Last Updated on 25 January, 2024
With its lush greenery, white-sand beaches, limestone cliffs, coral reefs, and turquoise water El Nido is a real paradise on earth, located at the northern tip of Palawan island – the fifth largest and one of the 7,641 islands in the Philippines.
Palawan has been rated as the “Most Beautiful Island in The World” by readers of Condรฉ Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, and I was lucky enough to explore a small fraction of it for almost two weeks. In this guide, I’ll be sharing my recommendations and my tips for your best experience in El Nido.
Getting There
There are two ways of getting to El Nido and depending on your travel style, budget or how much time you have, one might be better than the other.
By plane
If you’re travelling to the Philippines from overseas you’re most likely to fly into the capital’s Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport. From there you have two options: to fly to El Nido Lio Airport or to fly to Puerto Princesa International Airport and then take either a van or a bus.
If at this point you’re considering staying in Manila for a day or two and exploring it, my advice is to get out of it as soon as possible. It’s busy and chaotic. Its 24/7 traffic jams will have you stuck in a taxi (you’ll be lucky if it has an air-con on) for more time than you’ll have time to explore anything. If you have a layover for longer than just a short night, book some nice accommodation if your budget allows and just chill there!
Directly to El Nido
Flying to El Nido Lio Airport is the quickest and the most convenient way of getting to El Nido, but it’s the most expensive.
Air Swift is the only airline that flies to El Nido which takes 1hr20min from Manila and it costs 5,300-8,000 PHP (ยฃ80-ยฃ120) one way + a 250PHP (ยฃ3.80)booking fee. The airline doesnโt come up on Skyscanner, so youโll have to book the flights directly from their website.
There are three types of tickets you can choose from – basic, value or premium. Basic will give you 7kg carry-on baggage allowance and no checked-in baggage, and value and premium will give you 7kg carry-on baggage allowance and 10kg checked-in allowance. However, if you think your bag is going to be more than 10kg, I would recommend purchasing additional 10kg for 450PHP (ยฃ6.84) as mine was 12kg and they didn’t see at first that I had purchased an additional 10kg and tried to make me pay.
You can also reach El Nido from Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Clark, and Coron with Air Swift.
To Puerto Princesa + van/bus to El Nido
The flight to Puerto Princesa takes 1hr25min from Manila and costs ยฃ22-ยฃ45 one way with Air Asia, Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines. You can search for these flights on Skyscanner.
Cebu Pacific and Air Asia include a 7kg carry-on baggage and have an optional 20kg baggage for around ยฃ7, and Philippine Airlines includes 7kg carry-on baggage and has an optional 10kg for ยฃ6 or 20kg baggage for around ยฃ14.
Once you arrive in Puerto Princesa you can either take a van or a bus to El Nido which can take between 5 and 8 hours. I did quite a bit of research before deciding which one to take and in the end, I took a bus. My deciding factor was that even though the vans take less time (as they say) they are usually crammed with people with no space for legs. After spending a total of almost 16hours on the planes, I wanted some comfort and didn’t mind a longer journey but one where I could stretch my legs.
Two bus companies go between Puerto Princesa and El Nido – Cherry and Roro. However, at this moment in time, I cannot find a timetable for Roro bus online. I travelled by Cherry bus and I was very pleased with it.
There are elite and regular types, and I went with the elite. It had air conditioning and large recliner seats with lots of leg space. It left on time and arrived in El Nido in 5hours and a bit. There is a toilet on the bus and it also stops once (maybe more than once, I slept a lot so might have missed that) for a 15min break where you can go to the toilet and grab something to drink or eat. The bus operates from San Jose bus terminal which is about 15min tricycle journey from the airport for around 150PHP.
The difference between elite and regular is that the elite has recliner seats and a toilet and the regular one does not. If your timetable allows it, try to get on the elite one. Even though itโs more expensive, it’s so worth it for the comfort you get.
Please note that you have to be at the bus terminal 45min before the departure time, and bring a booking confirmation printed to register at their mini office in the bus terminal.
To book a bus or a van, click here.
Please note!
If you arrive into Manila Airport from overseas you won’t be leaving for El Nido from the same terminal. All the flights to El Nido depart from Terminal 4 – the main domestic gateway which is about 10min drive from Terminals 1, 2 or 3. Take into account queueing up for a taxi which can take anything between 20min and 1hour. According to information on Manila Airport’s website, there is a free shuttle bus between the terminals which runs every 15 minutes 24 hours. Passengers require to clear immigration and customs prior to use this service. Though travellers report that the service is not really reliable due to the Manila hectic traffic and have preferred to take a taxi instead.
By boat
Unfortunately, there is no direct ferry from Manila to El Nido by boat. You will need to take a ferry to Coron first and then from Coron take another ferry to El Nido. This could be ideal if you have lots of time and plan on exploring Coron first and then heading to El Nido.
