Palawan is both a province and an island, in the central west of the Philippines. It stretches from Mindoro in the north-east to Borneo in the south-west, and takes in 1,780 islands, roughly one quarter of the entire Philippine archipelago. It was voted the most beautiful island in the world in 2015 by Condé Nast Traveler, and it is easy to see why.

The North and the South

Palawan splits into two major areas, north and south. In the north is the Calamianes Group of islands, made up of Busuanga, Coron Island and Culion. Coron “town proper” is actually the capital of Busuanga, while Coron Island itself sits just to the south. It is the major tourist attraction of the north, with lagoons, lakes, white sand beaches, shipwrecks and limestone cliffs rising out of the water. Start with our Coron guide.

The south is home to Puerto Princesa, the provincial capital, and the gateway to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Further up the coast is El Nido, the postcard end of Palawan, with Bacuit Bay, hidden lagoons and some of the best island hopping in the country.

Explore Palawan

Pick a destination below to dive in.