Away from the big city, El Nido is an enchanting town on the island of Palawan. It has attracted tourists because of it's mesmerizing landscapes and amazing people. I cannot stress enough, if you're planning to visit the Philippines, El Nido has to have a place on your itinerary. In my opinion one week in El Nido is just the perfect ammount of time to enjoy everything it has to offer.
How to get there?
- Fly from Manila to Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) and then take a van from one of the many services offered online. If you're doing something more spontaneous, it is very easy to find these services once you're in town. The van ride takes about 5 hours, and they should be charging from 500-600 pesos.
- Fly from Manila to El Nido via AirSwift. The Airport in El Nido is fairly new so by the time we knew about it it was too late. To book a ticket you'll have to go to their webpage and see all the destinations they offer, like Puerto Princesa, Cebu, Manila, etc.
Where to stay?
There are loads of cheap hostels to stay at right on El Nido town, The Melting Pot being one of those recommended by friends that have stayed there. But on this note, I have to put down a recommendation of my own: The Outpost. It's location is divine for those looking for amazing sunsets as an everyday occurrence and a chilled beach vibe with delicious food. The Building is a beachfront property so you could have all three meals staring into the beautiful scenes El Nido is known for, it is super clean and they have a group of amazing people for staff, you'll definitely leave having made good friends. It is just 10 min away from the main streets, making it just as accessible.
P.S.: I'm not getting paid to write about them, I've just had such a great experience they deserve the recognition.
What to do?
From El Nido there's always ferries leaving for Coron Island which is a well known scuba-diving spot, you can also just book a one night camping trip with one of the travel agencies in town.
- Las Cabanas Beach: is perfect for a first day when you just want to chill in the sun, there are beach bars and restaurants to satiate your every need.
- Kayaking: you can rent kayaks and go tour the closest islands by yourself and be back just as the sun goes down.
- Island Hopping: by far the one thing you have to do even if you don't feel like doing anything else. These tours take you on an all-day excursion to see pristine water beaches, kayaking through Small and Big Lagoon, you'll experience the Secret beach and you'll snorkel the enormous coral reefs. Food and drinks are included all cooked by your onboard chef.
- Rent a scooter: once you've got your crew down, you all could rent scooters and discover more of the island. You'll get to see unspoiled nature along with sweet hearted locals who'll help you in heartbeat should you get lost.
- Duli beach: if you ride towards the North of the island, you'll find this amazing surf beach, although it doesn't have the biggest waves, it has just the perfect amount for a fun day in the waves. But don't stay away just because it's recommended for surf, it also makes for a super fun swim in contrast to the ever-still beaches that you'll be more accustomed to at El Nido.
- Partying: if after all your day activities you still have something more to give, all you have to do is hop on a trike and head into town where you'll find a crazy fun nightlife to dance and laugh all worries away.
Sandy toes at Las Cabanas after a swim.
This is Helicopter Island towards the end of our tour, also can be reached by kayak.
This is one of my favorite spots of the Island hopping tour, Small Lagoon. You feel so small when you're swimming in between these monumental rock formations. It is truly a sight to marvel at.
With this, I think you guys would have more than enough information to plan your own trip to El Nido. If you have any questions leave them in the comment section below and I'll try my best to answer them. El Nido was No. 1 on my list of places I must see before I die, what's yours?