Who does not want to be in El Nido? El Nido Palawan is for everyone dreaming of paradise. Provided in this El Nido guide are latest information that will make it easier for your to plan your trip to the island. Know the latest travel requirements, information on getting there, accredited accommodation, activities, sample itinerary, budget and more.
Paradise is Here
North of the mainland Palawan is El Nido, a paradise considered by many as one of their dream destinations. With 45 islands and islets that harbor some of the country’s best white sand beaches, hidden lagoons, picturesque cliffs and rich marine life underneath, El Nido is indeed a piece of paradise.
The town is a managed and resource protected area of Palawan, 238 kilometers from Puerto Princesa. Contrary to common notion that El Nido is an expensive destination, the place is in fact, can be explored on a budget. With plenty of budget accommodations lined up on the streets of the town and lots of tour groups offering cheap packages, El Nido is another backpacker’s haven.
Get a tan on numerous white sand islands of Bacuit Bay; climb a cliff; dive to its diverse underwater life; snorkel and feed the tame fishes; sit and relax along the beach; watch the sun set; satisfy your cravings on its array of restaurants… El Nido is for everyone.
Perhaps it is now time to fulfill your dream, or revisit and rekindle the good times in paradise. El Nido is a promise of a perfect getaway. Experience paradise, experience El Nido!
How to Get to El Nido
From Manila, Caticlan, Cebu and Clark By Air
Air Swift has regular flights from Caticlan, Cebu, Clark and Manila to El Nido, and vice versa.
From Manila By Sea
There are also cargo ship operators that also ferry passengers from Manila to El Nido. Contact the shipping lines for schedule and fare information. Please note that these are smaller cargo ships/hauls that cater specially to cargo but also allow passengers.
Operator: San Nicholas Shipping Lines (M/B Andrea-1, M/V Catalyn-A, M/V Catalyn-C, M/V Catalyn-E, M/V Asuncion-IX, M/V Asuncion-XI)
Route: Manila-El Nido-Liminangcong and vice versa
Contact Info: (02)-243-4595
Operator: Atienza Shipping Lines (M/V Josilee-II, M/V April Rose, M/V Q-Carrelyn-III)
Route: Manila-Coron-El Nido-Liminangcong and vice versa
Website : http://www.atienzashippinglines.com
Email: [email protected]
Telephone No. : (02)-986-3118 and (02)-536-8123
From Puerto Princesa by Van
Coming from Puerto Princesa, air-conditioned vans to El Nido depart from as early as 7AM to as late as 9PM. Vans depart from Puerto Princesa Airport and from San Jose Terminal. Travel time is approximately 5 to 6 hours and one-way fare is P500.
Van Operators:
Daytripper Palawan: +63917-8488755
Lexus Van: +63917-5859612
Fort Wally: +63917-3488078
You can book your bus or van seat from Puerto Princesa to El Nido or vice versa below:
Bus from Puerto Pricesa to El Nido Palawan
Cherry and RoRo Buses regularly ply the Puerto Princesa-El Nido route and vice versa. Buses leave San Jose Terminal to El Nido with stop over in Roxas and Taytay from 4AM to 9PM. Fare is P380 for the aircon bus and P350 for the non-aircon.
You can book your bus or van seat from Puerto Princesa to El Nido or vice versa below:
Boat from Coron to El Nido Palawan
There are boats to El Nido from Coron daily. Fare is P2200 for foreigners and P1500 for Filipinos. Travel time: approximately 8 hours.
You can book your ferry from Coron to El Nido or vice versa below:
Where to Stay in El Nido
Accommodation in El Nido ranges from very basic for as low as P500 per room to high-end resorts that go by the thousands.
If you prefer more adventure, just pitch a tent or a a hammock in one of the islands in Bacuit Bay 🙂
For the list of DOT Accredited Hotels, Travel Agency and Establishments: Click HERE
Top-Rated High End El Nido Resorts
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El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island |
Cadlao Resort and Restaurant |
|
El Nido Resorts Lagen Island |
Cauayan Island Resort El Nido |
Top-Rated Mid-Range Resorts and Hotels in El Nido Palawan
H Hotel El Nido |
Duli Beach Resort |
Dryft Darocotan Island |
Isla – The Island Experience |
Top-Rated Budget Resorts and Hotels in El Nido Palawan
Outpost Beach Hotel |
Kame House Backpackers |
Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan |
Big Paul Hostel |
What to Do in El Nido
- Island Hopping: Island Hopping in Bacuit Bay is a must and touring these islands are quite easy because the packaged tours are organized into common itineraries known to all organizers. The rates are standard as set by the local government but if you are good in haggling, you can lower it down.
