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Coron and seasickness

Replies: 17 - Last Post: Oct 30, 2012 6:33 AM Last Post By: pboae

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pboae

pboae avatar

Oct 30, 2012 3:13 AM
Posts:  165

Coron and seasickness

I'm currently planning an approx. 3 week trip to Palawan in February and I have a pretty good idea of where I want to go while I'm there. But I have a massive problem with sea-sickness. I have meds, and with them I can generally handle it for a couple of hours as long as it's not too rough (that's on open water, it's easier on calmer waters like rivers). More than that and I have to take stronger meds but the side effects are worse than the sea-sickness, and still only really take the edge off it, so that's a last resort.

In general, I'd rather put up with the sea-sickness than let it stop me doing stuff, but I have to be practical about it as well, not least because I have to consider other people on the boat! My main interest in Coron is as a jumping off point for Culion. I really want to visit Culion (I have an interest in historical medical sites). Depending on the roughness of the water and the distance of the trips, I'd also like to visit some of the other islands in the bay as well.

There's no way I can do the 7-8 hr trip to/from El Nido, so I think the only option will be to fly from Manila to Coron, then back to Manila and then fly to Puerto Princesa for the rest of the trip, before a final flight back to Manila. (My international flight will be via Manila). It's a bit of a hassle, but the flights are regular and pretty affordable.

So really I am just after some general opinions as to whether this is a feasible plan, or if it's a total non-starter and I should just stick to overland travel on the main island.

surfboy

surfboy avatar

Oct 30, 2012 4:09 AM
Posts:  3,124

1

Personally with 3 weeks I would just fly to Coron as you have planned and check how the sea conditions are. I was in Coron in February few years back and the sea was dead flat calm. Might be different of course, buy if its the same then the ferry crossing to El Nido should be no problem..

asean2011

asean2011 avatar

Oct 30, 2012 4:17 AM
Posts:  850

2

yes it looks like Airphilexpress has stoped the non stop Coron to Puerto princesa.
so to get from Coron to Puerto prinesa your have to fly via manila
Airphilexpress still sells tickets from coron to PP but now it takes 4 hrs 35mins via
manila with a cost of php2800.
you can take a bus or van from pp to El nido.

Herbie47

Herbie47 avatar

Oct 30, 2012 4:35 AM
Posts:  3,605

3

The sea between Coron and El Nido can be very rough so you are probably right not to attempt it. If you fly into Clark you can fly from there to PP, Palawan with Air Asia. Bus or minivan to EN from PP takes about 6 hours with food stop, the last hour or so the road is rough dirt road. As you have 3 weeks should be OK, I may add somewhere else as well, like the rice terraces. LAst December the sea was fairly rough, the boats did not go out to the islands for 1 or 2 days, the sea around Sabang a few days later was still quite choppy, I would not want that for more than an hour.

surfboy

surfboy avatar

Oct 30, 2012 5:05 AM
Posts:  3,124

4

Would have thought the new Montenegro Fast Ferry between Coron and El Nido that takes 4 hours should be fairly smooth??

Herbie47

Herbie47 avatar

Oct 30, 2012 5:12 AM
Posts:  3,605

5

Still a small boat, can be rough, just read some of the stories, 4 hours is that for real or just in calm weather.

surfboy

surfboy avatar

Oct 30, 2012 5:15 AM
Posts:  3,124

6

Probably just in calm weather, but 4 hours to El Nido, compared to flying back to Manila/Cebu then flying again to PP then 5 hours on a bus to El Nido, worth considering..

Herbie47

Herbie47 avatar

Oct 30, 2012 5:19 AM
Posts:  3,605

7

Yes but they will be going between PP and El Nido anyway, if just going to those 2 places I would agree. Or they can fly to El Nido from Manila.

surfboy

surfboy avatar

Oct 30, 2012 5:23 AM
Posts:  3,124

8

Good point, flying Manila to El Nido would make more sense..

surfboy

surfboy avatar

Oct 30, 2012 5:24 AM
Posts:  3,124

9

Anyway, think we have explained all the options available to the OP..

Herbie47

Herbie47 avatar

Oct 30, 2012 5:27 AM
Posts:  3,605

10

But more expensive and as going for 3 weeks I think they will want to see other parts of Palawan than El Nido, I would certainly go to Sabang and Port Barton.

surfboy

surfboy avatar

Oct 30, 2012 5:30 AM
Posts:  3,124

11

True, so best option is probably to fly Manila to Coron. Coron to Cebu, Cebu to PP then bus to El Nido. Not a ferry in sight LOL..

asean2011

asean2011 avatar

Oct 30, 2012 5:30 AM
Posts:  850

12

Herbie47. Airasia has stopped flying from Clark to PP.
there is now only Airphilexpress flying from Clark to PP 3 times a week.

Herbie47

Herbie47 avatar

Oct 30, 2012 5:33 AM
Posts:  3,605

13

"Airasia has stopped flying from Clark to PP"

Really that did not last long.

Yes the Coron - Cebu - PP route looks the best.

pboae

pboae avatar

Oct 30, 2012 5:42 AM
Posts:  165

14

Thanks very much for all the info. As has been said, there's plenty of places to see between PP and El Nido, so I am not worried about that part. (Although in any case I'd take a long air/land trip over 4 hours on a ferry anytime!).

Please could you tell me who flies El Nido to Manila, (El Nido to anywhere)? I haven't seen that flight option when I was looking.
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