Last updated: 16 August 2026. Routes, carriers and fares change often in Palawan; confirm schedules before booking.
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Quick answer: the short version of how to get to Coron in 2026 is that there is no longer a direct flight from Manila. Every Cebgo and AirSWIFT service moved out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Clark on 29 March 2026. Coron’s airport is Francisco B. Reyes (USU) on Busuanga Island, now reached by air from Clark (about 1h 10m), Cebu (about 1h 20m) or El Nido (about 40 minutes). From El Nido you can also take a fast ferry in roughly 3.5 to 4 hours. From the airport it is a 25 to 45 minute van ride into Coron Town, commonly PHP 250 shared. Budget a PHP 200 environmental fee in cash on arrival, and note there is no ATM at the airport.
On this page
- The Manila flight that no longer exists
- Every route to Coron, compared
- Flying via Clark
- Flying via Cebu
- From El Nido: fly or sail
- The long sea routes
- Arriving: fees, transfers and the cash problem
- Getting around Coron and Busuanga
- Which route should you take?
- Plan the rest of your trip
- Frequently asked questions
Coron is harder to reach than it was a year ago, and most guides still have not caught up. If you search for flights to Coron today you will find plenty of results labelled “Manila to Coron”. Almost all of them are connections, and several travel sites updated as recently as this year still describe a nonstop that stopped operating in March.
This guide covers what actually flies, what it costs, how to get from the airport into town, and the two things that catch people out on arrival.
The Manila flight that no longer exists
In July 2025 the Department of Transportation’s Manila Slot Coordination Committee ruled that turboprop aircraft had to leave Ninoy Aquino International Airport to free up slots for jets. Busuanga’s runway is short, so Coron is served exclusively by turboprops. That made the route a casualty.
Cebu Pacific completed its NAIA turboprop exit on 29 March 2026, transferring every Cebgo and AirSWIFT flight to Clark International Airport. Philippine Airlines ended its Manila–Busuanga turboprop service on the same date and converted it to a Clark–Busuanga route. Sunlight Air had already dropped its Manila service in December 2025. From 1 July 2026, AirSWIFT’s T6 flight codes were folded into Cebgo’s DG codes.
The practical effect: Manila to Coron is now a connection, not a flight. Anything sold to you as nonstop is either routing you through Clark or Cebu, or the listing is out of date. Note that the same ruling moved El Nido’s flights to Clark as well, which is covered in our guide to getting to El Nido.
One consequence worth planning around: Puerto Princesa is now the only Palawan gateway with frequent jet service from Manila. If your trip combines Palawan destinations, that changes the sensible order to do them in.
Every route to Coron, compared
| Route | Time | Rough cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark → Busuanga (USU) | ~1h 10m, plus ~2h Manila to Clark | From about PHP 2,400 one way | Most travellers coming through Manila |
| Cebu → Busuanga (USU) | ~1h 20m | From about PHP 2,180 one way | Anyone already in the Visayas |
| El Nido → Busuanga (USU) | ~40m | Highest per kilometre | Combining both Palawan hubs quickly |
| El Nido → Coron ferry | 3h 30m to 4h | PHP 1,800 to 3,000 | The standard Palawan combination |
| Manila → Coron by sea | ~13h, weekly | From about PHP 2,600 | Time-rich, budget-tight travellers |
| Puerto Princesa → Coron by sea | ~13h, weekly | From about PHP 2,200 | Almost nobody. See below. |
Flying via Clark
Clark (CRK) is now the main gateway. Cebgo, Philippine Airlines and Sunlight Air between them run around 26 flights a week, roughly four a day, on ATR 72 and Dash 8 turboprops. Block time is about 1 hour 10 minutes. Departures run from early morning to mid-afternoon.
Philippine Airlines has advertised Clark to Coron from around PHP 2,400 to 2,600 one way all-in, with return fares commonly landing near PHP 5,000. Fares move a lot by season.
The ground leg is the real cost. Clark sits roughly two hours north of Manila by road. If you are connecting from an international arrival at NAIA you need to cross the city and drive north, so build in a generous buffer and consider an overnight near Clark for an early departure. Several buses run the route from Manila, and the drive is straightforward, but traffic is not.
Compare Clark and Cebu fares to Busuanga for your dates before committing, because the cheaper airport changes month to month.
