Travellers to Palawan Philippines are invariably faced with the dilemma of whether to visit El Nido or Coron. Both islands are stunning so the struggle to chose is real. We deliberated over the Coron vs El Nido debate for ages before deciding to do both. There are no direct flights between El Nido and Coron so the next step was to find the best El Nido Coron ferry. After evaluating all the options, we chose the Montenegro Lines fast ferry. Our El Nido to Coron ferry departed very early from the main El Nido port. So early that I really wish I had planned better and switched our itinerary to take the Coron to El Nido ferry instead. Regardless of the direction you choose to travel, there are some things to consider before booking your ticket on Montenegro Lines. Read on for all the details …
Which El Nido Coron Ferry to Choose?
If you also can’t decide between El Nido or Coron and do both you’ll still have to choose the ferry that is right for you. Cost, speed, convenience and safety are the main considerations when choosing which El Nido Coron ferry to book. There are three options:-
1. Passenger Cargo Ship – Atizenza Shipping Lines runs one departure per week leaving El Nido Port on Wednesday’s and Coron Port on Monday’s. The travel time is 8 hours each way and the cost is PHP1,500pp economy class or PHP1,650 with air conditioning. The vessel is large, steel hulled and generally considered fairly safe.
2. Slow Ferry – Bunso’s boats are traditional wooden Filipino outriggers known as bangkas which are a larger version of the type on boat we travelled on for our El Nido Tour A island hopping tour. The travel time is 7 – 9 hours and tickets are PHP1,400pp which includes a simple lunch. Boats depart most days (none on Monday’s and limited on Tuesday’s and Sundays). The ride is not luxurious and if the weather is rough it’s downright dangerous. There have been multiple sinkings in the treacherous stretch of water between El Nido and Coron. Ride at your own risk.
3. Fast Ferry – At PHP1,760pp Montenegro Lines is the most expensive option but at 3½ hours it is the fastest by far. This is the ferry that we chose.
READ MORE ON CORON:
Try Coron’s Best Pizza At Trattoria Altrove
15 Luxury Hotels In The Philippines
Coron Island Hopping By Private Boat
Booking Your Montenegro Lines Fast Ferry Ticket
Once we had decided on Montenegro Lines the next choice was whether to book ahead or wait until we arrived in El Nido. All El Nido Coron ferries can be booked online at Palawan Days, but I worried that booking ahead online might come at a premium and there is nothing I hate more than overpaying. Our accommodation was booked months prior and we had to travel from El Nido to Coron on a specific day. I simply couldn’t risk it being sold out. We booked online and paid PHP3,696 (PHP1,760 x 2 + PHP176 booking fee) for two one way tickets. I’m pleased to report the tickets sold in El Nido in town were exactly the same price, minus the booking fee. It’s a premium I would pay again for peace of mind but if your itinerary is not quite so rigid you may want to take a chance on booking in town.
El Nido to Coron Ferry or Coron to El Nido Ferry?
I wish I had considered this more carefully earlier in my planning. By the time my mind turned to El Nido Coron ferry options our flights and accommodation were locked in. The El Nido to Coron ferry on Montenegro Lines leaves at 6am. Check in at the El Nido port is 5am which meant a 4.30am wake up call. I am not a morning person. The only time I enjoy being up at 4.30am is when I am still partying from the night before, which granted is very rare these days. Our hotel One El Nido Suite kindly arranged a free transfer and even packed us breakfast. The Coron to El Nido ferry leaves at the much more reasonable time of 12pm. Hindsight is a wonderful thing right?
At El Nido Port
When we arrived at 5am a queue had already formed for check in. Seats are assigned at the desk and we were in 16 G/H. Each passenger must pay a 20 peso port fee but that desk doesn’t open until 5.40am. When it does, a mad rush ensues. Luckily The Hubs is fast on his feet and he was third in line. The waiting area opens at 5am but strangely the lights don’t go on until 5.40am. It is not air conditioned but there is little choice unless you want to stand outside. Boarding starts just before 6am and it’s a short walk down to the pier. Your luggage is taken as you board and stowed before a steward shows you to your seats. The cabin is freezing! Make sure you pack a jacket in your carry on as you cannot access you luggage once on board. The seating arrangement is 4×4 and we were hoping for empty seats next to us but it wasn’t to be despite the boat not being full. Christmas music (it was October!) was blasting through the cabin as we settled in. After a very long safety briefing (which no one listened to) we pulled away from El Nido port at 6.15am, 15 minutes behind schedule.
