The Ultimate Travel Guide to El Nido, Palawan
The ultimate travel guide to El Nido, Palawan will navigate you through all the prominent spots near the resort. With more than 7000 islands in the Philippines, Palawan is home to some of the archipelago’s pristine beaches and spellbinding marine life.
Nestled within the scenic mountains of Palawan’s main island, I haven’t heard of El Nido before a friend of mine told about it. This staggeringly beautiful destination is definitely one of the most popular places to visit in the Philippines. Not to mention Boracay.
I was visiting Indonesia back in 2015 and was eager to get as much out of my trip to South-East Asia as possible. So after doing some quick research, I found myself sitting at a window seat on a plane heading to one of the most beautiful islands of the Philippines. Regardless of the fact that I was having a 5:30 a.m. flight from Manila, I didn’t get a wink of sleep because of the excitement coursing through my veins. I was going to visit a tropical paradise.
The first part of my itinerary included the provincial capital of Puerto Princesa in Palawan. This beautiful city is unique as, despite modernism and innovation, you can still enjoy a bite of local culture there. I stayed in Puerto Princesa for only two days before heading up to El Nido. So let’s get started with this essential stop for your Philippines travel itinerary.
The Ultimate Guide To El Nido Palawan Philippines
When to Visit El Nido
El Nido, Palawan is a year-round destination. You can easily experience, enjoy, and appreciate the island whatever your dates might be. However, you need to know about the hottest and driest months, humidity levels, and the typhoon season to make your stay more comfortable. November to May is the best time to visit El Nido, Palawan because of the cool northeast winds and sunny days, allowing to explore at your own relaxed pace.
March and April are also the summer months in El Nido. Therefore the temperature can reach as high as 35°C (95F) in the morning. Apply enough sunscreen to protect yourself against UVA and UVB. I visited in early March and personally thought that was a great month to go to El Nido. It wasn’t too hot yet, the sea was relatively calm and I didn’t have any rain during the week I spent there. The typhoon season is June to November but occasionally typhoons occur outside of the wet season.
How Many Days To Spend In El Nido
How many days are you planning to visit El Nido? Is it enough time to see everything you want to see? Especially if you are a first time visitor to Palawan, you wouldn’t want to miss the top highlights of the island.
Depending on the length of your trip, things you want to do and see, 4 days and 3 nights is the most ideal for first-timers in El Nido. Of course, you can spend 3 days and 2 nights in Puerto Princesa but when it comes to visiting El Nido allow yourself more time around smaller islands where you can find exceptional beaches and spots, such as Hidden Beach, Secret Beach or the most famous one, Big Lagoon. Just don’t forget that you must book an El Nido boat tour in advance.
How to get to El Nido
There are several ways on how to reach El Nido. The time you need to arrive at Palawan obviously depends on your point of origin. You can either go take a direct flight to Puerto Princesa City (Lio Airport) from Manila or take a ferry from Coron, Palawan.
By Air
There are two transportation options you can use to get to El Nido. On my last trip there I opted for taking a direct flight from Manila (MNL) to Puerto Princesa. However, you can also take a flight from Cebu, which is generally cheaper. If you are travel from Manila then you can fly to El Nido with Air Swift, (formerly ITI).
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There are, of course, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Asia to choose from. AirSWIFT offers three daily flights from Manila to El Nido with prices range from PHP 6,000 (USD 120) to 7,000 (USD 140) depending on the season.
Attention: There is a strict 10 kg baggage allowance and if you are over the limit you’ll have to pay a fine. It didn’t have much effect on my budget since I was traveling with a backpack. On the plus side, the flight is very short (the journey lasts up to one hour) and it’s often more convenient than the other options.
By Minivan
While direct flights to El Nido are quite pricey, most backpackers, including me, take a plane from Manila to Puerto Princesa. Once you have arrived in Puerto Princesa by air you can travel overland from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. Getting to El Nido involves taking either a bus or minivan service.
Boarding a private minivan will set you back about PHP 500 (USD 10) for Filipinos and PHP 600 (USD 12) for foreigners. The journey lasts around 5-6 hours and depending on the season you could be in a very packed minivan.
