I have read various blogs and online articles on Coron and El Nido; met a lot of people asking which is better; and encountered discussions between the two places both claiming to be paradise. But still, the question is still being asked today, the discussions and comparisons continue, the battle of these paradise go on and on.
So once more I asked my self which of these two do I love the most, and like all the heated discussions, I had a hard time choosing. I needed to break down the factors to carefully analyze my choice.
Budget
The impression of El Nido as a high-end tourist spot is a big turn off for many, but that is a big hoax. With lots of budget accommodations, cheap packaged tours and eateries around town, El Nido can be done on a budget. A 3D/2N stay can cost you around P5,000 excluding the airfare.
Coron on the other hand is proven to be doable on a budget. A 3D/2N stay can also be done around P5,000 excluding the airfare. It can come up cheaper if not for the entrance fees on almost every spot, which the majority find as big turnoff compared to El Nido’s one time payment of environmental fee that gives access to all sites.
Verdict: El Nido and Coron are almost if not equal when it comes to budget.
Accessibility
No doubt, Coron is more accessible than El Nido. With direct flights to Busuanga from Manila, Cebu and Puerto Princesa via Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific, it is easier and more convenient to reach Coron. Plus factor is the regular 2Go Travel trip from Manila and Puerto Princesa and other boats that connect Coron to San Jose (Occidental Mindoro), Batangas City and El Nido.
Meanwhile, El Nido is also connected to Manila only via chartered flights, without regular commercial flights going to El Nido, the price for the short flight is usually a big setback.
Coming from Puerto Princesa, El Nido is five to six hours by van and six to seven hours by ordinary bus. By sea, there are boats that connect El Nido to Coron daily.
Verdict: Coron is more accessible than El Nido.
Foods
When it comes to gastronomy department, it is a very close fight. Both places have wide array of restaurants and eateries offering delectable menu that suits everyone’s budget.
El Nido has The Bacuit Grill that offers good pasta and a lovely sunset; El Nido Boutique and Arts Cafe for pizza, pasta and other American dishes; the Alternative for American, Italian and Filipino specialties; Altrove for pizza, pasta and other European specialties; El Nido Corner for sea foods, pasta and amazing view; Lonesome Carabao Grill for sea foods; Habibi Restaurant and Sisha Cafe for pancakes, pizza, pasta and more; Squidos for very creative sea food dishes; and a lot more more.
Coron’s pride are Bistro Coron and Altrove for pizza, pasta and other European specialties; Sea Dive Restaurant and La Searenita Grill for sea foods; and other small time restaurants and cafes.
Verdict: El Nido wins in gastronomy department!
Beaches
The main island of Coron has no beach, which gives El Nido a big advantage for having a beach fronting Bacuit Bay with a picturesque sunset. But it’s not the only edge of El Nido, because numerous white sand island beaches are scattered on its water. Forty five islands and islets to be exact, harboring some of the country’s best white sand beaches, hidden lagoons, picturesque cliffs and rich marine life underneath its Earth.
Being attached to mainland Palawan gives El Nido another plus factor. This gives the tourists easier access to the surrounding beaches even of the neighboring towns of Taytay, San Vicente and Roxas.
But Coron has its own share of white sand island beaches though lesser in number compare to El Nido and quite farther from one another. The popular spots are the beaches of CYC, Banol, Malcapuya, Banana, Dimakya and Dibotunay.
Verdict: Hands down, the beaches of El Nido win.
Diving
Needless to say, the underwater monsters of Coron are something that El Nido cannot match. Eleven Japanese shipwrecks of World War 2 lie in the seabed of Coron Bay, they were sunk by American Helldivers on September 24, 1944.
Aside from these shipwrecks, Coron has plenty of dive sites, underwater caves and marine sanctuaries teeming with diverse marine life for those who prefer nature diving. Another interesting spot is the Barracuda Lake, famous for its thermocline and the lone freshwater barracuda that lives in the lake.
Just like Coron, El Nido’s dive sites are world class too being a marine protected area teeming with variety of tropical species but minus the shipwrecks.
Verdict: Coron for the monsters!
Other Attractions
The historic island town of Culion, the animal sanctuary of Calauit, hot spring and hidden waterfalls are Coron’s mix of diverse attractions. El Nido on the other hand has hidden caves, nearby waterfalls and hot spring too. Both have stunning limestone islands and cliffs that are perfect for rock or cliff climbing for an extreme taste of adventure.
