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El Nido in the Philippines- A Practical Guide
Arrival - how to get to El Nido?
You can fly directly from Manila, Cebu, Boracay. You can also book flights to Puerto Princesa instead, which are much cheaper. If you are from Corón, you can take the journey by boat to El Nido. The coastal town is located about 230 kilometers from El Nido. After arriving in Puerto Princesa you can take a bus or hire a van and start the 5 to 6 hour trip to El Nido.
Getting around El Nido and Palawan
The best option is to rent a motorcycle. It gives you a lot of freedom. In addition, it is a lot of fun to explore and get lost around riding a motorcycle. Otherwise, there are lots of tricycles available for hire. The price of trips within the surroundings of El Nido is usually 50 to 200 pesos, depending on the distance.
Accommodations in El Nido - Where to Stay?
Most tourists stay in El Nido where you will have a host of offers from accommodations, restaurants, and travel agencies, which means you can negotiate more compared to other areas. Additionally, most of the island hopping tours depart from here.
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, however, the most popular area to stay is in Corong Corong. Other recommended places are the area of Las Cabañas and Caalan Beach.
- If you prefer to stay in a hostel, one of the premier and top-rated hostels in El Nido is Spin Designer Hostel (breakfast included and friendly staff). Another popular and inexpensive hostel with comfortable beds in the very center of El Nido is the Big Mike hostel.
- Hotels around € 50 with excellent value for money: Bulskamp Inn (located in the center of El Nido, good service, with wifi, and a garden) and Amakan Bed Bunk Breakfast ( tropical and traditionally inspired accommodation, breakfast included, located in the heart of El Nido). Cuna Hotel, which is one of the most frequented hotel accommodations in El Nido has clean and spacious rooms and features a rooftop terrace with a pool, and offers a spectacular view of Bacuit Bay.
- If you have a higher budget, don't miss The Nest El Nido Beach Resort located in Caalan. Other luxury hotels in El Nido include the El Nido Resorts Lagen Island, Matinloc Resort, Nacpan Beach Glamping, Cadlao Resort, and Panorama Resort.
Why not rent an entire Island!
Other typical Filipino accommodations in the area can be found on Airbnb. Many travelers today look for accommodations from Airbnb because the prices are cheaper, offer great location and access to the beautiful beaches, and they often come with a kitchen so you can save money by preparing your own meals.
Photo Credits: Brother Island
What to See and Do in El Nido
El Nido is one of the jewels of the Philippines, and together with the island of Boracay, is the most famous tourist destination in the Philippines today.
Tip: Organize well what you are going to do each day. This is something we would recommend in any destination, but especially in El Nido. Plan in advance how many days you will be island hopping and what days you will spend exploring the surroundings of El Nido in Palawan.
Below are some of the best attractions on the paradise island of El Nido:
Island hopping in the Bacuit Archipelago
If you can, it is recommended that you do every tour. You will not regret it, because every island is a little jewel in itself, which you should not miss. Otherwise, in our opinion, you should not miss Pinagbuyutan Island, and in Cadlao Lagoon is the clearest water you will ever see. Star Beach seems unimpressive, at first glance but once you go snorkeling here and see the blue starfish underwater, you will not believe your eyes.
Tour B: Pangulasian Island, Snake Island, Cudognon Cave, Cathedral Cave, Pinagbuyutan Island
Tour C: Helicopter Island, Hidden Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Star Beach, Secret Beach
Tour D: Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Beach, Paradise Beach, Natnat Beach, Bukal Beach
The cost of Island hopping tours in El Nido (Palawan) ranges from Php 1200 to 1600 (25 Usd to 33.30 Usd). They leave from El Nido around 9 a.m. and usually last up to 7 hours. Lunch is included in every tour - fresh fish is grilled right on the beach and some companies make snorkeling equipment available.
Surf at Duli Beach
Duli beach is found on the northern tip of mainland Palawan, 30 minutes north of Nacpan. Although it is not as famous as Cloud 9 in Siargao, it is the center of the surfing community in El Nido. The sand has such a striking golden color with a very fine texture and from the shore to the water, it stretches to at least 30 to 40 meters. The ideal wave season coincides with the dry season or Amihan, between September and October to May or June, but it can vary from year to year.
Here you can find several places to rent a board for about Php 500 per hour, including the idyllic Duli Beach Resort. If you are unlucky enough to come on a day without waves, you can always rent a kayak or paddle surf. In the rocky corner, you have very good snorkeling where you can even see turtles. You can ask a local and they will indicate the exact point. There is also a restaurant for your food cravings.
Nacpan Beach
Arguably the best beach in El Nido and one of the most spectacular in the entire Philippines, the only drawback is that there is between 45 and 60 minutes of travel from El Nido town, which is not a good option if you want to do tours. However, if what you are looking for is a stunning beach, this is the place! You can even walk to see Calitang Beach, which together with Nacpan form the Twin Beaches.
Kayaking in El Nido
Another of the best activities to practice in El Nido is a Kayak route through the different beaches, you can choose to leave from El Nido town or from Corong Corong and stop at the different beaches. If you want to splurge, you can rent a clear kayak at Boutique and Art Cafe. Otherwise, regular kayaks are available for rent at Php 500 for a full day and at Php 300 for a half-day experience.
Nagkalit-Kalit waterfalls
These waterfalls are following the road north towards Nacpan. To get there you have to do a small trek of about 45 minutes. You can hire a guide although it is not necessary. The waterfall is 10 meters and we don’t think that they are the best waterfalls in the Philippines. For this, we only recommend visiting them if you have time to spare.
Sunsets in El Nido
After an epic day to remember in El Nido in which you will have enjoyed impressive island hopping or relaxing nearby beaches, what better way to put the icing on your day than enjoying a sunset in bold hues?
For this, the best place is the terrace of Las Cabanas Beach Resort! If you like a relaxed atmosphere, you can stay in this area. Go grab some drinks before the sun begins to set. You can order some fresh juices or a San Miguel in any of its bars, listen to some music, and enjoy the sunset!
Tips for El Nido
Buy a waterproof bag for your camera or smartphone to protect them while you are exploring between lagoons and islands in El Nido.
You can rent a kayak almost anywhere if the tours are too touristy for you and explore the islands yourself - but be careful to find your way back home - the islands and beaches all look very similar from a distance.
If you want to do some footwork, you should climb Taraw Peak. The ascent can be challenging, but high up you will be rewarded with a spectacular view over the archipelago. Hire a guide so that you don't get lost in the jungle of Palawan.
El Nido boasts some of the best beaches in the entire Philippines. We recommend that you dedicate at least one day of your stay in El Nido to visit beaches such as Nacpan, Las Cabañas, or Lio Beach. If you have more time, you will not be short of plans, because you can also venture to more distant places such as Sibaltan or Duli Beach.
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