Top places to visit in El Nido

• Tour A El Nido Classic Circuit

  beach · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The classic El Nido Tour A covers the most famous sights — Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island. The single best-value day of island hopping in the Philippines.

• Big Lagoon El Nido Tour A

  lake · 4.9 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Big Lagoon is the signature sight of El Nido — a vast turquoise lagoon enclosed by sheer 300-metre karst limestone cliffs, accessible by kayak through a narrow entrance. The scale and beauty are extraordinary.

• Small Lagoon El Nido Hidden Cave

  lake · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Small Lagoon — accessible through a rocky cliff entrance by kayak or swimming — reveals a perfectly circular turquoise pool surrounded by vertical limestone walls draped in jungle. The most intimate of the El Nido lagoons.

• Secret Lagoon El Nido Tidal Cave

  beach · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Secret Lagoon is accessed through a small crack in the cliff rock — you squeeze through into a completely hidden shallow lagoon with white sand and clear water. The discovery moment is the highlight.

• Shimizu Island Coral Garden El Nido

  sanctuary · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Shimizu Island has the finest accessible coral snorkelling in the El Nido tour circuit — a vibrant reef garden with giant clams, sea turtles, and hundreds of reef fish species in clear water.

• Tour B Seven Commandos and Snake Island

  beach · 4.6 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

  El Nido Tour B covers the eastern island chain — Seven Commandos Beach, Snake Island sandbar, Cudugnon Cave, and Cathedral Cave. The Snake Island sandbar connecting two beaches at low tide is uniquely photogenic.

• Tour C Helicopter Island and Matinloc Shrine

  beach · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Tour C visits Helicopter Island (its shape from the air), Matinloc Shrine (a cliffside shrine accessible only by boat), Hidden Beach, and Star Beach — the most scenic of the El Nido tour circuits.

• Nacpan Beach El Nido Twin Beach

  beach · 4.7 rating · about 5 h · entry ₱400 (≈ ₹610)

  Nacpan Beach is the finest beach near El Nido town — a 4km arc of pristine white sand with gentle waves and the famous twin beach connection with Calitang Beach at the southern end. Reachable by tricycle or motorbike.

• El Nido Town Corong-Corong Beach

  beach · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry ₱400 (≈ ₹610)

  Corong-Corong Beach at the southern end of El Nido town has the finest sunset view in El Nido — the silhouettes of the Bacuit Islands and the karst formations against the orange sky from this beach are extraordinary.

• Snake Island Sandbar El Nido Low Tide

  beach · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Snake Island is a sinuous white sandbar connecting two beaches that appears only at low tide — one of the most photogenic natural formations in Palawan, photographed from the adjacent hill for the full serpentine effect.

• El Nido Night Market Street Food

  market · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The El Nido night market along the main Hama Street has fresh grilled seafood, Filipino street food, and local vendors at prices below the beach restaurants. The most social evening gathering point in El Nido.

• Las Cabanas Beach El Nido Zipline

  beach · 4.3 rating · about 3 h · entry ₱400 (≈ ₹610)

  Las Cabanas Beach 3km north of El Nido town has a zipline crossing the bay and the finest view of the Bacuit Bay karst islands from the beach — also the most popular party beach in El Nido.

Things to do

• El Nido Island Hopping Tour C Matinloc Shrine Boat · 6 h · from PHP 1,200 per person
• El Nido Snorkelling Tour Shimizu and Payong-Payong Water Sports · 5 h · from PHP 1,100 per person
• El Nido Bacuit Bay Kayaking Adventure Self Guide Water Sports · 4 h · from PHP 920 per person
• El Nido Las Cabanas Sunset Zipline Heritage View Adventure · 2.5 h · from PHP 920 per person
• El Nido Kayaking Big Lagoon Small Lagoon Heritage Water Sports · 6 h · from PHP 1,500 per person
• El Nido Palawan Firefly Night Kayaking Tour Nature · 2 h · from PHP 1,100 per person
• El Nido Island Hopping Tour B Helicopter Pass Boat · 8 h · from PHP 1,500 per person
• El Nido Palawan Scuba Diving Coral Gardens Diving · 4 h · from PHP 2,800 per person

Where to stay in El Nido

• El Nido Town about PHP 4,000 per night

  Lively town beach and Bacuit Bay tour jump-off, packed with restaurants, bars and dive shops.

• Corong-Corong about PHP 3,000 per night

  Calmer beachfront just south of town, known for sunset views and relaxed resorts.

