Where to stay in El Nido: best areas and hotels

El Nido, thanks to the fact that the spectacular, paradise-like scenery of the Bacuit Archipelago has gone around the world, is one of the most popular destinations on a trip to the Philippines. This has led to a rapid increase in services for travelers, including, of course, hotels. So right now you’ll find all kinds of places where to stay in El Nido.

From hostels or dorm-style lodgings where you share a room with other backpackers to resorts with overwater cottages and views of the gorgeous islets in this part of Palawan, you’ve got many hotels in El Nido to choose from!

However, you might be wondering which area is best when looking for accommodation in El Nido. As we mention in our detailed article on things to do in El Nido, the town itself isn’t as pretty as you might expect from such a famous place. That’s why many travelers choose nearby areas to stay, since, after all, most of the day is spent outside the hotel.

UPDATE 2026: from traveler to traveler, we recommend looking for accommodation in El Nido WELL in advance. Unfortunately, value for money in this part of the Philippines is awful and the best hotels sell out fast. Honestly, from our own experience, if you wait to book until 1–2–3 weeks before, it can mean sleeping in the worst dive of your trip to the Philippines and paying a fortune.

We’ve been traveling around this area since 2010, so, as you can imagine, we’ve tried a ton of places. Plus, every time we come, we go out to explore other possibilities we find and that travelers recommend to us, so we’re going to guide you through the process and tell you about  the best areas to stay in El Nido (pros and cons of each) and our favorite hotels for every kind of budget.

Where to stay in El Nido: areas

The first thing you need to consider when evaluating accommodation in El Nido is the area you want to stay in. It’s no small matter, because depending on what you want (ease of starting the tours, a wider variety of restaurants, the hotels’ value for money, bars…), things are quite different.

In this case, besides El Nido Town itself (the town center), there are other nearby areas that are pleasant and convenient for spending a few days. The hotel offering there is usually much better, as properties are more modern, a bit roomier, and many of them have sea views. Plus, if you feel like staying near a nice beach, they’re better alternatives than El Nido Town itself.

We’re going to tell you everything about where to stay in El Nido below, but here’s a quick summary:

• El Nido Town: the center, where restaurants, bars, and tour agencies are concentrated. The island hoppings depart from here. Value for money is worse, but it’s the convenient option if you don’t want to move around much. Best if you’re traveling solo. Suggestions: Frendz El Nido | BaleCabugaoCottagesRental | Love Vega Hometel | Sea Cocoon Hotel.
• Las Cabañas: a pretty beach with pleasant swimming about 15 minutes by tricycle from El Nido Town (150 pesos per ride). There are a few restaurants, although it gets quite crowded during the day. The offering is mostly pricey hotels. Suggestions: Coconut Cottages El Nido | Mua Tala Hotel El Nido.
• Corong Corong: the extension of El Nido Town, a beachfront area where the bus terminal and market are located, as well as plenty of hotels in El Nido and restaurants. The beach is OK, but at low tide it’s hard to swim. You can walk to El Nido Town or hop on a tricycle and be there in just 5 minutes. It would be an intermediate option between the first, the second, and Lio Beach. Nice sunsets. Suggestions: Corong Beach Resort | Panari Lodge | Last Frontier Beach Resort.
• Calaan Beach: a beach area you can walk to from El Nido Town, although it’s very rocky and swimming is almost impossible. Even so, the views from the accommodations on the shore are gorgeous and there are more and more options with good value for money. Suggestions: Cadlao Resort and Restaurant | Golden Monkey Beach Hotel.
• Lio Beach: if you want to relax on a quiet beach with a good selection of restaurants, this is your spot. It’s about 15–20 minutes by road from El Nido Town and next to the airport. The accommodation offering in El Nido here is basically resorts and it’s the ideal option for families. Suggestions: Seda Lio | Lakwa Motel | Piece Lio.

What’s the best area to stay in El Nido? It depends on what you’re after… In a quick summary: if you want convenience for the tours and a huge restaurant offering, we’d go for El Nido Town. If you want a good beach that’s not far and a nice place to stay, Lio Beach. For something in between, with beachfront resorts at more reasonable prices, Corong Corong.

In any case, we think the key is to start searching (and booking) in advance and pick a place that stands out to you for its features and value for money. As long as it’s not excessively far away (like the areas we’ll describe later), you’ll manage just fine (you can always rent a scooter or take a tricycle). This is especially important between November and May, high season, when prices rise considerably.

Either way, you’ll see that next to the title of each recommended hotel in El Nido we’ve added its location. You’ll also find them easily on the El Nido accommodation map we created.

a) El Nido Town

This should be your option for where to stay in El Nido if you don’t want any fuss. In the center of El Nido Town you’ll find tons of restaurants, bars, and agencies to do the island hopping in El Nido (which also depart from here), so you won’t need to move around much. If you’re traveling solo, the center is probably the best alternative for staying in El Nido because everything is at hand and you’ll meet people.

