creator synthesis · MMXXVI 8 of 12 months · 19 citations

When 20 travel creators say to go

Best time to visit Palawan.

We watched 40 videos from 20 travel creators covering Palawan and ranked its months by how many of them actually show up — so the months at the top are the consensus on when to go, not one person's pick.

Things to doPhilippines best time
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Most-covered: February RVG Travel Vlogs 2K subs

Months ranked by creator coverage

  1. 01 February 3 creators
  2. 02 April 3 creators
  3. 03 May 3 creators
  4. 04 October 2 creators
  5. 05 September 2 creators
  6. 06 January 1 creator

full month-by-month calendar below ↓

CALENDAR · PALAWAN · 8/12 MONTHS · 19 CITATIONS

When to visit Palawan.

Best
January through April (dry season peak) · island hopping — lagoons, beaches and sandbars (el nido)
Peak
Year-round but documented in September by Global Travel Stories and Top Notch Travel Videos · wwii wreck diving (coron / sangat island)
Sleeper
Any time, with planning — creators estimate ₱10,000–₱10,400 all-in · budget 4-day itinerary in el nido or coron
Avoid
Arriving without comparing El Nido tour options · the country collectors specifically warn that one of the four standard tours is a 'crowded tourist trap' while…

January

Dry season

Prime dry-season conditions in El Nido and Port Barton, with calm seas ideal for boat tours and lagoon exploration, per Jordan Pike who filmed here in late January 2020.

Highlights

  • Island-hopping boat tours out of El Nido visiting beaches and hidden lagoons (Jordan Pike)
  • Hiking to Papawyan Falls near Port Barton through tropical heat (Jordan Pike)
  • 3-day boat adventure from El Nido to Coron, visiting sandbars and snorkeling reefs (Jordan Pike)

What creators said

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Jordan Pike

Filmed in El Nido on January 29, 2020 — visited multiple beaches and lagoons by boat; described as quintessential Philippines island-hopping in ideal conditions.

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Jordan Pike

Visited Port Barton in early 2020; hiked roughly one hour to Papawyan Falls and swam to cool off from the tropical heat, then relaxed on the beach.

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Jordan Pike

Completed the El Nido–Coron boat tour departing January 31, 2020; visited pristine beaches, hidden lagoons and remote sandbars along the Palawan coastline.

February

Dry season

Dry-season travel in full swing across Palawan's key destinations; creators document everything from Puerto Princesa's underground river and Ugong Rock to El Nido's beaches.

Highlights

  • Spelunking and zip-lining at Ugong Rock limestone formation near Puerto Princesa (RVG Travel Vlogs)
  • Full El Nido island experience including beaches, lagoons and food (ABBY)
  • Broad Palawan road trip from Puerto Princesa to El Nido covering multiple coastal stops (House of Intent)

What creators said

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RVG Travel Vlogs

Documented Ugong Rock — a 75-foot limestone karst formation near Puerto Princesa with spelunking through cathedral-like chambers and zip-lining from the summit with views of rice fields; noted it is a popular stop en route to the Underground River.

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ABBY

Explored Palawan and El Nido as part of a broader Philippines trip; published February 2026.

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House of Intent

Covered a scenic road trip from Puerto Princesa to El Nido, with stops at San Vicente, Sabang, Honda Beach and Taytay, documenting Palawan's landscapes and local culture.

April

Late dry / shoulder

El Nido's island-hopping tours are in high demand and some are noted as crowded; creators compare Tour A through D and recommend booking carefully, while Coron's dive sites are also being actively visited.

Highlights

  • Completing all four El Nido island-hopping tours (A, B, C, D) to compare stops and value (Angelica & Aileen Wanders, The Country Collectors)
  • Budget 4-day El Nido itinerary covering best islands, hotels and food for around ₱10,000 / $200 USD (Angelica & Aileen Wanders)
  • Visiting Coron — island hopping plus discovering less common tour stops beyond the standard itinerary (NSTV travel vlog)

Watch out for

  • At least one of the four El Nido tours is described as a crowded tourist trap — The Country Collectors specifically flag that Tours A–D are not equal quality and one should be avoided.
  • Book tours in advance as El Nido has become a top destination for both local and foreign travelers (NSTV travel vlog on Coron).

What creators said

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Angelica & Aileen Wanders

After visiting Palawan 5 times, built a full 4-day El Nido budget itinerary; details the best islands, hotels and food on each tour, with total cost around ₱10,000 ($200 USD) including flights, accommodation, tours and entrance fees.

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The Country Collectors

Tested all four El Nido island-hopping tours back-to-back in 2026; warns that one tour is a 'crowded tourist trap' while another is a hidden gem — urges travelers to compare before booking.

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NSTV travel vlog

Covered Coron's rising popularity for local and foreign tourists; highlighted lesser-known island-hopping stops beyond standard tours and noted the importance of choosing the right accommodation for your budget.

May

Shoulder / early wet season

Coron and Port Barton are still actively visited by creators; Coron offers a full 4-day budget itinerary and Port Barton is highlighted as a laid-back, relatively undiscovered fishing village ideal for travelers seeking fewer crowds.

Highlights

  • 4-day Coron budget itinerary covering island hopping and town tour for roughly ₱10,400 / $190 USD (Angelica & Aileen Wanders)
  • Visiting Port Barton in San Vicente — a quiet fishing village with beaches, snorkeling and an unpretentious local vibe largely undiscovered by local tourists (NSTV travel vlog)
  • Jungle trekking near Puerto Princesa, exploring local beaches and interacting with residents off the beaten trail (William Taudien)

Watch out for

  • Port Barton is not easily accessible — NSTV notes the best idyllic spots in the Philippines are often hard to reach, which helps keep them unspoiled.

