydney, August is the cheapest month, at an est. A$2,915 for two for a week. It's outside the dry season, so expect some rain. The best time to visit is November to May. December is the dearest month, at an est. A$4,113, when the holidays lift flights and hotels.
Is Palawan cheaper from other Australian cities?
Perth is the cheapest place to fly from, at an est. A$2,884 for two for a week. From Melbourne it's an est. A$3,133, from Brisbane A$3,059 and from Adelaide A$3,028.
Should we stay in El Nido or Coron?
El Nido is best for lagoons, beaches and easy island-hopping tours. Coron is best for snorkelling and diving over wrecks and for its lakes. With a week you can do both, linked by a ferry of a few hours. You can also compare Palawan with other romantic beach trips.
Compare Palawan with other places on your budget
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