Here's your complete DIY travel guide to El Nido, one of the best places to explore in Palawan!
Exploring the most beautiful place in the world with the stunning views of the seascape, turquoise crystal clear waters and discovering caves and hidden beaches that will take your breath away. A destination that truly looks like paradise.
To many (like us), going to Palawan is a dream. Seeing the pictures and the videos online, it only makes us to like it more and more. To fulfill our dreams, we have decided to go to one of the best islands in the Philippines!
In this guide, we will share you important information about El Nido, fun things to do, different island tours, where to eat and where to stay for a 4 days and 3 nights itinerary with budget.
ABOUT EL NIDO
El Nido is a Philippine municipality on Palawan island. It’s known for white-sand beaches, coral reefs and as the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago, a group of islands with steep karst cliffs. Miniloc Island is famed for the clear waters of its Small and Big lagoons.
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| El Nido, Palawan |
Nearby Shimizu Island has fish-filled waters. The area has many dive sites, including Dilumacad Island’s long tunnel leading to an underwater cavern.
FUN FACTS ABOUT EL NIDO
- El Nido is about 420 kilometres (260 mi) south-west of Manila and about 238 kilometres (148 mi) north-east of Puerto Princesa, Palawan's capital.
- El Nido is situated in Bacuit Bay and covers a land area of 465.1 square kilometres (179.6 sq mi).
- It has 18 barangays.
- In the 2020 census, the population of El Nido was 50,494 people, with a density of 55 inhabitants per square kilometre or 140 inhabitants per square mile.
- In the 2020 census, the population of El Nido was 50,494 people, with a density of 55 inhabitants per square kilometre or 140 inhabitants per square mile.
- In the 2020 census, the population of El Nido was 50,494 people, with a density of 55 inhabitants per square kilometre or 140 inhabitants per square mile.
- El Nido Airport also known as Lio Airport is the primary and sole airport serving the town of El Nido.
- The main roads of El Nido are organized around a set of radial and circumferential roads that radiate and circle in and around the town proper and its rural barangays. Its interconnected roads are connected to the major highway that leads Puerto Princesa.
- The main port in El Nido, which is under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), is located in Buena Suerte (Zone II), although a number of small and accessible wharfs, such as the San Fernando pier, are being used in other rural barangays. A number of ferry and other sea vessels owned by Atienza Shipping Lines and San Nicholas Shipping Lines have regular trips from Manila to El Nido.
BEST TIME TO VISIT EL NIDO
El Nido is best seen during the months of November to May. In the first half of this period, cool northeast winds complement the sunny skies, allowing you to explore the islands in comfort. As the summer months of March and May set in, the heat turns up as well; bring enough sunscreen to protect yourself.
HOW TO GET TO EL NIDO
The Fastest Way To El Nido
The fastest way to go to El Nido is to fly directly to Lio Airport from Manila. Currently, AirSwift is the only airline that services the Manila to El Nido route. AirSwift operates up to four direct flights per day from Manila. The travel time is 1 hour and 20 minutes.
For airfare and transportation, you may check PISO FARE promos or you can directly compare air, sea and land travel fare and prices here:
The Cheapest Way To El Nido
The most common way to get to El Nido, Palawan, is by taking a plane from Manila to Puerto Princesa, and then taking a van from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. It will take you a day, but it's the cheapest way to go.
GETTING AROUND EL NIDO
Getting around El Nido is pretty simple, there are tricycles everywhere and the prices are pretty standard. From the town to the Zipline or Las Cabanas beach you're looking at Php50-100 then anywhere further a field like Nacpan Beach you're looking at about Php500 for a tricycle one way.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN EL NIDO
Being an island town, there's a lot of activities you can do during your stay and tour in El Nido. Here are some of them:
- Island Hopping. Of course, first activity you can do in El Nido is island hopping. Tour operators usually pick the guests up from their hotels at around 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM for this.
- Swimming and Snorkeling. During the island tour, these water activities are mostly available. Snorkeling gears are usually included in the tour packages.
- Kayaking and Paddle Boarding. Next water activity will be kayaking or paddling. Kayak rental starts at Php 250.00 for the small ones and Php 300.00 for the bigger ones. It is also the best way to explore small and big lagoon.
