If you are looking for the best hostels in El Nido for your next adventure, you’ve come to the right place. Those of us who plan backpacking in the Philippines trips—especially when we go solo—like to find cool places where we feel comfortable, don’t spend a lot of money, and meet other travelers.
In El Nido, thanks to its tourism development, you’ll have tons of options to find one that matches what you’re after. Here you’ll find design hostels with a pool, but also more basic and budget places. You choose what best fits what you’re looking for.
In this guide to the best hostels in El Nido we share key info to help you choose, such as the areas, facilities, and price. Also, if that’s what you need, you can avoid the party hostels and the bedbugs—we know you worry about them.
Comparison table of the best hostels in El Nido
Before diving deep into the different hostels in El Nido, here’s a short summary. If you click the names, you can see them directly and book:
| ACCOMMODATIONS | AREA | RATING | PRICE/NIGHT |
| BEST HOSTELS IN EL NIDO | |||
| Frendz Hostel El Nido | El Nido Town | 8,5 – Very good | From 19€ |
| Outpost Beach Hostel El Nido | Corong Corong Beach | 8,6 – Fabulous | From 18€ |
| Spin Designer Hostel | El Nido Town | 8,5 – Very good | From 16€ |
| Happiness Hostel | El Nido Town | 9,1 – Fantastic | From 18€ |
| BUDGET HOSTELS IN EL NIDO | |||
| Big Paul Hostel | Corong Corong Beach | 7,7 – Good | From 13€ |
| AA Hostel | Outskirts of El Nido Town | 9,2 – Fantastic | From 8€ |
| HOSTELS ON OTHER BEACHES | |||
| Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan | Nacpan Beach | 7,5 – Good | From 17€ |
| Surf and Skate Duli El Nido | Duli Beach | 8,1 – Very good | From 8€ |
Where to book your backpacker hostel in El Nido
Since it’s quite a touristy spot, our tip—so you don’t end up with the worst and most expensive—is to book in advance on a booking platform. This is especially important in peak periods such as Easter week, Christmas, or Chinese New Year, as prices tend to rise.
Haggling at accommodations (especially for short stays) doesn’t work very well in the Philippines, and in most cases it’s even cheaper to book online. We recommend comparing prices on the two most important portals for booking hostels: Hostelworld and Booking. Although it doesn’t have as many hostels, Agoda also works well in the Philippines. If you’re traveling solo, remember to set 1 person so you can easily distinguish shared dorms from private rooms.
You can also read the latest reviews from other travelers. This is very important for us, as we travel with a lot of electronic gear, and if there are one or two comments about thefts, we pass.
If your trip isn’t very planned or you’re worried about the weather (rainy season), you can also book hostels with free cancellation so you can adjust as you go.
The best hostels in El Nido
Do you already know which area you want and what you value in a hostel? Below you’ll find a selection of the best hostels in El Nido.
€€€ Frendz Hostel El Nido – Epic pool and great for couples
We’re starting our list of hostels in El Nido strong. This is without a doubt our favorite—but yes, it’s also one of the most expensive. Is it worth it? It’ll be hard not to like the Frendz Hostel because the moment you walk in you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a 4‑star hotel.
Located right in the center of El Nido Town, in a fairly modern building, everything is new and tastefully done. While its dorms and private rooms will win you over, what will really conquer you are the common areas. The standout is, without a doubt, the rooftop, where you’ve got a large infinity‑style pool with epic views of Bacuit Bay. You’ll also find the bar and restaurant here, combining Filipino dishes with Western cuisine. As a guest, you get a 10% discount.
At Frendz you’ve got rooms for every type of traveler and budget:
- Private doubles
- Family rooms with 2 double beds
- Female‑only 6‑bed dorm
- Mixed 6‑bed dorm
All of them have air conditioning and an ensuite bathroom. The dorm beds have a curtain for extra privacy, as well as an individual reading light and outlet. As a nice touch, you’ll also find your towel neatly folded on the mattress. Plus, there’s a locker with a key and a hasp for your own padlock.
As for the double and family rooms, they’re on par with a quality hotel. The beds are comfortable, there’s a TV, and several windows perfect for ventilation in such a humid environment.
As you can see, it’s a hostel in El Nido great whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with family—and you still want to meet other travelers. The pool is great for that, and there’s usually a DJ until 23:00 so you can still rest and make the most of your stay. Add to that a super friendly staff and the convenience of arranging tours or renting a motorbike at the front desk. We’re confident it won’t disappoint.