Hotels

• Ten Knots Miniloc Island El Nido 5-star · PHP 22,000 to PHP 75,000 per night
• Nacpan Hilltop Villa El Nido 5-star · PHP 15,000 to PHP 35,000 per night
• El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island 5-star · PHP 30,000 to PHP 95,000 per night
• El Nido Resorts Apulit Island 5-star · PHP 28,000 to PHP 90,000 per night
• El Nido Resorts Lagen Island 5-star · PHP 25,000 to PHP 80,000 per night
• El Nido Town Luxury Suites Bacuit Bay 5-star · PHP 12,000 to PHP 25,000 per night

Where to eat

• El Nido Buko Shake Corner Drinks, Filipino, Street Food · about PHP 150 per person
• Saffron Bakery El Nido Town Bakery, Cafe, Continental · about PHP 400 per person
• El Nido Night Market Street Food Filipino, Street Food, Night Market · about PHP 300 per person
• El Nido Sunset Walk Food Stalls Filipino, Street Food, Evening · about PHP 250 per person
• Happiness Beach Bar El Nido Bar, Beach, International · about PHP 700 per person
• Island Hopping Lunch Beach Barbecue Filipino, Barbecue, Beach · about PHP 700 per person
• El Nido Waterfront Grill Restaurant Filipino, Seafood, Grill · about PHP 800 per person
• El Nido Night Life Bar Row Bar, International, Filipino · about PHP 700 per person

Getting to El Nido

Airport: El Nido (ENI)

How visitors arrive in El Nido

• Flight to Puerto Princesa, then road By air from Manila, Cebu · common

  Puerto Princesa airport is the main gateway; visitors continue to El Nido by road. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Van or bus from Puerto Princesa By road from Puerto Princesa · common

  Shared vans and buses run from Puerto Princesa to El Nido along the winding highway. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Direct flight to El Nido airport By air from Manila, Cebu · possible

  The small El Nido airport handles only small aircraft with flights to Manila and Cebu. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Boat from Coron By ferry from Coron · possible

  Fast ferries and outrigger boats connect Coron with El Nido. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Van from Puerto Princesa

  Most visitors fly into Puerto Princesa (PPS) and take a van or bus from San Jose terminal. Vans leave only when full. Taxi drivers may steer you to pricier chartered vans. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the port to the centre

• Ferry from Coron unconfirmed

  A fast ferry and slower outrigger boats connect Coron and El Nido, plus multi-day expedition boats. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Boat

  Island-hopping boats are a common way to see Bacuit Bay, taking small groups to several lagoons and beaches in a day.

• Tricycle

  Tricycles are used to get around El Nido town and to nearby beaches such as Las Cabanas.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Island-hopping tour quotes that omit mandatory fees

  Booking booths and piers, El Nido town

  Tour A is often quoted at a base price, with the municipal eco-tourism fee, lagoon entry and kayak rental charged separately. Some booths do not itemise these, so the final cost at the pier is noticeably higher than the quote. The fees themselves are official; the problem is that they are not disclosed up front.

  How to avoid it: Ask for a written breakdown of what is and is not included before paying, and keep the eco-tourism fee receipt. Compare the all-in total across operators.

Best time to visit El Nido

• Jan 27°C
• Feb 31°C
• Mar 31°C
• Apr 32°C
• May 32°C
• Jun 31°C
• Jul 25°C
• Aug 31°C
• Sep 30°C
• Oct 31°C
• Nov 31°C
• Dec 28°C

More in Philippines

• Manila
• Boracay
• Siargao Island
• Cebu
• Coron
• Puerto Princesa

Frequently asked questions about El Nido

How many days do you need in El Nido?

A typical trip to El Nido is 3-5 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in El Nido?

The highest-rated places in our El Nido guide are Big Lagoon El Nido Tour A, Tour A El Nido Classic Circuit, Small Lagoon El Nido Hidden Cave, Secret Lagoon El Nido Tidal Cave, Shimizu Island Coral Garden El Nido.

Where should I stay in El Nido?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in El Nido: El Nido Town, Corong-Corong.

How do I get around El Nido?

Ways to get around El Nido covered in our guide: Boat, Tricycle, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in El Nido?

Scams reported to us for El Nido include Island-hopping tour quotes that omit mandatory fees. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in El Nido?

Average daytime highs in El Nido run from 25°C in Jul to 32°C in Apr.

Which airport is nearest to El Nido?

The nearest airport to El Nido has the code ENI.