- A Tour: Small and Big Lagoons of Miniloc Island, Payong-Payong Beach, Shimizu Island and Seven Commandos – P1,200/person
- B Tour: Pangulasian Island, Snake Island, Codugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave and Pinagbuyutan Island – P1,300/person
- C Tour: Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Star Beach, Matinloc Shrine and Helicopter Island – P1,400/person
- D Tour: Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Beach, Bukal Beach, Paradise Beach and Natnat Beach – P1,200/person
- E Tour (Inland Tour): Nacpan and Calitang Beaches, Makinit Hotspring, Nagkalit-kalit Waterfalls – P1,200/person
- Scuba Diving: The average cost for a three-dive package is P3,600 per person inclusive of gear and equipments, lunch, DM, boat and marine conservation fee. Here are some of the dive shops in El Nido:
- Palawan Divers
Contact No: +63921-6205469 or +63908-3306778
Email Address: [email protected] / [email protected]
Website: www.palawan-divers.org - El Nido Marine Club
Contact No: +63916-6682748 or +63928-3834244
Email Address: [email protected]
Website: www.elnidomarineclub.com - Sea Dog Divers
Contact No: +63916-7776917
Email Address: [email protected]
Website: www.seadogdivingpalawan.com - Deep Blue Dive Seafari
Contact No: +63915-8921763 or +63916-7776917
Email Address: [email protected]
Website: www.deepblueseafari.com
- Free diving
- Snorkeling
- Cliff Climbing
- Kayaking/Kayak Island Trip
- Wind Surfing
- Beach Bumming/Camping
- Watch the beautiful sunset in Bacuit Bay or Corong Corong Bay
- Biking/motorbike tour to Makinit Hot Spring and other villages nearby
- Hike to Nagkalit-kalit Falls
- Explore the historical Ille Cave
- See the beautiful twin beaches of Nacpan and Calitang
- Visit Taytay, Roxas, Coron and Puerto Princesa
Tips
- Electricity runs from 2PM to 6AM only
- Bring cash, there is an ATM in town but is usually runs out of cash
- Unlike Coron that charges entrance fees to almost every spot, El Nido implemented a single payment of “Eco-Tourism Development Fee” for only P200/person for each visit of up to ten (10) days. This gives access to almost all public tourist sites in El Nido and Bacuit Bay
- If your entry and exit point to El Nido is Puerto Princesa, it is advised to reserve your seat in advance, call the numbers above
- Go to Bacuit Bay before sun down for the best view of sunset
- Touring El Nido can be done on a budget. Try Lagoon Tours of Sir Harvey Templado (+639263049680), they offer cheap package tours complete with meals, and they cooked real good foods 🙂
Sample Itinerary (4D/3N via Puerto Princesa)
Estimated Budget (Airfare excluded): P6000-P6500
Day 1: En Route to El Nido Palawan
0900H-1000H: Manila to Puerto Princesa
1000H-1100H: Puerto Princesa Airport to Fort Wally Terminal(San Jose Terminal)/Breakfast
1100H-1700H: Puerto Princesa to El Nido
1700H-1900H: Hotel check-in/fix stuff/rest
1900H-2100H: Dinner/Night Walk/Lights out
Day 2: Whole Day Island Hopping Tour
0700H-0800H: Call time/Breakfast
0800H-1700H: Tour A: Small and Big Lagoons of Miniloc Island, Payong-Payong Beach, Shimizu Island and Seven Commandos (Lunch included)
1700H-1900H: Back to hotel/fix up/wash up/rest
1900H-2100H: Dinner/Night Walk/Lights out
Day 3: Whole Day Island Hopping Tour
0700H-0800H: Call time/Breakfast
0800H-1700H: Tour C: Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Star Beach, Matinloc Shrine and Helicopter Island
1700H-1900H: Back to hotel/fix up/wash up/rest
1900H-2100H: Dinner/Night Walk/Lights out
Day 4: Back to Puerto Princesa
0600H-0700H: Call time/Breakfast/Proceed to terminal
0700H-1300H: El Nido to Puerto Princesa
1300H-1500H: Lunch in KaLui
1500H-1530H: To Airport
1530H-1730H: Check-in/Assemble
1730H-1830H: Puerto Princesa to Manila
HI! we are a local opeartor here at puerto princesa Palawan! We offer daily tour package of Underground River tour, Honda Bay Island Hopping tour an MORE specially we are offering El nido tour packages! Should you have further inquiry you may email us at [email protected] . We are more happy to help you arranging your tour here!