Plus, over the years El Nido Town has been improving and, from a crowded and dirty town, it’s turning into a more orderly and pleasant place. Obviously, there are all kinds of hotels, from very basic guesthouses to big hotels. What you should know is that El Nido beach isn’t one of the most appealing for two reasons: 1) it’s full of boats and 2) it’s not very clean.

Recommendations: Inngo Tourist Inn, Buslkamp Inn and Sea Cocoon.

b) Las Cabañas (Maremegmeg Beach/Vanilla Beach)

This beautiful beach area has a few small hotels and resorts. Located about 15 minutes by tricycle from El Nido, it’s a good option, although it’s hard to find cheap accommodation. There are a few high-end resorts and, little by little, more restaurants are appearing to go along with the few options there still are. In fact, at the beginning of 2020 a shopping center opened with several restaurants, a gym, shops, and even a McDonald’s.

Getting to Las Cabañas from El Nido Town is very easy. You just need to take a tricycle for 150 pesos or rent a motorbike (about 400–500 pesos per day). If you want to stretch your legs, you can walk and it will take a little over 1 hour. You’ll find more information about this and other beaches in our article Best beaches in El Nido.

From Las Cabañas you’ll see lovely sunsets and it’s a very good beach for swimming, even at low tide. What you should know is that it’s very popular and that during the day there are quite a lot of people, especially the stretch from the shopping center access to the last beach bars.

Recommendations: Coconut Cottages El Nido and Mua Tala Hotel El Nido.

c) Corong Corong

Corong Corong is the whole area south of El Nido Town (towards Puerto Princesa) before reaching Las Cabañas. The bus and van terminal is located here and, over time, it has become an extension of El Nido Town full of businesses.

Getting to Corong Corong from El Nido takes just 10 minutes on foot (although it depends on which part of Corong Corong, as you can see it’s quite a large stretch) or 5 minutes by tricycle (50 pesos), so it’s a good alternative if you’re looking for a quieter place to stay. Although the beach isn’t the prettiest because it’s somewhat rocky and it can be hard to swim comfortably, the panorama of the Bacuit Archipelago is beautiful and, as we tell you in Sunset in El Nido, the sunsets are unforgettable. You’ll find a larger selection of reasonably priced resorts (such as this one) and many more restaurants than in Las Cabañas.

Recommendations: Corong Beach Resort and Last Frontier Beach Resort.

d) Calaan Beach

Still developing, this area is quieter than the others and also offers great views of the bay. It’s located a little to the north of El Nido Town. To get to town you’ll have to walk about 10–15 minutes, although some hotels offer free transport and you’ll easily find tricycles to take you.

As in the case of Corong Corong, the beach isn’t very pleasant for swimming, but waking up to views like those at this hotel is a real treat. The selection of restaurants is quite limited and, although you’ll find something, if you want variety you’ll have to head into town for dinner.

Recommendations: Cadlao Resort and Restaurant and Golden Monkey Beach Hotel.

e) Lio Beach

If you don’t mind paying a little more, we recommend it 100%. This is the newest area for staying in El Nido. It’s a very beautiful beach and perfect for swimming next to the airport (don’t worry, there aren’t many flights a day), and high-end resorts have been popping up here along with restaurants and pleasant places to grab a drink after a day exploring Palawan. Although almost all hotels offer free transport to town, by tricycle you’ll pay between 250 and 300 pesos per ride. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the main hub.

For us, Lio Beach is a perfect area to stay in El Nido if you’re traveling as a couple and want something quiet without going to a far-off island, or if you’re traveling with family.

Recommendations: Seda Lio and Lakwa Motel

Other areas to stay in El Nido

Be very careful when searching on hotel sites like Booking and pay attention to the hotel’s location. If you enter “El Nido”, you’ll often get hotels quite far from the town itself and, although that’s great because they’re surely beautiful and very quiet, they won’t serve your purpose: discovering El Nido and doing tours. The most beautiful part here is the island hoppings and nearby beaches like Las Cabañas or Lio Beach, so going 30–35 kilometers away (on Philippine roads, which take much longer) is inconvenient.

Even so, if you want absolute peace, you can also look for hotels on the famous Nacpan Beach or the lesser-known Sibaltan. You’ll just need to keep in mind that you’ll need between 45 minutes and 1 hour of transport to El Nido Town and you’ll also have to arrange the means to get there.

In the case of Nacpan there are van services (600 pesos round trip per person) at set times, although not many. Otherwise, you’d have to rent a motorbike or negotiate a tricycle, which runs around 1,300 pesos per ride. However, in Sibaltan public transport is scarce, so you’ll have to rely on a motorbike and, of course, the island hoppings don’t depart from there. Almost the same thing happens if you opt for Bucana Beach or Duli Beach, both beautiful and little developed, but with non-existent public transport. Reaching either takes almost an hour.

