Where to Stay in El Nido, Palawan: Best Areas and Hotels

Thanks to the spectacular landscapes of the Bacuit Archipelago, which has become famous around the world, El Nido is one of the most popular destinations on a trip to the Philippines. This has led to rapid growth in services for travelers, including, of course, hotels. These days, you’ll find all kinds of places to stay in El Nido.

From hostels and dorm-style accommodation where you’ll share a room with other backpackers to resorts with overwater bungalows and views of the gorgeous islets in this part of Palawan, you’ve got plenty of 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 somewhere so famous. That’s why many travelers choose nearby areas to stay, since, after all, you’ll spend most of the day outside your hotel.

UPDATE 2026: from one traveler to another, we recommend booking your accommodation in El Nido WELL in advance. Unfortunately, value for money in this part of the Philippines isn’t great and the best hotels sell out fast. Honestly, in our experience, if you wait until just 1 to 3 weeks before your trip, you could end up staying in one of the worst places 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 visit, we make a point of exploring other options we come across or 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’re looking for (easy access to tours, a wider variety of restaurants, how much value you get for your money, bars…), the best choice can be quite different.

Besides El Nido Town itself (the town center), there are other nearby areas that are pleasant, convenient places to spend a few days. The accommodation 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 most restaurants, bars, and tour agencies are concentrated. Island-hopping tours depart from here. Value for money isn’t as good, but it’s the most convenient option if you don’t want to move around much. It’s best if you’re traveling solo or want everything within easy reach. Suggestions: Frendz El Nido | BaleCabugaoCottagesRental | Love Vega Hometel | Sea Cocoon Hotel.
• Las Cabañas: a pretty beach that’s good for 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. Most of the accommodation options are pricey hotels. Suggestions: Coconut Cottages El Nido | Mua Tala Hotel El Nido.
• Corong Corong: an extension of El Nido Town, a beachfront area where the bus terminal and market are located, as well as plenty of hotels 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’s a middle-ground option between El Nido Town, Las Cabañas, and Lio Beach. Great 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 beachfront places to stay 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. Accommodation here is mainly resorts and it’s an 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 short: if you want convenience for tours and a huge choice of restaurants, we’d go for El Nido Town. If you want a good beach that’s not far away and a nice place to stay, Lio Beach. For something in between, with beachfront resorts at more reasonable prices, choose Corong Corong.

Either way, we think the key is to start searching (and booking) in advance and pick a place that stands out for its facilities and value for money. As long as it’s not excessively far away (like the areas we’ll cover 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.

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

a) El Nido Town

This should be your go-to option for where to stay in El Nido if you don’t want any hassle. In central El Nido Town you’ll find tons of restaurants, bars, and agencies for booking island hopping in El Nido (as tours also depart from here), so you won’t need to move around much. If you’re traveling solo, the center is probably the best place to stay in El Nido because everything is close by and it’s easy to meet people.

Plus, over the years El Nido Town has been improving and, from being a crowded and dirty town, it’s becoming a more organized and pleasant place. Obviously, you’ll find all kinds of hotels, from very basic guesthouses to bigger hotels. Just keep in mind 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, Bulskamp 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 can be 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 popping up alongside the few options already there. In fact, a shopping center opened in early 2020 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 an hour. You’ll find more information about this beach and other nearby beaches in our article Best beaches in El Nido.

Las Cabañas is a lovely place to watch the sunset and it’s a great beach for swimming, even at low tide. Just keep in mind that it’s very popular and that during the day it gets quite busy, especially the stretch between the shopping center entrance and the last beach bars.

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

c) Corong Corong

Corong Corong covers the whole area south of El Nido Town (toward 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 shops, restaurants, and other businesses.

Getting to Corong Corong from El Nido is just a 10-minute walk (although it depends on which part of Corong Corong, as you can see, it’s quite a large stretch) or a 5-minute tricycle ride (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, as it’s somewhat rocky and it can be hard to swim comfortably, the views of the Bacuit Archipelago are 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 other areas 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 restaurant selection is quite limited and, although you’ll find a few places, 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 one of the newest areas to stay in El Nido. It’s a very beautiful beach and perfect for swimming. It’s right 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 El Nido. 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 town center.

