If you love marine life, island hopping, partying, but still enjoy a laid-back lifestyle, good news—El Nido won’t disappoint! This small town located in the north of Palawan is definitely one of the top tourist destinations in the world. El Nido always pops up whenever you ask Filipinos or foreigners about their favorite or dream destination in the Philippines. Can’t blame them, though.

White sandy beaches, coconut palms, the sunny weather, towering limestone cliffs, turquoise waters, rich marine life, and great food—these are definitely the perfect ingredients for a perfect holiday getaway.

So stop daydreaming, book that flight, and read this travel guide—El Nido, the ‘Heaven on Earth,’ is waiting for you!

GETTING TO EL NIDO, PALAWAN:

Fly via Puerto Princesa: This is probably the cheapest but most tiring way to reach El Nido. If you’re coming from Manila, make sure to catch the earliest flight to Puerto Princesa. The travel time to El Nido is about 5-6 hours, with brief stopovers along the way. Also, ensure that you’ve already booked a van transfer to El Nido. You can try booking a shared or private van via Klook, especially if you’re a group of around 10 people.

Fly via AirSWIFT: The fastest, most convenient, but expensive way to reach El Nido is via AirSWIFT. Prices per person can range from P15,000 to almost P20,000 for a round trip. However, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for promo fares. For example, we were able to get ours for only P15,384 for two people, round trip, back in 2022. Be sure to check AirSWIFT (now integrated in Cebu Pacific’s website) for updated airfares.

If you fly via AirSWIFT, Lio Airport is actually less than a 10-minute drive to Lio Estates, where some of the most beautiful resorts and restaurants are located.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GOING TO EL NIDO

Accommodation:

El Nido offers plenty of resorts, hotels, Airbnbs, and hostels to choose from—it all depends on your budget and the vibe you’re going for. If you have the moolah and want a beachfront resort with nearby restaurants, stay at one of the resorts in Lio Estates. But if you’re looking to party and be close to the jump-off point for island hopping, El Nido Town is the better choice, with more affordable rates as well.

Food:

Nothing really special about the food in El Nido—nothing stood out for me. But that’s not to say they don’t have delicious food; it just didn’t have a ‘wow’ factor for me. The prices aren’t too expensive nor too cheap. During our stay, we had coffee at Islas Makinas and enjoyed lunch and dinner at The Clay Kitchen and El Nido Grille, both in Lio Beach. We also tried the popular Kape ni Manang, which is quite close to Lio Estate. Breakfast was included at Charlie’s El Nido, which was a great way to save on meals.

Transportation or Tour:

Now, this really stood out—tricycle rides in El Nido are pricey! For a 7 km distance, the fare was already P300–P350, which is why we didn’t explore the city proper much. We stayed at Charlie’s Hotel, near Lio Estates, and made the most of their free shuttle to and from the town proper. (This was back in 2022, by the way.)

For the island tour, we joined a group tour with Discover El Nido Travel and Tours and chose Tour A for P1,600 per person, which included a boodle fight lunch. However, upon checking their website as of this writing, tour companies have not been allowed to cook or prepare food onboard since 2023, so the price dropped to P1,200.

For the most updated rates and details on Tours A–D, check out the Discover El Nido website. As first-timers who aren’t super into island hopping, we found Tour A enough.

Budget:

A budget of P40,000 for two people is enough for a 4-day, 3-night stay in El Nido—excluding airfare. Of course, this depends on where you choose to stay. Do the math!

THINGS YOU NEED TO BRING WHEN GOING TO EL NIDO

• Cash: Not all establishments or restaurants accept credit cards.
• Camera or Smartphone: A no-brainer!
• Aqua Shoes: To protect your feet. These are especially helpful for island hopping or even just swimming.
• Snorkeling Gear or Goggles: Goggles will work fine, but if you want to level up your experience, bring snorkeling gear—you won’t want to miss El Nido’s amazing underwater life.
• Sunblock: Protect your skin.
• Water Tumbler or Flask. Don’t contribute to single-use plastic waste! El Nido was once infamous for tourists complaining of stomach aches, allegedly due to the water. We didn’t experience this during our visit, but to be safe, always bring your own flask and refill it with mineral or distilled water from your hotel.
• Mosquito repellent. Protect yourself from mosquitos or the infamous nik-nik of Palawan.

WHERE TO STAY IN EL NIDO?

This is where we stayed. It’s not in the town proper, nor is it beachfront, but it’s just a 10-minute walk to Lio Estates and Lio Beach.

Charlie’s El Nido (Mid Price Range). They offer a free shuttle to Lio Beach and El Nido Town proper—perfect if you’d rather skip the walk or avoid extra transportation costs.

Located in El Nido Town proper, near El Nido Town Beach and Bacuit Bay.

The Funny Lion (High Price Range).

Frendz Hostel El Nido (Mid Price Range).

Sea Cocoon Hotel (Mid Price Range)

Cuna Hotel (Mid Price Range)

Located in Lio Estates, just a few steps from Lio Beach, surrounded by restaurants, and very close to the airport.

Huni Lio (High Price Range). Located in Lio Beach

Seda Lio (High Price Range). Located in Lio Beach

Located about 21 km from El Nido Town, Nacpan Beach is known for its stunning stretches of sand. Its consistent swell also makes it a popular spot for surfers.

