5. November 2023
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Looking for a perfect itinerary to explore the Philippines? This island paradise offers an endless array of destinations for travelers to discover but planning a
El Nido, Philippines: the Best Place for Island Hopping
Are you dreaming of a tropical paradise with white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and stunning untouched nature? Then El Nido is the perfect destination for you. Located in the northern part of Palawan Island, El Nido is a paradise for beach lovers, adventure seekers, and nature enthusiasts. With its crystal-clear waters, lush green forests, and stunning rock formations, El Nido is a destination that promises an unforgettable holiday experience. In this comprehensive travel guide, we will take you through everything you need to know to plan your trip to El Nido, Philippines.
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1. Basic Information
El Nido is a beautiful tropical paradise located on the northern tip of Palawan Island in the Philippines. Known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and limestone cliffs, El Nido is a popular destination for beach lovers and nature enthusiasts. With its amazing rock formations similar to those of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam or Phang Nga Bay in Thailand, El Nido is arguably one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines. It is also the starting point for jaw-dropping island-hopping tours, but we will get to that later.
The best time to visit El Nido is during the dry season, from November to May when the weather is sunny and dry. The peak season is from December to February, so it’s best to book your accommodation and tours in advance.
2. How to get to El Nido
You can get to El Nido by flying into Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan Island. From there, you can take a van or bus to El Nido, which takes about 5-6 hours. Alternatively, you can take a direct flight to El Nido airport, but these flights are limited and can be expensive. We chose the second alternative as the flights from Cebu weren’t that much more expensive (plus the minivan ticket) at our time of traveling and were happy to skip the bus. Just check both alternatives early enough.
Upon arrival, you have to take a tricycle to your accommodation which takes around 20-25 minutes. Fun fact: because the airport is so small, El Nido Airport still doesn’t have an automatic luggage belt. The airport employers will hand over your luggage to you personally instead.
If you’re coming from Coron, there are some ferry operators but be sure to book early as tickets are selling fast in the main season. We took Montenegro Lines for the opposite route and everything was fine, although it was pretty expensive (around 50€ per person one way).
3. Where to Stay and Eat
For us, by far the best option to stay in El Nido as a backpacker is Frendz Hostel. It has the perfect location, only 5 minutes away from the harbor. It offers private hostel tours (together with the operator Haqqy Life) for the different tours and beaches and the rooftop pool and bar are stunning. The only downside is that it’s pretty expensive for a hostel. It costs around 16€/18$ per person for a dorm bed.
We haven’t stayed here but other decent options seem to be the SANSE Boutique Hotel (more expensive), the Sea Cocoon Hotel, or the El Nido Boutique Vacation Villas. They are all a bit more upscale but it’s really hard to find good and cheap accommodation in El Nido.
There are also some really good restaurants & bars in El Nido. We loved Bella Vita for Neapolitan pizza and truffle pasta in a nice place by the sea, Garlic & Mint for Vietnamese food, and Oz El Nido for breakfast (smoothie bowls).
4. Island Hopping
It’s all about Island Hopping in El Nido. There are thousands of different travel agencies, but they all have 4 routes which are declared as A-D and have their fixed itineraries (as shown below). First, we wanted to do a private island tour but the prices increased so much after covid that it was nearly impossible. So we went around El Nido and tried to find a private boat for a group, but that was hard. Also, you don’t need to try your luck with bargaining because other than the itinerary the prices are also fixed. There is an additional 200 PHP environmental fee which you only pay once (no matter how many tours you do).
The boats are all similar in size to what we saw, but the group size depends on how many sign up that day (up to 20 people). Usually, water, lunch, and snorkeling gear are included in all tours. If you wanna drink more than water, there are floating bars or local vendors on some islands with coconuts and beer, so bring some pesos!
In Tour A, you’ll go to the Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon (it’s possible to rent kayaks here for 300 pesos), Secret Lagoon (Payong-Payong Beach (or similar)), Shimizu Island (snorkeling Spot, based on weather conditions), and Seven Commandos Beach for volleyball. This tour costs 1.390 PHP which is around 22€ or 24$.
Tour B brings you to Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Cucugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave, and Entalula Island for 1.300 PHP.
On Tour C, the following spots can be seen: Hidden Beach, a lunch spot at another beach, Secret Beach (depending on weather conditions), and Helicopter Island. This tour will cost you 1.590 PHP which is 26€ or 28$.
Tour D includes Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan Beach, Nat Nat Beach, and Bukal Beach for 1.200 PHP.
Tour A is the must-do route. We also did tour C and with that, you’ve seen all the important spots. If you still have time and money, you can do more. Island Hopping in El Nido was one of our highlights in the Philippines, although the weather wasn’t perfect. We loved both tours and would come back for B and D!
5. What elso to do?
Rent a scooter and explore the area by yourself. We loved driving around, meeting locals, and visiting different beaches. For example, Nacpan Beach on the mainland is a beautiful beach: 4km long, with white sand, and lots of palm trees. But the part of the street which leads there from the main road is bumpy and muddy, so drive carefully!
Be sure to stop in the Bucana village where children jump off from a hanging bridge. You need to park the scooter on one side and walk over the bridge to get access to a nearby beach. Also, Leo Beach is nice, because it is not too crowded.
Another great beach to relax and enjoy the clear waters is Las Cabanas Beach. It’s only 10 minutes south of El Nido town (by scooter). Park your scooter near the McDonald’s and walk 5 minutes down to the beach. It’s also a great spot for sunsets!
If you are bored by just lying around at the beach you can also climb the Taraw Cliff Canopy Walk for a nice view over El Nido and the bay. It’s not a long walk and will only take around 15 minutes to the top. Nevertheless, it can get sweaty due to the hot climate. For us, it was a nice experience but a bit overpriced with 8$.
El Nido might not be big but there are a lot of backpackers, so there will be a party when you’re around. We liked SAVA Beach Bar and there is also a karaoke bar across the road. Filipinos love karaoke, so it’s a must-do on your trip through the Philippines!
6. Conclusion
El Nido, Philippines, is a destination that offers a perfect combination of natural beauty, adventure, and relaxation. El Nido has something to offer for everyone. So pack your bags and embark on an unforgettable journey to this slice of paradise in the Philippines. If El Nido is only one stop on your Philippines itinerary, check out our brand new article with other hidden gems and many useful tips!
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