Things to do in El Nido, Palawan: full guide with tours, beaches and travel tips

El Nido has a tropical climate with a clearly defined dry season. To get the most out of activities like island hopping, snorkeling and the beaches, the dry season is the time to go.

Dry season (November to May)

This is the best time to travel to El Nido, with sunny days, clear skies and calm seas. Temperatures are around 27–32 °C. The busiest months are December, January and April, so if you want to avoid the crowds, we recommend going in November or March.

Rainy season (June to October)

Rain is more likely at this time of year, especially between July and September. You can still get sunny days, but it's common for some boat tours to be canceled because of bad weather or rough seas.

💡 We traveled in February and had spectacular days. If you can choose, we recommend going in the dry season.

There are several ways to get to El Nido, depending on where you are in the Philippines. Here are our recommendations and what to keep in mind.

From Manila or Cebu

The fastest and most comfortable way is a direct flight to Lio Airport (El Nido Airport). There are daily flights from Manila and Cebu, and the airport is only 15 minutes from the center of El Nido.

💡 Tip: These flights tend to sell out quickly in high season, so we recommend booking ahead.

🎟️ You can book your flight on Kiwi.com

From Puerto Princesa

Another option is to fly to Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan, and take a van or bus from there to El Nido. The overland trip takes 5 to 6 hours, with a few stops along the way.

💡 Tip: Vans are faster but less comfortable; if you have time, the bus is more relaxed and spacious.

🎟️ You can book your van transfer on 12go.

From Coron

If you're coming from Coron, you have three ways to get there:

1. Boat expedition (3 or 4 days): The option we recommend most. You sail between unspoiled islands, sleep by the sea and get a one-of-a-kind experience. We tell you more about it below.
2. Direct ferry: The fastest and cheapest option. The trip takes 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on the weather.
3. Plane: There are occasional flights between Coron and El Nido, but they tend to be more expensive and less frequent.

🎟️ You can book your ferry ticket from Coron to El Nido through this link

El Nido, on the island of Palawan, is one of the most impressive destinations in the Philippines. With its crystal-clear water, idyllic beaches and limestone formations, it's a place you have to visit at least once in your life. Here's what to do in El Nido, along with our own experiences and our best tips for enjoying it to the fullest.

1. Island hopping in El Nido

El Nido is famous for its island hopping tours, ideal for exploring its islands, lagoons and secret beaches. There are four main tours (A, B, C and D), each with its own iconic stops.

You can do these island-hopping trips privately or on a group tour. Group tours are cheaper, but we recommend trying to go private. It costs more, but it's 100% worth it. El Nido is one of the most touristy destinations in the country, and the group tours all tend to leave at the same time, between 9 and 10 in the morning, with more than 12 people per boat.

💡 We recommend doing your island hopping privately to avoid the crowds.

We did it with a local guide named Bryan, who helped us leave early (7 am) and find other travelers to split the costs with. We ended up being the first to arrive everywhere! If you'd like his contact details, message us on Instagram.

You can also use the Viajar por Filipinas calendar, which connects travelers for shared private tours.

📌 Useful tips:

• Leave as early as you can
• Bring a dry bag, water shoes and your own snorkel

💡 We recommend doing your island hopping privately to avoid the crowds.

Tour A

Tour A is one of the most popular, and it visits iconic places like Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon, known for their crystal-clear water surrounded by towering limestone formations. It also stops at Shimizu Island, ideal for snorkeling, and Seven Commandos Beach, where you can relax on white sand.

🎟️ Private tour → Book here | Group tour → See options

Tour B

Tour B gets fewer people than Tour A, but it has its own charm. The highlight is Snake Island, a strip of white sand that connects two islands. It also takes you to Cudugnon Cave and to more snorkeling at less touristy spots.

🎟️ Private tour → Book here | Group tour → See options

Tour C

Tour C is one of the most impressive, but also the most dependent on the weather, because it takes you to more distant islands. The main stops include Hidden Beach and Secret Beach, among others. It also used to go to Helicopter Island, but that's now private and you're not allowed to get off there. It was our favorite island-hopping tour.

If you're planning to do Tour C, we recommend scheduling it for your first day in El Nido. That way, if the weather doesn't allow it, you can postpone it. If you leave it for the last day, you won't be able to change it.

🎟️ Private tour → Book here | Group tour → See options

Tour D

Tour D isn't as popular for its scenery, but if what you're after is quiet beaches, this is the one for you. The route stops at Cadlao Lagoon and Small Lagoon, perfect for relaxing and swimming, as well as at a few beaches.