I left Puerto Princesa City around 2:30 p.m. and arrived in El Nido around 8:30 p.m. 6-hour road trip is no joke, given that there were only two stops for meal and restroom breaks. During the road trip, I was experiencing poor network coverage because of a large elevation difference. This kind of traveling was quite exhausting to me. Thus I spend most of my time reading a book, watching movies, and trying to catch some ZZZ’s.
By Bus
When leaving El Nido, I traveled back to Puerto Princesa by bus so I got a chance to compare these two transportation options. There are two bus companies operating in El Nido and Palawan. The Cherry Bus and the Roro Bus, both have their buses running from the San Jose Bus Terminal, which is 7 kilometers from the airport.
You can take a tuk-tuk to reach San Jose Bus Terminal (I paid PHP 100 (USD 2) back in 2014). Once you are in San Jose Bus Terminal, you have to choose between Cherry Bus and Roro Bus services. Both companies run AC and non-AC buses. The entire trip will take about 7-8 hours to reach El Nido. Much longer than traveling by minivan but buses are more spacious and usually safer.
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Buses make plenty of scheduled stops throughout your journey, unlike minivans. The bus ride will end at El Nido Integrated Bus Terminal, where you can hire a tuk-tuk that will take you to El Nido downtown or wherever you want.
Where to Eat in El Nido. My Favorite Restaurants in El Nido.
If you’re anything like me, food is a big part of travel. El Nido is a food haven where you’ll find dining opportunities from cheap eateries that serve pizzas, pasta, sandwiches to the beach restaurants that offer tiki torches and live music. In general, the further from the beachfront the lower prices will be.
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While the restaurant scene in El Nido isn’t as diverse as in Manila, there are several restaurants to check out. I encourage you to try stuffed squid in Squidos (Calle Hama St). The costs are between PHP 150 and PHP 400 (USD 3-10). Looking for cheap pastry? Take a closer look at Midtown Bakery. They serve all kinds of fresh pastry for breakfast or lunch at a very affordable price. Perfect cinnamon rolls, coconut buns, cakes, and cookies for around PHP 10 (USD 0,2) a pop. Perfect for budget-conscious backpackers!
Best Things to Do in El Nido
1. Join an Island Hopping (Tour A-D)
An island-hopping is definitely the best thing to do in El Nido. Tours A, B, C, D provide a great opportunity for travelers to enjoy mind-blowing nature at its best. Also, some of El Nido boat tours include snorkeling trips, kayaking, and scuba diving. So you will get the chance not only to see the most remarkable spots around El Nido but also to enjoy the beautiful underwater world.
With the many scenic beaches, lagoons, and plenty of nature settings surrounding El Nido, it’s no surprise that the island hopping tours are incredibly popular and basically a must-do.
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There are countless shops in El Nido selling the same boat tours. While there are four boat tours available at the moment that takes you to different groups of islands, A and C are by far the most popular. I opted for tour A that I booked through the Art Cafe after reading reviews and comparing different booking agents. All tour operators offer pretty much the same service. However, some of them allow bargaining. Thus there is always a chance to get yourself a good deal. See the table below for details!
| ISLAND HOPPING TOURS | DESTINATIONS | TOUR PRICE |
| TOUR A | Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Big Lagoon | P1,200 (24 USD) pp |
| TOUR B | Entalula Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, and Cathedral Cave | P1,300 (26 USD) pp |
| TOUR C | Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island, Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine and Star Beach | P1,400 (28 USD) pp |
| TOUR D | Bukal Island, Ipil Beach, Nat-nat Beach, Cadlao Beach and Paradise Beach | P1,200 (24 USD) pp |
Most boat tours in El Nido usually start in the morning and run the whole day. If you travel from Puerto Princesa, you’ll have to add an extra day each for your arrival and departure in El Nido. Therefore, it might take a minimum of three days, but I recommend that you spend at least four days so that you can enjoy two full days for island hopping in El Nido. They are worth it!
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Tour A is definitely the most popular of the four itineraries mostly because it takes you to the Big Lagoon. Tour A has a great combination of lagoons, snorkeling sites, and beaches where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the view of the vast ocean dotted with several other islands.
