As the jewel of Palawan, El Nido is definitely a place you want to explore both on its seaside and on the roads. While you can obviously rent a motorbike to go around, a more comfortable way to drive in El Nido is to rent a car. The problem is that there are no car rental agencies around… So how do you find a car rental in El Nido? In this article, we’ll see what are the different options that you have.

Typical Car Rental Agencies in El Nido and Palawan

One thing that can be surprising for a tourist traveling in Palawan is that there are no car rental agencies on the island. Well, there are no big international car rental agencies (such as EuropCar, Sixt, etc.). Instead you’ll discover small private agencies, often held by families.

These agencies offer their vehicles for rental in conditions that you may find quite unusual at first. The will ask to be paid in cash and, as a guarantee for the safety of the vehicle, they will require that you leave them an ID for the time of your rental. But this is the normal way to rent a car or motorbike in Palawan. The same apply in the rest of the Philippines, and even in a lot of tourist destinations in southern Asia. Now that you know about it, let’s see the specifics of finding car rental in El Nido, Palawan.

A majority of the car rental agencies in Palawan are located in Puerto Princesa, the capital city of the island. At the time we’re writing this article, most of the rental vehicle you can find in El Nido are motorcycles and bikes. It means that if you’re looking for a car, you’ll often have to pick it up or, more conveniently, to get it delivered from Puerto Princesa. Fortunately, you’ll discover how to do that (as well as how much it costs) right here on this page.

How to Get a Car Rental Delivered to El Nido

Even though you won’t find a car rental agency in El Nido, there are solutions that will let you get a car there just as such. Whether you’re looking for a pickup truck, a SUV, a van or another type of car, you can get one delivered to you. The renter will drive the 280 kms road from Puerto Princesa for a small fee (around P2,500, approximately $50 USD). You’ll be able to return the vehicle in the destination of your choice as well. For example, you can start a rental in Puerto Princesa and return the car in El Nido.

What Type of Car to Rent?

The topic of driving in and around El Nido has already been discussed in another article, so we’ll stick to the point here. Even though the concrete road is being extended every day, there are still parts in the area that are not fully built. If you want to be flexible and ready, we’d definitely recommend a 4WD vehicle such as the Nissan Navara, the Suzuki Jimny or the Mitsubishi Strada. You can see all our available four-wheel drive vehicles here.

Note that if you plan to stay on the concrete road at all time, a city car is certainly enough. In any case, to get an idea of the different vehicles available for delivery in El Nido, have a look at our booking page. Here are some sample vehicles:

Once you get your car in El Nido, you can use it to explore the beautiful places in the area, such as Nacpan Beach, Duli Beach, Nagkalit-Kalit Waterfalls, Vanilla Beach, Lio Beach, Ille Cave, San Fernando and many more without having to rely on a tricycle driver or an hired the van. That’s basically freedom! You’ll also save quite some money if you’re frequently traveling to these destinations around El Nido.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off in El Nido and in the Rest of Palawan

Upon booking, you’ll be able to select all the pick-up and drop-off options of your choice. Firstly, you can indicate the time and place where you want to get the car delivered to you (hotel, airport, etc.). The same thing applies with the drop-off of the vehicle.

Just select where you want to return the car while booking and the renter will meet you there. If you’re unsure of the exact location details now, you can just select the general area. You’ll be able to discuss the exact meeting point directly with the renter while picking up the vehicle.

Among the popular destinations in Palawan you can choose from, you’ll find Port Barton, Roxas, San Vicente, Taytay, Sabang and Puerto Princesa. Note that all pick-up and drop-off are free of charge in Puerto Princesa (where the rental agencies are located). If you have a special request and can’t find the destination listed on the booking page, just let us know and we’ll be able to help.

Other Options & Benefits for Your Rental

When you book a car or van rental with us, you also have access to extra options. One of the most popular is the private driver option. A professional driver will drive you around for the duration of your rental for an additional cost of only P900 per day (around $18 USD). You won’t have to worry about any additional cost (accommodation, etc.) behind that flat fee.

Get Ready to Explore El Nido with your Rental Car!

When booking a car with us, you also have unlimited mileage. You only need to return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel as when you received it. Most of the time, the car is delivered with a full tank, so it’s super easy to comply with that rule.

Finally, we‘re always thrilled to help our guests organise the best trip possible. We can recommend you places and activities to make the fullest of your stay in Palawan. So don’t hesitate to ask us!

How to Book Your Car Rental in El Nido

Our website is dedicated to the rental of cars and motorbikes in Palawan island. It’s the perfect place to plan your rental needs while traveling the “best island in the world”. Since 2017, in partnership with local renters, we offer a wide range of vehicles from city cars to 4×4, SUV and vans, including brands such as Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota, Nissan or Suzuki.

In order to make a booking, you can simply make a confirmation deposit through our online reservation system. You’ll be able to conveniently settle your remaining balance only upon the pick up of the vehicle and the signature of the rental contract. If you have any questions about your stay or your car rental in El Nido, please don’t hesitate to reach us out through our contact form, we’ll be happy to assist you!