Check Frendz Hostel availability on Boooking
Prices and reviews on Hostelworld
€€ Outpost Beach Hostel El Nido – On the beach and perfect for solo travelers
Would you like to be right on the beach and not have to move to enjoy wonderful sunsets with a great vibe? The Outpost Beach Hostel is one of the best additions to Corong Corong Beach. It’s set right on the seashore, with common areas facing the beach where there’s a party every day, as the staff organizes nightly activities. If you prefer something quieter, there’s also a lounge with a TV and a library for book exchanges.
As for the rooms, all are modern and spacious and come with air conditioning and a fan. You can choose between privates and shared dorms:
- Standard double with shared bathroom (2 single beds)
- Deluxe double with private bathroom
- Superior family room for 3 people with bathroom (one double bed and one single)
- Superior for 5 people with bathroom (3 single beds and one double)
- Mixed shared dorms for 4, 6, 8, and 12 people
Private rooms, besides their bathroom, have a TV. In the dorms you’ll find under‑bed lockers where you need your own padlock. Each bed has an individual light and a couple of outlets. And while the bathrooms are shared, you’ll be hard‑pressed to find them dirty—they work hard to keep everything spotless.
This hostel in El Nido also offers everything you need so you don’t have to move much if you don’t feel like it. There’s a bar and restaurant, as well as staff to help you plan your tours. If past guests rate it close to 9, there’s a reason.
Book Outpost Beach Hostel on Hostelworld
See this hostel’s prices on Booking
© Outpost Beach Hostel El Nido
€€€ Spin Designer Hostel – Digital nomad paradise
This was one of the first hostels to open in El Nido and, despite the growing competition, it still holds some of the best reviews in the area.
Set in El Nido Town—but in the quietest area of the village—it’s a great hostel if you’re looking for a bit of a vibe without going overboard. It’s not unusual to find barbecue nights, karaoke, or a pub crawl around town.
Overall, the style is modernish with an artistic touch, and you’ll find several common rooms including one with a big screen for outdoor movies, a bar, and another one perfect if you need to work on your laptop, with several large tables. You’re surrounded by greenery and, if you fancy it, you can play some ping‑pong.
The rooms, while not large, are comfortable and functional. With an industrial look, all have lockers and air conditioning. Access is via a modern key card and all have an ensuite bathroom.
- Private single room
- Private double room with bunk bed
- Female shared 4‑bed room
- Mixed shared 4‑bed room
Although it’s not the cheapest hostel in El Nido, the truth is the value for money is excellent, and the bed price includes a solid breakfast and local coffee/tea from 16:00 to 18:00. Add to that that everything is truly spotless at any time of day, the Wi‑Fi works well for the Philippines, and the staff are super sweet—so it’s a winning bet.
Availability and prices for Spin Designer Hostel on Booking
© Spin Designer Hostel El Nido
€€ Happiness Hostel – Value for money and tranquility
With a slightly better price than the previous El Nido hostels we’ve told you about, Happiness Hostel is a choice that’s hard to go wrong with.
It’s located in El Nido Town, on one of the streets near the port—specifically on the street parallel to the beach—so from its chill‑out area you can calmly watch the sea and grab a beer from the fridge (at the same price as any shop).
The hostel is relatively small, which gives it an intimate vibe, and most travelers hang out in the same spot or at the restaurant/bar downstairs (run by the same owners), where they serve spectacular food and, as a guest, you get a 25% discount. In fact, it’s one of our favorite places to eat in El Nido. Unlike other El Nido hostels we mentioned above, the vibe is a bit more relaxed and there are no parties.
There isn’t much choice here; they only have mixed 6‑bed dorms. Each bed has a sort of wooden door that gives a lot of privacy and inside you’ve got outlets, a small fan (there’s air‑conditioning in the room, too) and an individual light, as well as a locker for your own padlock. The bathrooms—new and with everything you need—are usually spotless. Downside: Wi‑Fi is only available in the common areas.
Breakfast isn’t included, though you do have free water, tea, coffee, some snacks, and pieces of fruit. Still, if you don’t want to move much, they serve some great dishes downstairs first thing in the morning.
Take a look at Happiness Hostel on Hostelworld
Prices and availability on Booking
© Happiness Hostel El Nido
Budget hostels in El Nido
As you can see, you won’t be missing anything at the El Nido hostels we’ve talked about. However, it’s true that prices are a tad higher than in other destinations in the archipelago. Don’t worry—if you’re looking for budget hostels in El Nido, there’s no shortage of options either. Here we’ve picked the two that seem to offer the best value for money:
€ Big Paul Hostel
If what you need is a basic place to sleep—without overthinking location—and that’s relatively cheap, Big Paul Hostel.
