Approximate reading time: 15-20 minutes

Introduction

Palawan is one of the many islands in the Philippines with so much to offer. It has become a world class destination, and at the center of all this grandeur? El Nido! El Nido is one of the crowning glories in Palawan.

Activities in El Nido that you can do.

The Nest

El Nido in Spanish means “The Nest”, and some of the most glorious landscapes are cradled within this nest. Crystal clear turquoise water allows you to catch a glimpse of the lively and colorful reef and aquatic life underneath even without a snorkel. Wonder at the hidden lagoons and beaches with powder white sand that seems so soft and fine you would think the entire beach is covered with powdered milk! Contrasting with all this softness are the jagged and striking limestone cliffs that conceal these hidden natural beauties.

Mix these breathtaking views with the friendliness of the locals with infectious smiles, and El Nido truly becomes paradise on Earth.

We Are Island People

We are very much island people and we truly feel like we are in our element when we are just exploring an island with little to no plan. Usually we just have some spots that we want to visit but we aren’t always exactly strict with it. We allow ourselves to stop and admire the view around us or to discover and try out any new spots that catch our attention along the way. That is why we decided to come up with this list to give you some possible options to include in your itinerary but still give you the time to stop and smell the roses along the way.

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The town of El Nido itself has a simple charm that is definitely worth exploring, but it also serves as a jumping off point for all these wonderful adventures and relaxing spots.

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Disclaimer

The information presented in this article may be subject to change at the venue or service provider’s discretion. You may check their respective websites or social media accounts for any updates on the price, location, and other details. Additionally, this article may contain affiliate links from which we get a portion of profit, at no added cost to you. These links are safe to click.

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How to Get There

There are different ways to get to El Nido. You can take a plane from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila to the El Nido Airport (also known as Lio Airport) though some people also take a trip over to Puerto Princesa and then ride a van to El Nido. The van ride to El Nido is around 5 or more hours and can be quite bumpy as compared to taking a plane from Manila which would take around an hour and a half.

Looking for a seamless trip from Coron to paradise?

If you are coming from Coron, another one of Palawan’s most spectacular wonders, you could take a boat. If you opt for this option, make sure you don’t get seasick (or to pack your motion sickness medication) because the boat ride is around 3 and a half hours to get to El Nido. If you’re interested in exploring the full beauty of Palawan by boat, you should definitely check out Keeloma Voyages. From pre-organized tours to bespoke packages, Keeloma’s staff will make sure you are safe and having a good time throughout your entire adventure with them!

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Top 12 Essential Things to Do in El Nido

Island Hopping Tours

The number one most popular thing to do in El Nido is island hopping. Martin believes that El Nido probably gives the best island hopping experience in the Philippines. It’s definitely a must do in the Philippines for local and foreign tourists alike!

The many tour organizers generally offer the same 4 types of tours called Tour A, Tour B, Tour C, and Tour D. Tour A and Tour C are the most popular choices but each tour has its own charm.

Tour A

Has some of the most popular attractions, and while breathtaking they may also be very crowded. Highlights of this tour would be the Big Lagoon which offers a stunning landscape of limestone cliffs and bright blue water. We personally think that your El Nido trip isn’t complete without a trip to the Big Lagoon. The Small Lagoon is also part of this tour’s itinerary, and despite being called the “Small” Lagoon, this just refers to its size as compared to Big Lagoon but it definitely does not have a small impact on you! The view at Small Lagoon is peppered with trees and prominent rock formations all around the crystal clear water.

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Tour B

Tour B is a less hectic tour in terms of pacing and crowds. With this tour you see more unconventional islands that still serve up some amazing views and landscapes. One such destination is Snake Island. No, it isn’t named this way because there are plenty of snakes on this island (that we know of), but because it is one winding sandbar strip that reveals itself during low tide in the middle of the sea. It’s perfect for those who love to walk. Take a trip up and down the entirety of the sandbar while admiring the 360 view around you. Another notable highlight of this tour is Entalula Island which offers a calm and undisturbed sense of beauty. This spot is great for snorkeling and admiring the colorful and lively array of aquatic life. It also has a quite lively island life too with komodo dragons and monitor lizards which we were able to witness firsthand when we had lunch on this island. Remember, respecting the locals also includes respecting the wildlife on the island!

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Tour C

Tour C is the second most popular tour choice in El Nido. It takes you to great snorkeling spots and more epic lagoons and beaches. A highlight of this tour would definitely be the Hidden Beach. When you first arrive at the Hidden Beach, you’ll be greeted with great towering cliffs that are hiding a wondrous secret: the beach! After maneuvering to get to this little paradise you can set your feet on the powder soft sand and revel in the beauty of this secluded spot and the excitement of discovering what the cliffs were “hiding”.

