El Nido Travel Guide
El Nido draws thousands of travelers every year who are looking to enjoy its countless stunning spots. This absolute must-see on any itinerary through the Philippines offers white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, lagoons and reefs plus huge and incredible limestone formations that leave everyone speechless. What’s more, nearby you can enjoy lovely beaches such as Nacpan Beach, Las Cabañas, or Lio Beach without even booking an island hopping tour. Want to know everything about Palawan’s top destination? Keep reading for our El Nido guide.
El Nido is no longer a well-kept secret. Images of the landscapes of the spectacular Bacuit Bay have traveled the globe and turned it into one of the top destinations on any trip to Southeast Asia. Although El Nido Town has undergone rapid, chaotic development and little remains of that charming seaside village, the truth is you’ll still have plenty of chances to experience the magic of El Nido. In this El Nido Guide, we want to give you the tips we would give any friend—those you won’t read in guidebooks and, most importantly, the ones that will help you avoid the crowds. How do you get to El Nido? Where to stay? What to do besides the famous island hopping? All this and much more in our El Nido Guide!
THINGS TO DO IN EL NIDO
It’s famous for a reason—but here’s what to do:
- Island hopping: the absolute highlight is weaving through the islands of Bacuit Bay by boat. Picture-perfect islands and islets framed by towering limestone cliffs.
- Beaches: visit nearby, beautiful beaches like Las Cabañas, Lio Beach, and Nacpan.
- Diving: although it doesn’t reach the level of Coron and Malapascua, El Nido offers nice reef dives with plenty of marine life.
- Kayaking: the best way to explore at your own pace is by renting a kayak from Corong Corong and visiting nearby beaches like Papaya Beach when no one is around.
- Other activities: there’s more! Hikes up to a cool viewpoint, ziplines, a waterfall…
As you can see, there’s no shortage of things to do in El Nido, right? That’s why our advice is to spend at least 3 full days (not counting transfers) and, if possible, 4 or more.
In this El Nido Guide, you’ll find only a small selection. Discover much more in:
ISLAND HOPPING IN EL NIDO
Let’s start with the basics: visiting El Nido without enjoying at least two island-hopping tours is practically a crime. El Nido Town isn’t very pretty and the nearby beaches are fine, but the truly spectacular sights are on the islands of Bacuit Bay that you’ll explore on island hopping tours. So don’t overthink it—set aside 2 days for this plan.
El Nido tours are usually done between 9:00 and 17:00. There are four island hopping routes: A, B, C, and D. All of them, though they vary, include 4 to 6 stops, usually alternating snorkeling spots, lagoons, and beaches.
Although they’re all worth it, the most beautiful are A and C.
The price is around 1,200–1,400 pesos per person. They include lunch and use of a snorkel. To this cost you need to add 2 fees: El Nido’s environmental fee, which costs 400 pesos and is valid for 5 days, and the fee to visit Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon. The latter costs 400 pesos each and is only paid if you visit these places. Entry has been limited since December 2018, so if you want to visit them, you’ll need to book in advance.
Due to the large influx of tourists in El Nido, our advice is to splurge on a private boat tour. Although it’s more expensive, it’s worth it, as this way you avoid the crowds and, if you choose a good operator, you can even be alone in many places. We have some very handy contacts to help organize your own route.
BEACHES NEAR EL NIDO
Unlike Coron—which isn’t known for its easily accessible beaches—the surroundings of El Nido are home to some of the best beaches in the Philippines.
Therefore, we recommend dedicating at least one day of your stay in El Nido to visiting beaches such as Nacpan, Las Cabañas, or Lio Beach. If you have more time, you’ll have plenty more options, as you can also venture to farther places like Sibaltan or Duli Beach. As we tell you in our Palawan Guide, Palawan isn’t just El Nido.
Discover more about the beaches of El Nido:
SUNSETS IN EL NIDO
After an epic day in El Nido, enjoying impressive island hopping tours or nearby beaches, what better way to cap it all off than by savoring a sunset worthy of the day?
Philippine sunsets are known for the intensity of their colors. With this guide, you’ll know where to enjoy the best sunsets in El Nido. Save some battery in your camera—you won’t want to miss this!
HOW TO GET TO EL NIDO
It’s becoming easier to get to El Nido from anywhere in the Philippines. Basically, you have four options:
- Fly to El Nido with Air Swift: it operates flights from Manila, Cebu, Boracay, Coron, and Bohol. This is the fastest but also the most expensive option.
- Fly to Puerto Princesa: all Philippine airlines fly to the capital of Palawan and from there you can go by bus or van to El Nido. The overland journey takes about 4 or 5 hours.
- Take a van from Port Barton: many travelers visit this charming town and then continue to El Nido. The trip takes about 3 hours.
- Take a fast boat from Coron: the fast boat route from Coron to El Nido is one of the most popular among travelers. You can (and we recommend it, since it costs the same) book your seat online.
In this El Nido Guide you only have a quick overview. Discover your options in detail in:
WHERE TO STAY IN EL NIDO
Gone are the days when there were only a few guesthouses along the beaches of El Nido Town and Corong Corong. Now there are countless accommodation options in El Nido: backpacker hostels, cheap and mid-range guesthouses, and luxury hotels and resorts spread between these two areas, but also in neighboring spots like Lio Beach, Las Cabañas, Calaan, and even faraway Nacpan Beach. Choosing the area to stay in El Nido is a matter of taste, but we always recommend Corong Corong Beach, where you can catch jaw-dropping sunsets.
Unfortunately, accommodation value for money in El Nido isn’t great and prices keep climbing, especially during Christmas, Holy Week, and Chinese New Year. Therefore, our advice is to book as early as possible so you don’t end up with the worst options (there are many).
In this El Nido guide you’ll only find a small summary; you’ll find many more recommendations in:
WHERE TO EAT IN EL NIDO
With the tourist boom, there are more and more tourist-oriented places to eat in El Nido. Here are a few tasty spots:
- Pizzas: Bella Vita El Nido and Al Trove.
- Grilled food: there are lots of places on El Nido Town beach—Angel Wish is one of the best.
- Vegan and vegetarian options: Taste El Nido, Shaka El Nido, and Happiness Beach Bar.
- International food: Big Bad Thai, Gusto, and Happy Home.
Bear in mind that in recent years there have been cases of stomach bugs linked to contaminated water in El Nido. Drink bottled or filtered water, brush your teeth with bottled water, and try to eat at places that look visibly clean and well-run. If you get sick, contact your insurance and be very careful with dehydration.
More recommended places to eat in El Nido:
TIPS FOR VISITING EL NIDO
- BEST TIME TO VISIT EL NIDO: from November to May.
- ATMs IN EL NIDO: there are several ATMs in town, although they sometimes run out of cash or don’t work. In any case, you can always use Remitly to get cash. Remember it’s important to always carry cash.
- TRANSPORT: if you’re coming from Coron, we recommend booking the ferry in advance online. It costs the same as buying it there and guarantees you a seat.
- HEALTHCARE: there are no hospitals in El Nido, only small clinics. In case of a serious medical emergency, you’ll have to be transferred to Puerto Princesa, Manila, or Cebu. Remember to travel with good travel insurance. You have a 5% discount on the one we use.
- WHAT TO PACK: it’s essential to bring a dry bag, water shoes, and snorkeling gear for the island hopping. You’ll find more info in Philippines Packing List.
- GETTING AROUND EL NIDO: you’ll find lots of tricycles. The usual fare is 50 pesos for the Corong Corong–El Nido Town ride (and vice versa) and 150 pesos between El Nido Town and Las Cabañas. You can also rent a motorbike for about 500 pesos per day.