Located in Corong Corong, in the area closest to El Nido Town (which you can walk to), the big draw of this El Nido hostel is its low price, since the bed rate includes a not‑so‑bad breakfast: eggs, bread, toast, and coffee. It’s also the liveliest of the El Nido hostels, so if you want vibe/party, this is your spot. Usually there’s free rum and coke every afternoon at its small bar.
You can choose from the following room types:
- Economy double room
- Mixed 8‑bed shared dorm
These don’t offer much beyond the bed and air‑conditioning, but they’re quite clean—same with the shared bathrooms. The beds have small lockers with a key, not for a backpack, just the basics. We stayed in the double, which has an ensuite bathroom with hot water. Basic, but okay.
Check out Big Paul Hostel on Booking
€ AA Hostel – One of the cheapest hostels in El Nido
Budget hostels in El Nido? Another good option is AA Hostel. Just note that it’s quite far from everything, so you’ll need to rent a motorbike to have some “life”.
As is often the case in almost all Filipino accommodations, the staff make the difference. While it won’t be a hostel you remember for its facilities, what you’ll take with you is the warmth of the people who work here—they’re lovely.
As for the rooms, you can choose between family rooms (up to 4 people) and mixed 6‑bed dorms. All have air‑conditioning and shared bathrooms with hot showers. Don’t expect any decor, but the beds are comfortable, the bathrooms are clean, and everything works fine.
You’ve also got breakfast included in true Filipino style—and more than decent. It’s served in a dining/common room, where there’s a small kitchen and a jug of drinking water to save money.
© AA Hostel El Nido
Hostels on other beaches in El Nido
Nacpan Beach is one of the best beaches in El Nido and also one of the best beaches in the Philippines. It’s a very long stretch of golden sand that used to go unnoticed but is now an open secret. Still, while the south entrance usually has people, if you walk north you’ll likely have it to yourself.
Nacpan is about 40 minutes from El Nido Town. And although island‑hopping is already offered from there, it’s more expensive due to transport. That’s why we see staying in Nacpan more as a complement to 2 or 3 nights in El Nido Town or Corong Corong if what you’re after is a few beach days and maybe some partying.
You won’t find many hostels on Nacpan Beach. While it’s gaining prominence, it isn’t a very urbanized area. There’s only one hostel here, which we’ll talk about below.
Even less developed than the previous one, if you’re looking for a hostel in El Nido because you want to spend a few days relaxing and/or surfing, Duli Beach is a great option for you. This beach is farther north of El Nido than Nacpan and is known as a perfect spot to catch waves almost all year. In season you can even see turtles hatching. The lodging scene here is still in its infancy, but, as you’ll see, there are a few options.
€€ Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach – Party hostel on a stunning beach
If you’re after beach + party, Mad Monkey Hostel is a winning combo. It’s located right on Nacpan Beach, with a wonderful area of loungers where you can sip a Tanduay‑cola from the same bar. That’s where their daily BBQs and parties take place—perfect for meeting other travelers, especially during happy hour or even 30 minutes of free shots at night.
They also organize other activities such as beach volleyball, snorkel tours, paddle boarding, or island hopping.
As for the hostel, it’s quite basic, so don’t expect comforts. The mixed rooms don’t have air‑conditioning and there’s no Wi‑Fi either—but that’s part of the experience.
You can choose from the following room types:
- Double room (2 single beds or 1 double)
- Loft
- Mixed 6‑bed shared dorm
- Female 6‑bed shared dorm
The tents are glamping‑style with a mattress and, in our opinion, aren’t really worth it for the price. The beds in the shared rooms are much better—they have mosquito nets and lockers.
Book Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan with Booking
Check availability on Hostelworld
© Mad Monkey Hostel El Nido
€ Surf and Skate Duli El Nido – Peace and quiet on Duli Beach
The last of these El Nido hostels we recommend is right on gorgeous Duli Beach, beachfront. It’s a great alternative for those seeking peace and quiet because, unlike the previous one, it isn’t a party hostel. So if you want to sleep without noise, this would be your winning choice.
Fair warning: the place is super rustic. There are no comforts, and for dinner you’ll have to go to the village because all the beach shacks—including theirs—close. Keep in mind you’ll also need a motorbike to get there, as there’s no public transport to this area.
You can choose from the following room types:
- Mixed dorm for 10 people — heads up, these are hammocks
- Mixed dorm for 6 people
Book Surf and Skate Duli on Booking
© Surf and Skate Duli El Nido
Other hostels in El Nido worth mentioning
If the ones we’ve mentioned don’t convince you, take a look at these—they’re interesting too:
Map of hostels in El Nido
Here you can get an idea of where the El Nido hostels we’ve mentioned are located. This way, you can be clearer about which area interests you most:
Some things to consider when choosing a hostel in El Nido
Good location
In Where to stay in El Nido we expand on this, but in El Nido you basically have five areas to choose from:
- El Nido Town: the main village, with the most accommodations, restaurants, bars, and shops. It’s also the starting point for island hopping. It’s not a very pretty town due to rapid, uncontrolled tourism development, though we have to admit it has improved a bit. It’s a convenient place if you don’t want to overthink things and want everything close at hand. The beach is so‑so—don’t even think about swimming. Most El Nido hostels are concentrated here.