- Diving. El Nido has some of the clearest waters in the Philippines. If you are adventurous enough, this activity can be availed from tour agencies where SCUBA diving is offered. The package usually includes the diving gears, dive master, boat transfer and environmental fees.
- Trekking to Taraw Cliff. Another adventure can be done by hiking the famous Taraw Cliff. Its peak promises a breath taking bird’s eye view of El Nido. Best time to start the trek is at 5:30 AM – 6:00 AM and usually take an hour or two including the ascent and descent. Tour guide is required and the rate is at Php 500.00 usually per head.
- Watch the sunset. El Nido has one of the best sunset views in Palawan.
EL NIDO TOUR PACKAGE
Touring the whole part of El Nido cannot be done in a day. However, you may take at least 2 of the tour packages offered in the island town. Here are the different tour packages you can pay for:
TOUR A – Php 1,200.00
- Small Lagoon
- Big Lagoon
- Secret Lagoon
- Shimizu Island
- 7 Commando Beach
Small and Big Lagoon are optional. An environmental fee of Php 200.00 has to be paid on top of Php 1,200.00 and an additional Php 200.00 for reservation.
TOUR B – Php 1,300.00
- Snake Island
- Entalula Beach
- Pinagbuyutan Island
- Cudungnon Cave
- Cathedral Cave
TOUR C – Php 1,400.00
- Matinloc Shrine
- Secret Beach
- Hidden Beach
- Talisay Beach
- Helicopter Island
TOUR D – Php 1,200.00
- Cadlao Lagoon
- Inat-nat Beach
- Paradise Beach
- Bukal Island
- Pasandigan Beach
Inland Tours
In our case, we booked this package:
(PRICE: PHP 4,300/head)
- 2 Nights Room Accommodation EL NIDO - P GOMEZ
- 1 Night Room Accommodation PPS-AIRPORTSIDE INN
- Round-Trip Van transfer (PPS-El Nido-PPS)
- Daily breakfast
- Tour A with lunch (Island Hopping: Secret Lagoon | Small Lagoon | Big Lagoon | Shimizu Island and Seven Commando Beach)
- Tour C with lunch (Island Hopping: Helicopter Island | Secret Beach | Star Beach | Matinloc Shrine and Hidden Beach)
You may contact Sir Michael Yao for the super TIPID El Nido Land Arrangement:
- M: 0916.349.0597
- T: 887.1049
- Email: tripiditotravel@gmail.com
EL NIDO ITINERARY
- Day 1: Arrival at Puerto Princesa Airport. Meet and Transfer to El Nido
- Day 2: Breakfast in the Hotel. Proceed to our chosen El Nido Tour which is "Tour A".
- Day 3: Breakfast in the Hotel. Proceed to our chosen El Nido Tour which is "Tour C" then after the tour they gave us time to prepare ourselves and to packed our things then we transfer Back to PPS.
- Day 4: Breakfast in the Hotel. Then you have Free time. You may still explore the beautiful city of PPS. If ever you still have energy. hehe. Then we transfer back to PPS airport.
WHAT TO BRING TO PALAWAN
Here are some things you might consider bringing with you for your day tour / adventure:- Stylish face mask
- Water container/tumbler to rehydrate
- Sunscreen for skin protection
- Goggles for swimming or snorkeling
- Stylish Swimsuit
- Travel backpack / luggage
- Reusable vacuum storage packs
- Selfie stick
- Waterproof phone case
- Acion cam
- Camping tent
- WiFi kit
- Power bank
- Stylish face mask
- Water container/tumbler to rehydrate
- Sunscreen for skin protection
- Goggles for swimming or snorkeling
- Stylish Swimsuit
- Travel backpack / luggage
- Reusable vacuum storage packs
- Selfie stick
- Waterproof phone case
- Acion cam
- Camping tent
- WiFi kit
- Power bank
THINGS TO REMEMBER
- 200/head El Nido environmental fee to be collected on the spot before the tour (one time payment)
WHERE TO EAT IN EL NIDO
When you book an island tour, food and meals are usually included. However, if you want to try other options, you may check out these restaurants and cafes you can find in El Nido:
- El Nido Boutique Artcafé - El Nido Boutique Artcafé, a restaurant and art shop overlooking Bacuit Bay. Not only do they serve farm-to-table meals, but they also showcase local handicrafts and beautiful paintings.