The same or worse is staying on Darocotan thinking you’ll do the island hoppings from there. Keep in mind that in this case you’ll have to take a boat and then land transport, with almost an hour and a half of travel. We only recommend it if you’re going to that island to enjoy it for one or two nights.

If you want our opinion, we’d only stay in these places or other far-off spots if you have days to spare to discover El Nido and then spend some quiet time elsewhere. You’ll find accommodation suggestions in these corners of El Nido further below.

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To make it a bit clearer, on this map you can see the location of the places to stay in El Nido that we recommend below and the areas we’ve been talking about, marked by colors:

Comparison table of the best places to stay in El Nido + summary

Although we’ll talk in more detail about the best places to stay in El Nido classified by type and price (although you already know this varies a lot in El Nido depending on the season), if you want to get straight to the point, we’ve summarized it in this table. You can swipe it with your finger to see the rating and price. You can also click on each name to go directly to view/book.

ACCOMMODATIONS	SCORE	PRICE/NIGHT
BACKPACKER HOSTELS
Spin Designer Hostel	8,5 – Very Good	From $13
Frendz Hostel El Nido	8,4 – Very Good	From $16
Outpost Beach Hostel	8,6 – Fabulous	From $9
BUDGET HOTELS
BaleCabugaoCottagesRental	8,5 – Very Good	From $20
Love Vega Hometel	8,2 – Very Good	From $35
Inngo Tourist Inn	8,3 – Very good	From $31
MilVir Tourist Inn	8,7 – Fabulous	From $33
MID‑RANGE HOTELS
Corong Beach Resort	9,3 – Fantastic	From $42
South Anchorage Inn	8 – Very Good	From $46
Bulskamp Inn	8,3 – Very Good	From $50
RC Villas and Resorts	9,3 – Fantastic	From $45
Bayview Country Inn El Nido	8,3 – Very Good	From $44
Sea Cocoon Hotel	8,7 – Fabulous	From $72
RESORTS
Seda Lio	8,9 – Fabulous	From $230
Last Frontier Beach Resort	9,4 – Fantastic	From $75
Cadlao Resort	9,2 – Fantastic	From $82
Mahogany Resort and Spa	8,8 – Fabulous	From $87

As you know, we’ve been here plenty of times, so you’ll see more suggestions at the end of each section. You’ll also find recommendations for staying in other areas of El Nido/Palawan.

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Best backpacker options in El Nido – TOP hostels

A good way to save money in the Philippines is to share a room with other travelers in hostels. In El Nido, due to its popularity, you have quite a few backpacker options. So there are several hostels ideal for socializing, but that also have a few private rooms. Here’s our selection, but you can find an even more detailed list in our article Best hostels in El Nido.

Spin Designer Hostel (El Nido Town)

If you’re looking for companions to share adventures with, this is the best hostel to stay in El Nido you can choose. The Spin Designer Hostel is a modern building located in the town center and has lots of common areas where you can chat with people, play ping pong, or simply relax. They have shared dorms for 4 people (mixed and female-only) and a few double and single private rooms with private bathrooms.

If you book in advance, a bed in the dorm is around $13 with breakfast included. Considering accommodation prices in El Nido and that these are small rooms, we really think the value for money is great. The hostel is well equipped, clean, and the staff is very friendly. Highly recommended!

Book your bed at Spin Designer Hostel

Frendz Hostel El Nido (El Nido Town)

Opened at the beginning of 2019, this is one of the best places to stay in El Nido if you’re looking for a backpacker vibe without giving up comfort. Located in El Nido Town, in a quiet area, the facilities are fantastic, highlighted by an infinity pool on the rooftop with views of Bacuit Bay where there’s also a bar and there’s usually a DJ.

They have shared rooms with 6 beds (one of them female-only) as well as family rooms for 4 people and double rooms. The dorms are pleasant and, as you can see in the photo, the beds have curtains for extra privacy. Prices aren’t especially cheap, but you can get them from $13 per night in shoulder/low season.

Book now at Frendz Hostel El Nido

Outpost Beach Hostel – El Nido (Corong Corong Beach)

If you want a backpacker place in El Nido with lots of atmosphere and right on the beach, we wouldn’t think twice and would go for the Outpost Beach Hostel. It’s right on the seafront, in Corong Corong, and has staff who keep guests entertained with activities every day.

You can choose between mixed shared dorms (4, 6, 8 and 12 people), doubles with or without private bathroom, and family rooms (3 or 5 people with private bathroom), so it’s a great spot whether you’re traveling solo or with friends and want to meet people. All have air conditioning and the bathrooms are usually very clean. As for prices, beds start at $9 per night if you book in advance, which is more than affordable for the location and, above all, for El Nido.

Check dates at Outpost Beach Hostel

More backpacker accommodations in El Nido

If the above don’t suit you or are full, don’t worry—here are other options. Remember you’ll find even more detail in our Hostels in El Nido guide.

