Table of Contents
Introduction
What better way to end the year than with a much-awaited trip with family and friends. Hey everyone, I’m Say, a travel enthusiast, and I created this blog to share with everyone tips and recommendations for places I’ve traveled to.
To end my 2021 right, I went on a 4-day trip with my friends to one of the most sought-after vacation places here in the Philippines–El Nido, Palawan. Visiting Palawan had always been one of my bucket list items. I could definitely say that without a doubt El Nido is one of the best islands, if not in the Philippines, in Asia.
If you’re traveling to El Nido for the first time, then this travel guide is definitely for you! In this EL NIDO TRAVEL GUIDE BLOG 2021, I’ll be sharing with you tips, budgets, and detailed information that you need to know before traveling to Palawan! If you’re still unsure if it’s El Nido you’re traveling to, then these travel guides may help you.
About El Nido Palawan
El Nido is a picturesque island on the northernmost area of Palawan’s main island. It is undoubtedly one of the top tourist spots in the Philippines, popular with both foreign and local tourists. El Nido, blessed with exceptional scenic landscapes and a plethora of natural treasures, should be on your list of must-see sites in the Philippines.
You’ll find Lagoons with crystal blue water, white sand beaches, cliffs, incredible islands, and so much more! These are just a few of the various activities and attractions available in El Nido, Palawan.
Where to Stay in El Nido
Buena Suerte, Corong-Corong, Maligaya, and Masagana are the four barangays (villages) that make up El Nido’s population. They occupy two tiny peninsulas that stretch out into Bacuit Bay together.
Locals refer to Buena Suerte as the “town proper”, a more developed area than the other barangays. This is where most of the actions are found. In Buena Suerte, you’ll find a more busy area with tour offices, hotels, restaurants, and more.
If you’re the type of tourist looking for a quiet, less populated area then I would personally recommend looking for accommodations in either Corong-Corong or Masagana.
For our trip, we decided to stay at Milan Grace Inn, I did a little research beforehand and found a few hotels and resorts you could be staying at. I’m sharing a few recommendations below.
- Spin Designer Hostel.
- Cabanas de Nacpan Camping Resort.
- The Cavern Pod Hotel & Specialty Cafe.
- Pawikan Hostel El Nido.
- AngelNido Resort.
- David’s Guest House.
Again, I can’t stress this enough, planning ahead is very essential when you travel. You can never tell what could happen that may ruin a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a new place. So research and get to know the people and culture.
How to get to El Nido
There are several ways to get to El Nido. You can travel via plane to Puerto Princesa City or via a direct flight from Manila to Lio Airport.
By Airplane
From Manila, there are several airlines that fly to Puerto Princesa City, unfortunately, Airswift is the only airline that has a direct flight from Manila to Lio Airport in El Nido. If you don’t want the hassle of looking for cheap flights or flight reservations, you can always visit Filo Online Ticketing to help you with that!
There are two ways to get to El Nido from the Puerto Princesa International Airport: by van or by bus.
By Van
Because it is slightly quicker, this is perhaps the most popular alternative among visitors. The van can pick you up at the airport and drive you straight to El Nido in 5-6 hours if you reserve ahead of time. In our case, we did take the van from Puerto Prinsesa. Since we are quite a big group, the van was able to depart quickly.
By Bus
Another alternative is to take the bus. The only disadvantage is that it takes 6-7 hours to complete. There are also fewer daily travels. It is, nevertheless, an excellent alternative if you are not in a rush.
El Nido Tours for you
One thing you should know about when traveling to El Nido is that all tour agencies, tour packages are regulated by the local government. Tourists benefit from this because there are certain guidelines and prices in place. This means businesses within the surrounding areas are NOT allowed to increase their prices unless stated otherwise. Another good thing about traveling to El Nido is those main tourist attractions like the beaches, islands, etc. are grouped together into packages.
- Tour A. This tour is the most popular among the tour packages available. Essentially, the two most visited tourist areas which are lagoons (Small and Big) of the Miniloc Island are packaged within this tour. It’s always fun to visit the most popular areas, the only downside is that you won’t be the only one eyeing this tour.
- Tour B. This tour generally covers visiting caves and the famous Snake Island, why snake? It’s a long narrow sandbar that connects Palawan to Vigan Island.
- Tour C. For this tour, you’ll be expecting to get sunburned! As the places you’ll be visiting are famous beaches within the area which are Matinloc and Helicopter Island.
Although there are other tours available like Tour D, which is visiting the beaches of Cadlao and other tourist attractions of El Nido. And Tour E, in which you’ll be exploring Nacpan Beach and Nagkalit-kalit Falls. We opted to visit and make use of Tours A and B! Scroll down a little bit further to see the most breathtaking attractions!
My El Nido Itinerary
DAY 1
Once we arrived at Puerto Prinsesa airport, my friends and I took a van to get to El Nido. The trip from Puerto Prinsesa to El Nido, was surreal. Although the effect of Typhoon Odette on the area was still evident and we had difficulty connecting to any network.
When we arrived in El Nido, you’ll be welcomed with an amazing few and such fresh water and the cold breeze of air. Of course, the trip from Manila made us hungry so we opted to eat lunch before checking in to our accommodation located in Brgy. Buena Suerte.
