Sea Cocoon Hotel, El Nido

On one of our latest visits to El Nido we decided to spend 8 nights so we could update and expand our content about Palawan and, of course, enjoy its amazing island-hopping tours and beaches. We also decided to try hotels in different price ranges and areas so we could offer you more options for staying in one of the most well-known places in the Philippines.

Looking for a mid-priced, well-located hotel with all the amenities to do everything we had planned in El Nido, we came across the Sea Cocoon Hotel, where we spent 3 peaceful nights. In this article we’re going to tell you about our experience at this accommodation in El Nido.

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Location of Sea Cocoon Hotel: El Nido Town

As we explain in detail in Where to stay in El Nido, there are different areas to choose from in this corner of Palawan, each with its pros and cons.

The Sea Cocoon Hotel is located right in the heart of El Nido Town, that is, the main village, where most accommodations, restaurants, bars, shops and agencies are concentrated. It’s also, together with Corong Corong Beach, the place from which the bangkas for the El Nido tours depart to explore the wonderful islands of the Bacuit archipelago.

We’re not going to say that El Nido Town is a beautiful place, but it has certainly improved over time. Its unbridled and unplanned urbanization has given way to more orderly streets, better infrastructure and a beach that’s a bit cleaner than the one we saw a few years ago.

In short, staying in El Nido Town means being right in the thick of things and therefore having easy access to the attractions this part of the Philippines offers. From here you can explore the neighboring islands and the best beaches of El Nido without much hassle and, when you’re tired, go out for dinner and a drink without having to take another transfer.

Within El Nido Town, Sea Cocoon Hotel is right in the center. More specifically, it’s on Real Street, opposite the school and a stone’s throw from the town hall and the tourist office. The street parallel to Real is Hama Street, where most restaurants and shops are concentrated, so you’ll have everything within just a few steps.

Does that mean you won’t be able to sleep because of the noise? Well, unlike many other accommodations, we slept like a baby in El Nido thanks to its soundproof windows. Plus, as you’ll see below, we enjoyed epic views of Cadlao Island and the sea.

Sea Cocoon, a highly recommended hotel in El Nido

Besides its great location, there are several reasons why we stayed at Sea Cocoon on our latest visit to El Nido.

First, as a hotel of considerable size—soon to be expanded with a new building—there are plenty of different, adaptable rooms for all types of travelers visiting El Nido. They offer double rooms (separate beds, twins, or one double, doubles), triples (3 single beds or one double and one single) and family rooms (two double beds). In addition, you can choose between the Premium Double, larger and with sea views (the higher floors have the best ones), or the regular rooms, with mountain views.

Whatever you choose, the rooms at Sea Cocoon are spotless (they’re cleaned daily), spacious and tastefully decorated. All of them have a small balcony where you can sit and watch life in El Nido and, of course, hang your swimsuits to dry after a day of exploring.

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Beyond the functional furniture and the plentiful storage, as well as a couple of work tables, what we fell in love with most in our room was the bed. We’re not exaggerating when we say it’s one of the most comfortable we’ve tried on our trips to the Philippines. King size, the mattress is truly wonderful—as are the sheets and bedspreads.

In the rooms you’ll also find a flat-screen satellite TV (there’s even Spanish Television!), a safe and, of course, air conditioning. All of them come with a private bathroom of medium size and with every convenience: hot water, a powerful rain-style shower, amenities (soap and shampoo), towels (good ones) and a hairdryer.

Another thing we loved about Sea Cocoon was the speed of the internet connection. Honestly, after struggling for a couple of weeks in Coron with the internet it was a treat not to worry about it here.

And although the facilities are important, our experience at Sea Cocoon Hotel El Nido wouldn’t have been the same without the hospitality of the staff. The receptionists are charming and always willing to help with any detail you need, and it was also a joy to arrive each day to the smiles of the security and housekeeping teams.