• Big Paul Hostel: Want to party and stay somewhere cheap in El Nido? Then this is your pick. Located in Corong Corong, in the part closest to El Nido and right by the road, beds start at $13 with breakfast included and an open bar in the evenings. Take a look here.
• AA Hostel: if you don’t mind taking a motorbike, you can stay in El Nido in a 6-bed dorm from just $8 per night with breakfast included. It’s a family-run place with a kitchen. Book from this link.
• Aquaholink Bunk Bed: it’s in the center of Corong Corong and is a clean place with shared dorms from only $8. It’s not super social, but the staff are incredibly friendly. Have a look here.

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Best budget hotels in El Nido – TOP budget hotels 

Yes, Palawan is among the most expensive places in the Philippines, but if you look in advance and in low season, you can find little gems below the $20–25 per night in a double room range. That said, don’t sleep on booking and don’t expect big luxuries, especially if you’ve been to other Southeast Asian countries and expect everything to be very cheap. Unfortunately, budget hotels in El Nido are not plentiful—or at least not the ones that aren’t a dump… Here are recommendations we’ve personally tried over the years:

BaleCabugaoCottagesRental (El Nido Town)

If you’re looking for a cheap hotel in El Nido ($18–22 for two people) with breakfast included (pretty decent in this case), stop searching because you’re going to like this option. It’s true that BaleCabugao is spartan (there’s no air conditioning, but there are fans that are more than enough to sleep comfortably, and no hot water in the shower) and that there are some stairs to climb; but in exchange you’ll have wonderful views of El Nido while you have breakfast or relax after a day of adventures and, of course, you’ll be sleeping in El Nido for little money.

If you find a room available, don’t hesitate to book quickly because it’s one of the few cheap places to stay in El Nido and the people who run it are lovely.

Book your room at BaleCabugao here

Love Vega Hometel (El Nido Town)

Located in the heart of El Nido Town (right on Real Street), this is, for us, one of the best budget hotels in El Nido. Although the rooms are basic, the staff who run it are super friendly, helping with everything possible, and everything is spotless. For around $35–38 you’ll have a double room with a private bathroom, air conditioning, hot water, and breakfast. Plus, the internet works great. Definitely not a luxurious hotel, but good value for money for staying in El Nido.

Book your room at Love Vega Hometel here

Inngo Tourist Inn (El Nido Town)

If you’re quick to book this hotel in El Nido, you’ll get a clean room with air conditioning, a ceiling fan, hot water, and right in the very heart of El Nido Town from $22 per night. It’s true they’re not very big, but it’s more than enough for what you usually do in El Nido. Also, when you make the booking, if available, you’ll see there are different room types, some more modern than others, as they recently renovated.

The only downside we see to this hotel in El Nido is that they don’t serve breakfast and the internet connection inside the room isn’t usually good, but you will have Wi‑Fi in the common areas and just outside the room. All in all, the price is really good for where it’s located and, as often happens in the Philippines, the staff are charming.

Book your room at Inngo Tourist Inn here

MilVir Tourist Inn (El Nido Town/Corong Corong)

Look, it’s not that the décor of this budget accommodation in El Nido will make you fall in love (just look at the ceiling and the green‑painted walls), but everything else is great for a comfortable stay without paying much. At MilVir Tourist Inn you can stay from just $19 per night with breakfast included (note: with pancakes, omelet, and fruit) in a double room; it’s also great if you’re looking for where to stay in El Nido with family or friends, as the family rooms are spacious and have 3 double beds.

The guesthouse is between El Nido Town and the bus station, in a very quiet area, so it isn’t noisy. To El Nido Town beach, where the tours depart, it won’t take you more than 15 minutes on foot or, if you prefer, there are tricycles that will take you in 3-4 minutes. The family who run it are also lovely. If you have an early tour or transport, they’ll prepare breakfast at whatever time you want so you don’t leave without eating. In short, one of the cheap El Nido hotels we absolutely recommend.

Take a look at MilVir Tourist Inn here

More budget hotels in El Nido

As in the previous case, if the ones we’ve recommended are already full or don’t work for you, we suggest taking a look at the following:

• David & Vhie Homestay: it’s by no means a luxurious place, but from just $18 per night and right in the center of El Nido Town, it’s a bargain. You can book here.
• Casa Yolanda: it’s noisy, since it’s on the road in El Nido Town, but you also have basic rooms from just $18 per night. We’ve stayed here a few times when we couldn’t find anything else and didn’t complain given the price. Have a look from this link.
• Raje Residence: as in the previous case, it’s noisy and the rooms are damp, but you can sleep in El Nido for under $20 per night for 2 people. It’s almost right next to the bus terminal, so you can walk to El Nido Town. Outside the rooms there’s a fridge and a kettle to make yourself a quick breakfast. See what you think here.

