Region
Calamian Islands
Base yourself in Coron; dive wrecks locally and take day‑trip boats to Linapacan and Busuanga for snorkel and beach time.
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Key facts · Philippines
- Currency
- Peso (PHP, ₱)
- Language
- Filipino and English
- Plugs
- A · B · C · 220 V
- Time zone
- UTC+8 all year
Rules in force · 14Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Philippines ↗Complete the free eTravel registration on the official government site within 72 hours before arrival; ignore lookalike sites that charge.
- Philippines ↗Typhoon season runs roughly June to November: flights and boats are cancelled at short notice; buy flexible tickets and keep a spare day.
- Philippines ↗Carry pesos in small notes; many stalls, jeepneys and taxis are cash-only.
- Palawan ↗Most visitors enter visa-free for 30 days; check your passport's rules before booking.
- Palawan ↗PPS terminal fee is included in the ticket: about ₱200 domestic, ₱700 international (2026 estimate).
- Palawan ↗El Nido and some beaches charge local eco or entrance fees in cash; keep small notes.
- Palawan ↗Best known for: limestone lagoons and island tours around El Nido, the Puerto Princesa Underground River, and long white-sand beaches; Palawan is the westernmost province, between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea.
- Palawan ↗Get in: fly to Puerto Princesa (PPS) from Manila (~1 h 20) or Cebu (~1 h 15); El Nido (ENI) has small-aircraft flights from Manila and Cebu; ferries reach Coron from Manila and San Jose, Mindoro.
- Palawan ↗Best time: roughly Dec–May, driest and busiest Jan–Apr; Jun–Nov is wetter with typhoon risk that can cancel ferries and flights.
- Palawan ↗Days needed: five nights covers Puerto Princesa and El Nido; seven adds Port Barton; ten lets you add Coron by ferry.
- Palawan ↗Where to stay: Puerto Princesa for the airport and Underground River; El Nido for lagoon tours; Port Barton for a quieter beach; Coron for the Calamian Islands.
- Palawan ↗Cost: mid-range by Philippine standards; El Nido rooms and island tours cost more in Jan–Apr, and cash eco fees and boat tours add up.
The Calamian Islands are a dive‑focused archipelago in Palawan province. Coron offers world‑renowned WWII wreck diving, while nearby Linapacan provides crystal‑clear snorkelling. Stay in Coron and use short boat trips for other islands.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
Day trip
- Busuanga IslandGuide: planned
Beaches, hikes, additional dive sites.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Coron 3 nights, day‑trip to Linapacan and Busuanga
- 5 nights
- Coron 3 nights, Busuanga 2 nights; include Linapacan boat day
- Typhoon season (June–November) can cancel boat trips and limit visibility.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linapacan | Coron | 45 min | unknown | Boat ride ~45 min; snorkel sites near shore. |
| Culion | Coron | 90 min | unknown | Ferry ~1.5 h; historic sites and reef snorkeling. |
Bags between cities
Luggage forwarding between Coron and Busuanga is available via local courier; arrange a day before departure.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go1 partSeasons
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coron | go | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × | × | ok | ok | ok |
| Linapacan | go | go | go | go | go | × | × | × | × | × | × | go |
| Palawan (country-wide) | go | go | go | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ok | go |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manila (Ninoy Aquino Intl) | Busuanga Airport (Coron) | Domestic flight (AirSWIFT, Philippine Airlines) | ~1 h 15 min door‑to‑door | Multiple daily flights; check schedule for seasonal changes. |
| Manila | Coron (by sea) | Ferry via Puerto Princesa, stops at Coron | ~12–14 h total | Longer but cheaper; limited departures. |
Calamian Islands: what we know, and what is coming
2 of 3 places open
On this page
- 3 places with their role: where to sleep, what to do as a day trip
- How to split 3 or 5 nights
- 2 day trips with door-to-door time
- Seasons month by month, from the cities’ own tables
- What to do with the big bag between beds
Coming as the guide grows
- Climate strip by zone, with the storm and haze months
- Regional passes and cards, with a buy / skip verdict
- Regional food: what, where and when it works
- A page for Busuanga Island — Beaches, hikes, additional dive sites.
Meanwhile
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids1 partIn numbers
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 1 base
- Day trips
- 2, 45 min to 1 h 30
- Nights suggested
- 3–5 nights
- Ways in
- 2 listed
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Sources
Ask about Calamian Islands
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