The Puerto Princesa to El Nido bus journey covers roughly 260 km along Palawan’s mountainous spine, taking about 5 to 6 hours depending on traffic and which service you choose.
Most travelers default to shared vans, but this trip I was going solo with just a carry-on, so I decided to try something different: the Lazy Boy bus run by Cherry Bus.
It turned out to be one of the more comfortable overland rides I’ve had in Southeast Asia. More space than I expected, a smoother ride than the mountain roads had any right to deliver, and I never once felt unsafe.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything: how to book online, where the shuttle picks you up, what the bus is actually like inside, the rest stop situation, and what arrival in El Nido looks like at 3 in the morning.
Quick Comparison: Bus vs. Shared Van
| Cherry Bus (Lazy Boy) | Shared Van | |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Time | ~5.5 hrs (1 rest stop) | ~5 hrs (fewer stops) |
| Price | PHP 850–1,050 | PHP 600–800/person |
| Best For | Solo travelers, comfort seekers | Groups, flexible schedules |
For a full breakdown including pickup locations, luggage allowance, and schedule flexibility, jump to the comparison section below.
How to book Cherry bus in Palawan?
How to book on the official website?
Step1: Book via the official website
Choose your bus type, departure time, seat, and fill in your name, phone number, and email.
Step 2: Make payment
They accept Credit/Debit cards, Maya and GCash.
Different payment methods may include different service fees.
Step 3: Receive confirmation
You’ll get confirmation via SMS and email.
Step 4: Present your QR code for check-in.
How much does the Cherry Bus from Puerto Princesa to El Nido cost?
| Bus Type | Aircon | Seats per Row | Price (PHP) |
| Economy | No | 4 | 520–720 |
| Regular | Yes | 4 | 700–900 |
| Lazy Boy (w/CR) | Yes | 3 | 850–1050 |
Pro-Tips:
- Prices vary depending on your boarding point in Puerto Princesa. It may also vary depending on the booking platform and the time of purchase. Please refer to the official website for the most accurate information.
- For the Puerto Princesa–El Nido route, Lazy Boy buses currently run at: 11:00 AM and 9:30 PM. (Always check the official website for updated schedules.)
- Because Lazy Boy buses have fewer seats and are the most popular among tourists, during peak season(Nov to May), I recommend to book 2-3 days in advance.
Cherry Bus Palawan to El Nido: My Full Journey Experience & Honest Review
Where does the Cherry Bus depart from in Puerto Princesa? Shuttle Pick-Up Location.
The airport shuttle pick-up point is at Mercado de San Miguel (In front of Amarri Spa and Massage)
I booked the 9:30 PM departure. According to the email instructions, you need to arrive one hour before departure at the Cherry Bus counter in front of Mercado de San Miguel.
Show your QR code, and they will print a physical ticket for you. With this ticket, you can leave your luggage there and either explore the area or wait at a small table nearby.
Important: Mercado de San Miguel is NOT the actual bus departure point.
Transfer to Irawan Bus Terminal
At around 8:30 PM, a shared van arrived at Mercado de San Miguel to transfer passengers to the main terminal. The driver helped load all the luggage.
Because some passengers were late, we left at 8:40 PM and arrived at Irawan Bus Terminal around 9:05 PM.
Using the printed ticket, you find your assigned seat on the bus. Some passengers waited outside until departure time.
Originally scheduled for 9:30 PM, we finally departed at 9:40 PM. The bus was fully packed.
Note: If you are already in PPS for a few days, you can also go by yourself to the Irawan bus terminal. When you book the bus, you can choose where you will be picked up.
Onboard Experience – Lazy boy bus review
I chose the Lazy Boy model, which has three seats per row.
The aisle is wide enough that you can walk through with luggage without turning sideways.
The seats are spacious and recline to about 120 degrees. The double seats have more space and recline slightly better than the single seats.
But, No footrest, No charging ports, No WiFi andMobile signal is unstable during the ride. These parts are the same as a shared van.
