Searching for skydiving in El Nido? The honest answer is that nobody jumps over Bacuit Bay — the nearest dropzone is Skydive Palawan at San Vicente Airport, about 137 km down the coast. The good news is that it works as a day trip: leave El Nido early, jump over Long Beach before lunch, and be back in town for sunset drinks. This guide shows exactly how.
El Nido to Skydive Palawan at a glance
137 km
El Nido to San Vicente Airport
2.5–3 h
Drive each way
5:00 AM
Departure for the morning slot
₱2,200
Shared van round trip, one traveller (₱1,600 each for two)
Is There Skydiving in El Nido?
No. El Nido has no airport that can host jump operations — the airstrip at Lio handles scheduled flights only — and the limestone cliffs and lagoons that make it famous are exactly the terrain a dropzone avoids. The only place to skydive in northern Palawan is San Vicente, where a long, flat, sandy coast and a quiet airport make the ideal landing area. If someone offers you skydiving "in El Nido", it is a transfer to San Vicente under a different name.
That makes Skydive Palawan the nearest dropzone to El Nido by a wide margin. Cebu and Siquijor are a flight and a ferry away; San Vicente is a van ride.
The Day Trip, Hour by Hour
5:00 AM
Meet the van at El Nido Bus Terminal. Shared vans drop at Itabiak Junction on the highway, where a tuktuk (₱600 per 2 people each way, already in your total) covers the last stretch to the dropzone; a private van picks you up at your hotel.
7:30 AM
Arrive at San Vicente Airport. Check-in, weigh-in, waiver, and the ₱200 terminal fee (cash). Safety briefing and harness fitting.
8:00 AM onwards
Flights begin. A 20-minute scenic climb over Long Beach and the islands to 10,000 ft, 30–40 seconds of freefall, 5–7 minutes under canopy.
Late morning
Collect your 4K handcam photos and video. Lunch on Long Beach — the dropzone is a few minutes from the sand.
Early afternoon
Your driver coordinates the return on the day. Back in El Nido by mid to late afternoon, in time for sunset at Las Cabanas or Corong-Corong.
Prefer a later start? The afternoon slot leaves El Nido at 9:00 AM for an 11:30 AM arrival and flights from noon — but you will be driving back after dark, and in the wet season the morning slot has better weather odds.
Getting There: Shared Van, Private Van, or Your Own Wheels
Shared van (₱1,000 round trip per person + ₱600 tuktuk per 2, each way)
The budget option, operated by local van companies on our behalf. Fixed departures at 5:00 AM or 9:00 AM from El Nido Bus Terminal, timed to your slot. The van seat is ₱500 each way per person. The van drops at Itabiak Junction on the highway and a tuktuk covers the last stretch to the dropzone: ₱600 per tuktuk each way, seating two, charged at cost. So a solo traveller pays ₱1,100 one way or ₱2,200 round trip; a pair pays ₱800 one way or ₱1,600 round trip each. Checkout works it out for your group size.
Private van (₱17,000 round trip, up to 10 people)
Hotel pickup in El Nido town, your own schedule, and the only sensible choice for groups of four or more. Pickups from Lio, Nacpan and other outlying areas carry a surcharge. One-way is ₱9,500.
Scooter or self-drive
Possible but a long day on a motorbike — the national highway is paved, but 137 km each way at Palawan speeds is 3 hours in the saddle before you even jump. Best left to confident riders staying overnight in San Vicente.
Book the transfer together with your jump — it is added at checkout, paid with your deposit, and the departure time is set automatically from your slot. See all San Vicente transportation options for meeting points and route details. Prefer a single all-in booking? Diskubre Palawan sells the same trip as a package: shared van skydiving package from El Nido or the private skydiving package from El Nido.
Better Than a Day Trip: Make It a One-Way
Most El Nido itineraries end with a drive to Puerto Princesa for a flight home. San Vicente sits on that road. Instead of a round trip, book the El Nido → San Vicente → Puerto Princesa route (₱1,150 shared van per person plus the Itabiak Junction tuktuk at ₱600 per 2 people each way — ₱2,350 for one traveller, ₱1,750 each for two; or ₱17,000 private): leave El Nido at dawn, skydive in the morning, and continue to Puerto Princesa with your luggage in the van. It costs about the same as a return and turns a dead travel day into the highlight of the trip.
Doing the route northbound works too. Fly into Puerto Princesa, skydive on the way up, and arrive in El Nido that evening with the jump already done — which also means you can go diving in El Nido afterwards without worrying about waiting periods.
Or Stay a Night in San Vicente
If you have the time, San Vicente deserves more than a lunch stop. Long Beach is 14 km of almost empty sand, Port Barton is 40 minutes away, and staying overnight means you can take the morning slot without a 5 AM start — and gives you a built-in weather buffer if the first day does not fly.
See our guide to what to do in San Vicente after skydiving and, for a broader plan that includes El Nido, the 3-day Palawan itinerary with skydiving.
Before You Go
Skydiving from El Nido: Quick Answers
Is there skydiving in El Nido?
No. The nearest dropzone to El Nido is Skydive Palawan at San Vicente Airport, 137 km south — about 2.5 to 3 hours by van. It works as a day trip, or as a stopover on the road between El Nido and Puerto Princesa.
How do I get from El Nido to Skydive Palawan?
Shared vans leave El Nido Bus Terminal at 5:00 AM for the morning slot and 9:00 AM for the afternoon slot. The seat is ₱1,000 per person round trip, plus the Itabiak Junction tuktuk at ₱600 per tuktuk (2 seats) each way — ₱2,200 all-in for one traveller, ₱1,600 each for two. A private van with hotel pickup is ₱17,000 round trip for up to 10 people. Both can be added to your jump booking at checkout.
Can I skydive from El Nido and be back the same day?
Yes. With the 5:00 AM van you arrive at San Vicente Airport by 7:30 AM, jump in the morning slot, and are usually back in El Nido by mid to late afternoon.
How much does it cost to skydive from El Nido?
The tandem jump is ₱28,100 with 4K handcam photos and video included, plus the shared van round trip (₱2,200 for one traveller, ₱1,600 each for two, tuktuk connection included) and a ₱200 airport terminal fee — around ₱30,500 all-in for a solo traveller, or ₱29,900 each for a pair.
Ready to Take the Leap?
Skydiving from El Nido is a long day, but a straightforward one: an early van south, a jump over Long Beach in the morning slot, and the return drive with your footage on your phone. If your itinerary continues to Puerto Princesa, make it a one-way trip with the skydive as the stopover and you lose nothing at all.