Special mention goes to Eric, one of the hotel’s owners, who welcomed us personally, told us all about its opening, his new life in El Nido after the madness of living so many years in Manila, gave us recommendations for restaurants and activities, and also let us greet his adorable dog family. If you see him, don’t hesitate to give him a hug from us.

Hotel common areas

Sea Cocoon Hotel’s reception is very cozy and open 24 hours. Decorated in warm colors with pretty sofas in that turquoise shade so characteristic of the Philippines, its huge dining room will catch your eye, where a buffet breakfast is served every morning and included in the room price.

They’ve recently opened an incredible rooftop that might offer the best views in all of El Nido.

In addition, since it’s an open space, it won’t take you long to notice the beautiful pool at your disposal. With pristine water and several loungers inside it, you can take a dip when you return from your excursions or spend a relaxing day if you want to take it easy on your visit to El Nido.

If you’re traveling with kids in the Philippines, Sea Cocoon is a great option for staying in El Nido. Besides having everything within a stone’s throw, the pool provides extra peace of mind for you and for them. To top it off, the hotel staff is super affectionate and attentive with the youngest members of the family.

Check dates and prices here

Breakfast included at Sea Cocoon Hotel

If, like us, you find it a hassle to look for where to have breakfast each morning when you wake up—especially if you have early tours—staying at Sea Cocoon Hotel is a good idea, since you’ll have a complete buffet every morning at your disposal.

From 6:00 to 10:00, you’ll find a huge table full of trays serving cold cuts, vegetables, pastries, cereals and fruits for all tastes. One thing we especially liked is that there’s a station with a cook at your disposal to make you an omelet or scrambled or fried eggs just the way you like them. In addition, you can also toast your bread or serve yourself coffee, tea or juice. Without a doubt, one of the most complete hotel breakfasts we’ve had on our trips around the Philippines.

As we mentioned above, breakfast is served in a huge lounge equipped with tables and with direct views of the pool, so you won’t be short of natural light and fresh air. There’s also a television that usually has a news bulletin on so you can catch up with what’s going on in the world that morning.

Restaurants near the hotel

Located right in the heart of El Nido, the options for eating around Sea Cocoon Hotel are huge. Here’s a selection of nearby restaurants:

AlTrove Express: in our opinion, they serve the best pizzas in Palawan.
Gusto Gelato: in under 2 minutes you can try the best ice creams, coffees and crepes in El Nido.
Big Bad Thai: tasty, hearty Thai food with sea views.
Angel Wish: barely a 5-minute walk to try Filipino dishes, seafood and fresh fish in a charming setting.

You can find even more options in our article Where to eat in El Nido.

Sea Cocoon Hotel recap video in El Nido

We know you like to see it in a more dynamic way, so you’ll love this video we’ve prepared about Sea Cocoon Hotel:

Final opinion of the Sea Cocoon Hotel

After everything we’ve told you about our experience at Sea Cocoon Hotel, would we stay there again on our next visit to El Nido? Without a doubt, yes. To make it easier for you to decide whether this hotel is for you, we’ve summarized the pros and cons we found:

Pros:

The location is convenient for everything you need to do in El Nido.
The rooms are spacious, very well equipped and have soundproof windows for a quiet night’s sleep.
There’s a pool to take a dip whenever you have free time.
The staff is attentive and truly lovely, with special mention to Eric, one of the owners.
Having breakfast included is a relief when you have early tours—and it’s a very complete one.
Reception offers to book all kinds of activities in El Nido.
Without a doubt, it has the best Wi‑Fi connection in El Nido.
They have cold drinking water dispensers, perfect for saving money and cutting down on plastic.
They have a power generator, which ensures comfort during the city’s not infrequent blackouts.
We think the value for money is very good, especially considering prices in El Nido.

Cons:

Some rooms don’t have sea views, though, to be honest, it’s not like the views are ugly.
If you’re on the highest floor you’ll have better views, but it can be a bit tiring to climb so many stairs. Even so, you’ll soon have an elevator at your disposal.
The laundry service is a bit expensive.

Final score: 8/10 Filipino suns.