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Tour D

Tour D takes less time out of your day since the tour focuses on nearby islands and beaches. This tour is underrated and most likely the least crowded which means that you may have a more quiet experience as compared to the other tours, also offering more beach space for you to lounge on! Like the other 3 tours, Tour D offers trips to beaches with inviting cool blue water and views you can’t help but stare at in wonder.

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To really maximize your trip, we would suggest trying to do at least 2 island hopping tours during your stay at El Nido. There are also different boat situations that you can choose from, you can share a boat with other people, you could also partake of a tour that is almost like a party with a dj on board as you island hop, but if you are in the mood for something more private then you can take a private tour which might be more expensive but also gives you more flexibility over your tour. This can help you avoid crowds, especially if you ask your tour guide if you could do the tour in the reverse order.

If you want to find out more specific details about each tour and which is the perfect match for you, check out this El Nido tour guide article we made! This article goes more in-depth for each tour to really help you choose which ones are best for you!

Chill at Nacpan Beach
Nacpan Beach is a 45 minute to 1 hour drive away from El Nido Town Proper. If you have a license and are a confident motorist then you could rent a motorcycle and make a motor road trip out of it. But be sure that you are up for the drive because the roads are not always paved, and it can get especially tricky at night. If you aren’t too sure about doing the drive up yourself, you can always take a shuttle or ask a trike to take you. It is always better safe than sorry. While traveling can be an exciting experience, it can sometimes be unpredictable.

*Nacpan Beach, El Nido Palawan, Philippines*

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Feel the seabreeze in your hair as you make your way to a calm and picturesque beach. Nacpan Beach is great if you just want a chill lowkey day lounging on the beach. Nacpan Beach is a long stretch of beach that is about 3-4 km, which means that you can find your own little spot to claim for the day. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in El Nido. There are also some restaurants lining the beach so you can pop in and have a snack when you get hungry. Lay in the sun, listen to music and/or read a book, take a dip, and then lay again (or hide under the shade of the many coconut trees)! Admire the calm beauty of Nacpan and soak up all that good vitamin D!

Climb Taraw Peak

If you are in good physical condition and in search of an exciting adventure then try hiking Taraw Peak! A little under 300 masl (meters above sea level), this climb may seem short but boy does it take work to get to the top.

This hike is around 30 minutes each way, but every minute will be filled with a steep upward climb which you are scrambling for the majority of. It is almost pretty much a rock climbing/bouldering experience. At the end of your workout, you’ll be greeted with a clearing that offers you a view of the entire El Nido Town Proper. You’ll even be able to see Bacuit Bay. You could also time this hike to catch an epic sunrise at the top.

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If you are curious about Taraw Peak but maybe not in the mood for an intensive hike, there is also the canopy walk option. This is the much more family friendly version of the hike which ends at a lower point of Taraw Peak. It has carved paths for you to walk on and ropes to hold on to for assistance. Just make sure that you do your research beforehand and you don’t accidentally enter the actual hike when you’re expecting to do the canopy walk like we did before. It was a silly little mistake but with a knowledgeable guide, the mistake was definitely not one that we (or at least, Martin) regrets.

Have a Drink at Corong Corong Beach

Corong Corong is one of the many wonderful beaches that El Nido has to offer. There are a bunch of beach bars here, some of which serve some relatively cheap cocktails that are still quality concoctions.

If you aren’t in the mood for alcohol, there are also a lot of great restaurants to stumble upon just by walking the length of the beach. Despite the amount of bars and restaurants, it is still a pretty quiet spot if you want to have a more intimate or private meal.

Catch the Sunset at Las Cabanas Beach

Only 10 minutes away from El Nido Town Proper, you will find the Las Cabanas Beach at the tip of the island. Making the trip over is always worth it for the incredible sunsets that happen on this beach everyday. With restaurants lining the shore, you can enjoy the inspiring view while eating some delicious food and sipping on a refreshing cocktail or thirst quenching shake. Some places even have bean bag chairs on the beach for you to chill on and enjoy the laid back energy as the day comes to a close. While all the beaches in El Nido have a great view of the sunset, Las Cabanas Beach is definitely the best place to watch the sunset.

This is a prime spot for sunset lovers so you may want to get there early to reserve your front row seats. The colors of the sunset reflect on the water and you don’t know where the water ends and the sky begins. Trust us when we say that you have to catch at least one sunset here when you go to El Nido. There is no better way to cap off a day in paradise than by watching the wonders of nature right before you while having a meal that fills your stomach and soul.