Ferry from Manila to Coron
2GO Travel is the only ferry company that goes directly from Manila to Coron. According to their website, there’s one ferry every Friday. It departs from the North Harbor Pier 4 in Tondo, Manila at 7:00PM and arrives in Coron at 6:00AM, so the travel time is 11hours and it costs 1,421-5,951PHP depending on the class of accommodation.
To book your ferry click here.
However, please note that sometimes due to storms and gales, ferries get cancelled. For example, when I was in El Nido and wanted to go to Coron, a few days in a row the ferry was cancelled even when the day was quite nice in El Nido. Their reason was, ‘due to possible gales’. The planes were landing and taking off though in El Nido Airport, but it’s unlikely there will be any flights left the day before as the planes are quite small and fill up pretty quickly.
Ferry from Coron to El Nido
Two high-speed ferries go from Coron to El Nido every day. One is at 7:30am and another one is at 12:30PM both leaving from Coron Port in Coron Proper Town. It costs around 1,993PHP and the journey takes 3hrs30min, but depending on the sea conditions it can take up to 5hours. You should arrive at the port an hour before your journey.
To book your ferry click here.
Where To Stay
Although most of El Nido is surrounded by water, its main resorts are located on the west side. Every neighbourhood is slightly different and has its own advantages and disadvantages. There is a huge variety of accommodation in El Nido so whatever type of traveller you are, I am sure you’ll find a place to suit your needs. One thing to note though is that if you’re looking for accommodation last minute (in my case it was 3 weeks before travelling), a lot of hotels/hostels will be fully booked. Also, there was very little choice for Airbnbs.
El Nido Town Proper
This is the main hub of El Nido where all the buzz is happening. Ferries arrive and leave from town proper, island hopping tours depart from here as well. You can find a great selection of restaurants, cafรฉs, bars as well as shops, pharmacies, massage places, and ATMs. There’s even a gym there. Even though it’s right on the beach, unfortunately, swimming is not allowed.
As you probably figured, town proper is busy and for someone who’s seeking tranquillity and peace might not be the ideal location. However, it’s a great location if you’re looking on going on island hopping tours or renting a kayak and want to be a walking distance.
I actually stayed in El Nido for 3 nights due to cancelled ferries, so it wasn’t planned in advance and I enjoyed it!
Accommodation top picks:
Amakan (budget, good breakfast): this lovely boutique hotel/hostel has both bunk beds and private rooms which makes it suitable for most people. What I really loved about this place was the beautiful entrance with all the plants, good breakfast with a variety of foods and friendly staff. There’s also a guard which makes the place feel secure. It’s a 5-minute walk from the beachfront, so it’s close to all the excitement but yet far enough to not hear it all. Wifi works only in the lobby, garden and the restaurant, but that allows you to disconnect from your phone and relax when you’re back to your room, or make friends if you’re in a dorm! I picked this place last minute when my ferry was cancelled and I really liked it that I extended my stay there for another two nights.
Happiness Hostel (budget, beds with privacy doors): located right in the centre of town proper, on a famous Serena Street, it’s one of the recommended hostels in El Nido. This dorms only accommodation offers beds with sliding doors for that much appreciated privacy. I passed this hostel so many times and every time its staff has been so friendly inviting us to their bar which is very cool by the way and has swings!
Frendz hostel (budget, rooftop pool): this both dorms and private rooms hostel has a rooftop pool with some amazing views. Only a 5min walk from the busy streets of El Nido, it’s a perfect place to enjoy good vibes and make new ‘frendz’.
Spin Designer Hostel (budget, great communal areas): offering both private and dorm rooms, this awesome hostel provides good value money. Surrounded by a lush forest, it’s only 5min walk from all the hype in the town. Its shared kitchen with BBQ facility, a games room and a common terrace is an ideal place for meeting new people!
Corong Corong
Located between El Nido Town Proper and Las Cabaรฑas Beach/Marimegmeg Beach, Corong Corong is a just over a 1km beach strip with a variety of accommodation. It’s also where the food market is as well as the bus terminal. Even though most hotels are right on the beach with stunning views, I personally didn’t find the beach very appealing for sunbathing or swimming and I don’t think I saw anyone else doing it. Also, there was quite a bit of seaweed washed out on the sand. Nevetherless, it’s not a bad location – it’s quiet and has some really nice accommodation especially suitable for luxury style travellers.
Accommodation top picks:
The Cavern (budget, beds with privacy curtains): This pod-style hostel offers really cool and modern accommodation. It’s dorms only, but each bed has a privacy curtain and who doesn’t love that in a hostel!? Its cafรฉ, which is vegetarian only (don’t get put off, you meat eaters), serves some really tasty meals. I went there for lunch once and their veg curry was delish!
Panorama Resort (luxury): This super nice boutique hotel offers beautiful boho decor rooms in bungalows with a lush green and pool view that’s exclusive for in-house guest only and has a private beach. The beachfront restaurant and bar are perfect for sunset viewing.