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Best mid-range hotels in El Nido 

If you can raise your El Nido accommodation budget to the $40–70 per night for a double room range, you’ll be able to go for slightly less basic places. In fact, as you’ll see, you can even stay right by the sea. With everything we’ve tried around here, here are our recommendations for where to stay in El Nido:

Corong Beach Resort (Corong Corong Beach)

Seriously, if you’re reading this because you’re looking for where to stay in El Nido right on the beachfront without spending much, you should hurry to check whether Corong Beach Resort has availability. Besides its fantastic location, on the seashore in Corong Corong, it’s run by a loving family and, honestly, hand on heart, we can tell you it’s a little gem you shouldn’t miss. In low season, double rooms with a balcony are around $40 and are perfect: hot water, fan, air conditioning and, as we said, a special location. In high season, as is normal, prices rise considerably, but even so, it’s worth it and is still a more than decent place to stay in El Nido.

On the other hand, they have quite a variety of rooms: from doubles without views to bungalows/lofts directly on the beach, perfect for families. The key is to book in advance because they really do go fast (hence our reminder about how important it is to book your hotel in El Nido well ahead of time to have options like these).

Book your room at Corong Beach Resort here

RC Villas and Resort (Las Cabañas)

It’s true that the location of RC Villas isn’t the most convenient unless you want to rent a motorbike or rely on tricycles, as it’s past Lio Beach; but this hotel in El Nido won us over for several reasons. The clearest—and what you can see in the first photo—is its infinity pool, with incredible views over Bacuit Bay. The second is the location itself, perfect if what you want is absolute tranquillity. And, third, the value for money, since you can get a sea-view room with a balcony or patio from just $50/60, which is very hard to find in this area.

Everything is also quite new and well maintained and, if you think you’ll be too lazy to go out for dinner, the restaurant they have is excellent: tasty food and fairly reasonable prices. Oh, and it’s true there are stairs up to the rooms, but they have a tricycle to take you if you don’t feel like walking so much. Book in advance because they go quickly.

Check availability for RC Villas and Resort now

South Anchorage Inn (El Nido Town)

This hotel is another good option to stay in El Nido without blowing your savings. It’s located right in the heart of El Nido Town, so you won’t need to walk at all to reach the restaurant area or to do the tours in the morning.

The rooms are decent, quite spacious, well equipped (TV, hot water, air conditioning…) and, most importantly, kept very clean. Some rooms have direct views of El Nido’s wonderful mountains. Prices are around $45 per night with breakfast included and, if you’re traveling with family or friends, they have quad rooms that aren’t badly priced either. In short, a hotel in El Nido that we liked and found comfortable.

Don’t miss your room at South Anchorage Inn here

Bulskamp Inn (El Nido Town)

Located in the center of El Nido Town, we’ve gone to this hotel several times for its location and because it’s a classic (it’s been around for many years). They have double rooms with air conditioning and private bathrooms with water heaters, as well as some doubles with an extra bed/sofa in case you’re traveling with a child. Plus, each room has a small, very pleasant terrace.

The owners (especially Rey) are friendly and try to help with everything; the facilities are cozy and clean; and there’s free coffee and tea. Standard room prices are around $50 in low season. Although prices have risen quite a bit in recent years (especially from December to April), it’s still a more than decent place to stay in El Nido.

Book your room at Bulskamp Inn here

Bayview Country Inn El Nido (Corong Corong)

If you’ve decided on the Corong Corong area to stay in El Nido, Bayview Country Inn is great and we don’t hesitate to recommend it first-hand, especially if you’re traveling with family or as a group, since they have triples, quads, and suites that can fit more than 5 people. Spotlessly clean, with beautiful views, and quite spacious rooms with new air conditioners. The staff are super friendly and make you feel at home.

The cheapest rooms are around $45, but there are some with sea views that are a bit pricier. Breakfast is included. Highly recommended!

Find your room at Bayview Country Inn El Nido

Sea Cocoon Hotel (El Nido Town)

One of our latest choices for where to stay in El Nido and it didn’t disappoint at all. Eric, the manager, is a charming Filipino who loves Spain and even speaks a bit of Spanish, so his welcome won us over instantly. It’s a hotel–resort located in the heart of El Nido, but with soundproof windows, so you have the advantage of being right in the thick of it with access to all the restaurants and bars in the city, yet sleeping like a dream. The rooms are super spacious and have all the amenities you’d expect from a hotel with European standards: air conditioning, fridge, safe, hot water, extremely fast Wi‑Fi… Plus, many of them have spectacular views of El Nido Bay and Cadlao Island, making waking up each morning a delight.

The room includes a buffet breakfast served by the pool (YES!) and it’s super varied: fruit, an omelet station, pastries… They also have a tank of cold, potable water to refill your bottle so you don’t spend a fortune or generate more plastic. Honestly, a 10/10. If you book, give Eric a big hug from us. Double rooms are around $70 per night in low season.

