The Philippines is known as an island nation with countless beaches, along with large and small islands stretching out. That’s why this country has attracted a large number of tourists thanks to the charm of beaches of all shades, from wild and rustic to brilliant and charming. And if you are looking forward to discovering a beautiful place with beaches, turquoise lagoons that have all the above colors abroad, then come to EL Nido once.

El Nido, Palawan is a beautiful destination with dramatic limestone cliffs and turquoise waters | el nido travel blog
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Kayaking in El Nido, Palawan | el nido travel blog
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Vibrant night life in El Nido | el nido travel blog

So, is El Nido worth visiting, how to visit El Nido, what to do in El Nido and how to plan a perfect trip to El Nido for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our El Nido travel blog (El Nido blog) with the fullest El Nido travel guide (guide to El Nido, El Nido guide) from how to get to El Nido, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in El Nido to help you maximize your trip as follows!

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The northernmost coastal town in the Palawan province should be on the list of tourist destinations in the Philippines because it is a place with beautiful islands, white sand beaches and many lagoons surrounded by the most beautiful limestone ranges in Asia.

El Nido is also the gateway to the Bacuit Archipelago, which is home to 45 islands and islets, each with a unique geological formation. Among the countless archipelagos in the Philippines, El Nido is one of the three longest archipelagos in the country and is located in the northern area of Palawan, southwest of Manila.

Star Beach, El Nido | el nido travel blog

The archipelago owns nearly 50 beaches with diverse ecosystems. Before its current popularity, El Nido had its main source of income from fishing. Today, tourism industry has become the main economic source, local authorities also limit the construction of new hotels to protect nature and the environment. Besides, El Nido is also known for its tourist exploration activities such as swimming, diving, and kayaking.

Overview of El Nido (# el nido travel blog)

El Nido map | el nido travel blog

El Nido is a municipality in the northernmost part of the province of Palawan, Philippines. It has impressive natural beauty, from breathtaking lagoons, white sand beaches, rocky islets and towering limestone boulders to glassy waters filled with rich marine life. With its rich pristine beauty, El Nido receives countless compliments from visitors. This tourist destination has also been mentioned many times as one of the most wonderful islands and beaches in the world.

| el nido travel blog
| el nido travel blog

El Nido consists of more than 40 islands scattered throughout the Bacuit Archipelago. Each island has unique geological wonders that are both breathtaking and pristinely majestic. The waters surrounding this place are a beautiful combination of blue colors.

El Nido is very famous in the world for its clear blue beaches and beautiful coral reefs. For me, after visit once, I just want to stay in this paradise forever and never return. The beauty is truly captivating, the cost is cheap, it is truly a trip of a lifetime.

Nacpan beach at sunset
| el nido travel blog

When it comes to the Philippines, you can’t miss El Nido. It owns many beautiful islands, clear water, along with unique underwater flora and fauna such as coral, Nemo fish, Dory fish,… and is considered one of the paradises on earth.

When traveling to El Nido, visitors often go to Coron island. These are the two most famous destinations in Palawan. With a limited time of 5 or 6 days, people usually only choose one of the two. But if possible, I recommend spending 2 weeks to go to both.

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Nemo fish | el nido travel blog

Although it is a first-class metropolis, the town still has a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere. If you are passionate about modern convenient life, El Nido is not a great choice. However, if you want to explore nature and want to relax, then try experiencing self-sufficient travel in El Nido. Over the years, it has received a record number of tourists in the region, more than 500,000 visitors per year.

In Palawan, Puerto Princesa serves as the gateway to El Nido and along with Coron, these three areas are the most visited areas in Palawan.

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A few interesting things about EL Nido (# el nido travel blog)

Of the countless archipelagos that make up the Philippine island nation, El Nido is one of the country’s three longest archipelagos and is located north of Palawan, southwest of Manila. This is both a class 1 urban area and a nature protected area of the Philippines.

| el nido travel blog
| el nido travel blog

Specifically, this archipelago owns nearly 50 beaches with a full range of ecosystems. And one thing you will definitely get when traveling to EL Nido is a check-in background that cannot be better with beautiful islands undulating in the clear sea water, or the white sandbars in the heart of the most beautiful limestone ranges in Asia.