Buko Beach Resort (luxury): It’s another beachfront hotel that offers rooms in bungalows with a traditional native design. It has a green tropical garden, an outdoor swimming pool, and provides in-room massages for the ultimate relaxation.
Frangipani (luxury): This is also a beachfront hotel with beautifully decorated, modern style rooms, lush greenery and a garden swimming pool.
Las Cabaรฑas Beach/Marimegmeg Beach
Located further south from Corong Corong, Las Cabaรฑas and Marimegmeg beaches (they are right next to each other on the same strip) were one of my preferable places to hang out at. Only around 12min tricycle journey from El Nido Town Proper away, they are convenient but also relaxing beaches where you can actually go swimming! Las Cabaรฑas is known for amazing sunsets and there are also a few bars where you can sit in or lie down on their mats on the beach and have a drink and wait for the candy sky. To reach the beach from the main road, you have to go through a street (you won’t miss it, so don’t worry) which has some cafรฉs, bars and restaurants, a clothing shop, and a massage place – a lot is still being built, but when it’s finished that street will be even better.
Accommodation top picks:
Lexias hostel (budget, rooftop pool): It has both dorms (beds with privacy curtains) and private rooms, rooftop pool with amazing views perfect for sunset and a lovely, calm atmosphere. To get to the hotel you need to walk up a steep road which is well worth it but might not be ideal for people with walking difficulties.
Las Cabanas Beach Resort (value, amazing views): Located at the far end of Las Cabanas Beach, it has the most amazing views and natural scenery making it the ultimate place for watching a sunset. The location is peaceful and quiet, but only a few minutes away from the bars and restaurants.
The Birdhouse (luxury, glamping): After a short walk in the jungle (most likely whilst sipping a coconut), and quite a steep walk up the bamboo stairs (IT’S WORTH IT and the staff will help you with your bags), you’re transported to the ‘nests’ amongst the treetops. With breathtaking views, amazing decor, delicious food, and a yoga studio this place is out of this world. The minimum stay is 2 nights.
Maremegmeg Beach Club (luxury, right on the beach): This beachfront accommodation with beautifully decorated rooms, outdoor pool and amazing views is in a perfect location.
Lio Beach
Located north of El Nido only about 20min tricycle journey from Town Proper, Lio Beach is one of my top picks in El Nido. With its big and wide sandy beach, water perfect for swimming, restaurants and bars, shops, swings and a volley court, you can easily spend the entire day there. I even went there on cloudy, windy days and the guards let everyone play in the big waves, and when it started to rain we hit the bar! Lio Beach is also perfect when you have a few hours to wait for your flight as the airport is no more than a 5min tricycle journey away (you can walk, but the road is terrible and if you have a suitcase you’ll struggle (in heat and humidity, I might add). There is a free shuttle bus that goes between El Nido and Lio Beach which fits about 20 people and the seating is available on first-come-first-serve basis! The bus stop is located opposite El Nido B cafรฉ in El Nido Town Proper. If you want a nice, large beach on your doorstep, and tranquillity, but also the convenience of being close to town proper, Lio Beach is for you.
Accommodation top picks:
La Espaรฑolita (budget): Located about 10min tricycle away from Lio Beach, this simple hotel has the warmest and welcoming staff and great breakfast which is included in the price. It’s very close to the airport making it a perfect place for a stopover.
Casa Kalaw (value): Located just steps away from Lio Beach, this hotel is perfect for families and solo travellers. It has a private pool surrounded by a lush garden, a recreational area and a sun terrace. Guests flying with Swift Air get a complimentary transfer to and from Lio Airport.
Seda Lio (luxury): This modern 5-star hotel located right on the beach has three inter-connected outdoor pools, 8 spa villas, fitness centre, and a game room. It offers a relaxed atmosphere and is short walk from restaurants on Lio Beach.
Nacpan Beach
The perfect paradise spot with a 4km stretch of white powdery sand and turquoise water, Nacpan Beach is 45min tricycle journey from El Nido Town. Even though it’s further away than the other areas, this beach was my most favourite and the bumpy ride to reach it is definitely worth it. It’s a relaxing resort where days can be spent sunbathing, swimming in crystal clear blue water, and drinking coconut water. It’s a place for everyone due to a range of different accommodation. It was by far my most favourite beach in El Nido.
Accommodation top picks:
Mad Monkey Hostel (budget): Located right on the beach, this lively hostel is an ideal place for solo travellers and backpackers. It has a laid-back vibe and offers true seclusion for those wanting to disconnect in order to connect. It does not have WiFi and for a good reason – it gives you an opportunity to make new friends! Spend your days playing volleyball, snorkelling, paddleboarding, working out in their outdoor gym, or watching the sunset. Since it’s a budget hostel, it doesn’t have hot water and air-conditioning.
Balili Farm (value): Offering cute bungalows, this hotel is in a secluded location, away from the town in front of vegetable farming. It’s quiet and peaceful, and only a few minutes drive from the beach. It offers free scooters for the guests.