On Board Montenegro Lines Fast Ferry
‘Fast ferry’ is a bit of a misnomer. It’s speedier than the other options, but fast it is not. That said, after our recent horrific experience on Scoot Fast Cruises in Indonesia I was happy to be on a bigger, safer boat. We had calm seas for our trip which no doubt helped. Almost as soon as we left El Nido port our seat mates jumped into the empty row across the aisle leaving us a row of four seats to ourselves. The seats don’t recline but the arm rests do lift. Just be careful as some of them don’t stop and you may give the people behind an unintentional whack. Two movies were played during our voyage but I was too far away from the screen to see or hear enough to be truly engaged. The 3½ hour trip winds though a maze of Palawan islands and internet reception is sketchy throughout. The vessel is split into three seating sections with about 5 rows in each. There are no outside decks for passengers to use but every now and then I saw a crew member walk the thin path outside my window. There is one unisex toilet on board but no toilet paper is supplied so bring your own or hold it. There is a fridge where you can supposedly buy drinks but there was no crew about so it was more trouble than it was worth to figure it out.
Arrival In Coron
We docked almost an hour late at 10.25am. The crew unload the luggage straight onto the dock after all the passengers had disembarked. As we left the port we were assaulted by a million (OK not quite that many but certainly a lot!) of tricycle drivers. The Sunlight Guest Hotel where we stayed was a 3 minute walk from the pier so we pushed through the throng with lots of muttered no thank you’s much to their dismay. If you do need a tricycle, don’t pay any more that 50PHP to Coron town.
Have you taken an El Nido Coron ferry? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.
Until next time …
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Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. I paid for my tickets on the Montenegro Lines El Nido to Coron ferry in full and as always, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links which will earn me a few cents to contribute to the running of this site if you make a qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you.
Remy says
hey, how much luggage can you take and how many pounds? thank you
Allison Smith says
Hi Remy. When we travelled there were no luggage restrictions and no weigh stations. Hope this helps!
Artis says
Very nice article. Thank you! About early departure – if you prefer safety, it is better to leave early in the morning, because water is more calm in early morning (at least I think so), so departing at 6AM is a plus actually, if you ask me.
Pedro says
Hello! Thanks for all the nice tips!! 😉 You booked online with palawandays? How was the process with them? Safe and fast? Was the phone ticket accepted at the harbor or did you had to do something else?
Thanks in advance.
Allison Smith says
It’s was really easy Pedro. We got an email confirmation from Palawan Days which we had to show on check in at the port where they issued our tickets. Well worth the additional booking fee for peace of mind.
Samuel Rosset says
2018 low season update :
Do not hesitate to book the ferry in El Nido in town one two days before and bargain : I got my ticket for 1500 php with Montenegro fast ferry through an agency. Always nice to save couple of pesos.
For the tour island view too : bargain in low season : normal price for tour a and tour c is 2600+ 200 php environmental fee. I got all for 1800 php
Suma says
Thanks for sharing all the details and helpful tips. My husband visited Palawan last year and he loved it very much. Planning a trip to the island this year, this post is going to be of great help to me.
Samantha Sparrow says
I have never travelled to this part of the world, but I always appreciated good transport recommendations because it can be hard to get yourself around in an unfamiliar place. I would honestly have never thought it would be chilly, so that’s a really standout tip! The fast ferry looks pretty comfortable to ride on too.
Allison Smith says
Ferries are my nemisis Samantha! I always struggle to find reliable info online so I thought I would spell it out for those in the same boat (pun absolutely intended lol). The Air Con was blasting and it was Artic in there!
Megan Jerrard says
Thanks for the overview of each of these options, it can often be confusing when you’re tyring to get information from the company wbesites directly, so it’s really helpful to have such a straightforward list of the pros and cons. I like the idea of the slow ferry because eit sounds cultural and authentic, but might keep in mind the danger and check the weather in advance for this. Good to hear that the tickets in town are the same price as booking online. I always wonder about that too, but have never been willing to chance having it sell out. Really appreciate the honest overview of what to expect 🙂
Anda says
Very useful tips. I’ve never been on any of these islands or in the Philippines, by this token. I’d love to go though, so I find your information very helpful. It’s been while since I’ve been on a ferry, but I know how cold it gets on these boats.