Many times, tourist places in EL Nido are among the top places worth visiting, or have the most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia and Asia, so you can rest assured. This trip will definitely be worth what you spend.

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Some reasons to travel to El Nido (# el nido blog)

  • You can come to EL Nido for any personal reason. But most tourists choose this place because of its attractive beauty
  • EL Nido is home to the most beautiful beaches in Asia
  • Great sea for diving with rich ecosystem and clear water
  • Enjoy fresh seafood
  • Enjoy stunning views in a relaxing, peaceful space
  • Explore mysterious caves and lagoons
  • Experience the beaches that are ranked among the most beautiful in the Philippines and the world
  • The cost of traveling to EL Nido is not high compared to other beaches in Europe, America or Australia

When is the best time to go to EL Nido? (# el nido blog)

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Although nature has gifted this island nation with picturesque beaches, there are times when nature does not favor it. Summer is the time when the sea is the most beautiful, the waves are calmest and safest. If not, you can come between December and March but be careful that the waves are a bit big at this time.

I went in February and thinking it was beautiful. Of course it’s beautiful, but the sea is quite rough. Before I go, searching online, everyone said this time was the best time to visit. But after asking the locals, March, April, May are the best months to come because during this time the sea is calm, the waves are not big, diving and taking photos is easy.

| el nido travel blog

Regarding price, like the rest of the Philippines, the cheapest time to travel to El Nido is from June to October. The period during the rainy season has a humid climate, not suitable for exploring the beauty of EL Nido. However, airfare and hotel prices are often much cheaper.

How to get to EL Nido?

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From Vietnam, you can book flights to Mactan-Cebu International Airport or Manila International Airport first and then take a boat or plane to EL Nido. Airlines operating this route are usually Philippine Airlines, Cathay Pacific, All Nippon Airways, Vietnam Airlines, Singapore Airlines,…

And book your flight tickets early. Because ticket prices will range from $205 – $290 along with flight time depending on the waiting time which can be 3 hours or more than 24 hours. Therefore, when you book early, you can hunt for tickets quickly and cheaply.

From Puerto Princesa to El Nido

After arriving at the airport, you will have two options. One is to book a flight to Puerto Princesa (the capital of Palawan – about 7 hours by car from El Nido) with flight time from Manila to Puerto Princesa about 1 hour 20 minutes and ticket price only about $45. Then take a bus, shuttle bus, coach or taxi for about 5 more hours. For each means of transportation, please refer to this information to make it easier to choose:

  • Bus: Traveling time is about 6 hours with a cost of about $12/ticket.
  • Passenger car: It takes about 5 hours 30 minutes, ticket price $15/ticket.
  • Taxi: Takes about 5 hours 30 minutes, cost about $115.
  • Minivan: If you don’t stop in Puerto Princesa to explore for a day, after landing you can go outside the airport gate to catch a minivan (16-seat car) to get to El Nido. Outside the gate, there are many vans for you to choose from, the price is around 550~600php/person. There will be a lunch stop along the way.
Puerto Princesa Airport front view and a Van Transfer to El Nido
Puerto Princesa Airport front view and a Van transfer to El Nido | el nido travel blog

The road is quite far so it will be quite tiring for those who suffer from motion sickness, but I spent the whole trip admiring the scenery on the side of the road. People’s houses grow many beautiful flowers, many roads along the coast and downhill are also very spectacular.

By air (# el nido travel guide)

As for the second way, you can buy a ticket to fly directly to El Nido airport. It only takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, but flights are usually less frequent and ticket prices are slightly higher, about $85 – $150. From the airport, it will take about 30 minutes to El Nido town.

You can use the airport shuttle service to El Nido town if you choose this way. But in general, you should prioritize the first way.

Choose to combine flying then taking the bus to EL Nido, you will save some money and can experience the street scene of the Philippines @shutterstock | el nido travel blog

But note, because the flight from Manila to El Nido is a short flight, the type of plane used will be ATR 42 or ATR 72, the engine propeller is exposed, the passenger capacity is only from 40 to 80 passengers. Therefore, the flight will be a bit shaky, you should prepare anti-sickness medicine before boarding the plane. In return, you will admire the beautiful scenery of El Nido from above. The number of flights is also fixed at 4 per day and the price will be a bit high. AirSwift is also the only airline operating this flight.