You can read all about our experience in Sleeping at Sea Cocoon Hotel, El Nido.

Book here at Sea Cocoon

More hotel options in El Nido in this price range

We know accommodations in El Nido often sell out, especially in high season, so here are other interesting options within the price range we’ve mentioned:

• Bella Athena Garden: located in Calaan, it’s a super pleasant hotel with double and family rooms from $50 with breakfast (quite good). They have motorbikes for rent, but you can also walk to El Nido Town in 10/15 minutes. Very attentive staff. You can book it from this link.
• Sophias Beach Guesthouse: located beachfront, at the start of Corong Corong, in a very quiet area, it’s a very family‑friendly hotel with double and quad rooms, some with sea views. In low season you can get the standard for about $40 with breakfast. Take a look here.
• Panari Lodge El Nido: nothing stands out, but that’s exactly what makes it an OK hotel in El Nido. Rooms are clean, medium‑sized, and have air conditioning, a fan, and a safe. It’s in Corong Corong with plenty of restaurants around. The most basic start at just $32 and they have family rooms if you’re looking for where to stay in El Nido with kids. Book now from this link.
• Golden Monkey Beach Hotel: located in Calaan, right on the beach with wonderful views of Cadlao Island, it’s a hotel that’s had a nice refresh and offers everything from standard garden‑view rooms to sea‑view bungalows for just $60–70 a night—something hard to find among places to stay in El Nido. Have a look here.

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Best resorts in El Nido – TOP resorts

You know you’ll be going from one island hopping to the next, but you need to arrive at a comfortable, pleasant place by the sea to rest, so a resort is what you need. In this selection we’ll talk about some of them, but you’ll find full details in our article Best resorts in El Nido and, if it’s your case, you’ll also find some in Best honeymoon hotels in the Philippines.

If your budget isn’t very loose, keep in mind that El Nido is one of the most expensive places to treat yourself. That is, if you want your money to go further, it would be better to stay at one of the places we mentioned earlier and save the resort for another destination. In any case, take a look at the following:

Last Frontier Beach Resort – Adults Only (Corong Corong)

If you’re traveling as a couple and want somewhere special to stay in El Nido that isn’t excessively expensive, that’s by the sea and not far from restaurants and where the tours depart, we strongly recommend checking out Last Frontier Beach Resort, which is one of our favorite hotels in the area.

It’s located on Corong Corong Beach, which guarantees absolute tranquility and movie‑worthy sunsets; plus, we love the resort’s style blending into nature, the pool facing the sea, and its bar/restaurant. If you book in advance (really, you’ll have to in order to get a spot), you can get a very pleasant, spacious room (35 square meters) with breakfast included for just a little over $100, which is almost a miracle. Of course, if you want fancier rooms and even sea views and your budget allows it, there are alternatives like suites and cottages (yes, those little huts you imagine when you thought about where you wanted to stay in El Nido) decorated with plenty of style.

Book at Last Frontier Beach Resort

Cadlao Resort (Calaan Beach)

Do you love infinity‑style pools with amazing views? Then the best option for where to stay in El Nido is Cadlao Resort, located at the start of Calaan Beach and home to one of the best restaurants where to eat in El Nido.

In our opinion, after Last Frontier, it’s one of the best hotels in El Nido thanks to the style of the buildings, the pool, the bar/restaurant, and the service, and prices aren’t so outrageous either, since you can stay in a standard bungalow from just $80 a night in low season. If you want a special place to stay, you can also choose the sea‑view cabins and, moreover, they have a massage service that’s amazing.

The only “bad” thing is that it’s on Calaan Beach, which—as we’ve warned you—isn’t comfortable for swimming. The pool solves everything and, on the other hand, they have a free tricycle service to El Nido Town, although you can walk there in about 10 minutes without any problem.

Treat yourself at Cadlao Resort

Maligaya Beach Bungalows (Corong Corong)

If you’re looking for a hotel in El Nido tastefully decorated using Filipino craftsmanship, Maligaya Beach Bungalows is your place. Located on Corong Corong Beach, the rooms are set in beautiful cabins with every comfort and right on the beachfront (some with a terrace directly facing the sea). From this El Nido hotel you can watch one of the best sunsets in the world and see the sky change color over the Bacuit archipelago. Double rooms from $150.

Search rooms at Maligaya Beach Bungalows

Seda Lio (Lio Beach)

Located on Lio Beach, this recently built El Nido resort is one of the best places to stay if you have a bigger budget and, in our opinion, it’s the best in this area. Although the rooms don’t have sea views due to the vegetation, it is beachfront and almost all open directly onto its huge infinity‑style pool, and each has its own terrace.

Prices start at $230 per night, including a super complete breakfast. They offer a free transfer service to El Nido Town, so you can go for dinner or catch the island hoppings without any problem. Even so, in Lio Beach you have plenty of restaurants if you don’t want to move. For us, it’s the most comfortable option for where to stay in El Nido if what you want is the beach. It’s also an ideal accommodation area if you’re traveling with family.

