How to reach El Nido, Palawan? That’s probably the first question on your mind if you don’t know much about this town. The first thing you should know is that there are no flights coming directly to El Nido, so you have to fly to Manila and then take a ferry ride before boarding to another flight going to El Nido. Still, the place makes it more than worth it – the whole town was built on top of beautiful cliffs overlooking the ocean, so every place you go has an amazing view.

What you need to know about El Nido?

Consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, it’s hard to compete with the raw, natural wonder that awaits you at El Nido. 

This is the classic Philippines, where you’ll find white sand beaches, sparkling lagoons, and jagged limestone karst rocks that rise abruptly from the still water.

Island hopping, beach lounging and drinking beers late into the night are all on the cards here, and El Nido offers an unbeatable mix of adventure and partying.

El Nido grew quickly from a small fishing village, and into what is arguably the Philippines’ most popular backpacking destination.

While that’s great for travelers looking to meet other people, bear in mind that El Nido can be very busy, particularly in comparison to the more laid back Coron which is found to the north.

El Nido Palawan – The beach side

El Nido is famous for its white-sand beaches backed by swaying palm trees, hidden lagoons and stunning rock formations enveloped by sparkling emerald water, El Nido makes for an avid beach bum’s ideal island-hopping destination.

There are lots of accommodation options in El Nido, whether you are looking for a budget-friendly hostel or a luxurious resort. This blog post breaks down its best regions to stay in depending on your intention of visit. For example, you may want to be in the heart of the action in El Nido town or you may be looking for the tranquility and luxury of Lio Beach. I’ve spent more than a 40-days exploring El Nido across multiple visits and know the area quite well. I’ll do my best to show you what each region offers and then highlight the top accommodation picks in each spot so you can pick the best area to stay in El Nido for you.

Here is a little checklist to start!

• El Nido Town: If you are on a budget and looking for a cheap hotel or hostels, the town proper (El Nido Town) is the best choice for you.
• Las Cabanas: If you want to see the best sunset every night in El Nido, Las Cabanas is a perfect place for you.
• Lio Beach: If you are in El Nido looking for some peace, luxury and relaxing place, you need to stay in Lio Beach.
• Nacpan Beach: If you want a secluded yet exotic place to stay with the best beach on the mainland, head on to Nacpan Beach.

El Nido Palawan – The main town area

The town proper of El Nido is the main hub of the region. You can find a great selection of shops and restaurants aside from the beautiful beaches, tour operators and laid-back nightlife. Below are my top picks in El Nido Town Proper for each different type of budget.

Top 20 Things To Do In El Nido Palawan

El Nido is more than just a place it’s a cluster of 45 small islands on the tip of the Palawan island. There are plenty of things to do in El Nido to fill a trip itinerary for more than a week exploring all that El Nido has to offer.

The islands of El Nido are some of the most beautiful and enchanting in the entire world. Here is a list of the top activities in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines.

1. SWIM THROUGH THE HOLE TO SECRET BEACH

This hole is what brought me all the way to the El Nido and a big reason for the trip to the Philippines. Secret Lagoon lived up to the hype. Visit Secret Lagoon on El Nido Tour C when visiting El Nido.

Secret Beach is one of the best places in the Philippines and should be on everyone’s itinerary.

2. STARE INTO THE TURQUOISE WATERS OF THE LARGE LAGOON

The Large Lagoon in El Nido is a magical place. The water here is a one-of-a-kind color surrounded by tall rock formations. It’s nothing short of breathtaking. It’s paradise!

Update: Plan your time right, now you can only visit Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon during your Tour A in El Nido and the traditional Filipino boats are not allowed inside the lagoons, you must take a kayak.

3. VISIT SECRET BEACH

Secret Beach is a pristine piece of sand hidden from sight by large limestone cliffs on all sides. Once inside it feels like you are the only people on the planet. Secret beach is one of the best things to see in El Nido hands down. A trip to Secret Beach is accessible on the El Nido tour.

4. VISIT SNAKE ISLAND

This island is another great example of the beauty of El Nido. What makes Snake Island so special isn’t necessarily the island itself, but the strip of sand leading up to it.

When the tides are right snake island has a thin strip of sand wiggling its way through the bay, pointing right at snake island. Snake Island is the top thing to do on the El Nido Tour B day trip.

5. DIVING IN EL NIDO

El Nido is home to over 30 dive sites with frequent trips to about 10 depending on the tides and conditions. The Bacuit Bay is home to a wide range of beautiful sea life and interesting structural formations.

6. SIMIZU ISLAND

This island has some of the most remarkable stone structures around El Nido. Large pieces of limestone rising out of the sea forming thin curtains of black rock. Some of these rocks have small holes in them that make you wonder how they were formed. Simizu Island is a popular lunch stop on the El Nido day trip A tour.

7. HIKE UP TO TARAW PEAK

For the best views of  Bacuit Bay takes an average of 2 hours round trip, Taraw Peak rises about 230 meters above sea level. On the top is a bird’s eye view of Bacuit Bay. Cost: 350 pesos per person for a guide.

Update: As of our last visit this trek is temporarily closed (technically) after an injury. If you plan to do this trek check with a local tour operator when you arrive in El Nido.