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A resort by the beach | el nido travel blog

From Coron to El Nido (# el nido travel guide)

Ferries from Coron to El Nido depart once a day, 3 times a week, operated by MBCA / Overcomer. Travel time is from 7 to 8 hours. You should book ferry tickets before departure date.

Getting around El Nido

You can experience sitting on a Jeepney to see the entire EL Nido urban area and see how interesting it is @shutterstock | el nido travel blog

Popular means of transportation in El Nido are jeepneys and tricycles (a motorbike with a covered vehicle on the back). The fixed price for getting around El Nido town is $0.20 (~PHP 10). Besides, motorbikes help you conveniently move even on the steepest and most difficult roads. Motorbike taxis, called “habal-habal” by locals, are commonly used by tourists to move quickly from one place to another. They often park right in town or circulate to find customers.

If you want to experience the many interesting things in this worth place of visit, you can choose to take a jeepney to tour the city for only $0.16/first 4km and $0.49 for the next kilometer. In addition, you can also take a taxi, bus or rent a motorbike to travel on your own for your convenience.

Tricycle, popular mean of transport in El Nido | el nido travel blog

Tips: My experience is don’t ask the price if you don’t want to charge overprice. Just hop on and show your place you want to go. If it’s close, pay 20php, if it’s far (near Las Cabanas), pay 50php.

In fact, it’s even cheaper, but I think this price is more worth the distance. Get off the car and pay like that. Occasionally, a driver will frown and criticize, just tell him “Usually I still go at that price, what do you think it is this my first time going to a tricycle?”. But if you asked him how much it cost to get here, he would double it.

It’s best to just catch a tricycle on the street where the price is easier to pay, instead of catch it at the stands in the village, not cheap at all.

In general, if you’re lazy and don’t mind the price, just go because there are no other public vehicles here.

If you confident with your drive, rent a mortobike to getting around is the best way | el nido travel blog

If you come to El Nido with a small group, renting a tricycle is a good choice. Because they can carry four people. This means of transport is also easy to find around town.

If you have motorbike driving skills, renting a motorbike yourself can be cost-effective, and you can use it for the duration of your stay or a whole day to explore El Nido. This is a good choice for solo travelers or couples.

What to do and where to go in El Nido?

Nacpan and Calitang

Panoramic view of Nacpan beach from flycam with vast coconut forests | el nido travel blog

Just one beach is enough to mislead tourists, but Nacpan and Calitang combine to create a masterpiece, Twins beach. With such pristine, peaceful and romantic beauty, just setting foot there is enough to forget all your troubles.

Each beach has its own look when combined together to create a spectacular masterpiece for you to enjoy @shutterstock | el nido travel blog

You can get here by renting a motorbike or three-wheeled vehicle (Tricycle). Among them, Nacpan beach is more famous and is considered the most beautiful beach in the area with a coastline stretching 4 km. Twins Beach is a suitable destination for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

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Nacpan beach at sunset
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Las Cabanas Beach

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A beach that has attracted a lot of attention lately is Las Cabanas. 5km from El Nido town, known for its creamy white sand and coastal coconut groves.

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Sunset at Las Cabanas beach. Watching the sunset at Las Cabalas beach is a must-do experience when traveling to El Nido | el nido blog

Dolarog Beach

One of the beaches with the most visitors is Dolarog. This is because this beach has exceptionally clear blue sea water. Moreover, it is located next to the lush tropical forest and the location can see the Bacuit archipelago, so you can combine many activities of swimming, checking in, and watching the sunset right in the fairy land.

Dolarog beach is quite shallow, so you can rest assured to let your soul follow the wind and clouds and enjoy @shutterstock | el nido blog

It is a beautiful beach located next to a lush tropical forest, offering visitors panoramic views of the Bacuit Islands and beautiful sunsets. The beach is famous for its wild natural beauty and is suitable for young children because the water level is quite shallow.

Seven Commandos Beach

Talking about the beach with the most beautiful scenery in this archipelago, we must name 7 Commandos. The water color here is so incredibly clear that you can see your feet clearly. There are also unique limestone rocks, white sand beaches and shady coconut groves, creating an extremely good scene for healing the mood.