Verdict: El Nido and nearby town’s variety of attractions gives the town another edge over Coron.
Overall, between the two, Coron is my personal favorite and I see myself coming back there again and again. Perhaps aside from other factors, my bias for wreck diving scored big time. But I suggest, if you are into beaches, you should visit El Nido.
We all have different preferences and my pick might be totally different from you. Now, if you will choose between the two, where will you go, Coron or El Nido?
Take your pick.
Hi, we have booked a flight for 4 this august 2013 cebu to coron and we’re planning to stay there for 3 days and move to puerto for 2 days. My dillema is,how can we get from Coron to Puerto Princessa by land route? How much will we spend for the fare. Can you give us some tips where to stay and what tour package to take if we stay at Coron for 3dyas and puerto for 2 days? thank you.
I was in El Nido last Sunday.
How can I describe the place? It’s indescribable!
I never thought I would see such wonder in our country.
I guess I would have to travel more often to appreciate our own natural wonders.
We stayed in Miniloc Island Resort for 3D2N and it was probably one of the best 3 days of my life.
The resort was awesome and the staffs were really friendly and accommodating.
From raincoats, life jackets and towels aboard their banca upon arrival, to packed breakfast and touching goodbyes when we left, they truly gave me a one-of-a-kind experience.
I will never forget you Miniloc!
Island hopping was one of the best parts and the Big Lagoon is a paradise scenery.
Many animals can also be found in the vicinity.
I saw monkeys, hornbills, eagles and many species of birds on the trees.
Not to mention the different kinds of fishes along the coral reefs.
But the best of all, I swam with jack fishes, more than a meter long fishes, and I was really scared at first but managed to control my fear after a few minutes swimming with them.
I’ve been to few places in our country and so far this El Nido is the best on my list.
More places to visit, for sure.
Thanks Lakwatsero for this review!
P.S.
Vigan, Pagudpud and Mt. Apo in Davao are mesmerizing too!
Hello,
I m coming in end of february, I will visit Luzon etc during 3 days.
Moreover I have 8 days to spent on the beach for diving, take the sun,… However I don’t know if have to go to Palawan, El Nido + Coron or VIsayas+Bohol and Siquijor?
Maybe I can do Palawan and Visayas or it’s to much in 8 days.
If it’s too much wich islands I have to choose to see beuatiful beaches, to dive,etc…
Thanks for your help
I’ll be in El Nido February of next year and it’s gonna be my first time in Palawan. I’ve got high hopes that my trip will be spectacular since many had said the beaches are awesome. Thanks for the blog Mr. Lakwatsero! Coron will be my next destination after El Nido and I shall compare which is better but I’m pretty sure I’d have a hard time 😉 Keep on travelling and stay safe brotha. 🙂
Does anyone have some info on the best route. My plan is to fly from Cebu to Puerto Princesa to El Nido then Coron. From Coron fly to Boracay. This is my first time in PH not really sure what’s the cheapest and best route.
Thanks God Bless!
Hi! Airphil Express and Cebu Pacific have direct flights from Cebu to Puerto Princesa. From Puerto Princesa, El Nido is a five-hour land travel by either bus or van. El Nido to Coron transport has no problem either, there is a fast craft (4.5 hours) and slow boats (8 hours) daily, fare is around 45USD. The problem would be from Coron to Boracay, since there is no direct flight for that route. You have to fly to Manila first and fly again from Manila to Caticlan, or go to Batangas Port and take the overnight ferry (2Go Travel) to Caticlan. Taking the 2Go ferry is cheaper, the ferry is in good condition (take the Tourist Accommodation).
HI Lakwatsero! you know if the fast craft still going to coron from el nido? and you know if is possible to fly from el nido to coron? any idea about prices?
Thanks
Hi Pabea, there’s no fast craft or ferry between El Nido and Coron to date, only trigger boats that costs around P1500 for locals and higher for foreigners. Also, no regulary flight between these two towns.
Nice review. I have been both to El Nido and Coron. Both are enchanting in different ways. But there are more interesting sites in El Nido, more island hopping adventures. Hands down for the shipwrecks in Coron. There are also more islands in Coron but most are not included in the island hopping packages. You’ll just have to spend more in El Nido. Given the chances, I would still go back to these two places. Palawan has the most enchanting places in the Philippines.
