El Nido, Philippines travel guide

Palawan's limestone cathedral: hidden lagoons, island-hopping tours A to D and the last light of the archipelago.

Best time to visit: November-May
Average daily budget: $40 to $120 USD
Ideal trip length: 3 to 5 days

El Nido is the postcard the Philippines keeps sending. Bacuit Bay is a scatter of limestone islands with lagoons so enclosed you paddle in through a slot in the rock, and the standard tours, labelled simply A, B, C and D, are genuinely worth doing. The town itself is scruffy and loud; the water is not. Joy Plus picks which tour to do on which day, and builds in Nacpan beach and the Coron ferry.

El Nido itinerary

Day 1, Get oriented

Morning: Tour A: Big and Small Lagoon. Kayak into the emerald Big Lagoon and squeeze through the crack into Small Lagoon.

Afternoon: Explore El Nido town (Buena Suerte), The main beachfront strip: tour offices, bars, restaurants and budget stays.

Evening: Sunset at Las Cabanas. A 15-minute ride south for the bay's best sunset, drink in hand.

Day 2, Go deeper

Morning: Tour C: Hidden Beach and Matinloc. Secret Beach, Helicopter Island and the wildest limestone scenery in the bay.

Afternoon: Explore Corong-Corong, Just south, quieter, with sunset views and better mid-range hotels.

Evening: Nacpan Beach day. A long golden crescent with almost no development, an hour north.

Day 3, Hidden side

Morning: Taraw Cliff's canopy walk at dawn for the whole bay from above town.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Las Cabanas, A short ride south for the best sunset beach and beach clubs.

Evening: Duli Beach for surf and near-empty sand beyond Nacpan.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Best neighbourhoods

El Nido town (Buena Suerte): The main beachfront strip: tour offices, bars, restaurants and budget stays.
Corong-Corong: Just south, quieter, with sunset views and better mid-range hotels.
Las Cabanas: A short ride south for the best sunset beach and beach clubs.
Nacpan Beach: Four kilometres of golden sand 45 minutes north, with low-key resorts.
Lio Beach: The manicured resort enclave near the airport, calm and upmarket.

Must-do experiences

Tour A: Big and Small Lagoon: Kayak into the emerald Big Lagoon and squeeze through the crack into Small Lagoon.
Tour C: Hidden Beach and Matinloc: Secret Beach, Helicopter Island and the wildest limestone scenery in the bay.
Sunset at Las Cabanas: A 15-minute ride south for the bay's best sunset, drink in hand.
Nacpan Beach day: A long golden crescent with almost no development, an hour north.

Hidden gems

Taraw Cliff's canopy walk at dawn for the whole bay from above town.
Duli Beach for surf and near-empty sand beyond Nacpan.
The private-boat option, which lets you hit Big Lagoon before the group tours arrive.
Kayaking to Cadlao Island from Corong-Corong on a calm morning.

Daily budget

$40 to $120 USD per day.

What to eat

Kinilaw: raw tuna cured in vinegar, calamansi, ginger and coconut
Grilled tuna belly and squid at the beachfront barbecue stalls
Adobo and sinigang at the carinderias behind the main strip
Fresh calamansi juice and buko halo-halo after a boat day

Getting around

Fly into Lio Airport (Aerodrome) for short hops from Manila or Cebu, or into Puerto Princesa and take a 5-6 hour van north. Fast ferries link El Nido and Coron in 4 to 5 hours. In town, tricycles handle every trip, with fixed rates to Las Cabanas, Nacpan and the airport. Island tours run daily from the town beach, with an environmental fee valid for 10 days.

Safety

The main risks are sea-related: heed cancellations in rough weather, wear the life vest and reef shoes, and never touch coral. Boats can be crowded, so keep valuables in a dry bag. Power cuts are common and ATMs run dry, so bring cash from Puerto Princesa or Manila. Typhoon season runs roughly July to October. Tap water is not drinkable; refill stations are widespread.

Frequently asked questions

Which El Nido tour is the best, A, B, C or D?

Tour A is the icon, with the Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon and Shimizu Island. Tour C is the most dramatic, with Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine and Helicopter Island. If you have two days do A and C. Tour B suits cave lovers, and Tour D is the quiet, closer-in option.

How many days do you need in El Nido?

Three to four nights. Two full days for island-hopping tours, one for Nacpan Beach or Duli, and a buffer day since boats get cancelled in bad weather. Adding Coron with the fast ferry turns it into a comfortable week in northern Palawan.

When is the best time to visit El Nido?

November to May is the dry season, with March to May the hottest and calmest for boats. December to February is the sweet spot for weather and sea conditions. June to October brings the southwest monsoon and typhoon risk, with frequent tour cancellations and cheaper prices.

How do you get to El Nido?

Fly to Lio Airport just north of town on the small AirSWIFT flights from Manila, Cebu or Clark, which is fastest but pricier. Alternatively fly to Puerto Princesa and take a 5-6 hour van or bus north. Fast ferries also connect El Nido with Coron in about 4 to 5 hours.

Do you need a permit for the Big Lagoon?

You pay a Bacuit Bay environmental fee, valid for 10 days, and boat numbers into the Big Lagoon are capped with timed entry, so your operator has an allocated slot. Kayak rental inside is extra. Booking a day or two ahead in high season keeps you from getting a late, crowded slot.

Is El Nido expensive?

Mid-range by Southeast Asia standards. Hostels start around $15 USD, decent rooms run $50 to $100, and a group island-hopping tour costs roughly $25 to $35 including lunch and gear, plus the environmental fee. Private boats run $200 and up. Food is cheap at local carinderias and pricey on the beachfront.

El Nido or Coron: which is better?

El Nido wins for lagoons, beaches and scenery, and has more nightlife and dining. Coron wins for wreck diving, hot springs and Kayangan Lake's clarity. They are 4 to 5 hours apart by fast ferry, so most travellers with a week do both rather than choose.

Tours and activities in El Nido | El Nido in 3 days | El Nido in 5 days | El Nido in 7 days