Darocotan for some and Daracoton for others—it doesn’t matter what you prefer to call this small yet magnificent Filipino gem, because we’re sure it will steal your heart. Located just one hour from one of the country’s most famous destinations, El Nido, an island awaits where your main mission will be to relax, enjoy snorkeling, and take in jaw‑dropping sunsets.
Read this guide carefully about Things to do in Darocotan—it’s very likely that after reading it you’ll feel the irresistible urge to tweak your route and include the island in your Palawan plans. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
What to expect in Darocotan
If you’ve made it this far, you may already have a slight idea of what to expect from Darocotan; if not, start relaxing with us now, because that’s exactly what this tiny slice of paradise offers.
Darocotan is a small island less than 2 kilometers long where cell signal is almost non‑existent, electricity comes from solar panels and small generators, and there are only 3 accommodations and a small village where, we’d bet, no more than 100 people live.
Days on the island seem to pass at a different pace. Breakfast by the sea gives way to hours of beach time and snorkeling far from large crowds of tourists, shops, or car noise. Because here, to be clear, there are no streets or roads—just beach and a dirt path. There are no cars, motorbikes, or tricycles, and you’ll need to explore the area by walking along the coast, climbing over rocks when the tide rises and cuts off the path, or crossing an overgrown path when you want to go from one side of the island to the other.
If you’re looking for adventure, waterfalls, parties, hustle and bustle, wifi, or a wide range of tourist services, this island isn’t for you. No worries—there are another 7,000 to choose from! On the other hand, if you want to treat yourself to a few days of unplugging and peace of mind beside a gorgeous beach and in lodging very different from what you’re used to, don’t hesitate—Darocotan is your place!
In short, Daracotan is a destination to live the island experience. You come here to play castaway, sleep to the sound of the waves, and slow down—something you won’t find in the country’s classic destinations. That’s why we recommend you stay at least one night and, if possible, two. Waking up in a cabin with sea views is priceless.
That said, Daracotan isn’t a place to explore El Nido and squeeze the most out of the tours. It’s a COMPLEMENT. From the island to the point where island hopping begins it’s over an hour and a quarter, and if you stay on this island it’s to live the experience. So the best plan is to spend a few days in El Nido, do the tours from there, and then spend one or two nights in Daracotan to relax.
Where to stay in Darocotan: accommodation options for every taste
In Darocotan there are only 3 places to stay (4, but one is private and used only for the tours of one of the companies that runs the Expedition between El Nido and Coron). This trio of accommodations is quite different from each other, and you can choose between something super basic, something mid‑range, and something a bit more upscale. There isn’t a better or worse one. We chatted with people staying at the ones we didn’t choose, and everyone was really enjoying their experience. Here are the options with their pros and cons:
Backpackers Island Beach Camp
The Backpackers Island Beach Camp (BICE) is the most basic option on the island. Very. But that doesn’t make it a bad choice. We met a Chilean couple who had been there for two weeks, perfectly happy in their humble cabin by the sea.
The best part:
The main advantage of this lodging is its location, right in front of the island’s best beach. Literally just a few meters away. You wake up, step out of your cabin, and you’ve got epic turquoise waters right in front of you to swim in. Plus, they have loungers, hammocks, and shade where you can disconnect and relax.
We liked its restaurant more than Isla Experience’s, and you can order breakfast from 7:00. At Isla Experience you have to wait much longer (we’ll tell you below), so we came here for breakfast one morning.
The not-so-good parts:
We say “the not so best” instead of “the worst” because we know every traveler is different, and what some wouldn’t set foot in might be exactly what others are looking for.
As you can see in the photo, the cabin is extremely basic. Four nipa walls and a mattress on the floor. That’s it. If you want more comforts, this won’t be your spot. But if you’re simply after a place to sleep and then spend the day enjoying the island, it might suit you.
Book your cabin at Backpackers Island here
Isla – The Island Experience
The Island Experience is the middle‑ground accommodation in Darocotan and the one we chose for our visit. Here you’ll find pretty beachfront cabins that are much more comfortable and spacious.
The best part:
The value for money and the type of room it offers are what made us choose this option. There are two types of beachfront cabins, “Small” and “Big.” We had booked the small one and, since the place was empty, they moved us to the big one at no extra cost. The small one is somewhat similar to Backpackers’ in terms of space, while the big one is huge and has a small balcony where you can sit to watch the sun go down—we recommend choosing this! There are only two walls, the sides.
The front access is the staircase to go up and the rear is the balcony. Opening your eyes upon waking and having those views… what a marvel! Even though there’s no fan, we weren’t hot at any time, since the sea breeze comes in from the front and circulates throughout the cabin. It was a joy to sleep to the sound of the waves.