For PHP 1,200 plus a few hundred extra if you want the kayak option you get a chance to visit Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Miniloc Island, Simizu Island, and Seven Commandos Beach. It also includes a lunch stop along the route. The Philippine government charges extra PHP 200 environmental fee, which is valid for 10 days, and if you want to snorkel you’ll need to rent a mask (200 PHP). But I always recommend bringing your own mask!
2. Rent a Scooter to Explore Beaches Around El Nido
Nestled some 10-minute scooter ride from Maligaya, Las Cabanas beach is my favorite spot in El Nido to grab a drink and enjoy fantastic sunsets. While Las Cabanas was the first beach I visited in Palawan, there are many other beaches you may want to experience. Once you start looking on google maps, you quickly realize that there are many jaw-dropping beaches all within a short ride from the center of El Nido! And oftentimes you don’t have to use a boat to get there!
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If you’re wondering how much does it cost to rent a scooter in El Nido, then you’re not short of motorbike rental options. There’s a lot ranging from scooters to semi-automatic motorbikes and cars. Both Puerto Princesa and El Nido have plenty of bike rental shops in their main commercial areas.
On average, it costs about PHP 600 ($12 USD) per day to hire a motorbike in El Nido. Of course, you will need to negotiate for a lower price because they love to fool travelers. They’ll do their best to get as much from you as possible so don’t go with the first price. They will gladly accept international credit cards like Visa and MasterCard but cash is preferred. Like elsewhere in Southeast Asia rental companies might ask you to leave your passport aside from a deposit. I find this practice quite annoying, so I always try to negotiate and see if they allow leaving my driver’s license instead.
3. Take El Nido Inland Tours
El Nido has long been associated with island hopping but there are plenty of lovely spots to visit in El Nido mainland like Makinit Hot Springs, Nagkalit-kalit Waterfalls, Kuyawayaw Waterfalls and Sibaltan Beach.
On my last day in El Nido, I decided to hire a scooter to Nagkalit-kalit Falls. It cost me PHP 600 for the entire day. At the start of the trail, there was a group of locals offering their guiding services. On average, they charge about PHP 200 per person, but you can and should negotiate the price.
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While the hike itself isn’t really that difficult, having a guide can be a life-saver. As you start hiking through the woods, you will find it necessary to cross several ankle to knee-deep creeks, so be prepared to get your feet wet. My guide was right there to help with crossing deep rivers and showing me a direction. However, his guiding skills left much to be desired.
The pathway was quite rocky but it can get muddy in the typhoon season. It took us 40 minutes to get to Nagkalit-kalit falls. The fall was beautiful, but definitely not Niagara Falls. It is rather a place to find solitude. It was still nice to take a freezing dip in a lake. I’d recommend bringing a change of clothes and a towel to quickly dry up afterward.
Where to Stay in El Nido
When it comes to finding affordable accommodation options in El Nido, you’ll be spoilt for choice. There’s a lot ranging from backpacker’s inns to beach resorts and guesthouses. The majority of the hostels are located in the northern part of Maligaya, which is around a stone’s throw from El Nido Ferry Terminal. Hostels in El Nido usually charge PHP 500 per night. This is the average rate for a dorm room. You might be able to find prices lower if you look around, but this is a good price for the area.
Hostel: Backpacker-friendly Our Melting Pot Hostel, a perfect option for those traveling on a tight budget. Located close to the beach, this hostel offers reasonably priced budget accommodation right in the middle of downtown. A great hostel to find like-minded backpackers and have great fun.
Another option for solo travelers, couples, and backpackers traveling together is the Spin Designer Hostel. Located on the opposite side of the Elementary school open field, this hostel has a kitchen, free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and the friendliest staff I’ve ever met! The property is really clean and you don’t have to worry about your possessions due to higher levels of security.
You can also check Outpost Beach Hostel if you wish to settle closer to Corong Corong beach.
If you don’t want to stay in a hostel, there is some great mid-range accommodation available in El Nido as well. During my trip, I stayed at Sea Cocoon Hotel which is located right in the center of the town. What I love most about staying here is that they have a flexible cancellation policy, a back-up generator, free Wi-Fi and the property is near all the activities in El Nido.