Nacpan Beach Glamping (luxury): As the name suggests, this resorts offers luxury and very spacious tents right on the beautiful Nacpan beach. The resort features a restaurant, a bar, a swimming pool, and a garden. The price includes breakfast and dinner.
Darocotan Island
If you want the ultimate private island life experience and tranquillity, I highly recommend spending a few nights at Dryft Camp on Darocotan Island. This tiny island is located in the north of El Nido, about a 45min shuttle journey from Lio Beach and a quick 20min boat ride which is arranged by the camp and is free of charge. Dryft Camp offers glamping in elevated tents and ‘hive huts’ located right on the long white beach where you’ll fall asleep and wake up to the sound of waves. It’s an eco-friendly camp that runs on solar power, offers amazing, freshly cooked food every day and allows you to fully unwind and soak up the island vibes thanks to no WiFi!
Read More: My Experience Glamping at Dryft Camp
Things To Do
1. Go on Island Hopping Tour
Bacuit Bay is considered one of the most beautiful bays in the world, so to go to El Nido and not go island hopping would be considered a crime. There are four main tours that every operator in El Nido offers: A, B, C and D. Each of the tour focuses on different things, so they’re all great in their own way.
Tour A: Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, 7 Commando Beach
Tour B: Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Entula Beach, Cudugnon Cave, Snorkelling Site
Tour C: Helicopter Island, Mantiloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Star Beach, Hidden Beach
Tour D: Ipil Beach, Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan Beach, Natnat Beach, Bukal Beach
To book a tour you can either do it online or book it on a street directly from any tour operator or at your hotel. I found that Klook has the best prices online + good reviews, but it needs to be booked at least two days in advance. If you’re booking from an operator on the street or hotel, prices are pretty much the same everywhere costing 1,200-1,400PHP depending on the tour. There is an eco fee of 200PHP which once paid is valid for 10 days, so keep the receipt in case you go on more than one tour.
All tour operators provide delicious, freshly prepared buffet lunch of grilled meat and fish, rice, salad, and fruit as well as drinking water. Alcohol and soft drinks can be also purchased. For the snorkelling, masks and life jackets are provided, but no fins.
Please note that sometimes due to bad weather the tours get cancelled which is a shame, but you will get your money back. If the weather is okay, some tours might be going while others won’t. When my ferry was cancelled due to possible gales, only tour A was operating that day which I was able to book 2 hours before I had to be at the pickup location. For other days I had booked my tours with Klook, who notified me of cancellation early in the morning due to bad weather and issued a refund.
When you book a join-in tour, you will be in a group of approximately 15-20 people which is not necessarily a bad thing, but bear in mind that other tours with similar number of people will be going at the same time, so the islands you will be visiting will have quite a few people on them. Personally, that didn’t bother me until we got to the Big Lagoon and wanted to rent a kayak. There isn’t a specific company renting out kayaks and the kayaks are limited, so the tour guide was trying to get kayaks from people who were returning to their boats. If you manage to jump on the first kayak then you’re good, but if you’re the last one to get it you might be waiting for up to an hour.
If you don’t want to go with a large group of people, you can book a private boat or even a speed boat. With a private boat, you’ll be able to decide the order of which you want to visit the islands and how much time you want to spend on them skipping all the crowds for the price of 7,900-8,400PHP per boat. Speed boat is probably the best option as it gets to the islands the quickest, but it’s the most expensive option costing around 18,000PHP per boat.
2. Zip Line
This is a quick but a fun activity to do as well as to get a birds-eye-view of Las Cabaรฑas Beach where it’s located. A 750-metre long zip line connects Las Cabaรฑas Beach and Depeldet Island and you can ‘fly’ superman style from one to the other while taking in the breathtaking views. You can zipline back or you can walk across the rocks/water (depending on the tide) back to Las Cabaรฑas Beach.
To get to El Nido zipline you can ask your tricycle driver to take you if travelling from El Nido Town or from further up north. Once the tricycle cannot go any further, the driver will walk you up this steep dirt road to the zip line. The zip line can be also accessed from Las Cabaรฑas beach where signs are clearly shown.
โฆฟ Open 9:00AM – 5:30PM
โฆฟ Sitting position โ one way โ 500PHP
โฆฟ Sitting position โ return โ 900PHP
โฆฟ Superman position โ one way โ 700PHP
โฆฟ Superman position โ return โ 1,100PHP
โฆฟ Combination of both positions โ return โ 1,000PHP
3. Rent a kayak
If you’re one of those people who do not want to be with the crowds while island hopping or do not want to spend a lot of money on the private tour or just simply like independence and a little bit of adventure, then you should definitely rent a kayak and do it yourself.
You can either rent it in El Nido Town, Corong Corong or Las Cabaรฑas Beach, but you will be paddling to different islands and beaches. All of the islands are absolutely stunning, so it doesn’t really matter where you rent it. We rented in El Nido Town because it was more convenient.
