Island, Philippines
Palawan for solo travelers
Is Palawan good for solo travel?
A long, mostly wild island province: Puerto Princesa's Underground River in the middle, El Nido and Coron's limestone lagoons at either end. Dramatic, but distances are big and services thin outside the towns.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Very friendly |
| English | Widely spoken |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women in tourist towns. Use group tours on remote islands and avoid empty roads at night. |
How to meet people in Palawan
Hostels and shared island-hopping boats in El Nido and Coron, dive shops, bike rides, and group tours to Port Barton and the Underground River.
Good things to do alone
- Ride a shared island-hopping tour in El Nido
- Visit the Underground River near Sabang
- Dive the Coron shipwrecks
- Spend two nights in quiet Port Barton
- Hike Taraw Peak or Mount Tapyas
Where to stay in Palawan
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Puerto Princesa | Provincial capital: airport, hospitals, Underground River tours |
| El Nido | Lagoon tours, beaches and backpacker nightlife |
| Coron | Wreck diving, lakes and island-hopping |
| Port Barton | Quiet, small-scale beach town for slow stays |
| San Vicente (Long Beach) | Long, empty beach; very quiet |
Solo travel across Philippines
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Siargao | 5/5 | Widely spoken |
| Moalboal | 5/5 | Widely spoken |
| Manila | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Boracay | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Palawan | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| El Nido | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Cebu | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Coron | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Bohol | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Panglao | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Makati | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Baguio | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| La Union | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Dumaguete | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Siquijor | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Puerto Galera | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Malapascua | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Port Barton | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Sagada | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Banaue | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Vigan | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Iloilo | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| BGC | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Bantayan | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Davao | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Tagaytay | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Angeles City | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Palawan good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). A long, mostly wild island province: Puerto Princesa's Underground River in the middle, El Nido and Coron's limestone lagoons at either end.
How do you meet people in Palawan?
Hostels and shared island-hopping boats in El Nido and Coron, dive shops, bike rides, and group tours to Port Barton and the Underground River. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Palawan?
Widely spoken.
Is Palawan safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women in tourist towns. Use group tours on remote islands and avoid empty roads at night.
More about Palawan
Going to Palawan solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Palawan meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.