Palawan is regularly ranked among the best islands in the world – and it’s easy to see why. This long, narrow province stretches between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea, split roughly into a wilder, less-developed south and a north built around some of the most famous coastline in the Philippines.
In the south, Puerto Princesa is home to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New7Wonders of Nature, where you can boat through an underground cave system carved into limestone cliffs.
Head north and you’ll find Coron, a rugged island famous for its WWII shipwreck diving, hidden lagoons, and dramatic limestone lakes. Further north still is El Nido, the gateway to Bacuit Bay’s towering karst islands, hidden lagoons, and some of the best island-hopping in the country.
Explore each destination below:
