Robert Tramp
The clear turquoise water of Kayangan Lake between limestone cliffs on Coron Island.

Coron

How to get to Coron from Manila: via Clark, and the slow boat

By Robert Tramp· Published · Updated

Photo: Sailko, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Almost everyone who visits Coron gets there by air, and since 29 March 2026 that means flying from Clark, not Manila. There is a sea route from Manila, but it is long, multi-stage, and not really built for someone who just wants to reach Coron, it only makes sense if you are already travelling overland through Palawan.

How the route connects

The routeManila (NAIA) Coron town
  1. Manila (NAIA)
    Bus · 2.5–3 hr
  2. Clark International Airport
    Flight
  3. Francisco B. Reyes AirportBusuanga Island, usually called Coron airport
    Van or shuttle · 45 min–1 hr
  4. Coron town

This is the flight route; the sea-and-road alternative has no single timetable, so it is not drawn.

By air: via Clark, the route almost everyone takes

Flights land at Francisco B. Reyes Airport on Busuanga Island, commonly called Coron airport even though it isn’t on Coron town’s own island. The airport only takes turboprop aircraft, and on 29 March 2026 Philippine Airlines and Cebgo, Cebu Pacific’s regional arm, moved their Manila to Busuanga flights to Clark International Airport, about 80km north of Manila. Older articles and fare pages that still show Manila to Coron flights describe the route before that change.

To reach Clark from Manila, Genesis Transport runs a bus from NAIA Terminal 3 (across Arrival Bay 13, also stopping at Terminal 2) to Clark Airport roughly every hour, about 2.5 to 3 hours for ₱450 cash. Leave a wide margin: traffic decides the time, and you still need to be at Clark two hours before a domestic flight. Seats on these small aircraft are limited, so promo fares sell out quickly. From Busuanga airport it’s a further 45 minutes to an hour by van or shuttle to Coron town, where most accommodation and tour operators are based.

Sources: AvGeek.ph, Cebu Pacific turboprop transfer from NAIA to Clark; AvGeek.ph, Philippine Airlines ends turboprop flights at NAIA; Philippine Beach Guide, Clark Airport bus guide, all checked 20 October 2026.

By sea and road: the long way, for overlanders only

The alternative is a cargo-passenger ferry from Manila to Puerto Princesa or to Roxas in northern Palawan, followed by a long bus or van leg and a final boat crossing to Coron town. This adds up to well over a day of travel, multiple transfers, and schedules that aren’t built around a Coron trip specifically, they’re a general Palawan supply route that happens to carry passengers. It’s realistic if you’re already working your way up the Palawan mainland overland, not as a way to reach Coron on its own.

Getting from the airport into town

Budget 45 minutes to an hour for the airport to Coron town transfer, most visitors book a shared van through their accommodation or arrange one on arrival. A shared seat runs roughly ₱150-250 per person; chartering the whole van privately instead costs about ₱1,500-2,800 depending on the operator and van size, worth it for a group of four or more. There isn’t a casual walk-up alternative at the airport, so having something loosely arranged ahead of time avoids standing around waiting.

Sources: palawandays.com, Busuanga airport transfers; letsgopalawan.com, Busuanga Coron airport transfer, both checked 12 October 2026.

Map of places to stayFind a place to stay in Coron townLive prices and availability for your dates.Show places to stay on the map

Before you book

Pick your area in Coron first, since it changes how far the airport transfer needs to go, see where to stay in Coron for how town compares to an offshore resort. Once you’re in, Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon and shipwreck diving, things to do in Coron beyond the boat tours and a 3-day Coron itinerary cover what fills the days. For the best months to come and a full cost breakdown, see Coron: best time to visit and what a trip costs. For help fitting Coron into a wider Palawan trip, talk to Robert.

Questions people ask

What is the fastest way to get to Coron from Manila?

A bus from NAIA to Clark, 2.5 to 3 hours, then a Philippine Airlines or Cebgo flight to Francisco B. Reyes Airport on Busuanga. Direct Manila flights stopped on 29 March 2026.

Is there a ferry from Manila to Coron?

Not a direct one. The sea route runs Manila to Puerto Princesa or Manila to Roxas, Palawan on a cargo-passenger vessel, then a bus and a smaller boat to finish the trip to Coron town, a journey of well over a day in total. Almost nobody uses this route to simply get to Coron; it is more of a one-off overland route for travellers already working their way up Palawan.

Are there still direct flights from Manila to Coron?

No. Busuanga airport only takes turboprops, and since 29 March 2026 Philippine Airlines and Cebgo fly those from Clark instead of Manila.

How far is the airport from Coron town?

Francisco B. Reyes Airport sits on Busuanga Island, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by van or shuttle to Coron town itself, not next to it.

Do I need to book an airport transfer in advance?

It is not a route you can walk or easily grab a passing tricycle for, so having a shared van loosely arranged, even through your accommodation, avoids a wait at the airport.

How much does the airport transfer to Coron town cost?

Roughly ₱150-250 per person for a shared seat, or about ₱1,500-2,800 to charter the whole van, depending on the operator and van size.