6D5N Puerto Princesa and El Nido Tours with hotel

Palawan packs a lot into six days. This $349 Puerto Princesa and El Nido package gives you airport pickup, hotels, shared transport, meals, and the big sights without making you build the trip piece by piece. I especially like the Underground River visit and the two El Nido boat days, which cover famous places such as Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Hidden Beach, and Matinloc Island.

I also like the practical support from Corazon Travel and Tours. Past bookings praised Peter for shaping complicated itineraries and Ron for handling a family trip that kept growing, even adding airline tickets and Coron. The main caution is the pace: you change bases after the Underground River, return to Puerto Princesa late in the trip, and share the experience with as many as 30 people.

Key points to know before booking

• The Underground River is the first major sight: A seven-hour day takes you to a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
• Two El Nido boat days cover the classic stops: Big Lagoon, Seven Commando Beach, Secret Lagoon, Hidden Beach, Matinloc Island, and Helicopter Island all appear.
• Hotels and several meals are included: You receive five breakfasts and three lunches, while other meals are your responsibility.
• The package uses shared transport: An air-conditioned vehicle keeps transfers practical, but a group of up to 30 can mean less flexibility.
• Day 5 gives you breathing room: You have half a day in El Nido before traveling back to Puerto Princesa.
• A moderate fitness level is required: The plan includes boat outings, island stops, a kayak visit, and long touring days.

Why this six-day Palawan plan works

Puerto Princesa and El Nido offer different sides of Palawan. Puerto Princesa is the useful starting point, with the airport, city sights, and access to the Underground River. El Nido brings the dramatic island scenery and lagoon trips that many people picture when they think of Palawan.

The strength of this package is its simplicity. You arrive at Puerto Princesa International Airport, meet a representative, and get a ride to your hotel. You do not need to arrange a separate airport transfer, find a hotel after landing, or work out how to connect the two destinations.

At $349 per person, the value depends on what you would otherwise pay for hotels, transport, boat trips, admission charges, meals, and the Underground River outing. Since those major pieces are bundled together, the price is easier to understand as a trip package rather than a sightseeing ticket.

The tradeoff is control. This is a shared tour, with a maximum group size of 30. You get convenience and a lower price, but not the freedom to linger at every beach or change the route whenever you wish.

Day 1: Airport pickup and a gentle start in Puerto Princesa

The trip begins at Puerto Princesa International Airport, with a listed start time of 2:00 pm. A representative meets you and transfers you to your hotel in the City in the Forest.

That first transfer matters more than it may sound. After a flight, you can go straight to your accommodation instead of dealing with local transport while carrying luggage. The arrival day is otherwise light, giving you time to settle in.

The package includes hotel accommodation, though the supplied details do not name the properties or describe their room standards. I would confirm the hotel names before paying if your choice of location or room type matters to you.

Because the start time is fixed at 2:00 pm, check your flight schedule carefully. The supplied information does not explain what happens if a flight arrives late, so it is sensible to ask Corazon Travel and Tours about airport meeting arrangements before departure.

Day 2: The Underground River and the move to El Nido

Day 2 is the first full touring day, and it is a long one. You spend about seven hours visiting the Puerto Princesa Underground River, with admission included.

The river is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Those labels can sound grand, but here they point to a genuinely unusual stop: a river system associated with an underground setting, reached as part of a full-day excursion from Puerto Princesa.

You should expect this to be a structured day rather than a quick photo stop. Seven hours includes the time needed to reach the attraction, manage the visit, and return to the wider tour schedule. Wear practical clothing and bring only what you need for the outing, since you continue onward to El Nido afterward.

The same day includes the transfer to El Nido. This is efficient, but it is also the hardest part of the schedule. You visit a major attraction and then change towns, so you may arrive tired. The benefit is that you wake up in El Nido ready for the island trips instead of losing another day to relocation.

The air-conditioned vehicle is included. That is a welcome feature for a road transfer after a full day outside. Still, the exact driving time is not provided, so you should not assume you will have a long evening free in El Nido.

