El Nido, Philippines: travel guide
Gateway to the Bacuit Archipelago — a northern Palawan town famed for towering limestone karst cliffs, hidden lagoons, secluded white-sand beaches, and world-class island-hopping by bangka boat.
- Country
- Philippines
- Currency
- PHP
- Time zone
- Asia/Manila
- Nearest airport
- ENI
Top places to visit in El Nido
Tour A El Nido Classic Circuit
Beach · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · entry PHP 1,200
The classic El Nido Tour A covers the most famous sights — Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island. The single best-value day of island hopping in the Philippines.
Big Lagoon El Nido Tour A
Nature · 4.9 rating · about 4 h · entry PHP 200
The Big Lagoon is the signature sight of El Nido — a vast turquoise lagoon enclosed by sheer 300-metre karst limestone cliffs, accessible by kayak through a narrow entrance. The scale and beauty are extraordinary.
Small Lagoon El Nido Hidden Cave
Nature · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry PHP 200
The Small Lagoon — accessible through a rocky cliff entrance by kayak or swimming — reveals a perfectly circular turquoise pool surrounded by vertical limestone walls draped in jungle. The most intimate of the El Nido lagoons.
Secret Lagoon El Nido Tidal Cave
Beach · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · entry PHP 200
The Secret Lagoon is accessed through a small crack in the cliff rock — you squeeze through into a completely hidden shallow lagoon with white sand and clear water. The discovery moment is the highlight.
Shimizu Island Coral Garden El Nido
Nature · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · entry PHP 200
Shimizu Island has the finest accessible coral snorkelling in the El Nido tour circuit — a vibrant reef garden with giant clams, sea turtles, and hundreds of reef fish species in clear water.
Tour B Seven Commandos and Snake Island
Beach · 4.6 rating · about 8 h · entry PHP 1,200
El Nido Tour B covers the eastern island chain — Seven Commandos Beach, Snake Island sandbar, Cudugnon Cave, and Cathedral Cave. The Snake Island sandbar connecting two beaches at low tide is uniquely photogenic.
Tour C Helicopter Island and Matinloc Shrine
Beach · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · entry PHP 1,200
Tour C visits Helicopter Island (its shape from the air), Matinloc Shrine (a cliffside shrine accessible only by boat), Hidden Beach, and Star Beach — the most scenic of the El Nido tour circuits.
Nacpan Beach El Nido Twin Beach
Beach · 4.7 rating · about 5 h · entry PHP 400
Nacpan Beach is the finest beach near El Nido town — a 4km arc of pristine white sand with gentle waves and the famous twin beach connection with Calitang Beach at the southern end. Reachable by tricycle or motorbike.
El Nido Town Corong-Corong Beach
Beach · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry PHP 400
Corong-Corong Beach at the southern end of El Nido town has the finest sunset view in El Nido — the silhouettes of the Bacuit Islands and the karst formations against the orange sky from this beach are extraordinary.
Snake Island Sandbar El Nido Low Tide
Beach · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · entry PHP 200
Snake Island is a sinuous white sandbar connecting two beaches that appears only at low tide — one of the most photogenic natural formations in Palawan, photographed from the adjacent hill for the full serpentine effect.
El Nido Night Market Street Food
Cultural · 4.3 rating · about 2 h
The El Nido night market along the main Hama Street has fresh grilled seafood, Filipino street food, and local vendors at prices below the beach restaurants. The most social evening gathering point in El Nido.
Las Cabanas Beach El Nido Zipline
Beach · 4.3 rating · about 3 h · entry PHP 400
Las Cabanas Beach 3km north of El Nido town has a zipline crossing the bay and the finest view of the Bacuit Bay karst islands from the beach — also the most popular party beach in El Nido.
Things to do
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C Matinloc Shrine Boat · 6 h · from PHP 1,200 per person
- El Nido Snorkelling Tour Shimizu and Payong-Payong Water Sports · 5 h · from PHP 1,100 per person
- El Nido Bacuit Bay Kayaking Adventure Self Guide Water Sports · 4 h · from PHP 920 per person
- El Nido Las Cabanas Sunset Zipline Heritage View Adventure · 2.5 h · from PHP 920 per person
- El Nido Kayaking Big Lagoon Small Lagoon Heritage Water Sports · 6 h · from PHP 1,500 per person
- El Nido Palawan Firefly Night Kayaking Tour Nature · 2 h · from PHP 1,100 per person
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour B Helicopter Pass Boat · 8 h · from PHP 1,500 per person
- El Nido Palawan Scuba Diving Coral Gardens Diving · 4 h · from PHP 2,800 per person
Where to stay in El Nido
- El Nido Town about PHP 4,000 per night
Lively town beach and Bacuit Bay tour jump-off, packed with restaurants, bars and dive shops.
- Corong-Corong about PHP 3,000 per night
Calmer beachfront just south of town, known for sunset views and relaxed resorts.
Hotels
- Ten Knots Miniloc Island El Nido 5-star · PHP 22,000 to PHP 75,000 per night
- Nacpan Hilltop Villa El Nido 5-star · PHP 15,000 to PHP 35,000 per night
- El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island 5-star · PHP 30,000 to PHP 95,000 per night
- El Nido Resorts Apulit Island 5-star · PHP 28,000 to PHP 90,000 per night
- El Nido Resorts Lagen Island 5-star · PHP 25,000 to PHP 80,000 per night
- El Nido Town Luxury Suites Bacuit Bay 5-star · PHP 12,000 to PHP 25,000 per night
Where to eat
- El Nido Buko Shake Corner Drinks, Filipino, Street Food · about PHP 150 per person
- Saffron Bakery El Nido Town Bakery, Cafe, Continental · about PHP 400 per person
- El Nido Night Market Street Food Filipino, Street Food, Night Market · about PHP 300 per person
- El Nido Sunset Walk Food Stalls Filipino, Street Food, Evening · about PHP 250 per person
- Happiness Beach Bar El Nido Bar, Beach, International · about PHP 700 per person
- Island Hopping Lunch Beach Barbecue Filipino, Barbecue, Beach · about PHP 700 per person
- El Nido Waterfront Grill Restaurant Filipino, Seafood, Grill · about PHP 800 per person
- El Nido Night Life Bar Row Bar, International, Filipino · about PHP 700 per person
Getting around
- Boat main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Tricycle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.