See prices and dates at Seda Lio

More resort options to stay in El Nido

In case the previous ones don’t work for you, are pricey, full, or whatever, here are a few more:

• Lihim Resorts: top‑notch in Calaan with an exclusive area in one of El Nido’s prettiest lagoons, Cadlao Lagoon. An option if you’re looking for something luxurious but want to stay on Palawan itself and not on a neighboring island (like the hotels we’ll mention below). Take a look here.
• Frangipani El Nido: located at the end of Corong Corong Beach, it’s also one of El Nido’s most exclusive hotels, with gorgeous views of the islands of the Bacuit archipelago. From $120 per night with breakfast included. Peek at this link.
• El Nido Moringa Resort: located in Corong Corong with very good value for money, since rooms start at $100 a night and the place has loads of charm, including a huge pool surrounded by greenery. You can book here.
• El Nido Coco Resort: if you’re looking for accommodation in El Nido in low season, we suggest quickly checking whether they have availability here because for just $60 you can find a charming room at this resort in Corong Corong. Take a look from this link.

Either way, you have more options in our article Resorts in El Nido.

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Luxury hotels in El Nido – TOP luxury hotels

If you don’t have budget issues or want to splurge because you’re coming on a honeymoon to the Philippines, El Nido has to be the place to treat yourself! There’s a huge range of hotels in El Nido with incredible facilities. Some are on private islands where you can sleep in overwater cabins with unbeatable views. Take a look at these spots to stay in El Nido:

El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island (Isla de Miniloc)

Just like Lagen Island (another spot we recommend), this resort belongs to the El Nido Resorts group, which runs several luxury hotels in the area. It’s located on an island called Miniloc, home to the Small and Big Lagoon (two must‑dos of the island hoppings in El Nido), and from it you get fabulous views of the islets in the Bacuit archipelago.

It has regular rooms or luxurious bungalows over the water. Double rooms start at $700—expensive, but it’s truly an exclusive place that includes all meals, transfers to/from the airport, and island hoppings for the days you’re there.

Book your room at El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island

Mua Tala Hotel El Nido

This huge resort is, as of today, the only option that’s really worth it if you want to stay on Las Cabañas Beach, which, as you know, is just 15 minutes by tricycle from El Nido Town and with more and more dining options. Meticulously designed rooms with sea views of El Nido’s islands, an infinity pool, hammocks on one of the best beaches in the area… what more could you ask for? If you want to splurge on this trip to the Philippines, this is a great option, though budget about $180 for a double room.

Book at Mua Tala El Nido

More luxury hotels in El Nido

As we said, the selection of luxury hotels in El Nido is large, and we’d say it’s the place in the entire country with the most of this type. Here are some extra alternatives:

• Vellago Resort: located on Seven Commandos Beach, one of the best beaches in El Nido, and only accessible by boat. Its sea‑view rooms are a true fantasy, as is its bar/restaurant. Prices from $350 with breakfast included. You can snoop here.
• Matinloc Island Resort: located on the island of the same name in an incredible setting, here you also have rooms in the style of Lagen or Miniloc, though with slightly less exclusive service. Take a look from this link.
• The Funny Lion El Nido: a chain that’s gradually launching more properties in Palawan and we like it a lot for its modern facilities and service. This one is in El Nido Town itself, so the setting isn’t as incredible as the previous ones, but you’ll like it if you want something central with a pool. See here.

In Best resorts in El Nido you’ll find more options.

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Hotels around El Nido: Nacpan Beach, Sibaltan and Darocotan

As we mentioned above, if you have more days in this part of Palawan, you might be interested in a getaway to alternative spots. So here we’re going to give you some hotel recommendations in Nacpan Beach, Sibaltan and the lesser‑known island of Darocotan.

Where to stay in Nacpan Beach

If you’re thinking of staying a few days on this beautiful, kilometers‑long beach, there are more and more accommodation options. From hostels with music until late at night to very deluxe glamping options. Here are our recommendations:

• Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach: they have shared rooms and glamping tents for 2 people right on the beachfront. Note: party vibe.
• Nacpan Beach Glamping: a 2019 addition with spectacular glamping cabins that have everything. Air conditioning, safe, mosquito net… It’s expensive, but worth it.
• Eco Sanctuaries Nature Lodge Nacpan Beach: we were lucky enough to stay here for a night just recently and it was pure fantasy—like going back to the Philippines of 2010 that we first discovered. These cabins (only 3) are at the end of Nacpan, where there’s nothing else, and you’ll sleep to the sound of the waves, relax, and, above all, enjoy  one of the best beaches in the Philippines almost in total privacy. Seriously, don’t miss it. And if you don’t believe us, check out the photos below—they’re from the cabin where we stayed:

