How to Get to Palawan from Manila: Your Complete Travel Guide
There are two main ways of getting to Palawan: flying and sailing.
When flying, arriving at Manila airport (NAIA) on your way to Palawan or other destinations in the Philippines can be stressful if you don’t plan ahead.
When sailing, getting to the passenger departure point in Manila can be challenging, unless you know how to get there.
Check out these tips and tricks for getting to Palawan from Manila.
Don’t forget to check out other helpful tips and tricks for Palawan travel on our Palawan Travel Guide.
Flights from Manila to Palawan: How to Plan Your Connecting Flight
Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) is the main gateway to Palawan, and the most reliable way to reach it is by flying from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
However, NAIA has four separate terminals, and if your international arrival terminal doesn’t match your domestic departure terminal, the connection can be stressful — especially with luggage, kids, or a tight layover.
If your international flight and your domestic connection arrive and depart at different terminals, you’ll have a long, stressful trek between terminals. This involves going outside the airport and taking a bus or taxi between the terminals and takes you right through the notoriously bad Manila traffic.
What to Do:
- When flying through Manila, choose domestic flight that departs from the same terminal you arrive at.
- After getting your flight to Manila, first check what terminal it arrives at, then when choosing a domestic flight to Palawan or other location, check the flight number to see what terminal it departs from.
- Search for your domestic or Palawan flight’s number on Google or other flight tracking sites like FlightStats.com and see the arriving and departing terminals. (see pictures below)
Sailing from Manila to Puerto Princesa: The Scenic Alternative
Fed up with the stresses of air travel? Take the scenic route from Manila to Puerto Princesa by ship for a more relaxing and scenic option.
Take a ship from Manila to Puerto Princesa from 2GO Travel. Ships have facilities like shops, restaurants, electronics charging stations, and you can enjoy lovely views on your way to Palawan. The Manila to Puerto Princesa ship even makes a stop in Coron, Palawan on its way to Puerto Princesa as well, so even if you’re not stopping there, you can enjoy lovely views of Coron on your way.
The ship takes a relaxed 24-29 hours (depending on the ship) to get to Puerto Princesa, but it’s a completely different experience. Imagine actually enjoying walking around, chatting, and truly enjoying the journey! Probably more fun than going to the airport and being jammed into an airplane for a one-hour flight.
Check out some of the videos on YouTube about their vessel, “MV Masigla.” You can search YouTube for whatever vessel you’ll be on.
2GO Travel has various classes of service and price levels. These include very basic economy which is a large, shared bunk area with other economy passengers, Business Class, but I recommend spending a bit more for their First class or, “State Room” accommodations.
State Rooms differ by ship, but you’ll typically get a own private room, AC, in-suite bathroom, reading lights, and power outlets. Depending on the ship, you may also get a flat-screen TV, and mini-fridge, and other amenities as well.
Getting to the Harbor for you Trip – The departure point for your ship to Puerto Princesa is in Manila at the Manila North Harbor, Pier 4.
If you arrived at Manila Airport (NAIA) you have a couple of options to get to the harbor. First, there are airport taxis at the taxi stands at the airport, but these are well-known for inflating their prices especially for visitors.
A much better option is to use Grab, a ride sharing app and ride service at the airport. You don’t even need to use the app itself, since Grab has signs and a kiosk right at the airport that can reserve your car for you.
To find the Grab Kiosk, go to baggage claim at Manila Airport and head outside to find the green Grab sign. There, the Grab representative will reserve your ride for you.
Baggage Tips for Your Manila to Palawan Connecting Flight
One of the biggest surprises for international travelers connecting through Manila to Palawan is that Philippine domestic airlines frequently weigh your carry-on luggage — not just your checked bags. This catches most international travelers off guard, since carry-on weighing is rare on long-haul flights.
The carry-on limit on domestic Philippine flights is typically 7kg (15 lbs). If you’re over, you’ll be repacking at the check-in counter — which I’ve done myself, in a panic, right in front of the ticket agent.