You can rent a kayak for a half or a whole day. We had no idea how long we were going to be so we just rented it for the whole day for 700PHP + 250PHP for snorkels. Some places have crystal clear kayaks, which are a bit more expensive but I think they are very cool!
Read More: A Guide to Kayaking in El Nido
4. Do sunset yoga at The Birdhouse
Yogi or not yogi, if you want to move your body and relax your mind, go to a yoga class at The Birdhouse located in Las Cabanรฃs Beach. Set in the most amazing location with breathtaking views, yoga classes take place at the sunset for an even more magical experience. I attended one class and felt that the level was suitable for all people. After the class, you can have dinner in their beautiful restaurant.
The class costs 600PHP and towels and mats are provided. Make sure to bring some water because it takes place on a terrace and it’s going to be hot even in the evening. It’s recommended that you book it in advance which can be done at their restaurant or via WhatsApp: โญ+63 920 606 1186โฌ.
5. Watch the sunset at Las Cabaรฑas Beach
Las Cabaรฑas Beach is known as the sunset spot as the sunsets there can be quite amazing especially on a clear day. Grab a drink in one of their outdoor bars or even better stroll along the beach all the way to Las Cabaรฑas Beach resort from which the sunset will be the most beautiful.
6. Visit the local food market
If you want some local produce or some fruit or veg, pay a visit to the local food market located in Corong Corong. However, it’s not a very big market and does not have an extensive range of fruit. We bought a watermelon, pineapple, mangos, papaya and bananas. Unfortunately, watermelon was not ripe enough and tasteless so we ended up throwing it away, the pineapple was a bit sour, but mangos, papayas and bananas were delicious!
7. Play volleyball or chill on Lio Beach
Located about 20min from El Nido Town, Lio Beach is a stunning beach and is perfect for relaxing, swimming in the beautiful water, playing volleyball or having tasty cocktails or lunch. Use the free shuttle service that goes from El Nido Town to Lio Beach and vice versa every hour.
8. Chill at Nacpan Beach
If you want a real paradise-like beach further away from hustle and bustle, hop on a tricycle for 40min and spend a day on Nacpan Beach. 4km of powdery white sand and turquoise water will not make you want to leave. Rent a sun lounge for 250PHP to hide from the strong sun whenever you need to (there isn’t other shade on the beach except for these cabanas which are paid for as well), read a book, go swimming, have their freshly made amazing piรฑa coladas or simply just a coconut, or go for a stroll on the beach. To enter the beach, there will be an eco fee of 50PHP which once paid will be valid for 10 days so keep hold of the receipt.
9. Listen to live music in El Nido Boutique Artcafรฉ
Located in El Nido Town on Serena Street, Artcafรฉ is a large restaurant & bar with a cool and artistic vibe. Every evening they have live music playing which you can go listen to over a meal or simply sitting at the bar. If you sit at the bar you’ll get fed free unlimited peanuts by their lovely and friendly waitresses. Oh, and the beer is cheaper than coke.
10. Get a massage
With so many massage parlous and ladies (and guys too) shouting ‘massage’ in a friendly way on every corner, there is no reason why you shouldn’t treat yourself to a massage or two especially when they’re so cheap compared to Western countries! I got my first massage in Las Cabaรฑas Beach just on this small road leading between the main road and the beach and I really liked it, for 1hr of Swedish massage it costs 500PHP. However, this was the cheapest place I saw. Massages in El Nido Town cost more especially the ones located on the main road.
11. Rent a motorbike and explore the island
This is probably the best way to explore the island. You get the freedom of where you want to go and stop, when you want to come back, the pace you’re going etc. Renting a motorbike is also cheaper than paying for a tricycle each time especially if you’re going to places like Nacpan Beach and they go a bit faster. However, please wear a helmet and be careful especially when it rains or at night as some tricycles don’t have lights!
12. Surf on Duli Beach
Located about 45min in the north from El Nido Town, there is this incredibly beautiful, jungle-backed, a stretch of golden sand. Widely known by a surfing community, but less popular and less touristy than Nacpan Beach with just a small shack for a restaurant, it gives a raw and more original experience. The season is November to March and board rental is available for P500 per hour. The sandy slope gives a nice beach break, so both beginner and pro will definitely have good fun here.
13. Learn to freedive or to scuba dive
Since about 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, I would be surprised if you’ve never been curious to see what lives in the depths of the oceans and seas. Luckily you can discover the marine life scuba diving or freediving.
Scuba diving is where you use scuba to be able to breathe under the water and the dive can last between 30min-1hr. To be able to do that you can either do a one day course just to try it out or do it for 3 days and get a PADI licence. Go scuba diving with Palawan Divers.
