A more updated version of this article can be found here: El Nido Travel Guide

2012 • 3 • 16

As our boat glided through the waves into the Big Lagoon of Miniloc Island in El Nido, Palawan, I couldn’t help but think about how much I needed this break. The limestone cliffs that surround the clear, turquoise water reflecting the sunny skies were more therapeutic than any massage or cigarette I had. It was the perfect moment. A classic corporate-slave-meets-paradise moment. Every stress that work had brought me in the past few weeks was blown away by the wind, washed away by the waves of El Nido.

The only expensive thing about El Nido, Palawan is the cost of direct flights getting there but no one is forcing anyone to take direct flights. Taking a flight to Puerto Princesa and then catching a bus or shuttle to El Nido proves to be much more pocket-friendly although it demands more time. Hence, taking the Puerto Princesa-El Nido route takes more effort as far as preparations are concerned. That’s the thing about El Nido — it’s playing hard-to-get. But it’s the kind of destination you’d want to marry. When you’re in this paradise, you will never want to leave. El Nido is pure beauty.

How to Get to El Nido, Palawan

Booking cheap tickets to Palawan should be on top of your list if you’re coming from Manila. El Nido is in the northernmost tip of the main island of Palawan. There are three possible gateways.

• Direct Flights. Fast and direct, yes, but rates can be steep.
• Via Coron. There are big outrigger boats that ply the El Nido-Coron route. The catch is that travel time is around 8 hours. And it also proves more expensive as you will have to fly to Coron first and then shell out a couple of thousand pesos to boat to El Nido. This is a great option for those who wish to visit both Coron and El Nido.  (Update: PAL Express now flies from Busuanga to Puerto Princesa.)
• Via Puerto Princesa. All major airlines in the country (Cebu Pacific, PAL Express, Zest Air, and Seair) fly from Manila to Puerto Princesa. From here, there are buses and vans that take passengers to El Nido. There are now Roro buses to El Nido every 2 hours from 6am-10pm. This means saving a lot of time (and a hotel night) because you can sleep in the bus on the way to El Nido. Fare is P380, travel time is at 6-7 hours. Shuttle service provider Fort Wally also carries passengers to El Nido every day at 5am, 7am, 9am, 11am and 1pm. Fare is P700, travel time 5-6 hours.

Where to Stay in El Nido

Check Hotel Rates Here

The town has a long stretch of hostels and inns parallel to the beach that are very, very affordable. You will find rooms that you can rent for as low as P300 per night but most of the rooms this cheap do not have air conditioners. You will find a dense concentration of hotels along the shore. If you can’t find a beachfront hotel, don’t worry  because they can never be too far from the beach.

Anyway, here are five of the inns and hotels I have tried myself.

• Spin Designer Hostel. Our best hostel experience in El Nido. Perfect for backpackers and solo travelers. Offers dorms and private rooms, with fantastic common areas. Book here: Spin Hostel El Nido
  
• Northern Hope Inn. Offers small, basic but airconditioned rooms at an affordable price. (I’ll publish their updated rates soon.) +63 927-735-3221 (Globe), +63 939-902-2216 (Smart)
• El Nido Waterfront Hotel. Located on the beachfront and along the main road of the town, it has the best of both worlds. Air-conditioned double room from P1800. Free coffee. Quezon Road, El Nido. +63 918 6632771. (No longer operational)
• Garnet Hotel. A newly-built hotel along the main road. There’s a common area with cable TV. Airconditioned double room from P1800. Free coffee.  +63 928904252, +63 90591189 Book here: Garnet Hotel
  
• Cliffside Cottages. Not beachfront but just a short walk away. At the base of a massive cliff which fosters a more rustic atmosphere. Double room (fan only) from P500 per night. Rizal Street, El Nido. 63 919 7856625.

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Top Budget Hotels and Resorts in El Nido

As scored by Agoda customers.

• Duli Beach Resort. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Spin Designer Hostel – El Nido. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• The Cavern Pod Hotel & Specialty Cafe. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• AngelNido Resort. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Cuna Hotel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Search for more Palawan Resorts!

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What to Consider Before Your Trip to El Nido

A number of things have to be considered when preparing an El Nido itinerary.

1. First, what is your gateway to El Nido? While some choose to fly directly to El Nido, others are thrown off by the expensive direct flight tickets. Spending much on airfare was not an option for me so I was left with two options: via Coron or via Puerto Princesa. I chose the latter.
2. Second thing to consider was the time of flight to Puerto Princesa. Ours was scheduled at 7:30am. Why is it important? Because it takes approximately 6 hours to get to El Nido from Puerto Princesa. That’s an entire morning and afternoon, if you ask me. We landed at 8:40am at Puerto Princesa airport, stopped at Fortwally Terminal/Office to book a shuttle trip to El Nido, and had a quick brunch in the city. We finished brunch minutes before 11am, just in time for the shuttle (van) to pick us up. If you plan on doing the same and everything goes right, then expect to be in El Nido by 5pm. (Yep, that’s almost an entire day lost on the road but you’ll find a way to enjoy the journey.) The guy from Fortwally Shuttle Services who entertained us said that their last trip to El Nido was at 1pm so make sure that the flight you take is scheduled to arrive by that time.
3. Third, the return flight. If your return flight is via Puerto Princesa, too, then make sure that you arrange the timing perfectly. Always remember that the travel time between El Nido and Puerto Princesa is five to six hours.