Flying via Cebu
Cebu (CEB) to Busuanga is the underrated option. Cebgo, Philippine Airlines and Sunlight Air run around 24 flights a week, roughly three a day, at about 1 hour 20 minutes. Philippine Airlines has listed fares from around PHP 2,180 one way, which is often cheaper than Clark.
Sunlight Air added Cebu–Coron frequencies in March 2026, including a daily afternoon departure and extra services on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
If your Philippines itinerary already includes Cebu, Bohol or Siargao, routing Coron through Cebu avoids the Manila–Clark problem entirely. It is the single easiest way to reach Coron in 2026.
From El Nido: fly or sail
Most people reach Coron from El Nido, and there are two ways to do it.
The flight is a Cebgo ATR 72 hop of about 40 minutes, typically departing around midday, running roughly three to five times a week. It is the fastest option by a wide margin and the most expensive per kilometre by an even wider one.
The ferry is what most travellers take. Several operators run the crossing daily, and the fares below are the published per-operator rates rather than aggregator estimates.
| Operator | Journey | Published fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phimal Fast Ferry | 3h 40m | PHP 1,828 regular | Cheapest fastcraft; aircon, WiFi, power outlets |
| Montenegro Lines | 3h 30m | PHP 2,816 regular | Student, senior and child fares available |
| Atienza Interisland | 4h | PHP 3,000 adult economy | Longest check-in window, up to 2 hours |
| Jomalia Shipping | ~3h 30m | Around PHP 2,850 | Catamarans; schedules vary by day |
| Island Water | ~5h | PHP 3,519 tourist class | Limited days; slowest fastcraft |
Several operators carry a live fuel-surcharge caveat, so the fare you pay can exceed the published rate. Discounts of roughly 20 to 28 percent apply for seniors and PWD, 20 percent for students, and 50 percent for children aged 3 to 7.
Four things that catch people out on this crossing:
- Coron itinerary — 3, 4, 5 and 7 days planned out, including a diver version.
- Complete Palawan travel guide — all three destinations compared, and how to combine them.
- Complete Coron travel guide — getting there, timing, tours, diving and where to stay, in one place.
- Check-in windows differ by operator — 45 to 60 minutes for Jomalia and Montenegro, but up to two hours for Atienza. Turning up on the wrong operator’s timetable means missing the boat.
- A terminal fee of PHP 20 and an environmental fee of PHP 200 are collected separately at the port and are not in your ticket price.
- Peak season sells out. From December to April, book several days ahead. In the wet season, June to October, sailings are cancelled for rough seas often enough that you should never put a same-day onward flight on the other side of one.
- Bring water and declare dive gear. Not every service sells refreshments onboard, and baggage allowances of around two pieces or 25 kg vary by operator.
The long sea routes
2GO Travel runs a weekly RORO from Manila, departing Friday evening and arriving the next morning, roughly 13 hours, with fares from around PHP 2,630 in Super Value class up to about PHP 3,080 for Tourist class. Coming back it sails Sunday evening.
There is also a weekly Puerto Princesa to Coron sailing, departing Sunday at 04:30 and taking about 13 hours, from around PHP 2,220. We would not recommend it. Flying Puerto Princesa to Coron is expensive and awkward, and the overwhelming majority of travellers making that journey go overland to El Nido first and take the fast ferry, which is faster, cheaper and far more frequent.
Arriving: fees, transfers and the cash problem
Coron charges an environmental fee of PHP 200 for adults and PHP 150 for minors, collected on arrival at the Tourist One Stop Shop inside Busuanga Airport. It applies to every visitor to the municipality and is separate from the site entrance fees you will pay on island-hopping tours.
It is cash only, and there are no banks, ATMs or currency exchange at Busuanga Airport. Arriving without pesos is a genuine failure mode. Bring cash from Manila, Clark or Cebu.
The airport sits about 23 kilometres from Coron Town. Sources put the drive at anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic and where in town you are staying.
| Transfer | Rough cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shared van or shuttle | PHP 150 to 250 per seat | PHP 250 is the common posted rate. Waits for a full load. |
| Private van (walk-up) | PHP 500 to 1,500 per vehicle | Negotiated locally |
| Private van (pre-booked online) | PHP 2,300 to 3,500 | Guaranteed, larger vehicles, fixed price |
| Motorbike taxi | PHP 400 to 600 per person | Light luggage only |
| Tricycle | PHP 500 to 700 | Slow over that distance |
The gap between walk-up and pre-booked private vans is large and worth understanding: online operators charge a premium for a guaranteed vehicle. If you are travelling light and flexible, the shared van at PHP 250 is fine. Shared van luggage space is tight, and bags sometimes take a seat or go on the roof.