The location is also very good. It takes just 3–4 minutes to reach the main beach, which you can see perfectly from its small “private beach.”
Large cabin at Isla – The Island Experience
The “less good”:
The place has a lot of potential, a lot, but it doesn’t reach its full potential because it doesn’t take care of certain details. One thing that didn’t fully convince us is that lunch, dinner, and breakfast are the same for everyone and at the same time. They serve it on the communal table and you help yourself. For midday and the evening it’s passable, but breakfast is absurdly late. Serving breakfast at 8:30–9:00 on an island where there’s nothing to do at night and people wake up with the sun doesn’t make much sense. So we went to have breakfast one day at Backpackers and another at Dryft.
The island has no power grid. They use solar panels here, and people leave their electronic devices charging at a common point. At night, theoretically, they use a generator to give the rooms a few hours of power. When we were there it seemed they weren’t very interested in switching it on, and we had to light ourselves with our phone flashlights. Nothing serious, but it’s something they should fix soon.
You also shouldn’t expect much from the bathrooms. We don’t expect luxury in a relatively remote place, but they could be a little better maintained. Keep in mind the toilet tanks don’t work; you have to flush with a bucket. Of course, there’s no hot water either.
Have a look at your cabin at Isla – The Island Experience here
Dryft Darocotan Island
This is the top accommodation on the island. If you want a much more comfortable and beautiful room when you visit Darocotan, or service more in line with a hotel, Dryft is your place.
The best part:
Obviously, its facilities. Nothing to do with the rest. They have several glamping tents tastefully decorated and with sea views. In addition, there’s a much larger (and gorgeous!) Premium cabin and a super‑spacious bungalow that is the island’s only room with a private bathroom.
The restaurant is noticeably better than those of the other accommodations, and the staff (without detracting from the rest) are more professional. One morning we came here for breakfast and they delighted us with delicious pancakes topped with fried coconut and a French press coffee we loved.
The dining area is in the center of the grounds and built inside a huge multi‑story bamboo structure. You can go up for a panoramic view of the beach or lie down on large nets suspended in the air—100% Instagrammable.
The “less good”:
Obviously, compared with the other options, the main thing to note here is the price. It’s more expensive; it’s also true you’re paying for facilities and services far above the rest.
Apart from that, although the beach in front is pretty, we liked the one in front of Backpackers much more.
In any case, in less than 10 minutes of island strolling you can go from one point to the other, so you can stay here and spend the day wherever you like.
+ info about this lovely lodging here
© Dryft
Things to do in Darocotan
If you’re expecting an island with a wide variety of things to see and do, we repeat: you might have picked the wrong place. Darocotan is mainly for relaxing and feeling the “island vibe.” Believe us—it’s totally worth it.
Enjoy Darocotan’s beaches
Primarily, you come to Darocotan to enjoy the beach, and you’ll find 3 to choose from. None of them has a name—neither on Google Maps nor according to the locals—so we’re going to name them so you can tell them apart. We’ve also marked them on the map.
As we always say, the level of the tide greatly influences how a beach looks. The highs and lows don’t happen at the same time every day; they vary with the lunar phases. So even though high tide coincided with midday for us, it may occur at a different time during your visit. Keep this in mind if you want to see them at their best—and also when crossing the rocky area of Long Beach.
In the end, beaches are nature. Nature looks different depending on the wind, the light, the tide… It sounds obvious, but we sometimes get comments along these lines.
Drfyt Beach
The beach in front of Dryft Darocotan Island is well worth a visit. At almost 500 meters long, it’s an ideal place to relax if you’re staying there, but also if you drop by for a drink or are simply exploring the island.
If you visit in the morning, the palm trees and vegetation will offer some shade. While the snorkeling isn’t spectacular, you’ll easily find lots of seashells and hermit‑crab shells of all shapes and sizes.
Long Beach
We’ve named this beach “Long Beach” for obvious reasons. At almost 800 meters long, it’s the island’s longest beach and an ideal place for a swim at high tide. It’s the farthest from the accommodations (though we’re talking maybe 5 minutes), and since it’s in front of the island’s only neighborhood, it’s where you’ll see the most locals swimming.
In the middle of the beach there’s a rocky area that’s partially covered at high tide. If you want to cross from one side to the other when this happens, you’ll have to go over the rocks (it’s not very difficult, but be careful) or swim. On the far west side there are several shady spots where you can swim in the shade.
The next beach to the northwest, after the big outcrop you see on the map, isn’t worth it. It’s a rockier area with lots of seaweed that has nothing to do with the rest of the island’s beaches.
