El Nido, Palawan | Places to visit in the Philippines

Nicknamed the “Last Frontier” of the Philippines, El Nido is the ultimate paradise full of magical landscapes, amazing coral reefs, hidden beaches and pristine lagoons.

Highlights

El Nido's Bacuit Bay is home to jaw-dropping lagoons and pristine beaches - Definitely a must-see place when visiting the Philippines.
Miniloc is the most visited island of the Bacuit archipelago, known for the spectacular Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon that attract many tourists from all around the world.
Secret Beach was the inspiration behind author Alex Garland’s novel “The Beach” which had a movie adaptation shot in Maya Bay in Thailand years back starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Nacpan Beach with its turquoise water, fine sand, and breathtaking view will not fail to dazzle you. It’s located about 45 minutes drive away from El Nido town.

El Nido is a a must-visit destination in Palawan and its pristine islands are probably the best attractions in Philippines.

El Nido is a eco-friendly paradise situated on the northernmost part of Palawan Island known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs, lagoons, limestone cliffs and as the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago.

El Nido’s Bacuit Bay is composed of 45 islands and islets – each having its own unique geological formations.

Recently El Nido has been delclared as the “Best Beach and Island Destination” in the Philippines for its “extraordinary natural splendor and ecosystem”

El Nido’s marine ecosystem has been the main attraction of the area which attracts and captivates many divers, snorkelers, and beach bums who are all “game” to hop around its islands.

HOW TO GET THERE

The fastest and most direct form of transportation when going to El Nido is a flight from Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. The flight operated by AirSwift takes up to an hour and fifteen minutes and the airplane directly lands to the Lio Airport which is 4 kilometers away from the town.

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL

El Nido can be visited all year round.

The best time to travel is during the dry season between November and early May. This is also the tourist’s peak seasons when the hotel rates are generally higher.

If you travel during the wet season, from June to September, you may encounter some short bursts of heavy rainfall and strong wind. The bad weather may last for a few days.

El Nido is rarely in the direct path of the typhoons.

ACCOMMODATION

Budget-mid priced hotels and resorts in El Nido town are the perfect base to explore the islands of Bacuit Bay and the beaches on the mainland. However, El Nido town is often packed with tourists during the high season.

El Nido’s most exclusive resorts are located on the islands of Bacuit Bay. El Nido Resorts is a group of elite resorts, all of them located on private tropical islands. This group of resorts that is composed of Miniloc Island Resort, Lagen Island Resort, and Pangulasian Island Resort, ranks among the most exclusive properties in the Philippines offering absolute discretion and world-class service (of course, prices that will be higher than other resorts).

The resorts located in Corong Corong beach, Lio Beach and Las Cabanas Beach are perfect for escaping the crows of El Nido and provide the perfect combination of islands exploration and relaxing days on the beach.

There are only basic accommodation in Duli Beach and Nacpan Beach.