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Trading El Nido's limestone cliffs for Coron's shipwrecks and lagoons takes one boat ride and half a day. Two fast ferries make the trip: Montenegro Lines leaves El Nido at 12:00 and Jomalia Shipping at 12:30, so there's time for one last breakfast by the beach. The crossing is scheduled at 3h 30min, though choppy seas often stretch it to 4 or 5 hours as you weave past the islets of Linapacan. Adult tickets cost about €40, and you'll reach Coron Town in time to catch the sunset from Mount Tapyas.
Ferries and times
You can take the fast ferry from El Nido to Coron with Montenegro Lines or Jomalia Shipping. Montenegro runs the MV City of Iloilo and Jomalia runs the MV Maica 10, and both are passenger-only fast craft with air-conditioned seating. The table below shows each company's weekly crossings for the coming week, sorted by average fare.
Quick overview of El Nido to Coron
Ferry times from Koh Samui to Koh Tao depend on the operator and the season. Here’s the key info to plan around:
Can I take a ferry from El Nido to Coron?
Yes, Montenegro Lines and Jomalia Shipping run fast ferries from El Nido to Coron, with a scheduled crossing of 3h 30min. It's the cheapest direct way between the two, and the boats sail past the Linapacan islands on the way.
How long is the ferry from El Nido to Coron?
The ferry from El Nido to Coron is scheduled to take 3h 30min, but most crossings take 4 to 5 hours once wind and swell are factored in. The route covers about 127 km (69 nautical miles) of open sea. Both companies use fast craft, a type of large speedboat, so there's no slower ferry to avoid.
Fastest ferry from El Nido to Coron
Both ferries are scheduled at 3h 30min, so there's no real speed difference. Montenegro Lines' MV City of Iloilo leaves first, at 12:00, so it's usually first to reach Coron.
Can you do a day trip from El Nido to Coron?
No, a day trip from El Nido to Coron isn't possible, because ferries leave El Nido around midday and none return the same afternoon. Stay at least two nights in Coron to see Kayangan Lake, the shipwrecks and the island-hopping tours!
Are there overnight ferries from El Nido to Coron?
No, every ferry from El Nido to Coron sails during the day. You'll arrive in the late afternoon, in time to check in and catch the sunset from Mount Tapyas.
This summary for the El Nido, Palawan Island to Coron Port, Busuanga Island route is based on recent data and is updated regularly. However, schedules may vary depending on seasonal changes, ferry companies, and availability. For the most accurate and detailed ferry timetable, including routes, stops, and pricing, check out our ferry search and booking system.
Prices, offers and port fees
How much is the ferry from El Nido to Coron?
An adult ticket on the ferry from El Nido to Coron costs about €40 one way with either Jomalia Shipping or Montenegro Lines. Montenegro offers reduced fares for students (about €32), seniors and travelers with disabilities (about €29) and children aged 3 to 7 (about €20). There's no premium class, so the price comes down to the company and the fare type. Fares sell out first in December and January, so book early. Bring cash in small bills for the port. You'll pay a terminal fee of about €0.30 in El Nido and another in Coron, plus Coron's environmental fee of about €3 when you arrive.
Ferry offers for this route
Depending on the season and the operator, you may find offers for this route, like early-booking discounts or limited-time promotions. Any valid offer is applied automatically at checkout. To hear about new ones, follow the Ferryscanner blog, find us on social media, or sign up for the newsletter.
Find your ferry from El Nido to Coron
How to get from El Nido to Coron
El Nido Ferry Terminal is on Serena Street in Barangay Buena Suerte, about 500 m (a third of a mile) from El Nido's town center and main beach. Here's the El Nido Ferry Terminal on Google Maps. Most travelers staying in town walk to the terminal in 5 to 10 minutes. If you're carrying heavy bags or staying farther out, hop on a tricycle, a motorbike with a covered sidecar and the local taxi across Palawan. Tricycles are easy to flag down anywhere in town, and drivers know the port. From El Nido Airport in Lio, the ride takes about 15 minutes.