Parehong maganda. And BTW sino na pala ang may update ng “underwater hotel” na proposed years ago sa Coron? Under kay PGMA pa dati yun kasi balak nilang tapatan ang Phuket ng Thailand…Sana nga.
The best talaga Palawan.. 🙂
Both Coron and El Nido are AWESOME places that it’s hard to choose.
But I went to Coron first, maybe that’s why it has more of the ‘awe’ factor for me. And I personally love Black Island and Dibutonay Island though it’s quite far from Coron because aside from the fact that both are beautiful with really amazing white sands, we were the only tourists when we went there so we got the place all to ourselves! We also had relatives in Panlaitan village so we got free lodging, food and island hopping! Hehe. And most of the other tourists while we were in Coron were Filipinos so I felt more at home.
El Nido on the other hand is also great and the islands are near to each other. Though the trek was tiring and dangerous, I super loved the view on top of Taraw Cliffs! There are lots of nice lagoons and secret/hidden beaches to choose from. The only thing I did not like much on our trip was that there were a lot of foreign tourists, hehe. It’s not bad (it’s actually great for our country’s tourism) but I felt out of place sometimes- maybe beacause I’m extremely introverted and due to my low confidence in English conversations, hehe. ^^
Maybe I need to go back to these places again to evaluate them properly. But based on first impressions, I choose CORON! 😀
I’ve been to Coron, but in El Nido, maybe some time…Maybe both places are enchanting! But I believe, Coron is cheaper!
mukhang it will be el nido for me ah!
never been to both places yet. pero dahil sinabi mong maganda sunset sa el nido unahin ko un 🙂
Maganda din ang sunset sa Coron Ca 🙂
I’m a beach lover so definitely it’s El Nido for me. I’m coming back there this June. 🙂
Wow! Try Nacpan and Calitang beach, I heard they are amazing 🙂
Definiitely I’ll go back again to Coron. You get to enjoy lots of things on a budget while exploring the wonders of the islands. The mainland may no host stunning beach formation but a few minutes of boat rides will surely give a glimpse of it’s majestic splendor. I so love th safari, you need not go Africa to see the stripes of zebras in action. Feel the strength of the long necked giraffe while feeding it and check out the thorns of Philippine porcupines. After a long day of journey take a relaxing dip in the salt water hot spring of Maquinit. One of the best things that wants me back for more is seafood. The giant crabs of Coron is a sure winner. Fresh and plump at the price far off the metro manila range, you can even bring home to Manila just make sure it was package well and make sure they will survive the travel. The fresh danggit is also mouthwatering. The kasoy in Coron has it distinctive scent different from those foundd in Antipolo. The laid back town atmosphere is very relaxing. The people of Coron are just authentic and culture is what you get. You can never go wrong with Coron.
Wow! Well said Marco! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Definitely Coron, I love the beaches, the dives, the sizzling hotspring, the safari, the food (kasoy, fresh danggit, giant crabs) and the people. The laid back atmosphere of the town really gives you the true meaning of cultural immersion.
Although I haven’t been to El Nido (yet, gonna be there by June 2012), big turn off with the accessibility. And there are no night trips, meaning roads are with still security and safety hazards. I just hope the beaches of El Nido will be stunning, much like Banol and Malcapuya. I also hope we can have a night trip later on (not rented) so we can save time travelling from PPS to ENI.
by the looks of it, kahit alin jan wala ka tulak kabigin. never been to any of these places coz hanggang pps pa lang ako. but i will definitely go there soon. 🙂
Hopefully soon, maka visit ako ng El Nido para ma-compare ko… great post Angel! 🙂
El nido…. And will be there by sept ..hehhee
I love them both but I agree with you. Lamang ang Coron sa underwater world + accessibility. Before, I just love to stay on the beach but after seeing Coron’s underwater world, boring na ang tumambay lang sa tabi tabi. hihihi! Itong entry mo na lang ang ibibigay ko kay chyng, hahah! Pinressure din ako mag-compare after my trip. tamad lang? ^_^
I love the beaches of El nido though. Calitang Beach became my top favorite. It think that’s the best beach for me so far.
I was able to visit these places and I must say na mas gusto ko El Nido ako!!! Mas maraming pwedeng gawin (island hopping, kayaking, taraw cliff, waterfalls, food trip etc). Tagal lang talaga ng byahe.hehe Maganda rin naman sa Coron.:)