El Nido to Coron: 3 Day and 2 Night Island Escape Expedition

About This Experience

This trip suits fit, sociable travellers who want two nights at remote beach camps and are happy to go without Wi-Fi, air conditioning or a private bathroom. It is not a comfort trip. The huts have no fan, toilets and showers are shared, and several lower-rated reviews describe long crossings on a busy boat with floor seating and little shade. With 4.8 stars from 602 reviews it has the largest review count of the expeditions we review.

The trip starts the evening before departure with a compulsory 5 pm briefing at We Are Juan’s office in Pops District, El Nido. The next morning a transfer takes the group across to San Fernando port on El Nido’s east coast, where a traditional bangka heads north through the islands toward Coron. The listing says you reach Coron at about 4 to 5 pm on day three.

Days are built around snorkelling stops on coral reefs, swims off quiet beaches and meals cooked by the on-board chef, with snacks, purified water, and rum and gin included. Nights are spent at the operator’s beachfront basecamps in native huts sized for two adults, each with a mattress, linen, pillows and a mosquito net. Electricity at camp is minimal, so bring a power bank.

The price covers all entrance fees, but this listing excludes the four local environmental fees: El Nido PHP 400, Linapacan PHP 200, Culion PHP 100 and Coron PHP 200 per person, so carry about PHP 900 in cash. On dates we checked in late October 2026 the trip cost $311 per person, with free cancellation up to 2 days before departure.

We’d book it if you want the best-tested group trip in this direction and pack your own mask and snorkel, since some reviewers found there were too few to go round. If you want to start in Coron, We Are Juan runs the same trip the other way as a separate listing.

Highlights

• Two nights at remote beachfront basecamps in traditional native huts
• Snorkelling stops on coral reefs between El Nido and Coron
• Fresh Filipino meals cooked on board by the expedition chef
• Island-hopping by traditional bangka with a licensed captain and local guides
• Off-grid evenings with sunsets at camp, minimal power and no Wi-Fi
• Groups of up to 25, with guides who speak English and Tagalog

What's Included

• ✓ Pre-departure briefing the evening before
• ✓ One-way transfer to San Fernando port
• ✓ Licensed tourist boat, captain and local tour guides
• ✓ On-board chef
• ✓ Two nights in native huts
• ✓ Breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus snacks
• ✓ Purified drinking water
• ✓ Rum and gin
• ✓ Mask, snorkel and life jacket
• ✓ All entrance fees

Not Included

• El Nido environmental fee, PHP 400 per person
• Linapacan environmental fee, PHP 200 per person
• Culion environmental fee, PHP 100 per person
• Coron eco tax, PHP 200 per person
• Tips (optional)
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Good weather, which nobody can guarantee

What to Bring

• Small bag or dry bag for three days' essentials
• Cash in pesos for environmental fees and tips
• Towel
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Hat and sunglasses
• Power bank
• Camera

Good to Know & Caveats

• The briefing is mandatory: 5 pm the evening before departure at We Are Juan's office in Pops District, El Nido.
• Arrival in Coron is about 4 to 5 pm on day three, so avoid booking a flight out that evening.
• Main luggage is stowed on the boat with no size or weight limit. You live out of a small bag for three days, ideally a dry bag.
• Minimum age is 16.
• Huts sleep two adults and have a mattress, linen, pillows and a mosquito net, but no fan or air conditioning. Toilets and showers are shared, not en suite.
• This is an off-grid trip with minimal electricity and no Wi-Fi.
• Departures depend on the weather and Coast Guard clearance. The operator's own site offers a full refund or a reschedule if it cancels for weather.
• Some lower-rated reviews mention groups of around 20 on a small boat with floor seating and little shade, and too few snorkel masks for everyone.
• One solo traveller felt the crew's attention toward women travelling alone went too far; raise any concern with the lead guide early.
• A few reviewers reported a cancelled briefing or a late morning start, so keep the first evening in Coron free.

Meeting Point

A mandatory briefing at 5 pm the evening before at We Are Juan's office in Pops District, El Nido; the included transfer then takes you to San Fernando port to board.