- Gandhi’s Revenge - Hailed for its spicy Indian dishes, Gandhi’s Revenge is a British-Indian restaurant in Brgy. Corong Corong, which serves an array of affordable curry dishes.
- Republica Sunset Bar - Overlooking panoramic sunset views amid the beautiful seascape of Bacuit Bay, the Republica Sunset Bar is a romantic and intimate resto-bar that serves traditional Spanish tapas and paellas.
- Scape Skydeck El Nido - For those who prefer to have an intimate dining experience, visit Scape Skydeck El Nido, a rooftop bar and restaurant on top of Cuna Hotel at the heart of El Nido town proper.
- Happiness Beach Bar - Set amid a house garden by the beach, Happiness Beach Bar is a fun and hip restaurant along the tourist-crowded Serena street in front of El Nido Beach.
WHERE TO STAY IN EL NIDO
Here's a list of the best choice of resorts and hotels in El Nido:
Budget to Midrange
- El Nido Beach Hotel - average room rate: Php4,000
- Casa Cecilia - average room rate: Php3,000
- Spin Designer Hostel - El Nido - average room rate: Php1,000
High-end and Luxury
- Seda Lio - average room rate: Php12,000
- Lime Resort El Nido - average room rate: Php7,000
- Isla Amara Resort - average room rate: Php7,000
- Nacpan Beach Glamping - average room rate: Php11,000
- Mahogany Resort and Spa - average room rate: Php9,000
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About El Nido
- Is El Nido accepting tourist now?
El Nido is currently open only to local residents and domestic tourists coming from Manila provided they have a negative RT-PCR test result taken at least 48 hours prior to travel, valid IDs, confirmed accommodation booking at a Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited hotel or resort, confirmed tour booking - How many days is enough for El Nido?
To do El Nido properly, and to see everything it has to offer, you need at least a minimum of 4 days, which will include a full day trip to Nacpan beach, and at least 2 or 3 island hopping tours, plus a trip to the Zip Line if you like to ride on that as well. - How do you get around El Nido?
Getting around El Nido is pretty simple, there are tricycles everywhere and the prices are pretty standard. From the town to the Zipline or Las Cabanas beach you're looking at 50-100PHP (£1-£1.50) then anywhere further a field like Nacpan Beach you're looking at about 500PHP (£7) for a tricycle one way. - What should I wear in El Nido?
Of course, dress appropriately for whatever activities you will be doing, but some staples that you should bring in all cases are water-sensible shoes or sandals, a light wind breaker (it will get wet and windy while island hopping), beach wear, sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing. - How far is El Nido from Palawan airport?
Lio Airport is located about 3 miles (5 kilometers) north of El Nido town. Visitors can ask at the airport about local tricycle motorcycle taxis, starting at $2 for a roughly seven-minute ride. There are also Rems Katar Transport minivans, which take around 20 minutes and leave every four hours for the town. - Is 3 days in El Nido enough?
What I will say is that if you intend on doing ALL 4 of the island hopping tours that El Nido has to offer, then you're going to need around 5-6 days in El Nido…. but this itinerary is for those who are seeing all of Palawan in a shorter period of time. - Is El Nido or Coron better?
Overall, it's a tough pick because they're both amazing. El Nido has the best beaches and arguably the best island hopping, but Coron also has phenomenal island tours and much better snorkeling. If you have time, definitely try to visit both!
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WHERE CAN YOU FIND EL NIDO IN THE PHILIPPINES
El Nido is a Philippine municipality on Palawan island. It’s known for white-sand beaches, coral reefs and as the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago, a group of islands with steep karst cliffs.
For those who plan to go to Coron, here's a separate DIY travel guide for you.
Have fun, Juan!
You May Also Like:
- El Nido Island Tour A: Big and Small Lagoons
- El Nido Island Tour B: Snake Island & Cathedral Cave
- El Nido Island Tour C: Secret Beach and Helicopter Island
- El Nido Tour D in a Luxury Catamaran
- BANWA PRIVATE ISLAND: World’s Most Expensive Resort found in the Philippines
- PALAWAN: Top Hotels and Resorts in Coron
- Puerto Princesa Private Transfer to El Nido
- Day Tour from Palawan: El Nido Inland Tour
- Join Airbnb and you’ll get ₱2,200 (US$50) off your booking!
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