If this is too laid back for your adventurous heart, there is also a zipline above the beach here that connects to another place you should definitely add to your itinerary.

Relax at Marimegmeg Beach

The 750m zipline will have you soaring through the air with the sea at your feet and the seawind cooling your face. If you want the best of both worlds, you can take this zipline adventure during sunset to reach maximum vibes! The zipline will then drop you at Marimegmeg Beach (also sometimes spelled as Maremegmeg Beach).

Since it isn’t too far from Las Cabanas Beach, Marimegmeg Beach offers another great spot for watching the sunset. It is more quiet and chill here. It is a very pristine beach that is clean and well taken care of.

Explore the Area with a Land Tour

Catch multiple of these must visit El Nido spots in one go by taking a land tour! In one of our Marve vlogs, we documented our own land tour where we were able to make it to Bulalacao Waterfalls, Nacpan Beach, the Bucana fishing village, and Lio Beach. Martin loves when the tour guides are local Filipinas, it’s always a good time!

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First we did a little hike to Bulalacao Waterfalls. Ave was 7 months pregnant at this time so the tour guide was kind enough to assist her, and Martin of course was also helping out. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes when doing this because you’ll have to do some river crossings. The waterfall washed away all our tiredness and Martin was able to do a 5 meter dive, after doing a depth check to make sure that it was safe enough to dive. After the waterfalls, we made our way to Nacpan Beach.

Little Hike going to Bulalacao Waterfalls

After all the swimming and lounging was a different type of stop on our tour. Stopping at the Bucana fishing village was quite a unique experience because we were able to see a colorful array of different boats which are almost like cars to them. Out of the 18 barangays on the island, Bucana is the biggest with the most people living in it. We saw their raised houses to make room for more storage and to avoid floods and insects. We were also lucky enough to meet someone who was seasoned in making hooks to catch squid while we also saw someone painting names on their boats. It was a lovely quaint little experience.

Our last stop was Lio Beach which is right by the airport. The sand here is not as fine as the powdery white sand of the other beaches in El Nido but it is still pretty great. What’s nice about this beach is that it’s a great spot for any beginner surfers. The waves here tend to roll, making it perfect for longboard surfing.

Catch Some Waves at Duli Beach

If you’re in the mood for more surfing, you should check out Duli Beach. Closer to the northern tip of the island, a bit farther than Nacpan Beach, Duli Beach is also beginner friendly. They also offer surf lessons at this wonderful white sand beach. It is more quiet here compared to the other beaches since it’s around a 1 hour drive from El Nido Town Proper. But not only is the beach worth it, but the drive going there offers quite a spectacular view as well.

Shop at Vanilla Beach

Get the mix of island and city living at Vanilla Beach. It is the location of the first and only strip mall in El Nido. Here you can shop for any of your beach needs and pasalubong for loved ones back home. Most of the shops here are locally owned so you’ll be supporting the local businesses as well, which is always a plus! There is also a great array of restaurants to choose from here, then you walk just a few steps and voila you’re at the beach once more!

Take your time to explore and pick out a restaurant that is appetizing for you. Here you can eat some meals that are decently priced considering the prime location, and enjoy your meal with a gorgeous view.

Feast in El Nido Plaza

In the mood for a pig out sesh? El Nido Plaza is the place for you! At night many food stalls open for you to choose from. The stalls offer a variety of food like fresh seafood, ihaw-ihaw, and many more!

The beauty of the Plaza is that all the stalls surround a general seating area. This means that you can buy from all the stalls your heart (and stomach) desires and feast in the middle, also keeping you close to the stalls in case you are in the mood for seconds, thirds, or more!

Hike Up to Nagkalit-kalit Falls

If you want to walk out all the food you’ve been feasting on so far, you can try doing the hike up to the Nagkalit-kalit waterfalls.

hiking-to-nagkalit-kalit-waterfalls-el-nido-palawan.jpg

Nagkalit-kalit is on the way to Nacpan Beach, so you can do a little detour on your way to the beach. The hike is around 1 hour through a jungle environment. When you get to the falls you are greeted by two separate waterfalls with a little pool of water in between them.

Drive to San Vicente

If you’re in the mood for more of a road trip, you can take the 2 hour drive to San Vicente. When we took our rented motorbike to San Vicente, it actually took us 3 hours to get there because we kept taking nature appreciation stops! We were smiling at the beauty of everything the entire way there.

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We instantly felt at home here when we spoke with the friendly locals. It almost felt like we were back in Siargao driving from General Luna to the north.