Tao Beach
This beach has no name, and we’ve called it Tao Beach because it’s in front of this tour company’s camp. Even though the camp is closed half the year, they take care of the beach daily, and it’s surely the cleanest place in Darocotan.
At only 200 meters, this beach that traces the island’s outline in the far southwest is without a doubt our favorite.
Its turquoise waters, white sand, and palms in the background… it’s a dream spot! A warning for the fair‑skinned though: there isn’t a single patch of shade. If you want to avoid the sun, lather up with sunscreen or sit comfortably for a drink in one of the hammocks at Backpackers Island Beach Camp. After eating there, we spent a wonderful afternoon reading, having a drink, dozing off, and being blown away by the snorkeling at the shipwreck we talk about in the next point.
The best beach in Darocotan
Snorkeling at the shipwreck
One of our favorite things to do in Darocotan—and one we repeated several times—is snorkeling at the shipwreck in front of Tao Beach. What a wonder!
About 70 meters from shore you’ll find a sunken ship about 25 meters long that will delight snorkeling lovers. Its depth ranges between 2 and 3 meters, so you don’t need a guide or anything—you can do it all on your own. Along the way, before you get there, you’ll find more and more starfish until suddenly you come upon this vessel covered in all kinds of coral, fish of every color, and if you’re lucky, even schools of squid.
When the tide is low you can see part of the ship poking out of the water, but at high tide it can sometimes be a bit hard to find. Stand at the highest point of Tao Beach and you’ll be sure to spot its dark silhouette. Then just swim straight toward it. (You wouldn’t be the first to get sidetracked by other fish and starfish along the way and take a little longer to find it.)
Our favorite time to snorkel there is when the shipwreck sticks out slightly with the rise and fall of the tide. It’s much easier to find, and you have more room to swim than when the tide is completely low and the whole top part sticks out.
You know the drill—please be a responsible traveler and don’t touch the coral or the starfish.
Explore the island on your own
Given its small size, it would be a shame if, besides relaxing on its beaches, you didn’t also take the opportunity to walk the island from end to end (from Dryft to Isla Experience).
Get to know its beaches, cross from one side to the other “through the jungle” from the eastern side of Long Beach, or go through the palm grove and drop by the 4 houses next to the only sari‑sari, where you can buy little more than water.
The island is completely explorable on your own. On the first day a guy told us he could give us a tour for 500 pesos, and we don’t see much point—it’s all very well connected. You can’t get lost.
At Dryft they told us there was a lagoon in the northeast area, and it was the only part that required a minimum of effort—20 minutes on a leafy path with ups and downs to end up in a sort of canyon with a current that didn’t invite us to swim. Skippable, in our view.
Island hopping from Darocotan to Linapacan
Between November and May—taking advantage of the better weather—it’s also possible to do island hopping to Linapacan and visit other beautiful islands in the area. Depending on the weather you’ll visit some or others—they’re all well worth it!
Cagdanao Island, Manlihan Island, Ginto Island… We went through this area when we did the expedition from Coron and loved it. You can see more about these islands here: Coron – El Nido Expedition.
Enjoy the sunset
What better way to end the day in Darocotan than by saying goodbye with a beautiful sunset? It’s part of the island experience you came for!
Our favorite spots for this are Tao Beach or one of the big cabins at Island Experience if you want something more private.
Dryft Beach’s it doesn’t face the sunset directly unless you head to its far north end. But there the advantage is you can enjoy a tasty cocktail and a very chill vibe while you watch the sun go down.
How to get to Darocotan Island from El Nido
Getting to Darocotan Island from El Nido is really very simple, which makes it all the more surprising that, being so close to one of the country’s main destinations, you can get here so quickly and leave the rest of the tourists behind.
The first thing you’ll need to do is get to the port of the small town of Teneguiban. To do so, you have two options: van or tricycle from El Nido:
- Van: From El Nido’s bus terminal, vans to Sibaltan leave a couple of times a day. The fare is 300 pesos. To get to Teneguiban you’ll have to pay an extra 50 pesos or so, and they’ll take you to the port without any problem. The downside of this option is there aren’t many departures and the schedules are rarely kept. If they tell you it will leave around 9, it may still not have left by 11, and on top of that they make a thousand stops along the way, so it takes much longer. The different accommodations offer the option of a private van for around 2,500 pesos, which can work out well if there are 4 or 5 of you. Once you book your stay, they’ll send you the info so you can reserve with them.