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

Recommendations: Seda Lio and Lakwa Motel.

Other areas to stay in El Nido

Be careful when searching 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 may well be beautiful and very quiet, they won’t really work for your plans: exploring El Nido and doing tours. The most beautiful part of visiting El Nido is the island-hopping tours 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 how to get there.

In Nacpan, there are van services (600 pesos round trip per person) at set times, although there aren’t 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 very limited, so you’ll have to rely on a motorbike and, of course, the island-hopping tours don’t depart from there. Almost the same thing happens if you opt for Bucana Beach or Duli Beach, both beautiful and barely developed, but with almost non-existent public transport. Reaching either takes almost an hour.

Staying on Daracotan is just as inconvenient, if not more so, if you’re thinking you’ll do the island-hopping tours 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 time. We only recommend it if you’re going there to enjoy the island for one or two nights.

In our opinion, we’d only stay in these places or other remote spots if you have days to spare to explore El Nido and then spend some quiet time elsewhere. You’ll find accommodation suggestions in these parts of El Nido further below.

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

Best Places to Stay in El Nido: Hotels by Budget

Although we’ll go into more detail about the best places to stay in El Nido, grouped by type and price (although, as you know, prices vary a lot in El Nido depending on the season), if you want to get straight to the details, we’ve summarized it in this table. You can swipe across it to see the rating and price. You can also click on each name to go directly to view or book each one.

As you know, we’ve been here plenty of times, so you’ll find 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 Hostels in El Nido

A good way to save money in the Philippines is by sharing a room with other travelers in hostels. In El Nido, because it’s so popular, you have quite a few backpacker-friendly options. There are several hostels that are ideal for socializing but also have a few private rooms. Here’s our selection, but you’ll 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 travel buddies to share adventures with, this is one of the best hostels in El Nido. Spin Designer Hostel is a modern building located in the town center and has plenty of common areas where you can meet people, play ping pong, or simply relax. They have shared dorms for four people (mixed and female-only) and a few double and single private rooms with private bathrooms.

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

Book your bed at Spin Designer Hostel

Frendz Hostel El Nido (El Nido Town)

Opened in early 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: the highlight is an infinity pool on the rooftop with views of Bacuit Bay where there’s also a bar and usually a DJ playing.

They have 6-bed dorms (one of them is female-only) as well as family rooms for four 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 particularly 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-friendly place in El Nido with a great atmosphere and right on the beach, we wouldn’t think twice: we’d go for Outpost Beach Hostel. It’s right on the seafront, in Corong Corong, and has staff who organize daily activities and keep guests entertained.

You can choose from mixed dorms sleeping four, six, eight, or twelve people, doubles with or without a private bathroom, and family rooms (for three or five people, with a private bathroom), so it’s a great spot whether you’re traveling solo or with friends and want to meet other travelers. All rooms have air conditioning and the bathrooms are usually kept very clean. As for prices, dorm beds start at $9 per night if you book in advance, which is very affordable for the location and, above all, for El Nido.

Check dates at Outpost Beach Hostel

More backpacker accommodations in El Nido

If the options 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 affordable in El Nido? Then this is your pick. Located in Corong Corong, in the part closest to El Nido Town and right by the road, beds start at $13, including breakfast and an open bar in the evenings. Take a look here.
• AA Hostel: if you don’t mind riding a motorbike, you can stay in a 6-bed dorm in El Nido 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 rooms from just $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 one of the most expensive places in the Philippines, but if you look in advance and travel in low season, you can find little gems for under $20–25 per night in a double room. That said, don’t leave booking too late and don’t expect big luxuries, especially if you’ve been to other Southeast Asian countries and expect everything to be very cheap. Unfortunately, there aren’t many budget hotels in El Nido—or at least not the places you’d rather avoid… Here are the 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—and a pretty decent one at that, you can 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 there’s no hot water in the shower) and that you’ll need to climb some stairs; but the trade-off is that 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 staying in El Nido for very little money.

If you find a room available, don’t hesitate to book quickly because it’s one of the few genuinely cheap places to stay in El Nido and the owners 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, happy to help however they can, 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. It’s definitely not a luxurious hotel, but it’s good value for money for a stay in El Nido.