- Corong Corong: neighborhood next to El Nido (5’ by tricycle / 20’ walking) stretching along the beach of the same name. It has developed in recent years but is nowhere near El Nido Town’s levels. You’ll also have restaurants and bars, but fewer. Several beachfront hostels have popped up—great if you’re after something more chilled and epic sunsets.
- Calaan Beach: beach accessible from El Nido Town on foot. It’s not super pretty, but it’s very quiet. Still, there aren’t any hostels here yet.
- Lio Beach: perhaps the prettiest of the three we’ve mentioned, but it still doesn’t have hostels—only big hotels and high‑end restaurants.
For all these reasons, when choosing your hostel in El Nido, we’d go for Corong Corong or El Nido Town.
If you have more days (4–5 days), we suggest splitting your stay between El Nido/Corong Corong and Nacpan Beach. This is a fabulous beach about 40’ by motorbike/trycicle/van from El Nido, so the logistics for tours are a bit inconvenient. It’s more a place to relax and explore the remote beaches nearby.
Another good idea is Duli Beach, even more remote and with great surf. A hostel has opened and we wouldn’t be surprised to see a few more soon.
Hostel prices in El Nido
As a tourist spot, you’ll have plenty to choose from—including some of the best hostels in the Philippines. Do keep in mind that prices are a bit higher than in other destinations in the country like Siquijor or Malapascua.
As a rule of thumb, a bed in a shared room in El Nido hostels ranges from 8€ to 20€. At the higher end you’ll find high‑standard hostels, even with a rooftop infinity pool. If you want a private room, budget between 15€ and 50€.
Hostel prices in El Nido also vary a lot depending on the season you travel in. The most economical periods during the year are between October and November and between January and March. As we explain in Best time to travel to the Philippines, the rainy season runs roughly from June to October; however, since many Europeans travel then, prices don’t drop that much in summer. On the other hand, local school/work holiday season is roughly April to May—hotter and with less rain—but prices increase.
Check‑in/check‑out times at El Nido hostels
Check‑in is usually around 15:00 and check‑out between 11:00 and 12:00. If you want to stay that last day to make the most of your time in El Nido hostels, most places will store your luggage free of charge.
Other useful info
Unlike in other countries, many El Nido hostels don’t have a kitchen. While they’re gradually adding them, the truth is street food is so affordable that many don’t bother equipping one. So if you’re looking for a place that includes it, double‑check before booking.
Usually, if they don’t offer a shared kitchen, they do serve breakfast. Several hostels simply put out bread with jam/butter and coffee/tea. Others go further and serve eggs on toast or fruit—either included in the bed price or for a small extra fee.
Many hostels also have large containers of drinking water where you can help yourself to hot or cold water for free. This is great because you’ll not only save money, you’ll also help avoid worsening the existing plastic problem.
Remember to bring your own padlock so you don’t have to rent one, if lockers close that way. It’s also a good idea to bring a towel, as many El Nido hostels charge for rentals.
Frequently asked questions about El Nido hostels
Where are the best hostels in El Nido located?
You’ll find hostels both in El Nido Town (the village itself) and in Corong Corong. The latter is a neighborhood just 5 minutes away by tricycle (20 on foot) from El Nido Town and has a nicer beach with impressive sunsets. It’s also a quieter, less crowded area, without lacking restaurant or shop options. Plus, island‑hopping tours also depart from there.
Are there budget hostels in El Nido?
While it isn’t the cheapest place in the Philippines—it’s touristy—you will find shared dorm options from 9$ per person. In some cases, breakfast is included.
What are the best hostels in El Nido?
In our opinion, the best are Frendz El Nido and Spin Designer.
Where can I find hostels in El Nido?
We’ve made a list of the most interesting ones in this article. If they don’t convince you or there’s no space, we suggest checking Hostelworld and Booking. In the Philippines, Agoda also works well.
We hope this selection of the best hostels in El Nido has helped you choose your accommodation for this adventure. This is just one part of our huge El Nido Guide, one of our favorite corners of the Philippines that we’ve spent many hours exploring. Other articles you might find useful:
If you have any questions or suggestions about hostels in El Nido, feel free to ask in the comments—we’ll be happy to help.
