El Nido Palawan is one of the most popular travel destination in the Philippines. The Island has gained worldwide attention for its pristine white beaches, towering limestone cliffs, beautiful mountains,astonishing wildlife and enchanting lagoons.
Essential Information
Language: Filipino is the official language but English is also widely spoken around El Nido Palawan
Religion: Catholic
Currency: Philippine Peso 1$ = P50
Modes of Payment: Cash but a few establishments accept credit card payments. There are only few ATMs in the island.
How to get to El Nido
Manila to El Nido
Airswift has direct flights going to El Nido. One way fare starts at P5000 ($100)
Via Puerto Princesa
A cheaper option is flying to Puerto Princesa Airport.
Airasia, Cebu Pacific and Pal Express have flights going to Puerto Princesa.
From Puerto Princesa Airport,ride a van going to El Nido. Fare is P500-600 ($10-12) and travel time is 5-6 hours. Van trips to El Nido are available from 5:30am to 8:30pm
You can also ride a bus from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. From the airport, ride a tricycle going to San Jose terminal. Fare is P120 ($2.4). Ride a bus from the terminal going to El Nido. Travel time is 7 hours and fare is P290($5.8) for non air-conditioned buses while P380($7.6) for air-conditioned buses. Bus trips to El Nido are available from 5am to 9pm.
Where to stay in El Nido
El Nido town proper – for budget accommodations and lively nightlife.
Masagana Poblacion – Quiet and relaxed accommodations.
A night in a hostel would cost you P300 ($6), P1500($30) for a mid-range hotel room while a nice beachfront hotel would cost you P8000 ($160) per night.
Get 10% discount on your hotel booking, just click the button below.
Getting around El Nido
Tricycle – Short distance trips are P10 ($0.2) per ride. Hire a tricycle for a day to tour El Nido.
Scooter – Rent a scooter for P500 ($10) a day.
Where to eat in El Nido
Some of best restaurants in El Nido are Artcafe, The Nesting Table and Tamboks.
If you are on a budget, there are small eateries around the island with P50-100 ($1-2) per meal.
Palawan is also famous for its cashew nuts.
Places to visit and things to do
Island Hopping
El Nido’s island hopping tours are the number 1 attraction in the island. Tour duration is 7 hours and inclusive of island lunch.
* Tour A: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Small Lagoon and 7 Commando Beach P1200 ($24) per person
* Tour B: Cathedral Cave, Entalula Island, Popolkan Island (the island to visit in replacement of the now private island Pangulasian) and Snake Island P1300 ($26) per person
* Tour C: Helicopter Beach, Hidden Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach and Tapiutan Island P1400 ($28) per person
* Tour D: Bukal Island, Cadlao Lagoon, Nat Nat Beach, Paradise Beach, and Pasandingan Cove P1200 ($24) per person
Tours and A and C are the most popular tours so expect a large crowd while tours B and D are less crowded and more relaxed.
Mainland Tour
Rent a scooter or hire a tricycle and visit Nacpan and Calitang Twin Beach. Travel time is 45 minutes from El Nido town.
Surfing
Go surfing in Duli beach. Located 15 minutes away from Nacpan beach, Duli beach is has fewer visitors. Surf season is November to March and surfboard rental is P500 ($10) per hour.
Diving
Scuba diving – South Miniloc is El Nido’s most famous dive site. Rate starts at P5000 ($100)
Itinerary
Day 1
1:00pm Arrive in Puerto Princesa
1:30pm Ride van going to El Nido P500($10)
7:00pm Arrive in El Nido
7:10pm Ride tricycle to hostel P10($0.2)
7:20pm Check in
7:40pm Dinner
9:00pm Party
Day 2
9:00am Start Tour A P1200 ($24)
12:00pm Lunch
4:00pm End Tour A
6:30pm Dinner
9:00pm Party
Day 3
9:00am Start Tour C P1400($28)
12:00pm Lunch
4:00pm End Tour C
6:30pm Dinner
9:00pm Party
Day 4
10:00am Check out
11:00am Lunch
12:00pm Ride van to Puerto Princesa P500($10)
6:00pm Arrive in Puerto Princesa
Budget
P3610 or $72
*Airfare, accommodation and food not included
Don’t forget to share and pin this El Nido Palawan Travel Guide!