The air-conditioning is the older central type, not individually adjustable.
My seat is right under the air vent — it was quite cold. I’d recommend bringing a light jacket.
Since it’s a night bus, the lights will turn off and have some blue light, the outside is usually completely dark.
There is a toilet onboard. It was clean, but the smell was quite strong. Whenever someone opened the door, the odor would linger for a while.
Rest stop & arrival time
After 2 hours and 10 minutes, around 11:50 PM, we stopped at a roadside rest area. There were supplies of local snacks, dried fruits, drinks and even a rice meal which you can buy. Also have a water dispenser and toilets.
Taking a rest for 25 minutes, we departed again at 12:15 AM and continued the journey. At 3:09 AM, we arrived at the Cherry Bus terminal in El Nido. The terminal is not inside the town center.
Many tricycles were waiting outside to take passengers to their hotels. Depends on where you stay, for me it only took 10 minutes to my hotels in the town.
How long is the bus from Puerto Princesa to El Nido?
5 hours and 30 minutes (including a 25-minute stop). Total travel time from 9:40PM to 3:09AM.
Pro-Tip:
Tricycles wait at the terminal to take you into town. Book your partner hotel ahead with a reader promo code (10% to 15% off) and your room is locked in before you even board the bus. See the full list of El Nido promo codes.
Cherry Bus Palawan to El Nido: Pros & Cons You Should Know
Overall, the ride was quite comfortable. Most of the roads in Palawan are mountain roads, but I didn’t experience motion sickness. (If you’re prone to it, you might still want to prepare medication.)
The driver maintained a reasonable speed — not reckless, not overly slow. Staff helped with loading and unloading luggage, and I felt safe throughout the trip. Having a single seat option is a huge plus for solo travelers.
The downsides:
- If you’re sensitive to restroom smells, you might want to bring some peppermint balm to make yourself more comfortable.
- On my ride ,there are no charging ports at the seats and no WiFI. Though this may vary by bus. If you want to listen to music or charge your phone, you’ll need to prepare in advance.
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Got questions? Feel free to DM us on Instagram @elnidoinsights.
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Cherry Bus Palawan Overall review & Recommendation
I chose the night bus because of my flight schedule, but since it arrived at 3 AM, I still couldn’t really save a night’s accommodation, which was a bit of a pity.
Is the night bus worth it? Which is better for solo travelers?
However, I personally felt it was much more comfortable and easier to sleep on than the share van I took with friends before.
In short, it’s a 5–6 hour journey. It really depends on what you value most, just choose the option that feels right for you.
Bus or shared van?
| Bus（Cherry bus-lazy boy） | share van | |
| Time | The journey takes about 5-6 hours. There is one stop at a rest area for food and restrooms. Signal is poor along the way; no Wi-Fi. | |
| Pick-up location | Must transfer/go to the bus terminal. | Can be boarded directly outside the airport terminal. |
| Comfort | Larger overall space and more comfortable. Even when full, you won’t be squeezed against others. Lazy Boy seats can recline, and there is a restroom on board. | If fully loaded, you will sit close to others. Van models are similar; legroom is limited, and the space is smaller compared to the bus. No restroom on board. |
| Price | Economy (Non-Aircon): 4 seats per row, PHP 520-720 Regular (Aircon): 4 seats per row, PHP 700-900 Lazy Boy (Aircon, and w/CR): 3 seats per row, PHP 850-1050 | Shared Van: approx. PHP 600-800/person Private Van: approx. PHP 3000-5000/van |
| Time fixibility | Fewer fixed schedules. There may be gaps between flight arrivals and bus departures, but this time can be used to tour Puerto Princesa. | More frequent schedules. The earliest shared van starts as early as 5:00 AM, or if you are a group you can book the private one. |
| Arrival Point in El Nido | Both arrive at the bus terminal in el nido; you will need to take a tricycle to your accommodation. | |
| Note | Cherry Bus has non-aircon models; pay extra attention when booking or if you like. | Bring a travel neck pillow for better comfort! |
