Taking the Ferry from Manila to Coron, Palawan
Leaving Manila Behind
The Philippines is an island nation blessed with diverse nature ranging from white sand beaches to massive mountains and jungles. Many tourists en route to some of the most breathtaking landscapes will inevitably find themselves stuck in the concrete jungle of Manila rather than the rainforests found elsewhere in the country.
While this may come as a disappointment for those looking to layout on the beach or explore the smoky volcanoes of the Philippines, Manila still holds a certain charm in its back alleys and chaotic markets. The sheer mix of pure urban anarchy and down to earth friendly neighborhoods make Manila a place you won’t want to ignore.
When traveling to a tropical paradise such as Palawan, nothing could be better than pulling out of the sprawling dockyards of Manila in the evening and waking up to the crystal clear waters of Coron in the morning.
If you are looking to get off the beaten track in The Philippines, check out more here!
How to Take the Ferry from Manila to Coron
Taking the boat out of Manila is actually extremely straight forward. With a country made up of 7,107 islands, many Filipinos are accustomed to ferry travel. While some of the sea transport around the Philippines can be a bit dodgy, 2Go’s ferries out of Manila strike a balance between budget travel and comfort.
The ferry from Manila to Coron, Palawan departs once a week on Friday at 7:00 pm. The total journey takes only about 11 hours, meaning you will be waking up just as you pull into the harbor of Coron. The cost of the cheapest ticket (Super Value Class) to Coron costs only about 1,071 PHP (21 USD).
The ferry departs from North Harbor Pier 4.
You can book your ferry with 2Go here!
Casting Off
If you didn’t hate the urban sprawl of Manila before, the ferry port will have you running to your ship ready to cast off as soon as possible. The entire harbor area is seedy at best, any preconceived notions of Manila being dangerous or a hotbed for crime will surely become a reality amongst the docks.
Fortunately, passengers are shuttled directly on to the ship, meaning they will not have to linger too long in the underbelly of Manila.
If you are on a budget or simply a cheap backpacker, the Super Value Class ticket will have you sleeping in the bowels of the ship. Hundreds upon hundreds of people sleeping in bunks so close that you could literally rollover and be laying on top of another passenger.
Rather than attempt to sleep through the snoring and stench of the cramped quarters, you may want to attempt to sleep on deck on one of the many lounge chairs.
Before the lights go out, however, the crew tries to liven up the place with some karaoke and dancing on the deck. The strobe lights and awkward singing has a certain charm about it which makes it very Filipino. The ferry also has a dinner and breakfast buffet, but for the price of a Super Value Class ticket, it only includes one of the meals.
You can read another experience on the ferry to Coron Palawan here!
Pulling into Dock
More than the cheap price and thrill of traveling overland (and sea), waking up in the early morning and watching as the ferry pulls into Palawan makes the trip worth your while! As the placid waters slowly begin to give way to limestone pillars and mist-covered mountains, you know you are entering a whole new world vastly different from the rest of the country.
Palawan is a region which is home to some of the last expanses of unspoiled tropical beauty. While places such as Halong Bay and the islands of Thailand are being demystified with the slews of tourists, the islands of Palawan still gives one the sense of traveling into the unknown.
With a scene which looks as if you are pulling into Skull Island, arriving by ferry truly sets the tone for your Coron adventure.
Welcome to Palawan!
After a leisurely 11 hours at sea, the ferry arrives into port in Coron. To many passengers’ surprise, there seem to be just as many locals getting off in Coron as there are tourists. Many of the local passengers are actually migrants coming to Palawan for work. While the island may still be considered off of the beaten track, there are those who are expecting a tourism boom in the coming years.
Out of all of the seaside villages around Palawan, Coron seems to be the one that steals most visitors’ hearts. El Nido has quickly made a name for itself as the party capital of the island. Port Barton is more for those looking to feel like a true castaway. Coron, on the other hand, strikes that balance between having a deserted island atmosphere with modern comforts.
From the lagoons to riding motorbikes around the island, Coron is not short on things to do and explore. While the turquoise waters and picturesque landscapes may take your breath away, standing on deck watching the fog recede, unveiling the mountains of Palawan is the one memory you will be playing back in your head for years to come!