Book your room at Love Vega Hometel here

Inngo Tourist Inn (El Nido Town)

If you book this hotel in El Nido early enough, you’ll get a clean room with air conditioning, a ceiling fan, hot water, right in the heart of El Nido Town, from $22 per night. It’s true the rooms aren’t very big, but it’s more than enough for what you’ll usually be doing in El Nido. Also, when you make the booking, if there’s availability, you’ll see several room types, as some have been renovated more recently than others.

The only downside we see to this hotel in El Nido is that they don’t serve breakfast and the internet connection in 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 considering the location and, as often happens in the Philippines, the staff are lovely.

Book your room at Inngo Tourist Inn here

MilVir Tourist Inn (El Nido Town/Corong Corong)

Look, the décor at this budget accommodation in El Nido probably won’t 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 too 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 visiting El Nido with family or friends, as the family rooms are spacious and come with three double beds.

The guesthouse is between El Nido Town and the bus station, in a very quiet area, so noise isn’t an issue. Getting to El Nido Town Beach, where the tours depart, won’t take you more than 15 minutes on foot or, if you prefer, it’s just a 3 to 4-minute tricycle ride. The family who run it are also lovely. If you have an early tour or transport, they’ll prepare breakfast for whenever you need it so you don’t have to leave without eating. In short, one of the budget hotels in El Nido we absolutely recommend.

Take a look at MilVir Tourist Inn here

More budget hotels in El Nido

As with the previous options, if the places 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 luxurious, but from just $18 per night, 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, given the price, we couldn’t really complain. Have a look from this link.
• Raje Residence: as with the previous options, it’s noisy and the rooms are damp, but two people can sleep in El Nido for under $20 per night. 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 so you can put together a quick breakfast. See what you think here.

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Best mid-range hotels in El Nido

If you can stretch your El Nido accommodation budget to around $40–70 per night for a double room, you’ll be able to choose slightly less basic places. In fact, as you’ll see, you can even stay right by the sea. Based on 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 somewhere to stay right on the beach in El Nido without spending much, you should hurry to check whether Corong Beach Resort has availability. In addition to its fantastic location, by the sea in Corong Corong, it’s run by a lovely family and, honestly, we can tell you it’s a little gem you shouldn’t miss. In low season, double rooms with a balcony cost around $40 and have everything you need: hot water, fan, air conditioning, and, as we said, a special setting. In high season, as you’d expect, 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 double rooms without views to bungalows/lofts directly on the beach, perfect for families. The key is to book in advance because rooms really do go fast (hence our reminder about how important it is to book your hotel in El Nido well ahead of time if you want 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 beyond Las Cabañas; but this hotel in El Nido won us over for several reasons. The clearest—and what you can see in the photo—is its infinity pool, with incredible views over Bacuit Bay. The second is the setting itself, perfect if what you want is absolute tranquility. 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 on-site restaurant 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 that can take you up if you don’t feel like walking so much. Book in advance because rooms 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 join 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 quadruple rooms that are reasonably priced too. In short, a hotel in El Nido that we liked and found very 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 stayed at this hotel several times for its location and because it’s a long-standing classic (it’s been around for many years). They have double rooms with air conditioning and private bathrooms with hot-water showers, as well as some double rooms with an extra bed/sofa if 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 anything you need; the place is 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 can recommend it first-hand, especially if you’re traveling with family or as a group, since they have triple rooms, quadruple rooms, and suites that can sleep more than five people. It’s 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)

This was one of our most recent choices for where to stay in El Nido, and it didn’t disappoint. Eric, the manager, is a lovely Filipino and his warm 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 heart of the action with access to all the restaurants and bars in town, yet sleeping soundly. The rooms are super spacious and have all the amenities you’d expect from a European-standard hotel: 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 real treat.