Here’s the approach that saves time, stress, and money:
Before leaving home, decide what will shift from your carry-on into your checked bag if needed. Then, when buying your domestic Manila to Palawan ticket, pre-purchase any extra checked baggage weight you might need. Adding weight at the time of booking is surprisingly inexpensive. Paying for it at the airport counter last-minute is surprisingly expensive.
Budget 15 minutes before your domestic check-in for a quick repack if needed. Your carry-on allowance typically covers the bag itself plus one personal item — handbag, laptop bag, camera bag, or coat. Max those two out and move everything else to checked luggage.
That small bit of planning will save you money and get you to Palawan without unnecessary stress.
Where to Rest in Manila Before Your Flight to Palawan
After a long international flight into Manila, it’s worth knowing your options for resting before your domestic connection to Palawan rather than trying to push through exhausted.
Runway Manila / Newport World Resorts — The best option for transit travelers is Runway Manila, a 220-meter enclosed, air-conditioned walkway connecting NAIA Terminal 3 directly to Newport World Resorts — no taxis, no Manila traffic, no stepping outside.
Once there you have access to seven hotel brands, 50-plus restaurants, a casino, and a shopping mall. Elevators, golf carts, and walkalators make it manageable even with luggage.
Worth noting: some travelers report the air conditioning in the walkway can be inconsistent, so travel as light as you can for this stretch.
If you want a proper room rather than just a lounge seat, Newport World Resorts has several highly-rated hotels bookable for a full night or a day-use room through their own websites. The Belmont Hotel Manila, directly on the Runway Manila bridge) and the Hilton Manila are the two most popular choices for transit travelers — both receive consistent praise for cleanliness, staff, and convenience to Terminal 3. The Manila Marriott at Newport World Resorts is the most luxurious option if you want to arrive at Palawan already feeling rested and pampered.
Contact each hotel directly to ask about day-use rates if you only need a few hours rather than a full night.
Getting Philippine Pesos in Manila: Why ATMs Beat Currency Exchange
While credit cards are widely accepted in the Philippines, cash is still king — especially outside of Manila. Plan to get Philippine Pesos before boarding your domestic flight to Palawan.
Currency exchange shops at NAIA are convenient but costly in two ways. First, they charge a conversion fee — at least this is usually displayed upfront so you know what you’re paying. Second, and more importantly, they quietly use a below-market exchange rate, keeping the difference as additional profit. The gap between the official rate and what they offer can be significant, especially on larger amounts.
For these reasons I skip the currency exchange counters entirely and use an ATM instead. Airport ATMs give you your bank’s exchange rate, which is almost always better. They also let you withdraw smaller amounts every few days rather than converting a large sum upfront — which reduces your risk if something goes wrong during your trip.
Tips for using ATMs at NAIA:
- Use ATMs from major Philippine banks such as BDO, BPI, or Metrobank — they offer better rates and higher withdrawal limits than independent machines.
- Notify your home bank before you travel that you’ll be using your card in the Philippines, to avoid your card being blocked as a fraud precaution.
- Budget extra time before domestic check-in — ATM queues at NAIA can be long during peak hours.
- When the ATM asks which currency to use, ALWAYS choose Philippine Pesos — never your home currency. Choosing your home currency triggers Dynamic Currency Conversion, where the ATM applies its own poor exchange rate instead of your bank’s. It feels convenient but costs you money every time.
Using Credit Cards in the Philippines: Pitfalls to Avoid
Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, larger restaurants, and major shops in the Philippines — but there are a few pitfalls that can cost you money if you’re not aware of them.
Watch out for currency conversion at the checkout terminal — When paying by card, the terminal will sometimes ask whether you want to pay in your home currency or in Philippine Pesos. This feels like a convenient option, but it’s a ripoff. The merchant’s bank sets its own exchange rate for that conversion, and it will almost always be significantly worse than the rate your own bank or card would apply. Always choose Philippine Pesos at the terminal and let your own bank handle the conversion at their rate — you’ll pay less every time.
Check if your card charges foreign transaction fees — Many standard credit cards add a fee of 2–3% on every purchase made outside your home country. On a luxury trip this adds up quickly. Before you travel, check whether your card charges this fee. If it does, consider using a travel-focused card that waives foreign transaction fees — cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Capital One Venture, or the Wise card are popular choices among international travelers for this reason.