That is one beautiful island! What picturesque shots; I’d love to go.
OMGodness, that water! I wish I can travel. My cruise was canceled this summer and I was looking forward to seeing white sand and blue water. That island looks heavenly.
What a beautiful island. Would love to visit someday.
What a beautiful island. Would love to visit one day.
What beautiful surroundings, it all looks like a fairytale 🙂
I am loving all the beautiful travel piccys…so much travel inspiration for when all this is over x
Philippines is on my top go to list. It seems an amazing place. Would now include El Nido Palawan. It’s beautiful.
Oh my goodness! This is an amazingly beautiful place. The Philippines was not in my future travel plans but after seeing these stupendous places I am thinking to plan a trip there.
This is one of the beautiful place that I wish to visit, it’s beautiful and looks like a paradise to me. Thanks for sharing this travel guidelines will definitely save this.
oh my gosh i so would love go visit this place one day , the crystal clear water swoon
I love the blue turquoise water of El Nido Palawan. Amazing and mind-blowing. The food id bit crazy for me, but I know that’s an island delicacy. I love to get lost in such an island.
wow. i would love to visit. your photos are so enticing!!! the beachfront hotel rooms at $160 is not bad! think about rooms in Hawaii and that’s a bargain.
Love El Nido! We were there in 2011 and I wonder how much things has changed since! Must be even more touristic than 10 years ago. We took our PADI there and would love to go back to dive now when we have more experience. And also do some hikes around which we never got the chance to do.
El Nido Palawan just got added to my bucket list. It looks spectacular. The Philippines has always been on my list but I am just taking the time to add all the places within the country which I would love to visit. I am going to bookmark your post, so I can use it in the future while planning.
El Nido, Palawan is one of my top travel destinations! The pristine beach is really clean and amazing! One of the places I want to go back to soon!
One of the primary reason I want to visit philipines is because of this gorgeous place , El Nido.. I simply love thee beauty of the marine life out there. The Beauty is simply outstanding ..
So so great and thoroughly! I plan to travel to El Nido soon and this guide is really helpful. Thanks for sharing!
I see photos of Palawan all over and think it looks such a beautiful place to visit. Your photos have brought it alive and one day I hope to get there.
This is such an informative guide! All these experiences and pictures are so amazing and beautiful. Happy finding this guide for our future trip to the Philippines and El Nido but also so sad that we couldn’t go this year as planned due to the Covid-19.
wow those photos want me to just pack a bag and book my flight to El Nido Palawan ! ( well after the pandemic of course 🙂 ) . Its so beautiful there ! The color of that water looks incredible ! The real paradise of the Earth !
What a stunning location to visit for some rest and relaxation. With the current global pandemic, we all have to wait until further notice.
This is such a unique place to be. So breathtaking and colorful.
Wow! that is really a stunning plae I want to be there someday.Some of my friends visited El Nido Palawan and they say that this place is really wondrous.
The Philippines got so many beautiful islands to visit and Palawan is definitely one of them. Thank you for the detailed travel guide, it’s definitely helpful.
I’ve never heard of this island, but it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The pictures are stunning.
El Nido has got everything that i look for in a destination. Great Vibes, Yummy food, awesome scuba diving sites, and beautiful vistas. I still regret for not spending a tad bit more money, and flying to Philippines, when i had the chance to do so from Bali. Lets see, when do i get the chance to visit again.
Hi, I do think this is an excellent blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to come back yet again since i have book marked
it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue
to guide other people. Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was
a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you!
However, how could we communicate? I’ll immediately clutch your rss as I can’t in finding your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service.
Do you’ve any? Please allow me realize in order that I could subscribe.
Thanks. http://car.com
Feel free to visit my web page … Amy
The island hopping tour sounds like a blast! El Nido Palawan looks like a true paradise with those blue lagoons and gorgeous beaches. I’m also a huge cashew fanatic, so this looks like a great spot for me!