Is Palawan safe? What four government travel advisories say
None of the four main English-language government advisories places Palawan in its highest-risk zone as of Oct 2026. The US rates the Philippines as a whole at Level 2, "Exercise increased caution", and Canada and Australia both say "Exercise a high degree of caution"; all three, plus the UK, reserve their do-not-travel warnings for parts of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago to the south. Palawan-specific lines are few: the UK mentions reported sexual assaults in Coron, and Canada flags a kidnapping threat in waters south of Palawan Island.
How this page is built: we compile government advisories, park and agency notices, and official guidance. Each line names its source and the date the government shows on its page. Nothing here is first-hand, and this page is not a substitute for reading the full advisory before you travel.
Advisories can change at any time, so read the current version on each government's own site before you book and again before you fly.
At a glance
| Government | Overall level for the Philippines | Date shown on the page | Highest warning applies to | Mentions Palawan? | Source, checked Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Level 2: Exercise increased caution | Date issued Sep 1, 2026 | Do Not Travel: Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, and Marawi City | No | US State Department |
| United Kingdom | No single level; area-based advice | Updated Jul 15, 2026; still current at Oct 8, 2026 | Advises against all travel to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago | Yes, Coron (sexual assault reports) | UK FCDO |
| Canada | Exercise a high degree of caution | Last updated Jul 7, 2026 | Avoid all travel to listed western Mindanao provinces, including Sulu and Tawi-Tawi | Yes, waters south of Palawan Island (kidnapping threat) | Government of Canada |
| Australia | Exercise a high degree of caution | Updated Sep 24, 2026; still current at Oct 8, 2026 | Do not travel to central and western Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago and the southern Sulu Sea area | Yes, decompression chambers in Coron and Puerto Princesa | Smartraveller |
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United States
The State Department's Philippines advisory is at Level 2, "Exercise increased caution", with a "Date issued" of Sep 1, 2026, citing crime, terrorism, unrest and kidnapping. Its Level 4 "Do Not Travel" areas are "the Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea" and Marawi City, and it asks travellers to reconsider travel to certain other parts of Mindanao. The advisory text does not name Palawan.
The same page's footer reads "Last Updated: August 13, 2026", a different date from the issue date in the advisory itself. We quote the issue date. BusinessMirror reported on Sep 4, 2026 that the Sep 1 advisory also added rural and remote areas of Leyte, Mindoro, Negros and Samar to its increased-caution list, citing insurgent activity. Palawan is not among them.
United Kingdom
The FCDO advice page showed "Updated: 15 July 2026" (a typhoon season update) and "Still current at: 8 October 2026". It advises against all travel to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago.
Three lines are relevant to Palawan travel:
- "British nationals have reported rape and sexual assaults in some locations popular with backpackers, including Coron and Siargao."
- "There is a high level of piracy and armed robbery against ships in and around the Sulu and Celebes seas. Boats travelling to and from offshore islands and dive sites are also possible targets."
- "The ferry and passenger boat network has a poor record of maritime safety." The FCDO adds that accidents are more frequent from June to December.
It also notes about 20 typhoons a year, mostly from June to November.
Canada
Canada's level for the Philippines is "Exercise a high degree of caution" because of crime, terrorism and kidnapping, last updated Jul 7, 2026 (the change removed a dengue notice). It advises against all travel to listed provinces of western Mindanao, including Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Its piracy section is the only one of the four to name Palawan Island directly: "You may face an elevated threat of kidnapping in waters: around Mindanao, in the Sulu Sea, in the Celebes Sea, south of Palawan Island, south of Negros Island, around Siquijor Island".
Australia
Smartraveller's overall level is "Exercise a high degree of caution", updated Sep 24, 2026 and still current at Oct 8, 2026. It says do not travel to central and western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Sulu Archipelago and "the southern Sulu Sea area", and to reconsider travel to eastern Mindanao.
Practical lines from the same page:
| Topic | What Smartraveller says | Source, checked Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency numbers | 911 for emergencies; 117 for police | Smartraveller |
| Diving | Lists decompression chambers in Coron and Puerto Princesa, and says it is "common for decompression chambers not to work" | Smartraveller |
| Ferries | "Avoid ferries if you can", and take your own lifejacket | Smartraveller |
| Wildlife | Saltwater crocodiles are present in some locations | Smartraveller |
| Typhoons | Usually late May to December | Smartraveller |
What this means for a Palawan trip
The main tourist bases (Puerto Princesa, El Nido and Coron) sit outside every advisory's do-not-travel areas. The warnings that touch Palawan are about the sea: piracy and kidnapping risk in waters south of Palawan Island, and the safety record of small boats and ferries. Balabac lies off the southern tip of Palawan Island; see Balabac for routes.
Boat trips are suspended when the Coast Guard stops sailing in bad weather, which affects ferries between El Nido and Coron as well as day tours. Season patterns are on Best time to visit Palawan, and ferry options on El Nido to Coron.
Related pages
- Palawan travel guide
- Best time to visit Palawan
- El Nido to Coron
- Balabac
- How to get to Palawan
- Palawan trip cost
Last checked Oct 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page. Quotes are taken from each government's page on the date shown; if an advisory has changed since, the government's page takes precedence.
FAQs
Is Palawan safe for tourists right now?
As of Oct 2026, no US, UK, Canadian or Australian advisory includes Palawan in its do-not-travel areas, which are in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. The UK does note reported sexual assaults in Coron, and Canada flags a kidnapping threat in waters south of Palawan Island.
Is it safe for US citizens to go to the Philippines?
The US State Department rates the Philippines at Level 2, "Exercise increased caution", issued Sep 1, 2026. It says do not travel to the Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, and Marawi City.
When to avoid Palawan?
PAGASA's typhoon peak is July to October, and the UK FCDO says boat accidents are more frequent from June to December. Month-by-month rain data is on Best time to visit Palawan.
What is the safest Philippines island?
None of the four advisories ranks islands by safety. They set their highest warnings on parts of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, and Palawan's main tourist towns are outside those zones.
What number do I call in an emergency in Palawan?
Smartraveller lists 911 for emergencies and 117 for police in the Philippines.
Sources
- US Department of State, Philippines Travel Advisory (Level 2, issued Sep 1, 2026) (checked Oct 2026)
- BusinessMirror, US expands travel advisory, adds Leyte, Mindoro, Negros, Samar (Sep 4, 2026) (checked Oct 2026)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Philippines travel advice (updated Jul 15, 2026) (checked Oct 2026)
- UK FCDO, Philippines travel advice, Safety and security (checked Oct 2026)
- Government of Canada, Travel advice and advisories: Philippines (last updated Jul 7, 2026) (checked Oct 2026)
- Australian Government Smartraveller, Philippines (updated Sep 24, 2026) (checked Oct 2026)
- PAGASA, Tropical Cyclone Information (checked Oct 2026)