Two more things about the airport. It operates in daylight only, roughly 06:00 to 17:00, so there are no evening arrivals and no recovery flights if a day’s flying is disrupted. And it is currently being rebuilt: the runway is being extended from 1,200 to 2,100 metres with completion targeted for December 2026, and the terminal is being expanded from 200 to 1,000 passenger capacity. Expect works in progress.
Getting around Coron and Busuanga
Tricycles handle almost everything in town at PHP 10 to 25 per person. Maquinit Hot Springs runs about PHP 150 to 200 one way.
Scooter hire splits sharply by where you rent. Local operators charge roughly PHP 300 to 600 a day, fuel not included. Established agencies charge PHP 690 for a Honda Beat up to about PHP 1,490 for a Yamaha N-Max, but include helmets, insurance and hotel delivery, usually with a two-day minimum and a PHP 5,000 or passport deposit.
Crossing the island is done on the Q-Van shared service between Coron Town and Salvacion, at PHP 300 per person for roughly 90 minutes, with departures through the day from about 07:30. Tickets must be bought in person at the office near Coron Town Plaza in advance; you cannot simply turn up at departure time.
Car hire runs around PHP 1,500 a day for an economy car with mandatory insurance on top and a two-day minimum.
How to get to Coron: which route should you take?
| If you are… | Take this |
|---|---|
| Arriving internationally into Manila | Fly Clark to Busuanga. Budget two hours to reach Clark and stay near the airport if flying early. |
| Already in Cebu or the Visayas | Fly Cebu to Busuanga. The easiest route into Coron in 2026. |
| Coming from El Nido | The fast ferry, booked a few days ahead. |
| Coming from El Nido and short on time | The 40-minute Cebgo flight, if the day lines up. |
| In Puerto Princesa | Van to El Nido, then the ferry. Skip the direct sailing. |
| On a very tight budget with time to spare | The weekly 2GO from Manila. |
Sources we checked: The end of the Manila service is confirmed in Cebu Pacific’s advisory on the Cebgo and AirSWIFT transfer to Clark, effective 29 March 2026.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Coron vs El Nido — which to choose, and why the flight changes affect that decision.
- Complete El Nido travel guide — the other half of most Palawan trips.
- How to get to El Nido — every route, including the same Clark change.
- Philippines travel budget guide — where Palawan transport sits in a full trip budget.
- Philippines travel planning checklist — documents, cash and connectivity before you fly.
Insurance worth checking: ferry cancellations and missed onward connections are exactly the kind of disruption standard policies treat inconsistently. Compare travel insurance quotes on EKTA and read the missed-departure wording rather than the headline price.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct flight from Manila to Coron?
No. All Cebgo and AirSWIFT flights moved from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Clark on 29 March 2026, under a Department of Transportation ruling shifting turboprop operations out of NAIA. Philippine Airlines ended its Manila service the same day. Coron is now reached by air from Clark, Cebu or El Nido.
What is the cheapest way to get to Coron?
By air, Cebu to Busuanga has listed fares from around PHP 2,180 one way, often below Clark. By sea, the weekly 2GO from Manila starts around PHP 2,630 but takes about 13 hours.
How far is Busuanga Airport from Coron Town?
About 23 kilometres, or 25 to 45 minutes by road. A shared van seat is commonly PHP 250.
Do I need cash when I arrive in Coron?
Yes. The PHP 200 environmental fee is collected in cash at the airport, and there are no ATMs, banks or currency exchange facilities there. Bring pesos with you.
How long is the ferry from El Nido to Coron?
Between 3 hours 30 minutes and 4 hours on the fastcraft services, with one slower operator taking about 5 hours. Published fares run from PHP 1,828 to PHP 3,519 depending on operator and class.
Can I fly from Puerto Princesa to Coron?
There is no convenient direct service, and the weekly sailing takes about 13 hours. Almost everyone travels overland to El Nido first and takes the fast ferry from there.
Which airport code is Coron?
USU, for Francisco B. Reyes Airport on Busuanga Island. Some booking sites also use XCN for Coron, which can cause confusion when searching.
Next steps
- Decide between the two hubs: Coron vs El Nido
- Compare fares: Clark and Cebu flights to Busuanga
- Book transfers and tours: Coron transfers on Klook
- Cost the whole trip: Philippines travel budget guide