Besides swimming, you can take a boat to explore the majestic limestone rocks and don’t forget to check-in @shutterstock | el nido blog

It is a popular destination for many tourists and is part of the tours offered in El Nido. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in El Nido with crystal clear water, interesting limestone rocks, white sand beaches and shady coconut groves.

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Duli Beach

It is a pristine, uninhabited beach like Nacpan. Although it is not an easy place to get to, it will definitely bring great experiences to you.

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Corong-Corong Beach

Located right in El Nido town with a coastline stretching over 3km.

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Zip Lines

An interesting experience that can effectively help you reset your mood is to try watching the sea from above. There is a 750m long Las Cabanas Zipline connecting from Las Cabanas beach to Dependent Island for you to experience. The cost will depend on the style you want and ranges from $10 – $15.

Seeing the sea and islands at high altitude will bring many different feelings to tourists who love thrilling rides @shutterstock | el nido blog

Las Cabanas Zipline is a 750m long zipline starting from Las Cabanas beach and Depeldet island. Zipline prices depend on the type of zipline you want. The popular sitting style costs 500 pesos (10 USD) one way, and the Superman style costs 700 pesos (13 USD).

Taraw Cliff

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In addition, there is a place that is the best in itself and also helps you see the beauty of the best El Nido: Taraw Cliff. This location is located right in town and about 40 minutes by car from the sea. And one thing you should pay attention to is that you should use the Ferrata Canopy Walk to get to the top safely.

Standing at the Taraw Cliff limestone hill, you will have the opportunity to expand your panoramic view of EL Nino @shutterstock | el nido blog

Another tip is both quality and economical is that you can book a 1-day El Nido island tour for convenience. You don’t need to worry about missing out on anything great, you don’t need to prepare too much and the cost is only from $20.

Nightlife

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The islands of El Nido are known as paradise on earth and are very famous for their many beautiful landscapes. When the sun goes down, it’s time to go out to experience the nightlife. There are two main places to enjoy nightlife in El Nido. One is Marimegmeg beach with bustling bars. If you just want to sip a few cocktails, just head to some of the bars in town near the beach.

The nightlife in El Nido is quite bustling, you can easily find a cafe, bar or restaurant that suits your style to relax and enjoy after a long day of water activities.

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A bar next to beach | el nido blog

Some other places to visit

El Nido town

Panorama of El Nido town from above | el nido blog
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A bustling street corner in El Nido town – Sorry for the blurry photo | el nido blog
A corner at the end of El Nido town near the port – You can buy Joanna’s cheap tours in this section. A little sideways to see that the town’s coastline is not too long | el nido blog

Canopy Walk

That place is called Canopy Walk – a place for tourists to see the whole town of El Nido from above | el nido travel guide

El Nido island tours

The islands and beaches in El Nido will usually be grouped into different tours including Tour A, Tour B, Tour C, Tour D, etc. However, the best places to visit include in Tour A and Tour C. In addition, you can also book Tour A and Tour C or Tour B and Tour D packages to experience camping on the island, which is also very interesting if there is no time limit. Details of locations in the Tour.

In addition, you will enjoy lunch on the boat or on the island prepared by the tour guide on the boat and a local resident. Typical coastal foods and eating utensils are also made from natural materials or reusable dishes are brought along. This contributes to preserving nature and the environment on these islands. It can be said that the people and government here have done very well in developing sustainable tourism and preserving the most intact nature.

The best places to visit including in “Tour A” and “Tour C.” So, if you are not limited by time when visiting El Nido, choose both Tour A and Tour C.

You can’t go to El Nido without taking a island hopping tour – that is, renting a boat to visit places around the island.

El Nido island tour packages:

Tour A — Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven commandos island.

Big Lagoon

Big Lagoon big lagoon el nido
Big Lagoon, El Nido | el nido travel guide

The way to Big Lagoon is through quite shallow water, and to get in you have to rent a kayak or… swim.