We ate lunch at Maremegmeg Beach Club, you can check their menus. Take it from me, it will surely delight you!
DAY 2- Tour A
Small Lagoon
The Small Lagoon is hidden away. The Small Lagoon is only accessible through a tiny breach in the limestone rock wall, unlike the Big Lagoon next door, which has a wide central passage.
The kayak may be rented for roughly $5 USD for an hour, which is likely the maximum amount of time your tour guide will offer you at the Small Lagoon. There are several caverns, nooks, and fascinating cliff parts to explore once inside. Bring your snorkel since the view from the surface is just as spectacular as the view from below.
Big Lagoon
Entering the Big Lagoon isn’t your typical island hopping experience. Before actually being within the lagoon, your tour operators would ask you to paddle your way into the entrance. This is exactly what we did as we slowly uncovered the beauty of El Nido.
You’ll emerge into the Big Lagoon within a few minutes, depending on your paddling pace. Now the adventure begins since there are several little nooks and corners to discover, as well as the possibility of turtles lurking in the lagoon. Make the most of your time here because your tour boat will most likely limit you to an hour.
Secret Lagoon
On the south side of Miniloc Island, Secret Lagoon is tucked adjacent to a little beach. The cliffs behind the beach are very spectacular, much more so than the lagoon in my opinion.
The Secret Lagoon, which is approximately the only area of the lagoon that is kept a secret, is not visible from the boat. It’s a popular hangout, and there’s usually a queue to get in. Your boat will dock, and you will stroll over the coral to the beach before making your way to the Secret Lagoon entrance. It’s only a little hole in the limestone wall that opens up into a small pool of water entirely encircled by the cliffs when you squeeze through it.
Commando Beach
In El Nido, Seven Commandos Beach is part of Tour A, the most popular tour. The Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon are a must-see for everyone. I can’t say I blame them; they’re both wonderful.
This tour features a good combination of snorkeling, sightseeing, beach time, and swimming. It might get busy, but in El Nido, that is the nature of the beast. Most of the time, the most beautiful areas are also the most popular.
DAY 3- Nacpan Island
Nacpan Beach in El Nido, Palawan, is one of the Philippines’ most popular and scenic beaches. Nacpan Beach, while not as famous for its white sand as Boracay, provides an equally memorable island experience.
You can glamp on Nacpan Beach in El Nido, unlike other beautiful beaches in the Philippines! It’s not your typical campervan experience since Nacpan Beach Glamping Resort provides a truly luxury glamping experience. They feature a pool in addition to the wonderful glamping tents. Glamping on the beach in Nacpan starts at P8,000 per night.
DAY 4- Tour B
Entalula Beach
Bacuit Bay is home to dozens of islands, including Entalula Island. The only way to get there is to join the Big Lagoon Premium El Nido island hopping trip, which takes about an hour from the mainland by pump boat.
Entalula Island is a beautiful place to explore, with limestone structures, rich vegetation, bone-white sand as fine as powder, and blue seas that entice people to swim.
Snake Island
Snake Island is one of El Nido’s most unusual attractions, with its lovely green slopes, waving coconut palm trees, and glistening blue ocean. The island does not have any snakes, despite its name! Instead, the arch-shaped island is named for the long, snake-like sandbar strip that links the two sides.
The magnificent beauty and varied landscapes of this tropical island will enchant you as soon as you arrive.
Cudugnon Cave
Apart from beaches and lagoons, El Nido, Philippines is home to Cudugnon Cave. This cave’s entrance is a little hole that you must crawl through. The geological structures will astound you! The cliffs and rock formations were incredible.
We scaled this cliff in order to capture some unique images. Make sure you’re very cautious if you do this! As you ascend, hold on to the wall.
Itinerary Budget
This is a budget itinerary. The amounts I’ve listed here do not include:
- Airfare. It’s best to keep on the lookout for piso fares and other airline ticket sales for this.
- Food. I did not include our budget for food because we wanted to try out everything as much as we could. But I personally, suggest that you allocate PHP 150 ( $3-5) for food per meal.
- Pasalubong. This is somethinge definitely off budget, there are lots of novelty stores in El Nido.
TOUR BUDGET
- Environment Fee payment at Tourism Office: PHP 200 ( 4USD)
- Tour A Package Rate: PHP 1200 (~25USD)
- Tour B Package Rate: PHP 1400 (~30 USD)
Traveler Tips
- You’ll have to pay for an environmental fee. Keep the receipt after paying the P200 environmental charge. Don’t throw away the receipt because you just need to pay this once. Before boarding the boat for the trip, someone checks to see if tourists have paid for it. You could be asked to pay again if you can’t verify it.
- Your boatmen should be commended for their efforts and dedication. Their work isn’t easy. Show your thanks if you appreciated their service. When I’ve been able to negotiate a lower price for trips, I generally just tip the boatmen the difference.
- ATMS in EL Nido. In El Nido, there are now a few ATMs. While in Manila or Puerto Princesa, though, it is always a good idea to stay away.
I hope you found my El Nido travel guide fun and helpful! If you have any questions feel free to comment here or reach me through my social media for questions and clarifications! I’d be more than happy to help!
For more blog updates you can check out my website @ www.lakwatsanisay.com or follow me through my social media platforms!
Very Impressive