Day 3: Big Lagoon, Seven Commando Beach, and Secret Lagoon

Day 3 is built around three well-known El Nido stops. The first is Big Lagoon, visited by kayak for about 30 minutes, with admission included.

Big Lagoon is the kind of place where the setting does much of the work. The kayak gives you a slower way to look around than simply stepping off a boat for a quick picture. Since the listed visit lasts only 30 minutes, keep your expectations realistic. You get a focused introduction, not an unhurried paddle for half a day.

Next comes Seven Commando Beach, also scheduled for about 30 minutes. The plan specifically mentions beach volleyball with local people or other tourists. That makes this stop more social than the lagoon visits. You can play a round, stretch your legs, or simply enjoy the beach before the boat moves on.

The final stop is Secret Lagoon. Again, the scheduled time is 30 minutes. The appeal is the enclosed lagoon setting, but the short stop means the day is designed to show you several places rather than let you settle into one.

This is a classic shared-boat format. It gives you variety and covers three signature sites in one day. The limitation is that each stop follows the clock. If you prefer long swims, quiet beach time, or photography without a schedule, you may find the pace brisk.

Day 4: Hidden Beach and three island settings

The second El Nido touring day visits Hidden Beach, Matinloc Island, and Helicopter Island. Each stop is listed at about 30 minutes, so once again the emphasis is variety.

Hidden Beach offers another compact stop with a name that sets up the experience. You can expect a place reached as part of the boat route, with limited time to look around before continuing.

At Matinloc Island, the main focus is a shrine. This gives the day a cultural point of interest alongside the coastal scenery. It is a useful reminder that El Nido is not only about swimming and photographs. The visit is still brief, so think of it as a stop for orientation and viewing rather than a long historical visit.

Helicopter Island is named for its shape. Admission is listed as free, and the stop adds another kind of island scenery to the route. The details do not specify how long you remain there beyond the overall half-hour listing, so your time may be used for a short visit, a view from the boat, or a quick shore stop depending on the day’s operation.

I like the structure of Day 4 because it prevents the two boat days from feeling identical. You get a beach, a shrine, and an island with a distinctive outline. Yet the same warning applies: six half-hour stops across two days create a sightseeing sampler, not a slow island holiday.

Day 5: Free time in El Nido, then back to Puerto Princesa

Day 5 is the package’s pressure valve. You have half a day at leisure in El Nido before traveling back to Puerto Princesa in the afternoon.

The schedule does not specify which optional activities are available or included during this free period. It simply gives you time to visit other interesting places in El Nido. That flexibility is useful after two organized boat days, especially if you want a quiet morning or need time to explore at your own pace.

Do not assume that additional activities, meals, or admission fees during this free period are covered. The package includes only the meals and services specifically stated, and the general note says meals not specified are excluded.

The return to Puerto Princesa makes Day 5 another transfer day. This is sensible if your departure follows on Day 6, but it means you do not finish the package in El Nido. If El Nido is your main reason for visiting Palawan, you may prefer a plan that gives you more nights there. If you need to return to Puerto Princesa for your flight, this arrangement reduces the risk of an early final-day road transfer.

Day 6: Five hours of Puerto Princesa sightseeing

The final day includes a half-day Puerto Princesa tour lasting about five hours. It is described as a visit to interesting places in the city, with admission free.

The exact stops are not provided, so you should ask for the city-tour route if particular sights matter to you. What is clear is the scale: five hours gives you a useful introduction without turning the final day into another full expedition.

This city tour also helps balance the trip. The Underground River provides nature on a grand scale, El Nido provides island stops, and the final half day returns you to Puerto Princesa itself. You see more than a resort coastline, even if the city portion is less precisely defined than the lagoon days.

The activity ends back at the meeting point. Since the information identifies the airport as the starting point and says the tour ends back at the meeting point, clarify the final drop-off arrangement if you need to catch a flight that day. The supplied details do not state a final departure time.