What creators said

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Angelica & Aileen Wanders

After 6 visits to Palawan, produced a comprehensive Coron guide covering the best island-hopping tours, town activities, hotels and food — all within a ~₱10,400 ($190 USD) 4-day budget.

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NSTV travel vlog

Documented Port Barton as a chill, largely foreign-frequented fishing village in San Vicente, Palawan that most local travelers haven't discovered — praised for raw natural beauty, proximity to water and relaxed pace.

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William Taudien

Explored a jungle trail near Puerto Princesa searching for a beach and encountered locals off the path; characterized Palawan as the 'crown jewel of the Philippines' with dramatic limestone cliffs and hidden beaches.

August

Wet season

Global Travel Stories made it to El Nido after 24 hours of travel from New Zealand, describing the experience as paradise — suggesting the island is still visitable and rewarding even during wetter months for motivated travelers.

Highlights

  • Island hopping in El Nido including the Big Lagoon, snorkeling coral reefs, and relaxing at Seven Commandos Beach (Global Travel Stories)
  • Watching the sunset in El Nido, described as 'absolutely unforgettable' (Global Travel Stories)

Watch out for

  • Getting to El Nido requires significant travel time — Global Travel Stories logged 24 hours of travel via Sydney and Manila before arriving.

What creators said

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Global Travel Stories

Traveled from New Zealand via Sydney and Manila to El Nido; visited the Big Lagoon, snorkeled reefs and relaxed at Seven Commandos Beach — described the sunset as unforgettable and the destination as 'one of the most beautiful places on Earth.'

September

Wet season

Coron's WWII wreck-diving scene is the draw in this period; Global Travel Stories stayed at Sangat Island Dive Resort, with direct access to 11 sunken Japanese warships, arriving via high-speed ferry from El Nido.

Highlights

  • Wreck diving on 11 sunken WWII Japanese warships accessible from Sangat Island Dive Resort near Coron (Global Travel Stories)
  • Arriving in Coron by high-speed ferry from El Nido, passing countless islands along the Palawan coastline (Global Travel Stories)
  • Quiet mangrove channel boat rides near Bintuan on the way to Sangat Island (Global Travel Stories)

What creators said

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Global Travel Stories

Stayed 4 days at Sangat Island Dive Resort near Coron — world-famous for access to 11 sunken WWII Japanese warships. Traveled by high-speed ferry from El Nido and arrived via a mangrove boat channel. Described as paradise for diving history enthusiasts.

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Top Notch Travel Videos

Island-hopped in Coron on the last day of a visit; noted the area is known for diving sunken WWII ships and snorkeling coral reefs — described all the islands as beautiful.

October

Wet season / late typhoon season

KrisTells Vlogs introduced their spouse to Palawan in October, framing it as a destination of breathtaking beauty; El Nido is also being visited and documented for walking tours and beach days.

Highlights

  • Introducing Palawan as a romantic, scenic destination to a first-time visitor (KrisTells Vlogs)
  • Walking tour of El Nido town followed by a beach day (Top Notch Travel Videos)
  • Ferry route from Coron to El Nido, passing numerous beautiful Palawan islands (Top Notch Travel Videos)

What creators said

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KrisTells Vlogs

Brought their husband to Palawan for the first time in October 2025; framed the destination as one of breathtaking beauty — suggests appeal as a romantic destination even in the later wet season.

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Top Notch Travel Videos

Explored El Nido town on foot and visited the beach on day one; noted it's a 30–45 minute walk to the beach from central accommodation and praised the seafood, island hopping, snorkeling and diving on offer.

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Top Notch Travel Videos

Traveled by 2Go ferry from Coron to El Nido; captured many islands and beaches along the route. Noted limited food on board and recommended eating before departure.

November

Transition to dry season

SEOHEE TRAVEL made the 9-hour journey to El Nido (plane + bus + tricycle) in November 2025 and described it as completely worth it — documenting a full food tour and Tour A island hopping.

Highlights

  • Tour A island hopping out of El Nido, visiting lagoons and snorkeling spots (SEOHEE TRAVEL)
  • Sunset at Las Cabanas Beach in El Nido (SEOHEE TRAVEL)
  • Food scene in El Nido: local grills, Korean-Filipino fusion, seafood and mango halo-halo (SEOHEE TRAVEL)

Watch out for

  • El Nido requires a long, multi-leg journey from Manila — SEOHEE TRAVEL clocked 9 hours total using plane, bus and tricycle.

What creators said

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SEOHEE TRAVEL

Traveled 9 hours from Manila to El Nido via plane, bus and tricycle; described the effort as 'sobrang worth it.' Completed Tour A island hopping with Happyland Tours, caught the sunset at Las Cabanas, and ate across multiple local restaurants including Maa's Grill and Piece of Sky.

Methodology

Synthesized from 40 Palawan-scoped videos across 20 travel YouTubers; only timing claims and destination-specific details directly attributable to the source creators were included. Videos about other destinations (Queenstown, Malaysia, Mexico) that appeared in the dataset but did not contain Palawan-specific content were excluded.

Synthesized from 40 Palawan-scoped videos across 20 Philippines-focused YouTubers. Country guide: Best time to visit Philippines. Things to do: Palawan attractions.