Carol Colborn says
Thanks for all the valuable tips. I am Filipino but have never been to El Nido or Coron. We will definitely take Montenegro and also leave at 12 noon instead of 6 am!
Hannah says
Choosing the right transport when you aren’t in the country to see it for yourself can be very tricky. The Montenegro fast ferry definitely seems like the right choice though – I don’t like the sound of the traditional craft for such a long journey! I’m a morning person, so that 6am boat would’ve been my first choice (not my husband’s though!). Glad you got to Coron safely!
Taiss says
I would also choose the shorter ferry. I think the value in time savings is there and I tend to get sick on those things so the shorter the better. That’s funny that Christmas music was playing in October. I heard they are very into Christmas in the Philippines. This is a great article and very helpful. It’s nice that you put all the details in because I’m sure it can be confusing for visitors who have not experienced it before.
Adrenaline Romance says
This is great! At least there’s another option rather than the expensive plane fare (Cebu Pacific has a route to Coron via Manila, which makes it expensive for us who live in other places around the Philippines). We have been to Puerto Princesa and El Nido. Now that there are ferries, we can now visit Coron; we would love to explore the wrecks there. 🙂
neha says
I always feel confused when I think about the ferry options available from el nido. Now, I know a bit. I wish the fast one was faster, but then, that seems to be the fastest available option, isn’t it … ha ha. I would go for that one since for me, time is always the biggest constraint. The interiors look comfortable enough for a short trip of few hours.
Rashmi and Chalukya says
A lot of information and great tips here for someone planning to visit El Nido and Coron. Fast Ferry sounds like a good option though little pricey, safety is really important and it does save a lot of time.
Punita Malhotra says
Its rare to get access to detailed information on ferries like these. So thanks for penning it down as a post. Will keep this in mind for our trip to Philippines. I am sure we will be hopping aboard one of these.
Kellyn says
Thanks for sharing. These were some great tips. This is why it’s so important to plan ahead. Blogs provide so much important insight. The Philippines is on my list of places to visit soon. So this will definitely come in handy.
Allison Smith says
Yes hindsight is a wonderful thing Kellyn. I wish I had checked the times early and switched my itinerary but thems the breaks I guess. I will know for next time!
Christina says
They don’t supply toilet paper!?!?!?! What? My husband never really cares about turbulence or rough seas but I think we will pass on the boat that is most likely to sink. We have only taken one ferry and that was about 45 minutes to an hour with stops along the way to the blue grotto in Italy. They offered water for a charge and never felt unsafe or that we would sink.
Allison Smith says
I’ve done heaps of ferries including in Greece and Bali. This one was a walk in the park compared to the ferry from Gili T to Bali. I seriously though we were going to die that day.
Danila Caputo says
This is a very useful article, thank you so much! I didn’t know they also had Fast Ferries but they sound like a great option, even if it’s a bit more expensive!
Allison Smith says
The extra expense was worth the time saved for us and the convenience of daily trips sealed the deal Danila.
Indrani says
I took the ferry from Hong Kong to Macau to and fro. Your experience seems so similar. The waiting room is so well done, the seating inside ferry too seems very comfortable.
Allison Smith says
It’s been so long since I was last in Hong Kong. I’m itching to go back soon Indrani! I’ll definitely look into the ferry while I am there!
Kavita Favelle says
Very handy guide to travelling between the two islands, like you I think I would probably like to see both El Nido and Coron if I were in this part of the world! Also handy to know how to book your ticket for the fast Montenegro Lines option and also to know what to expect of the wait and the journey itself.
Allison Smith says
Thanks Kabila! So glad I did both islands and the ferry was an easy way to make it happen!
Katie says
There is so much detail in this post, it is so helpful! El Nido looks like a gorgeous place to explore and relax in so it is definitely on my Philippines Itinerary!
Allison Smith says
Make sure you add Boracay as well Katie! So many beautiful places in the Philippines!
Ami Bhat says
For anyone who is headed to El Nido and the surrounding islands for the first time, this is a really useful guide. I love the way you have detailed out your information in terms of what is available and what you chose. It makes so much of a difference to a reader when they know that the author has experienced it all. Well done!
Allison Smith says
Thanks Ami! I was looking for a guide like this when I was doing my research but couldn’t find anything with all the info in one place so I decided to write it myself to help others.
Leigh says
Such an in-depth guide to taking the ferry! Such an early start for you guys! And always hate going to the loo on these ferries. Bringing your own TP is a good tip! I always keep tissues in my bag for this!
