Palawan or the Visayas? How to choose for your first trip

Palawan is scenery. Karst cliffs, lagoons, boat days. It is spectacular and it is slow: long transfers, limited roads, weather-dependent ferries.

The Visayas are variety. Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros connect by short ferries and cheap flights, and you can mix mountains, reef and city food in the same week.

For ten days or fewer, on a first trip, I usually recommend the Visayas plus one Palawan base rather than the entire Palawan corridor.

For a honeymoon focused on lagoons and privacy, Palawan wins without discussion.