Freediving is where you go diving without a scuba and hold your breath under the water. To be able to do that properly and correctly in a calm manner and to be able to dive deep, best is to be taught by a professional and become a certified AIDA freediver. With freediving, you will get the feeling of total freedom and complete relaxation as you glide effortlessly throughout the water. Go freediving with Freediving Dimension.
Things To Do When It Rains
The Philippines has three main seasons: low season, shoulder season and high season. Low season is between June and September when it rains the most, shoulder season is generally in May when rising temperatures herald the onset of the wet season and November when the wet season is coming to an end. High season is between December and April when it’s dry for most of the country. Depending on what season you go, there might be some rain and some storms. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about it (other than avoiding rainy season), but it can rain even during the dry season. The weather in El Nido is very unpredictable, so the forecast is not always accurate. The best is to be aware that it might rain, and not get too disappointed by it. Also, knowing what to do to not get bored when it rains is very useful since most activities in El Nido are outdoor activities.
1. Go to Lio beach
During my stay in El Nido Town, there were days when the rain was constantly on and off preventing us from even relaxing outside. After spending the whole day on Las Cabaรฑas Beach and reading a book under the raincoat, we decided to change the scenery and go to Lio Beach the next time it was raining. To our surprise, it wasn’t raining for a good few hours we were there. It was still very windy but we could stroll on the beach without getting wet. When it was raining another day again, we went straight to Lio Beach. Again, no rain there, quite windy, but we were allowed by the guards to go swimming in the big waves! So much fun!
2. Chill, read, work etc. in Boutique Artcafรฉ
Artcafรฉ is very spacious and is open from 7:00AM to 9:45PM. They have WiFi and a shelf with books, so it’s perfect for working, reading or just simply relaxing – you can sit in their terrace and watch the storm go by. It’s also conveniently located – just a 5min walk from the port, so if your ferry is cancelled and you need the internet to find the accommodation you know where to go!
3. Chill or have a drink on Las Cabaรฑas Beach
Spending a day on Las Cabanรฃs Beach when it rains isn’t a bad choice. Bring a book and sit in one of the beach bars, order a drink and just relax. It’s also a great way of meeting people as bars will be fuller during the day than normal.
4. Play cards or board games
It’s a great way to pass the time and have some fun. I would recommend packing a deck of cards or a travel board game as it doesn’t take much space in your bag but can keep you busy for hours. Some cafรฉs such as Cavern and Artcafรฉ have board games.
5. Go bar hopping (for cocktails or fruit shakes)
Starting in El Nido with Artcafรฉ, Cafรฉ Athena (happy hour from early afternoon until 10PM every day) or Happiness Hostel, you can make your way down to Bella Vita or Last Frontier in Corong Corong, and then to Las Cabanรฃs to another Athena Bar, and Maregmegmeg Beach Bar to sit on their swings and have a drink.
Check the forecast (but don’t rely on it 100%) and pack a waterproof poncho!
Where To Eat
There are lots of restaurants in El Nido, so finding one won’t be an issue, but if you have some recommendations, it might save you from having a bad meal.
These were my favourite places in El Nido that I ate at:
Big Bad Thai Bistro & Bar
Big Bad Thai was by far my favourite place to eat at. First of all, the staff were very welcoming and friendly and then the food! We tried pad thai, fried rice, tom yum soup, veg spring rolls, green curry, panang curry as well as their cocktails and everything was absolutely delicious! The only downside was that every time we were too full to have a dessert. If you sit outside youโll have the views of the sea. Please note that sometimes thereโs a queue in the evening, but itโs so worth waiting.
โฆฟ https://www.facebook.com/bigbadthaibistrobar/
โฆฟ Open 3:00PM – 11:00PM
โฆฟ Has WiFi
Osaka Castle
If youโre craving sushi this is the place to go! They serve authentic, very fresh and delicious food. I tried 4 different kinds of sushis and all were very nice.
โฆฟ https://www.facebook.com/OsakaCastleElNido/?_rdc=1&_rdr
โฆฟ Open 7:00AM – 11:00AM; 2:00PM – 11:00PM
โฆฟ Has WiFi
The Nesting table at The Birdhouse
Went there on my second night in El Nido just before sunset. Booked a table in advance to sit in their terrace and what an amazing experience I had! First of all, the views were breathtaking, especially when the sun was going down, and secondly, the food was absolutely delicious. Well worth the steep bamboo stairs climb! It feels remote and secluded like you’re in the tops of trees somewhere in the jungle.
โฆฟ https://www.facebook.com/thenestingtable
โฆฟ Open 7:00AM – 10:00PM
โฆฟ Has WiFi
The Cavern
This vegan restaurant was recommended by a couple of people living in El Nido, so we decided to have lunch there one day. We ordered an absolutely beautiful veg curry! Their breakfast menu also looked delicious and apparently they have been praised for having the best speciality coffee in all of Palawan.