Cash is still essential in Palawan — Even if you rely on credit cards in Manila, plan to have sufficient Pesos once you arrive in Palawan. Many local restaurants, tricycles, island tour operators, and smaller vendors are cash only. This is especially true outside of Puerto Princesa city center. Arriving without enough cash is a stressful situation that’s easy to avoid with a little planning at the NAIA ATM before your domestic flight.
Charging Your Devices Safely at NAIA
You may have seen warnings about “juice jacking” — the theoretical risk of malware being installed through public USB charging ports at airports. While government agencies like the TSA and FBI have issued advisories, cybersecurity researchers note that no confirmed real-world cases have ever been documented. It’s more theoretical risk than proven danger.
That said, the simple habit of carrying your own charger and plugging into a standard wall outlet rather than a public USB port costs you nothing and eliminates the risk entirely. It also means you’re never hunting for a free USB port in a crowded terminal. A compact travel power bank is worth packing for the same reason — especially useful during long layovers or the flight to Palawan itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa?
The flight from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia all operate multiple daily flights on this route.
Which NAIA terminal do I fly from to get to Palawan?
Most domestic flights to Puerto Princesa depart from NAIA Terminal 3, though some flights use Terminal 2. Always check your ticket carefully as NAIA’s four terminals are not connected — transferring between them requires exiting and taking a taxi or shuttle, which can take 30–60 minutes depending on traffic.
How much cash should I bring to Palawan?
Plan to have sufficient Philippine Pesos on hand before leaving Manila, as many local restaurants, tricycles, island tour operators, and smaller vendors in Palawan are cash only. Withdraw Pesos from a major bank ATM at NAIA before your domestic flight rather than using currency exchange counters, which offer poor exchange rates.
Can I get a direct international flight to Puerto Princesa?
Yes, Puerto Princesa International Airport accepts some international flights, however most international travelers fly into Manila first and then take a domestic connecting flight to Puerto Princesa. Check with your airline for current international routes as these change seasonally.
How far is Puerto Princesa Airport from Honda Bay?
Puerto Princesa Airport is approximately 30–45 minutes from Honda Bay depending on traffic. Honda Bay is located within Puerto Princesa city, making it one of the most conveniently accessible areas in Palawan for travelers arriving at PPS Airport. Ocean Dream Villa Palawan is located in the Honda Bay area and can assist guests with airport transfer arrangements.
Is it safe to use ATMs in the Philippines?
Yes, ATMs are widely available and safe to use in the Philippines. Use ATMs from major Philippine banks such as BDO, BPI, or Metrobank for the best rates and highest withdrawal limits. Always choose to withdraw in Philippine Pesos rather than your home currency when prompted — choosing your home currency results in a poor exchange rate set by the ATM operator rather than your own bank.
Can I take a ferry from Manila to Puerto Princesa?
Yes, 2GO Travel operates a ferry service between Manila and Puerto Princesa departing twice weekly. The journey takes approximately 27–32 hours. While significantly cheaper than flying, the ferry is best suited for travelers with flexible schedules. Flying is strongly recommended for most international visitors due to the time involved.
What is the best time of year to visit Palawan?
The best time to visit Palawan is during the dry season, which runs from November through May. December to April offers the most reliable weather with calm seas ideal for island hopping and water activities around Honda Bay and beyond. The wet season from June through October brings heavier rainfall and rougher seas, which can affect island tours and outdoor activities.
Now You're Ready — Start Planning Your Palawan Adventure
Now that you know how to get to Puerto Princesa, the real adventure begins. From Honda Bay island hopping to the famous Underground River, Palawan has some of the most extraordinary experiences in Southeast Asia.
Explore our complete Palawan Travel Guide to discover the best places to visit across the island — from Puerto Princesa all the way to El Nido and Coron in the north.
Looking for the perfect place to stay? Ocean Dream Villa Palawan is a luxury villa perched above Honda Bay, just minutes from Puerto Princesa Airport — making it one of the most conveniently located and scenically stunning vills in Palawan.