Coming from Puerto Princesa, where most international travelers land in Palawan? The trip north to El Nido covers about 270 km. Shared air-conditioned vans take 5 to 6 hours, and buses take 6 to 9 hours. Both arrive at the Corong Corong transport terminal, south of town, and from there it's a 10-minute tricycle ride to the port. Because ferries leave El Nido at 12:00 and 12:30, it's safest to arrive the day before rather than risk a tight connection. At the terminal, check in at least 60 minutes before departure. Have your e-ticket and a valid ID (your passport, for most travelers) ready, and pay the small terminal fee in cash at the pier.
In Coron, ferries dock at Coron Port, which the Philippine Ports Authority runs. It's about 2 km from Coron Town, and tricycles wait outside for arriving passengers, getting you to most hotels in 5 to 10 minutes. You'll pay Coron's environmental fee at the port before you leave. If you're flying home afterward, Busuanga's Francisco B. Reyes Airport is 30 to 45 minutes from town by shared or private van. Local transportation can change, especially in the rainy season, so check schedules and road conditions before your trip.
Foot passengers
Ferries from El Nido to Coron carry foot passengers only, so everyone on board travels the same way: you walk on with your bags and take a seat in the passenger lounge. Arrive at El Nido Ferry Terminal at least 60 minutes before departure. Have your e-ticket and a valid ID ready, since staff check names against the passenger list, and bring a student or senior ID if you booked a discounted fare. Depending on the company, you may need to swap your e-ticket for a boarding pass at its counter by the pier.
Are cars allowed on the ferries from El Nido to Coron?
No, cars and motorbikes can't travel on the ferries from El Nido to Coron. Both boats on this route are passenger-only fast craft, so there's no vehicle deck. If you've rented a car or scooter in El Nido or Puerto Princesa, plan to return it before you board. You won't need your own wheels in Coron. Tricycles wait at Coron Port for arriving passengers and can take you to most hotels in town in 5 to 10 minutes.
Luggage
Montenegro Lines allows up to 2 pieces of luggage per passenger on the El Nido to Coron ferry. Jomalia Shipping doesn't publish a limit, so check the allowance shown for your sailing when you book. Neither company publishes excess-baggage fees, so if you're traveling with diving gear, surfboards or extra bags, contact our support team before you go to avoid surprises at the pier. At the terminal, crew load large suitcases and backpacks into a shared storage area, and you won't be able to reach them during the crossing.
- Jomalia Shipping Vessel, Montenegro Shipping Lines Vessel: Up to 0kg per passenger.
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Cabins
There are no cabins on the ferries from El Nido to Coron, because it's a daytime crossing of 3h 30min. Instead, you'll ride in an air-conditioned passenger lounge with rows of airplane-style seats, and some boats also have open-air deck seating. Seats aren't assigned, so board early to grab a spot in the middle of the boat, where the ride is smoothest. On Montenegro Lines, seats run four by four across three cabin sections, and travelers say the rows near the middle have the most legroom. Jomalia Shipping passengers can move around during the trip, and there's a deck for watching the islands go by.
Pets
Montenegro Lines and Jomalia Shipping don't publish pet policies for the El Nido to Coron route, so contact our support team before you book to check whether your pet can travel. Rules can depend on the boat and the crew on the day, so get confirmation before you head to the pier. If your pet is cleared to travel:
- Bring a sturdy, ventilated carrier, since the passenger lounges have no kennels.
- Carry your pet's vaccination records and a veterinary health certificate. Moving animals between islands in the Philippines usually requires one, so check with the Bureau of Animal Industry before you go.
- Pack water, a bowl and something absorbent for the carrier, because the crossing often takes 4 to 5 hours.
The ride can be bumpy and the cabins are cold, so think about how your pet copes with long trips. If you're unsure, ask your accommodation in Coron about pet-friendly rooms before you book the ferry.