Panorama of Big Lagoon from above looking down. | el nido travel guide

El Nido Tour A Lagoons & Islands

Small Lagoon

Inside Small Lagoon – The water is quite deep so rent a Kayak rather than swimming as you will be exhausted | el nido travel guide
Small Lagoon entrance | el nido travel guide

Secret Lagoon

Secret Lagoon
Secret Lagoon – The water here is not very clear, probably because of its small size | el nido travel guide

The entrance to Secret Lagoon is small and slippery, with quite sharp rocks

Next to Secret Lagoon is a very beautiful corner to take photos, unfortunately I didn’t notice that the camera was getting steamy so it was blurry.

| el nido travel guide

Shimizu Island

Lunch on the boat is included in tour A. Our boat stopped at Shimizu Island for a lunch break. Lunch includes: Grilled chicken, fish and watermelon | el nido travel guide

Shimizu Island is only for viewing, there is no place to get on

| el nido travel guide

Seven Commandos Island

Part of Seven Commandos Island – Tour A El Nido | el nido travel guide
It’s called Seven Commandos island because there are 7 soldiers like this on the island | el nido travel guide
Drink stall on Seven Commandos island | el nido travel guide
The beach of Seven Commandos Island is not too large | el nido travel guide

Seven Commandos is the final place of tour A I went on. It’s afternoon, it’s 4 pm and the sun is starting to shine less. The sea without sunshine looks gloomy. So when you go to the beach, you have to go on a sunny day to be beautiful

Tour B: Entalula beach, Pinagbuyutan Island (most beautiful island), Snake Island, a certain cave that can only be viewed from the outside.

Snake Island is also very beautiful, it has a beautiful sand line connecting 2 islands in the middle of the sea. In Vietnam, there is also Diep Son Island, but it is nothing compared to Snake Island.

Pinagbuyutan Island

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Pinagbuyutan Island has green grass as beautiful as in a movie. The island of my dreams. Come to this island, please take tour B. My lens is not wide enough to capture this place

Grass fields on Pinagbuytan Island. Who says Tour B is not worth going? There is Snake Island and Pinagbuyutan Island as beautiful as this

Snake Island

Snake Island here. Have you seen the sandbar?
Snake Island – Looks like it’s a long walk

El Nido Tour B Caves & Islands

Tour C: Helicopter island (because it looks like a helicopter, I think it looks more like a whale), Matiloc Shrine, hidden beach, Tapiutan island, Star Beach.

El Nido Tour C Hidden Beaches & Shrine

Tour D — Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan Beach, Natnat Beach, Bukal Beach.

You can combine 2 tours together, for example “Combo Tour A+C” and “Combo Tour B+D.”

Tour booking information

Usually, tour prices in El Nido are the same, tour A is about 1,200 pesos, tour C: 1,400 pesos, in general the only difference is the boat and the tour seller or the guide tour, but the itinerary is the same. In addition to the tour fee, you also have to pay an additional 200 pesos environmental fee (pay once and use it all for the tour).

You can book a tour anywhere, but I used Klook’s tour (tour A here, tour C here) because their price is 100 pesos cheaper than the selling price there, so those who go in a large group can buy it. to save money for dinner.

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All tours last nearly a full day, departing from around 9:00 am – 3~4:00 pm. The average cost is about 1200~1400php depending on the place, including lunch, diving goggles, environmental protection fee… The boat drivers and servers are also very polite and kind, so at the end of the day, you should tip them another 100php to be nice.

Please note that if you buy a tour at a hotel or in town, most prices are high. I advise you to go near the port and ask Joanna’s house to buy a tour. She usually reduces the price to only 1000php. Even when buying tickets to Coron, she sells them cheaper.

What to eat in El Nido?

If you are looking for the answer to the question of what makes EL Dino so fascinating to tourists, the following specialties are also part of the answer. So, if you have the opportunity to come to this beautiful sea, you must try these dishes:

  • Fresh seafood
  • Traditional oven-baked pizza
  • Filipino style meat stew
  • Adobe is eaten with white rice
  • Halo halo – fruit mix in syrup
  • Taho tofu
  • Arroz Caldo porridge – chicken
  • Tuna

A delicacy that makes El Nido famous is bird’s nest soup. In fact, the name El Nido means “nest” in English. It is made from the saliva of the Balinsasayaw bird, which forms its breeding and breeding nests in the crevices of the El Nido limestone mountain. This is an expensive dish and a must try when you come here.