8. SPEND A DAY AT LAS CABANAS BEACH

Las Cabanas is one of the best beaches reachable by land from El Nido town. A long walk or a short tricycle ride to the beach entrance. Las Cabanas beach seems to go on forever and is largely empty.

There are a few resorts popping up and a few restaurants to have a beer or a meal. Las Cabanas makes for a great day trip from El Nido and one of the best things you can do independently or without a boat. If you want to spend the night we suggest Las Cabanas Beach Resort.

9. DIVE THE DILUMACAD UNDERWATER TUNNEL

Located about a mile and a half from the shores of Dilumacad Island (Helicopter island) there is a dive site most local divers call ‘ The Tunnel’. 12 meters under the surface there is a 40-meter tunnel that you can swim through filled with fish and other sea life. Just another one of the amazing things to do in El Nido. For more info on the Dilumacad Underwater Tunnel.

10. SPLASH AROUND IN THE SMALL LAGOON

After a short ride from El Nido town is the small lagoon. This lagoon sits on the northern end of Miniloc Island. What makes this a thing to do in El Nido is the fact that it’s an open-top cathedral of limestone. Vertical walls of stone from a lagoon of shallow water in nearly a perfect circle.

Once inside, staring up at the imposing walls, it starts to look like a very alien landscape. The water depending on the tides isn’t really deep enough for swimming, but it’s fun to splash around a listen to the echoes off of the stone. You can reach the small lagoon on the El Nido Tour A day trip.

MORE THINGS TO DO IN EL NIDO

11. VISIT THE MATINLOC SHRINE

An abandoned shrine to the Virgin Mary that seems a bit out of place in the middle of this tropical paradise. Also, on the island with the shrine are some amazing lookouts.

A quick hike up the rocks brings you to a viewpoint where you can see the entire channel running between the small islands. The viewpoint kind of reminds me of Kayangan Lake in Coron, which should also be on your Philippines itinerary.

12. VISIT HIDDEN BEACH

Tucked away behind high walls of stone, a small opening reveals shallow pools of clear water and soft sands. It’s only visible to the open side by a tiny break in the natural stone walls. Visit this island by joining El Nido Tour C day trip.

13. NAGKALIT-KALIT WATERFALLS

A 1-2 hour hike through the lush forest area brings you to the Nagkalit-Kalit waterfalls. The falls are a 10-meter tall trough of water that slides down the rocks and shifts right and left. There are two falls and between them is a pool to take a swim in. If you have lots of time in El Nido this can be a nice day trip, but during the dry months don’t expect to be blown away by the waterfall.

14. HELICOPTER ISLAND

Shaped like, you guessed it, a helicopter this island looks remarkably like a giant helicopter sitting in Bacuit Bay. The island is home to a few nice beaches and is part of the El Nido Tour C day trip.

There are also many dive trips that will take you to this part of the bay. The biggest draw to the island is the shape and it’s best seen from a boat. You don’t necessarily need to stop at the island unless you just want to have some beach time, but there are so many things to do in El Nido you might not have time to lie around.

15. EAT PIZZA AT ALTROVE

Of all the amazing things to do in El Nido, it may seem strange to include pizza on the list of things to do, but it’s that good. Every night there will be a line down the street, it’s worth the wait. If you ask us, it’s one of the best restaurants in El Nido.

16. 7 COMMANDOS BEACH

Visit the island where 7 Japanese commandos lived for a period of time near the end of WWII. The names of the soldiers are said to be written on stones around the island, but not much else is known about these soldiers including what happened to them.

17. ENJOY A SAN MIGUEL ON THE BEACH

Enjoy one of Southeast Asia’s best beers, while sitting on SE Asia’s best beaches in El Nido. Take a break from all the things to do in El Nido and just relax with some cold San Miguels.

18. DAY TRIP TO NACPAN BEACH & TWIN BEACHES

Nacpan Beach and Calitang Beach are 1.5 hours from El Nido town. To reach twin beaches you can rent a bike, or join Tour E (inland tour), or pay a tricycle driver to bring you (1500 pesos whole day fits 3 people).

19. EAT FILIPINO TOCINO & GARLIC RICE FOR BREAKFAST

Get a taste of classic Filipino food. One of our favorites was the garlic rice served with Tocino for breakfast! We ate it daily at our El Nido Hotel

20. WATCH THE BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS OF EL NIDO

El Nido town is facing to the west so every night you are blessed with an amazing sunset to finish your action-packed day in El Nido. Grab your camera and a Filipino beer and enjoy while reflecting on all the amazing things you’ve done in El Nido.

El Nido is a perpetually underrated tourist destination, but the islands on Palawan, Philippines should definitely be part of all travelers’ itineraries. The locals are generally very friendly and it’s easy to get around, thanks to that short stretch of land between Coron and El Nido. In other words, we recommend taking a trip to El Nido Palawan at least once in your life. The jaw-dropping views will tell you why.

Ultimately, the islands of El Nido have a profound charm. Glimpses of paradise can be found in every part of them—the beach, the forest, and the waterfalls. And no matter where you go or what you do, nothing can take that away.

Click here to get more details on everything El Nido has to offer.