Travel tips, port directions and links
- Best time to go: The dry months, roughly December to May, bring the calmest seas, and March to May is usually smoothest. From June to November, the southwest monsoon (habagat) and typhoons can delay or cancel sailings.
- Weather cancellations: The Philippine Coast Guard suspends sailings once a storm signal is raised for the area, and companies can cancel on their own when seas are rough. Leave a spare day before any flight out of Busuanga or Puerto Princesa.
- Booking ahead: Fast ferries sell out over Christmas, New Year and Holy Week. Book a week or two ahead for December and January.
- Cash for fees: Carry cash in small bills. Each port charges a terminal fee of about €0.30, and Coron collects an environmental fee of about €3 when you arrive, valid for about 10 days. Heading the other way? El Nido's eco-tourism fee is about €6 (it doubled in June 2024), and you pay it when you book your first island tour.
- Seating: Seats are first come, first served, so board early for a spot in the middle of the boat. Some boats also have open-air deck seats.
- Seasickness: The route crosses open water and can get bumpy. Take a motion-sickness tablet or ginger 30 minutes before boarding, sit low and midship, and stay away from the front.
- Comfort onboard: The air conditioning runs cold, so bring a light jacket. Pack snacks and water, since food on board is limited.
- ID: Bring your passport to check in, plus a student or senior ID if you booked a discounted fare.
- Scenic views: About halfway, you'll pass the Linapacan islands, a scatter of limestone islets that most visitors only see on multi-day expeditions.
- In Coron: Don't miss Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, the Japanese World War II shipwrecks sunk in September 1944 and sunset from Mount Tapyas. The Maquinit hot springs are a good way to end a day of diving.
Get inspired for other adventures in Southeast Asia on the Ferryscanner blog.
Finding your way to the El Nido ferry port
El Nido Ferry Terminal is on Serena Street in Barangay Buena Suerte, about 500 m from the town center, so most travelers walk there in 5 to 10 minutes. From El Nido Airport in Lio, it's about 15 minutes by tricycle. Check in at least 60 minutes before departure, show your e-ticket at the pier and pay the terminal fee. Coming from Puerto Princesa? Shared vans take 5 to 6 hours and drop you at the Corong Corong terminal, a short tricycle ride from the port. Ferries leave El Nido at 12:00 and 12:30, so arrive in El Nido the day before rather than risk a tight connection. In Coron, ferries dock at Coron Port, run by the Philippine Ports Authority, about 2 km from Coron Town. Tricycles wait outside for arriving passengers and reach most hotels in 5 to 10 minutes. Pay Coron's environmental fee at the port before you leave. If you're flying out next, Busuanga's Francisco B. Reyes Airport is 30 to 45 minutes from town by shared or private van.
Exploring Coron
Coron is the main town on Busuanga Island, and it's the base for some of the best island-hopping and wreck diving in the Philippines. The ferry from El Nido arrives in the late afternoon, so drop your bags, pay the environmental fee at the port and head straight up Mount Tapyas. Hundreds of steps lead to a viewpoint over the town and the bay, and it's the best place in Coron to watch the sunset.
Across the bay sits Coron Island, the ancestral domain of the Tagbanua people, whose community manages access to its lakes and lagoons. A day of island hopping usually takes in Kayangan Lake, with its limestone cliffs and the most photographed viewpoint in Palawan, plus Twin Lagoon, where a gap in the rocks separates two pools of clear water. Tours leave from Coron Town each morning, and you can book them once you arrive.
Under the water, Coron is famous for its World War II shipwrecks. In September 1944, US Navy aircraft sank a fleet of Japanese supply ships sheltering in the area, and today the wrecks draw divers from around the world. Some lie shallow enough for snorkelers, so you don't need to be certified to see one. After a day on the water, unwind in the Maquinit hot springs, where warm saltwater pools sit at the edge of the mangroves.
Plan for at least two or three nights to see Coron without rushing. The ferry back to El Nido leaves early in the morning, so save your last evening for a quiet dinner in town.
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See the ferries traveling from El Nido, Palawan Island to Coron Port, Busuanga Island.