Palawan Self-Launched: Underground River, Island Hopping & El Nido Sunsets
5 days · Palawan, Philippines
G Adventures charges £359
No-markup version: ~£218 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of G Adventures' 5-day Palawan trip from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. You'll self-book the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River tour, take a public van up the coast, join a budget El Nido island-hopping boat trip (Tour A covers the Secret Beach/Hidden Beach lagoons and snorkelling), and finish with a free day for Taraw Peak or kayaking. Hostel dorms throughout, local transport, and street food keeps this well under the package price. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Puerto Princesa & settle in
Puerto Princesa
Fly or ferry into Puerto Princesa and check into a hostel dorm near the town centre (Rendezvous Hostel or Sheebang Hostel are reliable budget picks, ~£12-14/night). From the airport take a tricycle (~₱100/£1.50) or a shared van. Spend the afternoon wandering the Baywalk, sample tamilok or grilled seafood at the Rizal Avenue night market, and buy a local SIM (Globe/Smart tourist SIM ~£5-8) — useful for booking tours and Grab. Pre-book tomorrow's Underground River tour online or via your hostel tonight (day trips fill up; the permit is included in operator packages).
🚌Tricycle from airport ~£1.50
🛏Hostel dorm, Puerto Princesa (~£13)
- →Baywalk sunset stroll
- →Rizal Avenue night market dinner
- →Buy local SIM card
- →Book Underground River tour
Subterranean River boat tour, then van to El Nido
Puerto Princesa → El Nido
Early pickup (~7:00) for a joiner tour to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park — a UNESCO site with an 8km underground river you paddle through by bangka. Budget joiner tours including permits, transfers and lunch run ~£28-35 (book via your hostel or GetYourGuide/Klook). Back in town by mid-afternoon, grab a shared public van from the San Jose terminal to El Nido — 5-6 hours, ~£9-10 (air-con vans depart hourly until early evening). Arrive El Nido, check into a dorm in town (Big Joe's, Spin Designer Hostel or similar, ~£13-15/night). Walk to Corong-Corong or Las Cabanas for sunset.
🚌Shared van ~5.5 hrs, ~£10
🛏Hostel dorm, El Nido town (~£14)
- →Puerto Princesa Subterranean River boat tour
- →Shared van Puerto Princesa to El Nido
- →Las Cabanas sunset
El Nido island hopping — Tour A (Secret & Hidden Beach)
El Nido
Book a standard El Nido 'Tour A' joiner boat (the classic that hits Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commandos Beach and Payong-Payong for snorkelling). Shared bangka tours cost ~£22-28 pp including lunch and snorkel gear — book direct at the beachfront stalls the night before or via Klook. Boats leave ~8:30 and return ~4pm. This is your snorkelling-and-lagoon day, with kayak rental at Big Lagoon (~£8 optional). Evening: cheap eats at the Artcafe or a beachfront grill, then drinks at a bar on the sand.
🚌Walking; boat included in tour
🛏Hostel dorm, El Nido town (~£14)
- →El Nido Tour A island hopping boat trip
- →Snorkelling at Shimizu Island
- →Big Lagoon kayaking (optional)
- →Beach BBQ dinner
Free day — Taraw Peak, kayaking or Kuyawyaw Falls
El Nido
Make this your own. Sunrise hike to Taraw Peak for the classic El Nido bay panorama (guide required, ~£15-20 incl. guide and entry; start ~5:30am to beat the heat). Alternatively join a motorbike/scooter trip to Kuyawyaw Falls (~£10 rental + entrance), or rent a kayak and paddle the town-side coves (~£6/hour). Afternoon nap on the sand at Corong-Corong, then watch the famous sunset with a mango shake. Overnight same hostel.
🚌Walking / scooter rental ~£10
🛏Hostel dorm, El Nido town (~£14)
- →Taraw Peak sunrise hike
- →Kuyawyaw Falls day trip (option)
- →Kayaking (option)
- →Corong-Corong sunset
Depart El Nido
El Nido
Check out and depart at your own pace — either a shared van back to Puerto Princesa (~£10, 5-6 hrs) for onward flights, a ferry to Coron (~£18-22), or a bus to Taytay. If your flight is later, a final breakfast at a beach cafe and a swim before heading off. Remember to complete the Philippines e-Travel form online within 3 days of departure and hold ~£8 for the terminal/departure fees and incidental costs.
🚌Shared van to Puerto Princesa ~£10 or ferry to Coron ~£20
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Beach breakfast
- →Shared van or ferry onward
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£218 | £359 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £141 per person (39%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£218
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Palawan Self-Launched: Underground River, Island Hopping & El Nido Sunsets cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £218 per person for 5 days in Palawan, Philippines. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £359 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £218 — a saving of roughly £141 (39%) per person.
How long is the Palawan, Philippines trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Palawan, Philippines.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, beaches, backpacker trip through Palawan, Philippines, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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