Palawan to the Visayas · about 125 minutes in the air
Private flight from Puerto Princesa to Panglao, Bohol
Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) to Bohol-Panglao International Airport (TAG). Whole aircraft from ₱402,000 ($6,550), up to 5 passengers.
Puerto Princesa has the most flights in Palawan and Bohol has a new international airport on its resort island, and still no airline joins them. The scheduled options are the Manila loop, Puerto Princesa to NAIA and NAIA to Panglao with a connection in between, or the Cebu routing, a jet to Mactan followed by a taxi to the pier, a two-hour ferry to Tagbilaran and a road transfer to Panglao. Both are dependable, both cost most of a day, and both put a queue and a connection between the Underground River and the Chocolate Hills that the map does not.
A private aircraft flies the direct line across the Sulu Sea and the southern tip of Negros in a little over two hours, landing at Bohol-Panglao International Airport, 15 to 20 minutes from Alona Beach and half an hour from Tagbilaran. It is the longest leg we price out of Palawan, and it is listed on a five-seat Cessna 206 Stationair for the room and range the sector needs; a dive group of six or more is quoted on a turboprop. Dive gear rides in the cabin with you rather than in an airline hold, which for many people on this route is the point.
The price is for the whole aircraft, live in pesos and dollars, and the calculation is about group size: against two airline fares each and a lost day, four or five people splitting one aircraft are buying back a full day at each end of the trip. A booking is a request the operator confirms, usually within hours, and nothing is charged until they do. Give the leg a few days' notice, pack soft bags, and check the empty legs page before you price it: aircraft that bring groups from the Visayas to Palawan reposition home with empty seats.
Puerto Princesa, Palawan to Panglao, Bohol: your options compared
| Option | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private aircraft (Avian) | About 125 min | ₱402,000 | Whole aircraft, up to 5 passengers; lands at the airport. |
| Airline via Manila | 6–8 hours door to door | Two fares, per seat | Puerto Princesa to NAIA, a connection, Manila to Panglao. |
| Airline via Cebu + ferry | Most of a day | Airfare plus ferry and taxis | Jet to Mactan, taxi to the pier, two-hour ferry to Tagbilaran, road to Panglao. |
| Ferry | — | — | No passenger service between Palawan and Bohol. |
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 Panglao 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.
- Which aircraft flies this leg?
- A five-seat Cessna 206 Stationair. Larger groups are quoted on a turboprop; search the pair and operators will bid within hours.
- Is El Nido to Panglao also available?
- Yes, on its own page, about 15 minutes shorter. Coron to Panglao is quoted rather than listed.