Flights into Palawan are usually handled at Puerto Princesa Airport. Here, daily flights leave for Manila and Cebu city. There are also less regular routes from Manila to other Palawan destinations like El Nido and Coron. However, there are no international connections made in Palawan.

Seair and Air Philippines are the primary carriers operating at Puerto Princesa, though it isn't uncommon to see other carriers routing through here occasionally. In addition, ITI Airlines flies to and from El Nido.

It is a good idea to reconfirm your flight a day or so before departure. During the rainy season, it's not uncommon for airports to practically shut down for two or three days at a time if a typhoon looms on the horizon.

All three of the region’s airports are provincial (especially El Nido and Coron airports) and onsite facilities cover the bare essentials like toilets, telephones and a modest information counter. Transportation from these airports to their respective city centres is usually by tricycle and sometimes by taxi.

It is conceivable to reach Palawan by boat from neighbouring islands in the Philippines. Travel times are very long, with boats from Manila taking around 26 hours to reach Puerto Princesa. In light of holiday time constraints, along with concerns about personal safety at sea, the vast majority of tourists opt for inter-island flights instead. Of course, when island-hopping within Palawan, charter boats are the only viable option.

Palawan's greatest appeal is the genuine feeling you get of living on the frontier's edge. However, this also means that public transportation options aren't as frequent as in other more developed regions of the Philippines. Puerto Princesa's bus terminal at San Jose market is the island hub for public transport, with buses bound for several cities throughout the north of Palawan. Transportation to South Palawan is more limited.

The charming jeepney is a mainstay of public transport throughout the Philippines, and Palawan is no exception. These vintage, WWII-era throwbacks ply all of the major highways, picking up passengers along the way. The larger jeepneys usually take passengers from small towns all the way to Puerto Princesa. Expect jeepneys to depart once daily during the morning.

Smaller public transportation is often handled by motorcycle taxis or, more commonly, by tricycle rickshaws. The latter are easily hailed in any major and most minor cities. Tricycle rickshaws can also be hired by the hour for a leisurely sightseeing tour.

While they aren't prevalent, it's possible to hire a taxi in certain parts of Palawan, especially at the airports at Puerto Princesa and El Nido. Hiring a car when you arrive on the island is a reliable way to travel in comfort. Many tourists also choose to hire a driver in order to make the most out of their sightseeing expeditions.