Palawan · about 50 minutes in the air
Private flight from Puerto Princesa to El Nido
Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) to El Nido Airport (Lio) (ENI). Whole aircraft from ₱100,000 ($1,650), up to 3 passengers.
Puerto Princesa is where almost everyone lands in Palawan, and El Nido is where almost everyone wants to be. The road between them is the whole problem: one highway, five to six hours of it, with the last stretch winding over the hills into Bacuit Bay. Most visitors lose the better part of an arrival day to that van, and the same again on the way out. In peak season or heavy rain the drive can run longer still, and there is no scheduled flight on this route to fall back on if the timing does not suit.
A private aircraft covers the same ground in around fifty minutes, following the coast north over the mangroves and reef flats before Bacuit Bay's limestone towers come into view on the approach into Lio. The flight lands at El Nido Airport, a few kilometres north of town and a short transfer from the Lio resorts and the Corong-Corong pier. There is no scheduled airline you can count on for this hop, which is why a light aircraft is the honest answer for anyone whose time in Palawan is measured in days rather than weeks.
The aircraft on this leg is a three-seat Cessna 182 flown by a Puerto Princesa-based operator, so the price on this page is for the whole aircraft, not a seat. Split between three people it is the difference between arriving in El Nido for lunch and arriving after dark. Dates are flexible: a booking is a request that the operator confirms, usually within hours, and nothing is charged until they do.
Puerto Princesa, Palawan to El Nido, Palawan: your options compared
| Option | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private aircraft (Avian) | About 50 min | ₱100,000 | Whole aircraft, up to 3 passengers; lands at the airport. |
| Shared or private van | 5–6 hours | Lowest | One highway; longer in rain and peak season. |
| Scheduled airline | — | — | No reliable scheduled service between PPS and ENI; airlines connect El Nido with Manila and Cebu. |
| Seaplane charter | About 1 hour | Quote only | Horizon Sun Charters lands on water; up to 6 passengers. |
Flight time is a typical block time for the aircraft shown and is confirmed at booking; surface times are typical and vary with weather and season.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the price per person or per aircraft?
- Per aircraft. The price shown covers the whole aircraft from Puerto Princesa to El Nido for up to the passenger limit on the price card, so splitting it between travellers is where charter starts to make sense.
- How much luggage can we bring?
- Each price card shows the aircraft's total luggage allowance in kilograms. Light aircraft take soft bags far more easily than hard cases; if you are travelling with dive gear, a surfboard or camera cases, mention it when you book and the operator will confirm it fits.
- How far in advance do we need to book?
- A booking on Avian is a request: the operator confirms availability, usually within hours, and you then receive a secure payment link by email. Nothing is charged until the operator has confirmed. Same-day flights are sometimes possible; a few days' notice is safer in peak season.
- What happens at the airport?
- Charter departures use the small general-aviation side of the airport. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure, meet the crew, and walk to the aircraft. There are no boarding groups and no long security queues.
- What if the weather turns?
- Light aircraft fly in visual conditions, so heavy weather can move a departure. If the operator needs to change your time they will propose a new one and you accept or decline it from your booking link; a flight that cannot operate is not charged.
- Can children and infants fly?
- Yes. Every person on board, including an infant on a lap, counts towards the aircraft's passenger limit, so choose your passenger count accordingly when you search.
- Where does the flight land in El Nido?
- At El Nido Airport in Lio, a few kilometres north of El Nido town. Lio resorts are minutes away; town and Corong-Corong are a short tricycle or van transfer.
- Can we fly on to Coron the same way?
- Yes. El Nido to Coron (Busuanga) is a separate priced leg of about 30 minutes, and Puerto Princesa to Coron direct is also available. Both have their own pages.