Where to stay in Sibaltan

Sibaltan is on the opposite coast from El Nido and is a super quiet, undeveloped village—that’s where its charm lies. Although the beach isn’t spectacular, it’s a pleasant place to enjoy a couple of days of relaxation, go diving with mantas, or do a pretty alternative island hopping. Also, if you do kitesurfing, you should know it’s one of the best places to practice this sport in the Philippines. Here are our places to stay in Sibaltan:

• Erlittop Garden Eco Lodge: fairly simple rooms without air conditioning, but with spectacular views. The hotel organizes lots of activities around the area and to neighboring islands.
• Ursula Beach Club: this is where we stayed for 4 nights and enjoyed it like kids in a little cabin perched on the hill. The family who run this place are LOVELY and some of their children have worked at some of the country’s best resorts, so they offer service at that level but, obviously, at a much better price. For now, they only have 3 rooms, so book fast because it’s the best in Sibaltan.

Find out everything in our Sibaltan Guide.

Where to stay in Darocotan

This island is becoming more and more popular, as it gives you the chance to feel the peace of sleeping on a deserted beach on an island paradise, with the sound of the waves. Keep in mind that to get there you’ll need to arrange the transfer with the accommodation, which raises the price a bit—same goes for food. Even so, we recommend it if you want a unique experience. These are the places to stay in Darocotan:

• BICE CAMP Darocotan: don’t expect more than a mattress with a mosquito net and fan, and shared bathroom—but the setting is the trick.
• Dryft Darocotan Island: the most expensive on the island, but the glamping tents are wonderful—so much so you won’t stop taking photos.
• The Isla Experience: the mid‑range option—and the one we chose. Their large sea‑view cabins are really cool.
• Dosplaya Ecocamp: the latest opening on the island, with well‑kept rooms in a very pretty area and not as pricey as the two above. Breakfast included.

You can read much more about this island in What to do in Darocotan.

Other options to stay near El Nido: Bucana Beach and Duli Beach

The above are the most common alternatives for staying around El Nido, but in recent years accommodations have been popping up in the barangays (neighborhoods) of Bucana and Duli, north of El Nido Town. Most are on the seashore and, of course, are cheaper, but you also need to consider that you’ll have to spend between 45 minutes and 1 hour getting to El Nido, which is quite inconvenient for doing island hoppings. For this reason, for us it’s a complementary option if you want to relax or stay longer.

With that said, here are some recommendations we’ve tried ourselves, in case you want to consider them:

• The Sanctuary: only 3 rooms, but right on Bucana Beach and with a kitchen guests can use. We were lucky enough to see turtles hatch in the small nursery they have and then release them into the sea. Good internet connection and pleasant service. Photo below.
• Zhaya’s Beach & Cottages: one of the first accommodations to open in Bucana and with the top restaurant in the area. They have cabins by the sea from just $18 that aren’t very big but do the job.
• Duli Beach Resort: the best accommodation on Duli Beach, with cabins directly facing the sea, Starlink internet, a turtle nursery, and a good restaurant. Ideal for families.

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Frequently asked questions about accommodation in El Nido

To wrap up, below we answer the most common questions you usually have about where to stay in El Nido:

Which area should I stay in El Nido?

It depends on what you’re looking for, but from our experience—and unless you’re after beach relaxation—the best thing is to prioritize staying in El Nido Town (the village) or otherwise in Corong Corong or Calaan Beach. If you’re traveling with family and want a few days of beach relaxation, Lio Beach is the best alternative. In all cases, the key is to book accommodation in advance, as the value for money is not good at all.

How many days should I stay in El Nido?

We recommend staying at least 4 nights to have at least 3 full days and thus do 2 days of island hopping (tours) and one for the nearby beaches (Lio, Nacpan, Duli and Las Cabañas).

What are the best hotels in El Nido?

The possibilities are endless and depend a lot on your budget. Among our favorites are Last Frontier, Cadlao Resort and Sea Cocoon, but this guide has tons of recommendations.

How much does it cost to stay in El Nido?

It depends on the season and the type of hotel you’re looking for; but to give you an idea, prices for a hostel bed start at $8 and you have double rooms in basic guesthouses from $18 per night. Even so, from November to April prices rise considerably, and you should consider that the value for money is among the worst in Southeast Asia.

Should I book accommodation in El Nido in advance?

We’ve been visiting El Nido since 2010 and we can strongly recommend booking in advance—really. We’ve spent up to 2 hours riding around on a motorbike looking for places to stay in high season in recent years. For us, it’s very important to book in advance, especially if you want something decent without paying a fortune. This is especially important between November and April.

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El Nido Guide

You’ll find much more information in our El Nido Guide: things to do, how to get there, and other useful info.

If you need more specific tips or still have any questions, tell us in the comments! We’ll gladly reply as soon as possible so you can choose accommodation in El Nido that’s 100% in line with what you’re looking for.