Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido: Transport Options

Q: How can I get to El Nido from Puerto Princesa Airport?

You can get from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido by shared van, public bus or private taxi . Private taxis and shared vans will take around 5 hours to complete the journey. The public bus doesn’t depart from the airport but the nearest bus station – San Jose bus terminal. From there, the travel time is around 8-9 hours.

El Nido is one of the crown jewels of Palawan Island in the Philippines. The one-of-a-kind destination is known for its incredible beach resorts, colourful coral reefs, underwater caverns, and sublime sunsets. If you love kayaking or long walks on the beach, there are few places as captivating as El Nido.

To get from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido, Palawan, you have three options. The first is to take a van. Shared vans – also known as multicabs – are easy to find at the airport and will get you to El Nido in 5 hours.

The second option is to take a public bus from San Jose bus station. You can get to the bus station from the airport via tricycle, and then the public bus journey to El Nido takes 8 hours.

Alternatively, you can pre-book a comfortable, air-conditioned private taxi from a 5-star reviewed company like Welcome Pickups. We’ll ensure you get to the door of your hotel in El Nido safely in around 5 hours so you can relax and enjoy your holiday.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Puerto Princesa at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS

OPTION	PRICE	DURATION	AVAILABILITY
Taxi	€23.20	300min	04:00–23:00
Bus	€12.60	480min	04:00–22:00

How to get from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido by taxi

All taxicabs you’ll see at Puerto Princesa Airport are private taxis booked in advance from professional transfer companies like Welcome Pickups. If you’d like to take a public taxi from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido, Palawan, without prior booking, the closest equivalent is a shared van. Shared vans or multicabs are 10-12 seater minivans complete with air-conditioning and spacious seats.

Taxi fare from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido

A van from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido will likely cost around €11.60 (PHP 700) per person.

Cost

€11.60 (PHP 700)

Trip Duration

5 Hr.

*Prices vary depending on the van company.

Convenience

Safety

Value for money

Shared vans/multicabs depart from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido every 30 minutes.

Where do I get the taxi from?

Multicabs/vans are easy to find outside the main terminal building at Puerto Princesa Airport. El Nido is one of the most popular destinations so they depart every 30 minutes.

Convenience

Taking a shared van is the most convenient on-demand option to get from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido. The journey is much shorter than taking a public bus and you’d be guaranteed a comfortable ride. Shared vans sometimes take time to fill up, and dropping off other passengers may increase your travel time.

If you’d prefer a private vehicle for you and your travel companions, it’s best to book a private transfer.

Editor’s Note

Even if you have booked a van in advance, the van driver will wait until the van is full before departing the airport. So you and your loved ones may need to wait for 30 minutes to 1 hour before leaving. To avoid this, consider booking a private transfer instead.

Useful Tips

You can pay for a shared van in person or book online.

There is some space for luggage in shared vans but we still recommend being conservative with your baggage to make your journey easier.

Cash payments are accepted in Philippine pesos (PHP).

How to get from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido by bus

There isn’t a direct public bus service from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido, but you can first take a tricycle ride to the San Jose bus station and then catch a bus to El Nido.

The bus from San Jose bus station to El Nido takes 8-9 hours depending on the route. Although it’s a long journey, the bus stops for a toilet and snack break in Roxas for all passengers (though snacks are not included).

How much is a bus from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido?

There are two bus services to El Nido. The air-conditioned bus costs €8 (PHP 480) per person. The non-air-conditioned bus costs €6.30 (PHP 380) per person.

Cost

€6.30 (PHP 380)

Trip Duration

8 Hr.

Buses depart every hour from San Jose bus terminal.

Convenience

Safety

Value for money

Buses run from 04:00 to 22:00 every day.

Where do I get the bus from?

Buses are available every hour from San Jose bus terminal. You can get there by catching a tricycle ride from the airport. Tricycle drivers are available 24/7 from outside of the airport.

Convenience

Buses are the least convenient method of getting from Puerto Princesa to El Nido because the journey is so long. Given that the bus is not direct from the airport, you’d have to navigate a tricycle ride with your luggage. Moreover, once the bus arrives at El Nido, you’d have to walk or arrange further transportation to get to your hotel.

If you want to avoid the cumbersome bus journey, consider booking a private transfer in advance.

Editor’s Note

Buses aren’t suitable for wheelchair users. If this affects you or someone in your party, we recommend booking a private taxi in advance to ensure you have comfortable transport.

Useful Tips

The last bus departs at 22:00 and the first bus departs at 04:00.

Once you get to the Corong-Corong bus terminal in El Nido, you can take a tricycle to your final destination.

If you’re planning on taking a public bus, pack light as there isn’t much storage space on board.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

20 minute gap between transfers
Regular Car Sanitisation
Contactless ride
Sanitiser in every car

How can I get to El Nido from Puerto Princesa Airport?

You can get from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido by shared van, public bus or private taxi. Private taxis and shared vans will take around 5 hours to complete the journey. The public bus doesn’t depart from the airport but the nearest bus station – San Jose bus terminal. From there, the travel time is around 8-9 hours.

What’s the cost of a taxi from Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido?

A Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido van costs around €11.60 (PHP 700) per person depending on the van company. Private airport taxis offer an exclusive, comfortable ride to the doorstep of your hotel in El Nido at a reasonable cost.

What is the Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido travel time?

El Nido is 272 km away from Puerto Princesa Airport. Given its long distance, the journey time is at least 5 hours by private taxi or shared van. If you would rather take a bus, the travel time is typically over 8 hours.

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