โฆฟ http://www.thecavernelnido.com
โฆฟ Open 7:00AM – 9:00PM
โฆฟ Has WiFi
I Love Backyard BBQ
Located in Las Cabaรฑas Beach, on the small road between the main road and the beach, this restaurant is for the meat-eaters! There’s a huge variety of dishes to choose from. We had roast chicken and pulled pork both served with rice, veg and a fried egg.
โฆฟ No WiFi
Boutique Artcafรฉ
We initially went to the Artcafรฉ for a drink and sat at their bar. Live music was playing and the waitresses were very friendly, so we decided to come back for dinner. They have an extensive menu with pretty much anything on it – from pizzas to curries and their breakfast is delicious too – try the banana pancakes paired with a fresh coconut!
โฆฟ http://elnidoboutiqueandartcafe.com
โฆฟ Open 7:00AM – 9:45PM
โฆฟ Has WiFi
What To Pack + Downloadable Packing Guide
The Philippines is generally a hot and humid country all year round, so packing is relatively easy. Keep in mind the season you’re travelling, but in most cases, the packing list will be pretty much the same.
Clothes
Since it’s hot and humid throughout the entire year, you’ll want to pack comfortable and breathable clothing but also something that dries pretty quickly because due to humidity even bikinis don’t dry completely overnight (as well as contact lenses which was the most bizarre thing!). Speaking of bikinis/swimwear this will be something youโll wear every day!
Filipinos dress very simple and there aren’t some sort of fashion trends going on, so you can wear pretty much whatever you want as long as it’s not offensive and you respect the culture – itโs a deeply religious country with the biggest Christian population in Southeast Asia, so you shouldn’t dress too provocatively while youโre there. Also, you should avoid wearing swimwear in restaurants and bars.
Bringing lots of clothes isn’t necessary as nobody cares if you wear the same outfit twice in a row and you can find same-day laundry services in El Nido town quite easily. There is one on Rizal St (close to Midtown Bakery) which charges 100PHP/kg minimum 2kg, and another one on G. Del Pilar St which charges 70PHP/kg. They won’t wash your clothes as you do at home, but at least they will be clean-ish and odour free.
If you follow my advice and pack light, you’ll be thanking me later. I couldn’t have imagined myself dragging a heavy suitcase through the potholes and puddles, up the tall kerbs when my ferry was cancelled two days in a row and I had to turn around and find a hotel or when I had to board the boat to get to Darocotan Island.
Shoes
When it comes to footwear, having a pair of flip-flops and comfy sandals is going to be more than enough. Even better if sandals are waterproof as it’s likely that you’ll be in the water when getting on and off the boats, or when it rains. Only bring trainers if you’re hiking or if you’re travelling in them then that’s sufficient enough. The pavements in El Nido are very uneven so leave high heels/platforms/wedges at home. When it rains streets are quite dirty so bring shoes you’re not worried to get dirty. I lived in flip flops for most of my two weeks in El Nido and only wore sandals on a couple of occasions (mainly when I was moving hotels so flip-flops took less space in my suitcase). The espadrilles I brought I only wore in Manila only because I felt guilty for ‘overpacking’ and felt I had to wear them at least once. In places like Darocotan Island, I didn’t wear any shoes at all for three days and that was the best thing ever.
Other items
Apart from clothing and footwear, these are the things that I highly recommend packing to have a comfortable and hassle-free trip:
Portable charger – probably the most obvious one. The Philippines are far and youโll be travelling for hours. My favourite is this small Anker charger which gives two charges.
Head torch – during the storms, electricity was going off very often. You may be in a dark hotel room or walking on a dark road, so a torch will be your best friend. Also, if youโre staying in a hostel and come back to your room late or have to leave early head torch is especially useful (assuming you care about others in the room and donโt switch on the lights).
Multi adaptor – most devices nowadays are charged via USB cable, so itโs a good idea to have an adaptor that allows you to charge a few devices at once. I packed this universal adaptor and it was enough between two people.
Adaptor – if you have electronics that donโt charge via USB, then bring one other single adaptor.
Kindle – I love it when travelling as it takes so little space in my bag, just have some books ready in advance as you might struggle with poor WiFi in most places.
Microfibre/Turkish towel – these are thin so they save space in the suitcase and also dry quicker than normal towels. I especially love Turkish towels as they look pretty.
Memory foam travel pillow – for those long flights and bus journeys. I recently upgraded to a memory foam one and was so happy about it, so much more comfortable! Bought mine in Heathrow airport for ยฃ12.99.
Dry bag – highly recommended. For those island hopping, kayaking and beach days. Itโll keep your belongings dry and you can chuck it on sand without worrying about it. We used 10l one between two people and it was a bit too small, so choose 15l if sharing.
Waterproof case for phone โ with a dry bag came the waterproof case, itโs good when you go kayaking and want to take some pics with your phone and also donโt need to worry about sand getting to your phone when on the beach.
Reusable rain poncho – this will be your best friend on rainy days. It’s good quality and durable and has drawstring hood and elastic sleeves.