In addition, pizza and traditional Filipino dishes are also extremely attractive.

If you walk around El Nido town in the evening, enjoy the local cuisine here. Especially the Pizza that any visitor to El Nido must try.

There are many traditional eateries in town, also known as turo-turo or “point-point” in English. There are many different dishes for you to choose from and pay when you order. Meals cost between 60 – 75 pesos (1 USD) and include rice, meat, soup or vegetables. While bars and restaurants have prices ranging from 150 – 300 pesos (6 USD) per meal.

Coming here, you must definitely try tuna-related dishes @shutterstock
  • Art Cafe – visited at least once by everyone and is the best WiFi spot in town. The menu at Art Cafe is extensive, including seafood, pizza, pasta and salads.
  • Rooftop – is a colorful bar/restaurant located above a clothing store on El Nido’s main street. Although it’s a bit more expensive, it will be an enjoyable experience.
  • Agape – Located in a great location right on the beach and is one of the few restaurants that serves lunch. Try the seafood pasta and Greek salad here.
  • Angel Wish – is one of the cheapest seafood restaurants in El Nido and will save you a lot of money.
  • Squidos – fresh seafood with famous stuffed squid.
  • Bacuit Grill Bar and Restaurant – is an outdoor dining facility, perfect for those who want to watch the sunset over the bay.

In addition, you can try streetfood, which are Filipino barbecue-style dishes, and go to the beach near the port in the afternoon.

There are also a lot of foods along M. Quezon Street, most of which are Western dishes. On this street there is a delicious ice cream shop, please try it.

Suggested El Nido itinerary 5 days

My itinerary for reference:

  • Day 1: Hanoi – Manila – Puerto Princeas – El nido (arrive in El nido around 5pm)
  • Day 2: Take tour A, spend night in town
  • Day 3: Rent a motorbike to go to Nacpan, return early in the afternoon to zipline at Las Cabanas and watch the sunset
  • Day 4: Tour C and evening in town (actually had to change to tour B because tour C was canceled)
  • Day 5: Get on the boat to Coron (8 hours), about 8:00 a.m., arrive at Coron at 3 or 4 p.m.

Besides island hopping, you should spend a day renting a motorbike to go to Nacpan beach (650php/day).

This beach is super beautiful with a kilometer long white sand beach, about 30km from El Nido town (I will remember this beach all my life because it is so beautiful).

You should rent a motorbike to feel the beauty along the way. On the way to Nacpan, there is a section where you have to turn onto a quite small dirt road, so pay attention to Google maps to use. If you’re afraid of driving to explore, rent a trycicle to get there.

Nacpan beach

Next to Nacpan beach there is a very beautiful Twins beach, but this area is currently banned from entering. You can go around to get in but there are still people blocking you from climbing the small hill.

If you have one more day, you should use it to hang out around town. In the afternoon, go to Las Cabanas beach to play zipline and watch the sunset. This is the best sunset viewing spot on the island, the beach is also beautiful.

There is another spot near the town center: climbing Taraw to see the whole town from above. To go this way, the ticket costs about 400php/person.

Where to stay?

El Nido includes four villages: Buena Suerte, Corong-Corong, Maligaya and Masagana located entirely on two small peninsulas. El Nido has many accommodation options for any budget. From high-end resorts, hotels, luxury to mid-range, motels. You can also choose a homestay or camping to experience local life.

The “El Nido Town” that people commonly know is actually the Buena Suerte settlement parallel to the beach in Barangay. Meanwhile, Masagana is famous for its many resorts and Caalan beach. And Corong-corong is located on the southern tip with fine white sand. In general, hotels in El Nido are quite expensive.

The town center, known as El Nido Town Proper or “Poblacion”, bustles with hotels, restaurants and the best nightlife in El Nido.