The room rate includes a buffet breakfast served by the pool (yes!) and it has plenty of variety: fruit, an omelet station, pastries… They also have a dispenser of cold drinking water to refill your bottle so you don’t spend a fortune on water or generate more plastic waste. Honestly, 10 out of 10. If you book, say hi to Eric 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 Sea Cocoon here

More El Nido hotel options in this price range

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

• Bella Athena Garden: located in Calaan, it’s a really pleasant hotel with double and family rooms from $50 with breakfast (quite good). They rent out motorbikes, but you can also walk to El Nido Town in 10–15 minutes. The staff are very attentive. You can book it through this link.
• Sophias Beach Guesthouse: located right on the beachfront, at the start of Corong Corong, in a very quiet area, it’s a very family-friendly hotel with double and quadruple rooms, some with sea views. In low season you can get a standard room for about $40 with breakfast. Take a look here.
• Panari Lodge El Nido: nothing especially stands out, but that’s exactly what makes it a perfectly 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 nearby. The most basic rooms start at just $32 per night 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 has been nicely refreshed 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 tour to the next, but you want to come back to a comfortable, pleasant place by the sea to rest, so a resort is probably 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 that applies to you, you’ll also find some options in our Best honeymoon hotels in the Philippines guide.

If your budget isn’t very flexible, keep in mind that El Nido is one of the most expensive places in the Philippines to treat yourself. In other words, if you want your money to stretch further, it may 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, is by the sea, and isn’t far from restaurants or the tour departure point, 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, which blends beautifully into nature, the pool facing the sea, and its bar/restaurant. If you book in advance (and really, you’ll need to if you want to get a room), you can get a very pleasant, spacious room (35 square meters) with breakfast included for just 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 probably pictured when imagining where you wanted to stay in El Nido), stylishly decorated.

Book at Last Frontier Beach Resort

Cadlao Resort (Calaan Beach)

Do you love infinity 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 in El Nido.

In our opinion, after Last Frontier, it’s one of the best hotels in El Nido thanks to the design of the buildings, the pool, the bar/restaurant, and the service, and prices aren’t too 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 they also offer amazing massages.

The only downside is that it’s on Calaan Beach, which—as we’ve warned you—isn’t comfortable for swimming. The pool more than makes up for it and, on the other hand, they offer 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 with Filipino artisan touches, Maligaya Beach Bungalows is the place for you. Located on Corong Corong Beach, the rooms are in beautiful cabins with everything you need for a comfortable stay 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 start at $150.

Search rooms at Maligaya Beach Bungalows

Seda Lio (Lio Beach)

Located on Lio Beach, this recently built resort in El Nido 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, the resort is beachfront and almost all open directly onto its huge infinity pool, and each has its own terrace.

Prices start at $230 per night, including a generous breakfast. They offer a free transfer service to El Nido Town, so you can go for dinner or catch the island-hopping tours without any problem. Even so, in Lio Beach you have plenty of restaurants if you don’t feel like going anywhere else. For us, it’s the most comfortable option for where to stay in El Nido if the beach is your priority. It’s also an ideal area to stay if you’re traveling with your family.

See prices and dates at Seda Lio

More resort options in El Nido

If the previous options don’t work for you, are too pricey, fully booked, or just not what you’re looking for, here are a few more:

• Lihim Resorts: a top-notch option in Calaan with an exclusive area in one of El Nido’s prettiest lagoons, Cadlao Lagoon. It’s a good 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). Have 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. Rooms start at $120 per night with breakfast included. Have a look here.
• 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 during low season, we suggest quickly checking whether they have availability here because you can find a charming room for just $60 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 budget isn’t an issue or you want to splurge because you’re traveling to the Philippines for your honeymoon, El Nido is definitely 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 places to stay in El Nido:

El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island

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 Lagoon and Big Lagoon (two must-sees on island-hopping tours in El Nido), and from there you’ll get fabulous views of the islets in the Bacuit Archipelago.

It offers regular rooms or luxurious bungalows over the water. Double rooms start at $700, so yes, it’s expensive, but it’s truly an exclusive place that includes all meals, transfers to/from the airport, and island-hopping tours during your stay.

Book your room at El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island

Mua Tala Hotel El Nido

For now, this large resort is the only option we think is truly 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 has more and more dining options nearby. Meticulously designed rooms with sea views over 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, although you should budget about $180 for a double room.