Sunscreen โ this oneโs no brainer, but I know people who donโt like using it. The sun is strong in the Philippines and you can get burnt even on a cloudy day. With sand and salt on your skin, the spray one is probably the best option.
Mosquito repellent โ there werenโt that many mosquitos, but there were some in the garden in one of the hotels and at Dryft Camp on Darocotan Island. If you prefer a spray one to cream, I would recommend bringing it as we couldnโt find any in El Nido.
Medicine โ if youโre careful with food and water (i.e. donโt eat food that looks unclean and is cooked on the street and donโt drink tap water) youโll be fine, but just in case, pack some anti-diarrhoea tablets. Also, itโs good to pack some paracetamol/ibuprofen as well as a nasal spray – I managed to catch a cold somewhere on the plane or in a hotel room and I got sick when on Darocotan Island and I was glad I had some medicine on me.
Water bottle โ Palawan island has banned single plastic use on boats and island tours and people are encouraged to use reusable water bottles as much as possible. You canโt drink tap water, but restaurants will always give you free drinking water and hotels and island tours will have large water tanks for you to fill up your water bottle.
Deck of cards โ these take pretty much no space in your bag but will be perfect to kill time when it rains.
Travel insurance โ last but not least, this oneโs super important! Letโs hope you wonโt need it but in case you do, you want to be covered. If youโre going scuba diving/freediving make sure thatโs included too. I buy mine from World Nomads as it seems to offer best overall travel insurance. Have a copy printed and keep it in your bag.
Bank card with no fees โ most of El Nido is cash only, so youโll need to withdraw money more than once for sure. Cards like Monzo or Revolut offer good rates.
Things to leave at home:
- Expensive jewellery – just to avoid becoming a target and also it might get ruined in the seawater and sand.
- Lots of makeup (bb cream, mascara, eyebrow powder and a lip balm was all I packed and it was enough).
- Your best, fancy clothes – as mentioned, Filipinos dress very simple, so you can do the same. Also will likely to get dirty there.
- Umbrella – it might be raining but itโs likely going to be super windy too, so itโll be useless.
Travel Tips
- If you are taking a taxi in Manila, do not sit in any random taxi that’s offered to you by a driver on the street as they’re a scam and just looking to rip you off. The best is to queue up for it, get a taxi ‘ticket’ and make sure the meter is on. If they refuse to turn the meter on and try to negotiate the price, they’re most likely asking for much more than what it would normally cost. Get out of the taxi and take another one. You can also use the GrabTaxi app which is equivalent to Uber.
- Always negotiate the tricycle price. Once you’re told how much your journey will cost, suggest to pay 100PHP less. The driver won’t agree at first and you might meet somewhere in the middle, but it will always be less than what they tell you at first. After a couple of days, you will get an understanding of how much different distances normally cost and you’ll know when someone’s trying to rip you off. Another way to pay a bit less is to ask the driver to wait for you if you’re going somewhere farther like Nacpan Beach or Lio Beach (assuming you’re staying in El Nido Town or somewhere further down) with fewer tricycles waiting there. It’s generally cheaper than looking for a different tricycle on the way back because in some places there’s just a few of them and they will always ask for more money than on the way to the place because you don’t have much choice. If you ask the driver to wait for you, don’t pay them the whole amount in advance so you can have that security that they will still be there when you want to leave.
- Don’t rely on planes and ferries 100% and have a plan B or some accommodation in mind if something gets cancelled/delayed. If you don’t have a plan B, don’t worry, you’ll still figure something out but it might be more time consuming and more stressful.
- Ask for a refund of your accommodation if your ferry/flight is cancelled โ when my ferry was cancelled two days in a row, I asked the hotel I had booked in Coron and the island hopping tour to cancel it and give me a refund and they were kind enough to do that. You can use the same ferry ticket next day, but we ended up not taking the ferry as the day it was leaving was not suitable for us and the company issued a refund.
- If you need to buy any personal items, there’s a large store located in Corong Corong right next to One Suite El Nido hotel, it usually has very loud techno music playing inside every day, so you’ll hear it first before you see it.
- Wherever you stay, there are high chances that there is going to be some sort of construction happening at the hotel or next to it. It’s everywhere in El Nido at the moment, so don’t get too disappointed about it. If anything, that means that there will be more and nicer and better places to stay at. I was checking the streets of El Nido via Google Street View which were captured in 2016 and noticed how much everything has changed since then!
- When booking an island hopping tour online you will usually need to book it two days in advance, so if it’s a last minute decision, you’re better off asking at the hotel or any tour operator on the street.
- If you’re buying fruit in the local market, avoid watermelons. Maybe it was just my bad luck but there were not ripe and were tasteless. Do stock up on mangoes, bananas and papayas though!
- Withdraw money from Euronet ATM โ when you withdraw money in the Philippines, most ATMs will charge you a fee of 250PHP. However, I noticed that Euronet ATM didnโt have a fee.
Safe travels!ย
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