Nacpan Beach Glamping (High Price Range).

Nacpan Beach Resort (Mid Price Range).

EL NIDO DAILY ITINERARY

Just to set expectations, we visited El Nido mainly to relax, so you’ll notice that this is more of a slow-paced itinerary. You may or may not follow this.

DAY 1

Lio Beach. We flew with AirSWIFT and arrived in El Nido early in the morning. As expected, our room at Charlie’s El Nido wasn’t ready yet, so to kill time, we walked to Lio Beach, which was less than 2 km away.

We had breakfast at Islas Makinas and just relaxed by the beach. Since it was late November, there weren’t many people around. For lunch, we dined at The Clay Kitchen, which is also in Lio Estates. When it was almost check-in time, we took a tricycle back to Charlie’s—because it was already freaking hot to walk.

If you want to save on transportation and are staying at Charlie’s Hotel, you can take advantage of their complimentary shuttle service. They have scheduled trips to and from El Nido Town and Lio Estates, so just check with the reception for the latest schedule.

Lio Beach is actually a great spot for swimming, with its fine sand, clear waters, and fewer crowds. Taking a dip here is also a great way to kickstart your first day in El Nido. And oh, did I mention that the sunset at Lio Beach is absolutely breathtaking?

DAY 2

Island Hopping. As mentioned, we booked our tour with Discover El Nido Travel and Tours. Woke up early, had our free breakfast at Charlie’s, and hopped on their free shuttle to the tour office. After waiting a bit for our tour mates, we walked to Bacuit Bay (aka El Nido Town Beach)—the jump-off point for all island tours.

We went for Tour A, which covered the famous Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, 7 Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Island, where we had lunch. If you’ve got more days (and budget) to spare, why not explore more islands? Check out Discover El Nido’s package tours and see which one fits your vibe!

Our island-hopping tour ended around 3-4 PM. We waited for the free shuttle at the basketball court in El Nido Town, then headed back to Charlie’s El Nido, swam in the pool, and had dinner at the hotel since we were too tired to go out.

DAY 3

Tattoo at Oz El Nido. I had two tattoos done in Siargao, so I thought—why not get one in El Nido, too? I figured, I love the beach, but I still don’t have a beach-related tattoo. This coin-sized piece cost me P2,000. If you’re also thinking of getting a souvenir tattoo in El Nido, check out Oz El Nido—conveniently located in the town proper. Oh, and they also have a café right below the tattoo shop!

El Nido Town. We didn’t really explore El Nido town that much—there wasn’t much going on during the day, I guess. Maybe the place comes alive in the late afternoon or at night, but since we’re not into partying, that was an easy pass for us. We just grabbed a few ref magnets and hopped on a tricycle to our next stop.

Maramegmeg Beach. We wanted to check out other beaches in El Nido but didn’t feel like going too far. Aside from laziness kicking in (again, this trip was for relaxation—not a race to tick off every spot), we also found the tricycle fares a bit pricey. So we settled for Marimegmeg Beach, which is just a few minutes away from Charlie’s El Nido. It’s pretty popular but not overly crowded—at least not until just before sunset, when more people start to arrive. That’s why I think the best time to enjoy the beach is in the morning or early afternoon.

We just chilled, had a few snacks, and waited for the sunset—which was okay. I still prefer Lio Beach’s sunset view though. Or maybe we just didn’t get lucky with the skies that day. The water here is calm, making it a nice swimming and lounging spot. Oh, and there’s no entrance fee! We simply hung out at Maremegmeg Beach Club and ordered food and drinks while soaking up the view.

Dinner at Kape ni Manang. Kape ni Manang is a popular eatery in El Nido—and good thing it’s just a 10-minute walk from our hotel. We didn’t get to try their coffee though, so I still have no idea how Manang’s kape actually tastes. Maybe next time!

Other Options: 

Nacpan Beach and Duli Beach are both a bit far from El Nido town—around a 45-minute to 1-hour ride—but totally worth the trip if you’ve got time to spare. These less crowded, unspoiled spots are perfect for those craving a quiet beach day away from the usual tourist scene.

DAY 4

Bye El Nido. Woke up early, had a quick breakfast at the hotel, and hopped on Charlie’s El Nido complimentary shuttle to catch our flight back to Manila.

MY TAKEAWAY:

Airfare directly to El Nido can be quite pricey, but you’re really paying for the convenience—and honestly, I don’t mind. If you’re like me and prefer to skip the 5-hour land trip from Puerto Princesa, I highly recommend flying via AirSWIFT.

El Nido is a haven for island hopping, with a variety of islands—each with its own charm. I can’t say much about the food scene since I’m not really a foodie, but nothing really stood out for me. Tricycle fares are surprisingly expensive, so I’m just grateful our hotel offered a complimentary shuttle (on schedule) to and from the town proper.

Now, if you’re into snorkeling or diving, I personally think Coron is the better pick. With its rich marine life and sunken shipwrecks, there’s just so much more to explore underwater. But if we’re talking beaches and resorts with easy access to the shore, I’d choose El Nido over Coron any day.

SEE YOU AGAIN SOON, EL NIDO!

Thanks for the sunsets, the saltwater, and the sweet slow days.