Allison Smith says
I hate early starts Leigh but we had little choice. Really wish we had taken the Coron to El Nido ferry instead lol
Marquita says
This is a very thorough post. I’m glad you mentioned one of the ferry options could be unsafe. I also like how you listed everything you could expect. Thanks for sharing!
Allison Smith says
I got myself a little worried reading the reviews online and it was a big factor in choosing the fast ferry. We had calm weather in the day so we’re very lucky Marquita.
Nathan says
I’m looking at visiting El Nido in Philippines. Thanks for the very helpful guide on the ferry options available there! I’d most definitely take the fast ferry even though the views on the way are probably beautiful 🙂
http://shioktravels.blogspot.com
Allison Smith says
I think the views from the slow boat would probably be a little better given you can travel on the deck as the wash on the window hampered the view a bit for us. I would still choose the fast ferry again!
Parnashree Devi says
This is quite a helpful post for everyone who is planning to visit these islands. I loved the way you have essayed the details. I haven’t been to that part of the Philippines and so I am not aware of the El Nido Coron ferry. But it seems to be the best option to explore the island. Great post.
Blair villanueva says
Im on the process of arranging a Coron trip for next month and looking for a reliablr mode.of transportation. Your tips are very helpful! Hope our trip will go smoothly 🙂
Medha Verma says
I have come across your post at the perfect time because I am also going from El Nido to Coron next week! I did come across the Montenegro ferries and they seemed like the best option (in terms of the time) but I haven’t booked online as yet, I guess I should because I also have my itinerary fixed and no flexibility so I want to make sure I get it. Good to know what exactly to expect, especially the fact that it may not necessarily arrive in time!
Yogita says
Great tips and awesome advice on covering both islands. Love the photos. Loves like ideas on how to save cost, plan your trip so it is more convenient and the safety is very important.
FS Page says
I have traveled only once via a ferry between islands and that made me extremely sea sick. Montenegro Lines ferry sounds amazing and I would like to sea travel once again to have the experience of it. Thanks for sharing the detailed information of travelling through the ferry. This my help me consider visiting both the islands.
Ada says
Ive never took El Nido Coron ferry, well to be honest I haven’t took any ferry that is longer than 30 min but it seems like a lot of fun! I would love to visit Philippines one day and I would love to take that ferry! Thanks for great tips and fabulous recommendation!
Aditi says
I like the idea of covering both islands. After all, they are just a ferry-ride away. 🙂 If time permits, I would love to take up the slow ferry though. Cheers!!
Heidi says
Hey, the fast ferry was faster than the slow ferries! LOL. It’s funny I’m back here in the US now and I still carry toilet paper in my purse after being in Europe and Morroco for so long. It’s a thing that just stays with you because you definitely don’t want to be unprepared! It sounds like an excellent way to island hop!
Denny George says
Filipino ferries can be quite crazy. I’m glad that you found one, which despite the shortcomings sound reasonably comfortable. I hope you had a great time in Palawan.
Rhonda Albom says
I would pick the fast ferry like you did. The slow ferry does not seem like a good deal as you may save money but might be to scared to enjoy the rest of your trip.
Lois Alter Mark says
Wow, it sounds like you had quite the adventure on the ferry! I guess that’s part of the fun of traveling – you always get a good story out of it. I bet lots of readers will thank you for the tip about bringing your own toilet paper!
Suzanne says
Getting to Palawan reminds me of how Trinidadians have to travel to our sister isle of Tobago. We have the choice of taking the ferry or a flight. However, flights are quite expensive and out of pocket for lots of locals who depend on the ferry. If I ever get to Palawan, I would choose the fast ferry too.
Lisa says
I’ll go with your choice and take the ‘fast ferry’ to Coron. I’ve not yet been there, but have heard so many people rave about it, and seen the photos too. I’m not a morning person either, but I’ll make an exception.
Dada says
There are really helpful tips, especially about bringing a pullover or a jacket because we tend to forget how much they love putting the AC on in Asia. I wish I knew about this 5 years ago because I would definitely jump on a ferry from El Nido to Coron! Montenegro line was a good choice timewise and the ferry looks really clean too!
Allison Smith says
It was so cold Dada! Luckily I did have a jacket but many didn’t. I saw one girl remove all the seat headers in her row and try to cover herself with them. It didn’t really work but bonus points for trying lol