You can stay in 4 main areas:

  • Town of El Nido (Buena Suerte). This is where the most activities are held. You can find many hotels along the beach and nearby streets, suitable for those with a budget or mid-range travel budget. The area is close to many restaurants, bars, shopping and tourist offices.
  • Corong-Corong. It feels like an isolated tropical paradise, nestled in the southern beaches of El Nido, the closest area to the bus station.
  • Caalan Beach (Masagana). The resort has begun to thrive, but is still quite sparsely populated, much like Corong Corong.
  • Islands: Accommodation on the islands is mainly luxury and expensive resorts.
  • The area around Las Cabanas beach, this area is mainly a resort, quiet, and quite far from the port. Every day if you need to go to the tour center, you will have to take a tripcile quite a distance. Room prices are often high because of the resort, but pretty.
  • Town center: Central but cheaper than Las Cabanas, nice rooms are quite expensive but many cheap rooms for those who like to travel, near the port, near the town center with many bars, cafes, bustling and bright I really enjoyed going to the port.
  • Accommodation at Caalan beach is great for first-time visitors to El Nido because it has both a beachside feel and is easily accessible at a low cost. Corong-Corong Beach offers a peaceful seaside atmosphere suitable for those who want to relax gently. Meanwhile, accommodation in Nacpan often caters to those looking for luxury with high-end resorts.

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Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

Check out more top and best hotels in El Nido on Agoda.com or Booking.com

How much does it cost to travel to El Nido?

The cost of self-sufficient travel in El Nido, Philippines, can vary depending on many factors such as length of stay, type of accommodation, experience and personal preferences. Below is a cost estimate for an economical self-guided trip to El Nido:

  • Accommodation: 22 – 65 USD per night, depending on accommodation type and tourist season.
  • Food: A simple meal at a local restaurant can cost from 2 – 4.5 USD.
  • Tickets for sightseeing and activities: 26 – 78 USD for each island hopping, diving, and day tour activity.
  • Transportation: 13 – 30 USD per day, depending on the vehicle you choose.

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By choosing economical services and accommodation, you can travel to El Nido on your own with a budget of about 65 – 130 USD per day. However, consider your personal finances and preferences to plan a suitable trip. If backpacking, the cost can be cheaper, about $25 – $75 per day.

Note: The above costs do not include air tickets.

Some things to note before you go

  • Because there are many water activities, make sure you are fully prepared with sunscreen, swimsuits, and common medications. In addition, the weather in this region is also a typical humid tropical monsoon climate, so make sure you bring enough hats and jackets.
  • The number of ATMs on the island is also limited, you should withdraw money in advance in Puerto Princesa or Manila to have cash ready in advance when needed.
    When you arrive at the airport, you can buy a local SIM card to get a 4G internet connection. This helps you access information, navigate, and stay in touch easily throughout your journey.
  • The most popular network operator in the Philippines are Smart and Globe. When purchasing, you can ask the staff at the counter to activate your SIM card.
  • Like the rest of the Philippines, tipping is not mandatory in El Nido. Most establishments include a service fee, but gratuities are still appreciated by the service team.
  • Small Lagoon and Big Lagoon are two famous tourist attractions in El Nido Philippines. To regulate visitor traffic and minimize environmental impact, Small Lagoon and Big Lagoon cannot be visited on the same tour on the same day.
  • In addition, you also need to learn about new special regulations in El Nido before you come. This will help you avoid unnecessary problems.
  • Local ATMs are often out of cash: Cash is widely circulated in every part of the Philippines, and El Nido is no exception. There are only a few ATMs in El Nido and they often run out of money so you need to withdraw and bring plenty of cash just in case. Most visitors will use the BPI Bank ATM on Real Street.
  • Only high-end establishments and luxury resorts can accept electronic payments or credit cards.
  • Is there a fee to visit attractions in El Nido? Yes, most island and beach attractions charge a green fee (in addition to the entrance fee). Additionally, there are currently three premium locations in El Nido, namely Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon and Secret Beach, all with additional fees.
  • Note on health issues: There are a few cases of visitors being poisoned at El Nido, you should be careful to only eat and drink at clean, reputable establishments and avoid eating raw vegetables or fruits that have not been washed with clean water. We should prepare a bag of medicine for common diseases in our suitcase to avoid getting sick here.

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El Nido is not only a destination of discovery, but also a journey that takes us to immerse ourselves in the mystical beauty of nature and the sincerity of the local community. Come to El Nido and experience the most beautiful memories with the valuable experiences we have shared with you.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to El Nido you can refer to

Read more Philippines guide here.