What the $349 price really covers

The $349 price is attractive for a six-day package with hotels, transport, boat touring, the Underground River visit, and selected meals. It is especially useful if you do not want to compare separate hotel rates, transfers, and activity fees.

Included items are:

• All fees and taxes
• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Audio tour device rental
• Five breakfasts
• Three lunches
• Admission for the listed paid attractions
• Hotel accommodation as part of the package

The audio tour device is an unusual inclusion and may help during portions of the sightseeing, although the information does not say where it is used or what languages are available. Ask before booking if this feature is important to you.

Five breakfasts and three lunches cover a meaningful part of a six-day trip, but not every meal. You pay separately for meals not specified, so leave room in your budget for dinners, drinks, snacks, and food during free time.

Group discounts are available, which may improve the value for families or larger parties. The package also accepts a mobile ticket, making it easier to keep confirmation details on your phone.

The group format, fitness level, and practical tradeoffs

The maximum group size is 30. That is large enough to affect boarding, head counts, meal timing, and departure waits. The air-conditioned vehicle is a comfort, but shared touring still requires patience.

The tour calls for a moderate physical fitness level. The schedule includes a seven-hour attraction day, road transfers between Puerto Princesa and El Nido, boat trips, island stops, and a kayak visit at Big Lagoon. The data does not give detailed information about accessibility, walking distances, or boarding conditions, so ask Corazon Travel and Tours if you have mobility concerns.

The average booking lead time is 33 days. That suggests you should not leave planning until the last moment, especially if your dates are fixed. Confirmation is normally received at booking, but reservations made within seven days of travel may take up to 48 hours and remain subject to availability.

The cancellation rule is strict. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, so confirm your flights and dates before making a payment.

Service notes from Corazon Travel and Tours

The strongest service detail comes from the people connected with earlier trips. Peter is praised for helping shape a complicated custom itinerary after the customer had dealt with several agencies. That is useful context if you need to combine this package with extra destinations or transport.

Ron is also singled out for handling a family booking that grew before departure. The party added people, and Corazon Travel and Tours accommodated the changes. The same arrangement included airline tickets from Manila and onward travel to Coron, plus private touring.

That does not guarantee that every request will be possible on this six-day package. It does suggest you should ask the company directly about add-ons, extra nights, Coron connections, or a private version before you pay. The company may be able to help, but the published package itself remains a shared tour.

Who should book this Palawan package?

I would recommend it to a first-time visitor who wants the main Puerto Princesa and El Nido sights in one organized trip. It suits you if airport pickup, hotels, shared transport, and included meals matter more than choosing every detail yourself.

It also fits families and small groups that want one company handling the basic arrangements. Group discounts and the company’s record of accommodating added family members may be useful, though you should request the current terms before booking.

You may want another plan if you dislike fixed schedules, need detailed hotel choices, or want several slow days in El Nido. The short stop times, two long transfer days, and group size make this a sightseeing circuit rather than a relaxed beach stay.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a well-packed Palawan introduction at a clear package price. The Underground River, two El Nido boat days, hotels, transport, breakfasts, lunches, and airport pickup cover the essentials with little planning work from you.

Before paying, confirm the hotel names, the exact Day 6 city stops, the transfer timing, and the final airport arrangements. If those details suit your flight schedule and you accept a group of up to 30, $349 offers solid convenience. If you value privacy and free time above all else, pay more for a private or slower itinerary instead.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Puerto Princesa International Airport on National Highway in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 2:00 pm.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long is the experience?

The tour lasts approximately six days.

Is hotel accommodation included?

Yes. The package is presented as a Puerto Princesa and El Nido tour with hotel accommodation included. Specific hotel names are not provided.

How many breakfasts are included?

Five breakfasts are included.

How many lunches are included?

Three lunches are included.

Are all meals included?

No. Meals not specifically listed are not included.

How large can the group be?

The maximum group size is 30 travelers.

Is the Underground River admission included?

Yes. Admission for the Puerto Princesa Underground River visit is included.

Is the tour refundable or changeable?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.