- Tricycle: After waiting a couple of hours for the van’s departure, a tricycle driver approached us and offered to take us for 700 pesos, which is very good (since the accommodations themselves ask 1,000 pesos for the same). Days later we kept contacting him to take us to other places in the area at very reasonable prices. If you want, we can share his contact so you’ll get to Teneguiban in an hour without waiting. He also does the El Nido – Airport route for 300 pesos, cheaper than what you’ll be offered on the street.
- Motorbike: of course, you can also rent a motorbike in El Nido and ride to Teneguiban on your own. The road is good up to the turnoff; after that it’s a bit worse, but doable. You’ll have to leave the bike parked at the port. Motorbike rentals in El Nido are around 500 pesos per day. We can give you a contact so it’s 450 pesos, and a little less if it’s for longer.
The van or minivan ride takes about the same time—between roughly 50 and 65 minutes. Once at the port, if you’ve already booked accommodation and notified them of your arrival, the boat will be waiting to take you, in 15 minutes, to Darocotan Island. The boat price depends on your accommodation. In the case of Isla Experience, it’s included in the rate. The others charge between 200 and 500 pesos per trip.
If you’re starting your journey somewhere other than El Nido, you’ll want to read this guide first: How to get to El Nido.
Visiting Darocotan in one day
Our recommendation is to get the full experience and, besides enjoying the peace, the beaches, and the shipwreck, sleep on the island for a couple of nights. Waking up in those cabins with the sea right in front of you is something you’ll never forget.
Even so, if you want, you can also visit Darocotan on a quick day trip by renting a motorbike and going on your own. For that, it’s essential to get up early and arrive on the island early to make the most of the day.
Leave the bike parked by the port and take the boat to the island for 200 pesos (per person). A great plan there is to spend the morning at Tao Beach, snorkeling at the shipwreck, cross the island to have lunch at Dryft’s restaurant, swim at its beach, and then watch the sun go down again at Tao Beach. Be sure to arrange your preferred time with the boatman to return to Teneguiban.
Motorbikes in El Nido usually cost around 500 pesos, but we have a trusted contact who’ll give you a better price if you rent for several days and say we sent you. If you’re interested, just ask in the comments below.
Tips for visiting Darocotan Island
Even though it’s a tiny island and you might think there isn’t much more to it, don’t miss these our own tips for when you go to visit:
- You won’t find ATMs, and paying by card isn’t possible. Bring enough cash for food and drinks. You’ll pay the lodging online unless your booking says otherwise.
- Prices on the island are fairly inflated. Beer costs 100 pesos, a curry with rice 350, bottled water is expensive… Keep it in mind when you do your math. We brought a 6‑liter container of water from El Nido to drink and brush our teeth.
- There’s no mobile coverage from Globe or Smart. There’s a tiny spot at Tao Beach where, with luck, you’ll get a WhatsApp through. By contrast, it seems TNT users even have internet. Forget about wifi.
- Bring repellent. There are quite a few mosquitoes and, on some beaches, sandflies. The latter’s bite is a real nuisance because it keeps bugging you for several days afterward.
- More things that’ll be useful: plenty of sunscreen (they don’t sell it there), your own snorkel mask (our camp lends them for free, but for hygiene reasons it’s better to have your own), a flashlight, and a power bank. In Backpack for the Philippines we give you more clues about what to bring on your trip to the Philippines.
- Keep in mind the restaurants’ hours at the different accommodations. It’s best to notify them as far in advance as possible. Backpackers and Dryft can pretty much feed you all day. At Isla Experience, no matter how hungry you are, nothing will be put on the table outside 13:30 or 19:30, and it’s not a menu you can choose. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, let them know. You’ll have less variety, but they’ll make you something.
- If you like less touristy places, Darocotan is a great spot. In our Palawan guide we give you more pointers, but another place that might suit you is nearby Sibaltan. A good idea is to rent a motorbike in El Nido, leave early for Darocotan, sleep there, and the next morning head to Sibaltan for a couple of nights.
- As we always recommend—here or anywhere else in the country—having travel insurance is essential to make sure you’re covered at all times. A cut from coral, a dish that doesn’t sit well, or any moderately serious illness can mean shelling out large sums and visiting hospitals you don’t even want to imagine. In Travel insurance for the Philippines we tell you about the one we’ve used for years and which has saved us more than 25,000 dollars in medical expenses. Plus, if you come through us, you’ll get a discount.
Map of Darocotan
On this map you can see the main points of the island that we’ve talked about in this list of things to see in Darocotan—and get an idea of what awaits you there.
What did you think of Daracoton? Are you excited to visit? If you have any questions, you know we’re here to help make your trip to the Philippines a success. Ask away!
