El Nido

Destination guide for one of the most photographed coastlines in Southeast Asia.

Why It Is Beautiful

El Nido sits on the north-west tip of Palawan, fringing Bacuit Bay — a 30 km expanse of limestone karst islands, hidden lagoons, white-sand strips and shallow reefs. The big draws are the four standard island-hopping circuits (Tours A, B, C and D), most of which you can do back-to-back over four days. The town itself is small, mildly chaotic, and improved by a road bypass completed in 2023.

Practical Travel Notes

When to go

December–April: dry, calm seas, peak prices. February–April is the sweet spot — hottest water, longest visibility.

May–October: south-west monsoon. Afternoon storms, choppier seas, rooms 30–50% cheaper. Boat tours still usually run, weather depending.

Avoid the September–November typhoon corridor.

Getting there

Fly El Nido (ENI) airport — AirSwift operates four daily flights from Manila in season, smaller propeller planes; eats baggage allowance and fares are USD 200–300 one-way.

Cheaper: fly to Puerto Princesa (PPS), then 5–6 hours by van or “Cherry” bus to El Nido (around P700, multiple daily).

From Coron: 4 hours by Montenegro Lines fast ferry, weather-dependent.

The four tours

Tour A — the lagoons: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu, Seven Commandos. Big Lagoon now requires a separate kayak fee (around P500) and timed entry. The most photographed circuit.

Tour B — the snorkel circuit: Snake Island sandbar, Pinagbuyutan, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave. Quieter than A.

Tour C — the beaches: Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Star Beach. The most scenic for snorkelling.

Tour D — the relaxed one: Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Natnat Beach, Bukal Beach. Closer to town and best in rough weather.

Group tours run around P1,500–1,800 per person including lunch. Private boat charter for 4–6 people is P10,000–18,000 — worth it on Tour A to get into Big Lagoon before the crowd arrives.

Beyond the boat tours

Nacpan Beach: 45 minutes north, a 4 km double-bay strip, beach bars, far quieter than Bacuit Bay.

Las Cabanas Beach: 10 minutes south, classic sunset spot — walk to Maremegmeg.

Taraw Cliff: a guided two-hour scramble for sunrise over Bacuit Bay (real-deal climb, not for vertigo sufferers).

Stand-up paddle in Cadlao Lagoon at first light — the only time it’s empty.

Day-trip to Coron Bay for World War II Japanese wreck diving (Skeleton, Akitsushima, Irako, Olympia Maru).

Where to stay

El Nido town: noisy, walkable, full of small hotels and restaurants — best for budget.

Corong Corong (5 min south): quiet beach, sunset side, mid-range boutiques. Casa Kalaw and Marina Garden are reliable.

Las Cabanas: a step further south, smarter resorts — The Birdhouse, Cuna Hotel.

Pangulasian, Lagen, Miniloc (island resorts): El Nido Resorts’ four properties, fully inclusive, the splurge option.

Eating

Trattoria Altrove for wood-fired pizza — the longest-running success in town.

Republika Sunset Bar and Sava Beach Bar for cocktails at Maremegmeg.

Open-air seafood grills along the beach in Corong Corong — point at the fish.

Practical tips (in addition to the Philippines section in chapter 4)

Environmental fee: P200 paid once on arrival, valid 10 days.

Plastic bag ban: bring a reusable shopping bag and water bottle. Refill stations are widespread.

ATMs run out: take cash from Puerto Princesa or Manila before you fly in. There are only a handful of ATMs in town and they go down on weekends.

Power cuts: scheduled and unscheduled outages are common. Confirm your hotel has a generator.

eTravel: same Philippines arrival form mentioned earlier — do not forget it 72 hours pre-flight.

Boat safety: pick operators with life jackets for every passenger, not just under the bench. The reputable ones run with marine radios.