-jean
And im planning to go solo .. and its my first time kaya gusto ko masubukan lahat..
Sir ilang days aabutin pag pinuntahan lahat ng tour? Thank you po sa tips dami kung natutunan 🙂
Grabe. Ang mahal na ng tour packages sa El Nido! When we went there March last year (2013), price ranges from P700-P900 per pax only. Nevertheless, worthit pa rin ang island hopping!
[…] a beautiful place like El Nido, food can serve as icing on the cake if you know where to best satisfy your palate. Well, taste is […]
Hi lakwatsero, I read in your post that we can probably put up a tent or hammock in bacuit bay? Do we have to pay if we stay there overnight? And do you happen to know if they have bathrooms that we can use later, tho? Geez sorry for lots of q… Thank you!
Hi Miss,
we have a disabled child that sits in a (foldable) wheelchair. She isnt very heavy, so i can carry her if it isnt too far, or to high. Is El Nido something she can do with us? The boattrip seems ok, but maybe a problem to get in and out of the boat?
Any suggestions on a place to stay?
Thanks
Bruno
Hi Bruno! If you get into the boat, it is not too far or too high. There is a stairway on the side of the boat. Also, it is worth noting that the boatmen are really helpful and can assist you in carrying up and bringing down your daughter. There are quite a handful of resorts or hotel, beachfront or otherwise. If you make a run for it, you can get one once you get in there depending on your preference.
wla po bang payment tru bank deposit? kc puro agencies and credit card. wla aq kc credit card. thanks
i mean ung sa accomodation po…
Hi Rodillo, you can call these hotels for availability, and once you get to El Nido, you can just pay over the counter. Hope this helps.
[…] For more information on El Nido, check out Lakwatsero’s Travel Guide to El Nido. […]
this is informative, thanks for posting it 🙂 tanong ko lang if kukuha kami nung ppur tour package, then travel to el nido after the tour, may trip pa ba na babyahe to el nido?, baka kasi matagal yung tour sa ppur tapos direct trip na kami to el nido baka wala na trip to el nido,di naman cguro magabihan sa pag totour sa ppur? is that possible?
A PPUR tour usually takes whole day, my estimate is that you will be back in the city by five. You can still catch the 6PM bus if that is the case, advise your driver that you have 6PM trip to El Nido. Also, you have to reserve/buy your tickets ahead so reserve the tickets before you go to the underground river.
[…] one of the best islands and beaches of the world by various international and local publications, El Nido‘s pristine scenes await. With 45 island and islets that harbor some of the country’s […]
Thank you for publishing this. Quite informative.
hi lakwatsero… I’ve been reading blogs and sites re: elnido trips.. me and my friends are planning to go this march. would you recommend that we stay in a private resort or some budget hotel in the town proper? reviews that I’m getting are mixed… any tips? thanks! d=D
Will be coming back to El Nido the 2nd time around. Good thing talaga we have promo fares and luckily I booked a flight na maganda na weather sa El Nido. See you again El Nido. Sarap balik balikan ang El Nido, hindi nakakasawang lumangoy sa crystal clear na dagat daig pa swimming pool.
Hi,
I would like to ask..are you solo in your travel adventure? Sounds interesting..anyways..do you have a notes/write up about solo travelling?
Cheer,
Camille
Hi yah! Planning to travel to Palawan mid December with a 15 mos old baby. Will there be any restrictions if we want to tour the islands & underground river?
Hi Mae, children 2 years old and below will not be allowed for the Underground River tour. No problem with the islands.
Hi angel,
i will be going to puerto princesa on december 10-12,i can extend if i want to, my question is, is there any packages that is go0d for 1 person? M0st of the packages i’ve read is minimum of 2-4 persons? What can you recommend for a solo traveler like me ?? Thank you so much, your blog is really helpful…
Hi Dave, you can contact the tour organizers. Tell them that you are alone and ask if there’s any group you can join with to save cost. That was actually what we did 🙂
hi im going to el nido as well on dec. 7-10 hehehe
Pambihira. di ko ma copy ang itinerary. Pahirapan pa ako magsulat haha!
Haha 🙂 Dami kasing nagcocopy and paste on their own blogs without proper acknowledgment eh 😛
how can i leave my comment here.. i just want to ask some questions about the tips eh.. we’re planning to go there on march. thanks
This will be my next dream vacation. It’s rainy season now so I guess I’ll have to wait for the next summer season. Thank you for the interesting information you provided.
hi ask ko lang kung yung tour package is fix na ung amount kahit mag isa ka lng. and kung pwede mag avail ng tour pack na don mismo sa elnido.