Book at Mua Tala El Nido

More luxury hotels in El Nido

As we mentioned, there’s a large selection of luxury hotels in El Nido, and we’d say it’s the place in the country with the highest concentration of this type of property. 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 dreamy, as is its bar/restaurant. Prices from $350 with breakfast included. Have a look here.
• Matinloc Island Resort: located on the island of the same name in an incredible setting, you’ll also find rooms here in a style similar to Lagen or Miniloc, although the service feels slightly less exclusive. Take a look from this link.
• The Funny Lion El Nido: part of a chain that’s gradually opening more properties in Palawan, and one that we really like 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 it here.

You’ll find more options in Best resorts in El Nido.

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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 some lesser-visited spots. So here are 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 playing until late at night to high-end 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: opened in 2019 and has spectacular glamping cabins with everything you need. Think air conditioning, a safe, a mosquito net… It’s expensive, but worth it.
• Eco Sanctuaries Nature Lodge Nacpan Beach: we were lucky enough to stay here for a night recently and it was an absolute dream—like going back to the Philippines we first discovered in 2010. These cabins (there are only three) are at the end of Nacpan, where there’s almost nothing else around, and you can fall asleep to the sound of the waves, and best of all, enjoy one of the best beaches in the Philippines almost in total privacy. Seriously, don’t miss it. And if you need proof, check out the photos below—they’re from the cabin where we stayed:

Where to stay in Sibaltan

Sibaltan is on the opposite side of the peninsula from El Nido Town and is a super quiet, undeveloped village—and that’s exactly 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 manta rays, or do a more offbeat island-hopping tour. Also, if you kitesurf, you should know it’s one of the best places to do it in the Philippines. Here are our recommended 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 had the best time in a little cabin perched on a 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 that level of service, but at a much better price. For now, they only have three rooms, so book quickly 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 experience the peace of sleeping on a deserted beach on a paradise island, to the sound of the waves. Keep in mind that to get there you’ll need to arrange the transfer through your accommodation, which raises the price a bit—and the 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, plus access to a shared bathroom—but the setting is the whole point.
• Dryft Darocotan Island: the most expensive on the island, but the glamping tents are wonderful—so much so that you won’t stop taking photos.
• The Isla Experience: our mid-range pick—and the one we chose. Their large sea-view cabins are really cool.
• Dosplaya Ecocamp: the newest opening on the island, with well-kept rooms in a very pretty area and not as expensive as the two options above. Breakfast included.

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

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

The options above are the most common places to stay outside El Nido Town, but in recent years accommodations have been popping up in the barangays (local districts) of Bucana and Duli, north of El Nido Town. Most are by the sea 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-hopping tours. For this reason, for us, it’s more of an add-on 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 staying in one of them:

• The Sanctuary: only three rooms, but right on Bucana Beach and with a kitchen that guests can use. We were lucky enough to see turtles hatch in their small nursery and then release them into the sea. Good internet connection and friendly service. Photo below.
• Zhaya’s Beach & Cottages: one of the first accommodations to open in Bucana and home to one of the best restaurants in the area. They have simple cabins by the sea from just $18 that are perfectly fine for the price.
• Duli Beach Resort: the best accommodation on Duli Beach, with cabins directly facing the sea, Starlink internet, a turtle nursery, and a good restaurant. It’s 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 travelers usually have about where to stay in El Nido:

Which is the best area to stay in El Nido?

It depends on what you’re looking for, but in our experience—and unless you’re mainly after beach time—the best option is to prioritize El Nido Town (the village) or, alternatively, 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 value for money is not great.

How many days should I stay in El Nido?

We recommend staying at least 4 nights so you have at least three full days, which gives you time for two days of island-hopping tours and one day for nearby beaches (Lio, Nacpan, Duli and Las Cabañas).

What are the best hotels in El Nido?

There are endless possibilities, and the best choice depends largely 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’ll find double rooms in basic guesthouses from $18 per night. Even so, from November to April prices rise considerably, and you should keep in mind 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 strongly recommend booking in advance—really. In recent years, we’ve spent up to two hours riding around on a motorbike looking for places to stay in high season. In our opinion, it’s very important to book in advance, especially if you want somewhere 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 exactly right for you.