Philippines Express — Self-Launched Palawan Week
7 days · Palawan, Philippines
G Adventures charges £890
No-markup version: ~£322 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on G Adventures' 7-day "Philippines Express" (Puerto Princesa → Port Barton → El Nido). Same highlights — the UNESCO Underground River, firefly mangroves, two island-hopping days, and the Sibaltan community experience — but booked yourself with hostel/guesthouse stays, public vans and shared bangka boats. Costs are rough 2026 estimates for one person, excluding international flights to Manila/Puerto Princesa.
Day-by-day
Arrive Puerto Princesa & firefly mangroves
Puerto Princesa
Land at Puerto Princesa (PPS) and settle into a guesthouse near Rizal Avenue. Book tomorrow's Underground River permit today (or in advance online) — daily slots are capped and sell out in high season. In the late afternoon, take a tricycle or jeepney ~45–60 mins south to Iwahig for the firefly watching tour by bangka (bookable direct with local operators or via Klook, ~£12–15). Dinner at a roadside grill near the baywalk — fresh seafood and kinilaw for under £6.
🚌Airport to town by tricycle (~£1.50); round trip to Iwahig by tricycle/jeepney (~£6 shared)
🛏Guesthouse/hostel dorm or private fan room in Puerto Princesa (~£10–15)
- →Iwahig firefly watching boat tour
- →Puerto Princesa baywalk & night market
- →Book Underground River permit
Underground River, then van to Port Barton
Puerto Princesa → Port Barton
Early start for the Sabang Underground River tour — a shared van or the public jeepney/bus runs to Sabang (~1.5–2 hrs, ~£3); the boat into the cave plus park entry runs ~£12–15 if arranged locally. Paddle through the karst caverns with a park guide. Back in town by early afternoon, catch the shared van to Port Barton (~3–3.5 hrs, ~£6–8 — departures around midday/early afternoon, so confirm times at your guesthouse). Port Barton is off-grid-ish: power hours and no ATMs, so draw cash in Puerto Princesa.
🚌Shared van Puerto Princesa ↔ Sabang (~£3), shared van to Port Barton (~£7)
🛏Beachfront guesthouse or hostel in Port Barton (~£12–18)
- →Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (UNESCO) boat tour
- →Sabang beach stop
Port Barton island hopping
Port Barton
Join one of the standard shared island-hopping bangka trips from Port Barton beach (book the night before at any beachfront stall, ~£15–20 including lunch and snorkel gear). Typical route: German Island, Exotic Island, Turtle Spot and a couple of white-sand stops — sea turtles are common. Back by late afternoon for a sunset swim and a cheap beach BBQ dinner (~£5).
🚌Walking; boat included in the tour price
🛏Beachfront guesthouse or hostel in Port Barton (~£12–18)
- →Shared island-hopping boat tour
- →Snorkelling with sea turtles
- →Sunset on Port Barton beach
Port Barton → El Nido via Sibaltan community
El Nido
Travel north to El Nido — shared vans run from Port Barton (~3.5–4 hrs, ~£8–10). Break the journey at Sibaltan (about 45 mins south-east of El Nido town) to visit the heritage house and Cuyonon community. The G Adventures 'G for Good' stop is a community-run visit; contact the Sibaltan Heritage House directly or ask your El Nido guesthouse to arrange a local guide for a cooking demo, weaving demo and folk song-and-dance session (~£10–15 per person, better value in a small group). Continue into El Nido town for the evening.
🚌Shared van Port Barton → El Nido (~£9), tricycle to/from Sibaltan (~£4)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in El Nido town / Corong-Corong (~£12–20)
- →Sibaltan Heritage House community visit
- →Cuyonon cooking demo & tasting
- →Traditional weaving demonstration
El Nido island hopping (Tour A or C)
El Nido
Do what the group tour does with a private boat, but on a shared joiner boat — El Nido's standardised Tour A (~£18–22 incl. lunch, lagoon fees, snorkel gear) hits Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Seven Commandos Beach and the Small Lagoon; Tour C adds Hidden Beach, Matinloc Shrine and Talisay Beach. Book direct at the boats' desks on El Nido beach or via Klook the evening before. Look out for turtles, rays and eels on the snorkel stops. Optional sunset kayak in the lagoon afterwards.
🚌Walking to the beach; boat tour included
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in El Nido town / Corong-Corong (~£12–20)
- →Shared El Nido Tour A island hopping
- →Small Lagoon & Secret Beach
- →Snorkelling at Seven Commandos Beach
Free day — Taraw Peak or Kuyawyaw Falls
El Nido
Choose your own adventure. Hike Mt Taraw for the classic El Nido bay viewpoint (guided climb required, ~£15–20, 2–3 hrs up and down, start at dawn to beat the heat), or take a tricycle/motorbike to Kuyawyaw Falls (~40 mins, ~£8 round trip) for a multi-tier waterfall swim. Lazy option: Nacpan Beach — shared tricycle ~45 mins (~£6 return) for 4 km of sand and cheap beach shacks.
🚌Tricycle or motorbike taxi (~£6–8 return)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in El Nido town / Corong-Corong (~£12–20)
- →Guided Mt Taraw hike (optional)
- →Kuyawyaw Falls swim (optional)
- →Nacpan Beach day (optional)
Depart El Nido
El Nido
Fly out from El Nido (Lio) Airport — tricycle to the airport ~£3 — or take the shared van back to Puerto Princesa (~5–6 hrs, ~£10) for cheaper onward flights. If you have time, one last coffee and ensaymada on the beach before you go. Remember the Philippines e-Travel registration form must be completed within 3 days of arrival.
🚌Tricycle to El Nido Airport (~£3) or shared van to Puerto Princesa (~£10)
🛏—
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£322 | £890 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £568 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£322
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 Philippines Express — Self-Launched Palawan Week cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £322 per person for 7 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 £890 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £322 — a saving of roughly £568 (64%) per person.
How long is the Palawan, Philippines trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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 beaches, backpacker, adventure 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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