At least that we planned when we booked our flights. For everything else since then, we just went with the flow.

What to Do in El Nido: Packaged Day Tours

We didn’t book any packaged tour before the trip. Hours before the trip, we just browsed through several websites and learned that there are usually four major boat tours that await tourists who visit El Nido. There are many establishments in the town proper and along Bacuit Bay that offer such tours and there isn’t much difference between their rates because the local government standardizes them (Yay!). You can also haggle and some of them can even pull the price lower.

• Tour A – Small Lagoon and Big Lagoon on Miniloc Island, Simizu Island, Entulala Island, Payong Payong Beach, and 7 Commando Beach, P1200/person
• Tour B – Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, Pinagbuyutan Island, Cathedral Cave, P1300/person
• Tour C – Matinloc Shrine, Matinloc Island, Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Tapuitan Island, Helicopter Island, P1400/person
• Tour D – Nat Nat Beach, Pasandigan Cove, Paradise Beach, Ubugon Cave, Bukal Island, Cadlao Lagoon, P1200/person
• Nacpan and Calitang Twin Beach Land Transfers (Full Day). Tricycle rental costs P1500, good for up to 4 pax. Van rental is P3000, good for up to 12 pax.
• Maremegmeg Beach. Tricycle rental is P300, good for up to 4 pax.

Note that for Tours A-D, a minimum of 4 people per tour is required. Lunch is also included but you might want to clear with the tour operator if water is included. Otherwise, bring water, lots of it! Lunch usually includes grilled fish, grilled pork/chicken, rice, vegetables, and fruits. Snorkels, masks and aqua shoes are not included. For Nacpan and Maremegmeg Beaches, the rates above cover only transportation. Food is not included. I have personally tried Northern Hope Tours and it was a very pleasant experience. You may contact them at:

• (+63) 927-735-3221 (Globe)
• (+63) 939-902-2216 (Smart)

Updated: February 2014

Places to Visit in El Nido

The photos below will take you to a more detailed description of the place and my experience there. I will be adding more to this list when I visit El Nido again. But here’s what I have so far.

Where to Eat in El Nido

The following are some of the restaurants I have tried in El Nido. The first six are on the pricey side, with a regular meal at around P150 to P250. The bottom two — IBR Fast Food and Skyline Grill — are the cheaper options, as low as P70 per meal. There are also other carinderias in between so you won’t get hungry even when on a very limited budget.

More about these restaurants at: 6 Popular Restaurants in El Nido, Palawan

Preparing an El Nido Itinerary

Here’s a sample itinerary for a 4D3N trip to El Nido via Puerto Princesa. Of course, you must adjust yours according to your flight schedule and other considerations. You may also opt to tour Puerto Princesa or, if you have more days, make a stop at Port Barton or San Vicente. For more sample itineraries, visit this page.

Day 1: PUERTO PRINCESA TO EL NIDO
05:30 am – Check-in NAIA Terminal 3
07:30 am – ETD NAIA Terminal 3 – Manila
08:40 am – ETA Puerto Princesa Airport
09:00 am – Breakfast at Balinsasayaw Restaurant in Puerto Princesa
12:00 pm – Board Roro Bus
06:00 pm – ETA: El Nido Terminal
06:15 pm – Check-in
07:30 pm – Dinner

Day 2: TOUR A
06:00 am – Wake up call
07:00 am – Breakfast
09:00 am – TOUR A
05:00 pm – Change clothes, rest
06:00 pm – Dinner
08:00 pm – Get wasted at a bar (Yep, I said it)

Day 3: TOUR C
06:00 am – Wake up call
07:00 am – Breakfast
09:00 am – TOUR C
05:00 pm – Change clothes, rest
06:00 pm – Dinner
08:00 pm – Drink at a bar (Yep, I said it again)

Day 4: NACPAN-CALITANG, DEPARTURE
06:00 am – Wake up call
07:30 am – Nacpan-Calitang Twin Beach, waterfall and other beaches
04:30 pm – Freshen up, pack, check out, quick dinner
07:00 pm – Dinner
10:00 pm – ETD El Nido Terminal
04:00 am – ETA Puerto Princesa Airport
05:00 am – Check in at Puerto Princesa Airport

Budget Breakdown

Here’s a list of expenses that you may encounter during your trip to El Nido.

Roro Bus from Puerto Princesa to El Nido: P380
Accommodations: P300-P2000 /night
Meal at IBR Fast Food: P75-P120
Meal at more popular restos: P150-P250
Island Hopping Tour: P1200-P1400/pax
Nacpan-Calitang Beach Tricycle Transfers: P1500 (up to 4pax)
Eco-Tourism Development Fee: P200
Puerto Princesa Airport Terminal Fee: P100

The last time I was in El Nido, I spent around P5000 during my 4-day stay (excluding airfare), but that was when tours were significantly cheaper.