It is definitely more peaceful here with little to no tourists. When we got there it was low tide so Martin was even able to drive on the shore itself. He couldn’t remember the last time he had so much fun just cruising on the beach.

San Vicente is also a great spot to catch some waves. The locals here were very friendly, giving way for Martin to catch some waves and even cheering for him. Another thing that makes San Vicente special is that this is where sea turtles sometimes lay their eggs. We were lucky enough to witness some green sea turtles making their way to the sea which will be their home for much of their lives.

And that’s 12 of the most essential things that you could do at El Nido! But, let us also share some quick tips for you before you finalize your itinerary and book your trip there.

Quick Tips

Tips for Island Hopping

Check if snorkeling gear is included in the tour packages that you avail of because you should definitely dive into the waters of El Nido to be able to check out another side of its beauty: the thriving aquatic life. If there is no snorkel gear included, you can definitely rent some equipment or even make sure to pack your own.
Don’t forget to pack the essentials like sunscreen and water. It is important to stay hydrated and protect yourself from the beams of the sun. You may also want to pack/purchase a waterproof aqua bag to place all your valuables so that they will be safe from the water throughout your entire island hopping journey. You might also want to consider bringing bug spray because some of the beaches in Palawan are notorious for sand flies.
Renting a kayak costs extra money but it’s usually worth the purchase, especially if it's your first time in El Nido. The kayaks allow you to really take in the view and explore all the stops at your own pace.
If you are willing to spend, you may want to consider booking a private island hopping tour. This means that it would just be you and your group alone in the boat instead of having to share it with other people. This costs extra money as well but a bonus of this is that you have a more flexible tour, you can take your time in certain spots that you end up loving or you can ask your tour guide if you can do the tour in the reverse order to beat the crowds. An alternative to this would be to find a boat that leaves much earlier than the rest of the tour boats.

When to Go

Generally, December to March offers a good time to visit El Nido. The weather won’t be too hot but it will still allow for your outdoor activities. Of course, coming in the summer around April or May, could also be fine but the heat might be too much for some people. This would also mean that the summer vacationers would come and it may get quite crowded.

Always Have Cash On Hand

El Nido continues to develop daily, and there are a few ATMs across it, but it is always best to have cash with you just in case. If you plan on taking tricycles to get to different places then you would definitely need to have cash on you.

Watch Your Feet

Whether you are island hopping or hiking around El Nido, the limestone rocks may be quite sharp so make sure to wear appropriate footwear. Also try to wear shoes that are not just comfortable but also able to get wet since you’ll be walking around sand, rock, and water for most of your trip.

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CLAYGO

No matter where you go, CLAYGO should always be the standard. Let’s keep these beautiful places clean and pristine so that other people may enjoy them as much as we do, and future generations can wonder at this same beauty as well.

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Here are our top three hotel recommendations.

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Seda Lio [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]

Address : Lio Tourism Estate, Barangay Villa Libertad, Palawan, 5313 El Nido, Philippines

El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]

Address : Miniloc Island, Palawan, 5313 El Nido, Philippines

Pangulasian [ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ]

Address : Bacuit Bay, Palawan, 5313 El Nido, Philippines

Ending Notes

El Nido is an island paradise for adventure seekers and nature lovers alike. It offers multiple gorgeous options for people who just want to lounge and have a lazy day in the sun, and it satisfies the adrenaline rush that others may need with their exciting hikes and surfing spots.

The sunsets at El Nido are one of the best in the world, it is worth checking out every day that you are here. Once you make it to El Nido you’ll feel like you entered a movie set or a postcard photo which you might not want to leave!

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MarVe Travel Recommendations

If you do go to El Nido, whether or not you check out all the spots we mentioned here, we’d love to see your Marvekada photos! Don’t forget to tag us on your posts and stories with the hashtags #MarveTravelGuides, #MarveToldMeToDoIt, and #TravelWithMarve. Safe travels!

The Top 12 Essential Things to Do in El Nido

Table of Contents

Introduction

Want to visit the Philippines?

How to Get There

Top 12 Essential Things to Do in El Nido

Want a simple way to stay covered while traveling?

Quick Tips

Skip the Hassle of Planning

Looking for the perfect stay in El Nido?

Ending Notes

The Top 12 Essential Things to Do in El Nido

Table of Contents

Introduction

Want to visit the Philippines?

How to Get There

Top 12 Essential Things to Do in El Nido

Want a simple way to stay covered while traveling?

Quick Tips

Skip the Hassle of Planning

Looking for the perfect stay in El Nido?

Ending Notes

Ave’s 5 Day El Nido Itinerary for Besties (and More than Besties)