8 things you MUST do in El Nido – Philippines – TREKwithBECK
El Nido without a doubt is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all the Philippines. It is known for its white sand beach, incredible island hopping, karst cliffs and beautiful snorkelling. It is also very popular for diving.
Although it is busy, El Nido is one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines. I have been here twice and would happily go again! The island-hopping tours are what has made this small town famous but trust me it has plenty more to offer.
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There are 3 ways you can get to El Nido; fly, ferry, or minivan. If you are coming from Puerto Princesa in the South of Palawan, I would catch a minivan (also make sure to check out Port Barton for a few days!). If you are coming from Coron (North), I would catch a ferry.
You can also catch direct flights to El Nido from Manila with Airswift, which is currently the only company operating with flights to El Nido.
All transport, except for flights can be booked on 12go Asia or at your accommodation in Puerto Princesa/Coron.
Best time to visit?
The best time to visit El Nido is during the dry season from December to April. I’ve visited twice, one in December and once in March. I found March to have much better weather, with clearer days and calmer seas.
How many days to spend here?
I would recommend a minimum of 3 full days in El Nido. There are several boat tours you can complete, plus there is plenty to see in and surrounding the town. Three days will give you enough time to complete one boat tour, explore the town and explore the outskirts (such as Nacpan Beach).
With this said, you could easily spend more days here! The town is quite established and easy to get around. Plus, it has this charm to it, which makes you want to stay!
Best Things to Do
If you are travelling to El Nido you MUST complete at least one island hopping tour. There are four island hopping tours to choose from, A, B, C, D. All of these are incredible, but if it’s your first time in El Nido, or you are short on time I would recommend tour A.
Tour A is the busiest tour, simply because it is the most popular. If you are chasing something a little quieter, I would complete tour C – which is the second most popular tour. If you want to visit the quieter islands, tour B and D would be your best options. No matter which tours you choose you will be blown away by the scenery of this incredible place!
If you are traveling in a big group or have some extra money to spend, I would highly recommend booking a private tour. It is expensive, but it means you can make your own itinerary and see stops from all the tours.
A quick run-down of the tours:
- TOUR A: Small or Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, Seven Commando beach, abden rock.
- TOUR B: Snake Island, Pupulkan Point, Cathedral Cove, Cudugnon Beach, Entalula Island
- TOUR C: Helicopter Island, Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Calmong Beach, Talisay Beach
- TOUR D: Cadlao Lagoon, Bukal Island, Pasandigan Beach, Ipil Beach, Nat Nat Beach
If you are feeling fit, you can hire a kayak and go visit the beaches on the islands close to El Nido! This is a great way to see some of the hidden lagoons and beaches by yourself but be warned – the seas can get rough. I wouldn’t recommend this activity if you aren’t a good swimmer and haven’t kayaked in open water before.
If you complete this activity, make sure to let someone know when you plan on returning!
Feeling like getting your adrenaline pumping? You can zip-line between two islands in El Nido! This 750-metre-long line gives you incredible views over the surrounding settlements and beaches. This zip-line starts at Las Cabanas Beach and includes all safety gear.
The zip-line starts at a price of 688 PHP for one way, with an add on of 250 PHP – if you wish to go down in the superman position. Or 625 PHP, if you want a combination ticket of down in a superman position and return in a sitting position. I would make sure to book the return, or you might be stuck walking through water or swimming back from the small island!
Taraw Cliff is an intense, physical hike in El Nido Town. I will start off by saying this hike should NOT be attempted by people without hiking experience, rock scrambling experience and who are afraid of heights. I am not even sure I should be recommending this activity as I got word that it was shut down (kind of) to the public? This hike must also be completed with a guide, as it is impossible to do without. Even though whether I was able to do it or not was a question, I was able to find a guide to take me up – so the risk is yours!
My sunrise hike started at 4.30am, where I was given gloves and a helmet. This hike involves a 15-metre rock scramble with no harness, and it can be dangerous if you are not experienced. As I’ve done my fair share of questionable hikes, I really wanted to complete this one. The views at the top were incredible and I love these types of hikes, so I really enjoyed myself.
If you want a similar view but something that is better regulated, I recommend the activity below. For my tour guide, plus equipment it cost me 1000 PHP.
This is a much safer and eco-friendly way to get incredible views over El Nido. Unlike the Taraw Cliff Hike, this adventure only takes you 75 metres above sea level. It is much more suitable for people with any fitness or families with children. You can complete this hike between 8am and 5pm, but I would advise to start early as it does get extremely hot during the day.
It costs 475 PHP to simply climb to the top and return the same way. Or you can pay an extra 375 PHP to get the dreamcatcher experience.
Nacpan Beach is a great place to spend for a day trip. You will however need to organise some sort of transport to reach this beach from El Nido. If you are comfortable driving a scooter, then I would recommend self-driving. However, keep in mind the road does get bumpy the closer you get to the beach. If you are not comfortable driving a scooter, you can hire a tuk-tuk for the day.
This beach has 4km of soft sand, coconut palms, clear water and surf-able waves. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in the area. Here you can also rent a kayak or there are some restaurants that line the shore if you get hungry.
If you are heading to Nacpan Beach, it is worth stopping at a few of the waterfalls on the way. These waterfalls are nowhere near impressive as the ones located on Cebu Island, but they are nice for a quick cool off. Nagkalit-kalit waterfall, Bulalacao Waterfall and Kuyawyaw Waterfall are the three closest to El Nido town.
I didn’t have time to visit these on my most recent trip, but I will try visit when I return! There are also some tours which incorporate one or two of these waterfalls and Nacpan Beach.
Instead of catching the ferry to Coron, join a multi-day expedition instead! These expeditions include all meals, camping on remote islands, snorkelling and island hopping. It makes the journey between both destinations more of an adventure, rather than another travel day!
I completed an expedition with Tao Expeditions, which is one of the most popular and upmarket expedition companies. Big Dream Boat Man is another extremely popular company, it is also worth checking out Keelooma and Buhay Isla.
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