🎟️ Private tour → Book here | Group tour → See options

2. Best beaches in El Nido

Las Cabañas Beach: Close to the town of El Nido and perfect for sunset. It has several bars where you can have a drink or a beer and enjoy the beach.

Nacpan Beach: About 45 minutes by motorbike from the center of El Nido. It's a long beach with white sand and turquoise water, ideal if you're looking for somewhere quieter and more secluded. There are a few bars where you can eat and have a drink. They charge 50 PHP per person to get onto the beach (you'll notice this is normal in some parts of the Philippines).

Duli Beach: A little over an hour by motorbike from El Nido Town, in the same direction as Nacpan, so you can combine the two in one day. It's a golden-sand beach known for its wild, quiet atmosphere. Unlike the other beaches, Duli has held on to its natural charm. It's one of the best surf spots in El Nido and has a small stall that rents boards. Entrance to the beach costs 50 PHP.

3. Diving in El Nido

El Nido is an excellent diving destination, with around 20 dive sites, a variety of underwater landscapes and rich marine life. You can explore coral reefs, underwater canyons and walls covered in colorful sponges and soft corals. Some spots, like South Miniloc and Twin Rocks, are full of marine life. Visibility is usually best between March and May.

We didn't dive in El Nido itself because we preferred to do it in Sibaltan, at a spot 40 minutes by van from El Nido Town. We tell you more about it below.

4. Kayaking around El Nido

If you want something more relaxed than another island-hopping trip, you can rent a kayak and paddle to nearby islands or beaches.

Options:

• Cadlao Island: A 45-minute paddle, with beaches like Nat Nat and Cadlao Lagoon.
• Lapus Lapus Beach: 5-10 minutes from Corong Corong.
• Seven Commandos & Papaya Beach: You can visit them one after the other. Crystal-clear water and white sand.
• Ipil Ipil Beach: Secluded and very quiet. 10-20 minutes by kayak from the previous two.

5. Dryft Camp on Darocotan Island

A real find, 1 hour from El Nido. Dryft Camp offers eco-friendly accommodation in glamping tents, ideal for disconnecting and enjoying paradise.

The trip includes a van to Teneguiban Pier + a 15-minute bangka (local boat) ride. The beaches are incredible and there's a sunken ship you can snorkel over.

We ended our trip through the Philippines with 3 days here, and it was the perfect finish.

6. Climb Taraw Cliff

A demanding 2-hour hike to the highest point in El Nido. A guide and good shoes are recommended, but the views are insane.

7. Diving with manta rays in Sibaltan

One of the most incredible moments of our trip through the Philippines was diving with mantas in Sibaltan, a quiet town about 60 minutes by car from El Nido.

After doing our diving course in Thailand, we started looking into the best places to dive along our route through the Philippines, and when we found out that Sibaltan had cleaning stations, where mantas come in to have their skin cleaned, we knew we couldn't miss it.

The dive is pretty relaxed and shallow, in a protected area where the mantas' habitat is respected. We decided to do the tour with Dive Sibaltan, a local dive center with a very good team. When we arrived, they explained how it would work: first we'd go to one of the cleaning stations and wait patiently for the mantas to come. The guide warned us that they hadn't seen any for several days, so we lowered our expectations a little. But to our surprise, it didn't take them long to appear. A giant manta showed up right in front of us, followed by two more. Seeing them so close, while staying calm and respecting their space, was incredible. Later the dive master, who has been working in the area for years, told us he had never seen so many mantas at once.

Then we did a second dive at another spot, full of corals and fish of every color. The third dive was back at the cleaning stations, but this time we weren't so lucky with the mantas. At the end, the Dive Sibaltan team arranged our transport back to El Nido.

8. El Nido to Coron expedition (3-4 days)

Another incredible experience is an expedition between Coron and El Nido, or the Coron - Coron one. Over 3 or 4 days, it takes you through idyllic islands, deserted beaches and spectacular reefs, camping in beachfront cabins. If you like adventure and exploring less crowded places, this tour is perfect. It's a one-of-a-kind way to travel between Coron and El Nido, or you can do it touring all the islands of Coron.

🎒 Coron–El Nido or El Nido–Coron expedition → Book here

To really enjoy El Nido, we recommend staying 3 to 5 days. That gives you time to explore the main attractions, do several island-hopping tours, relax on the beaches and enjoy the local food.

Sample itinerary:

• Day 1: Arrival, rest, a nearby beach and sunset.
• Day 2: Tour A
• Day 3: Tour C
• Day 4: Nacpan Beach or Duli Beach
• Day 5: An extra activity like diving or kayaking, or a rest day

1. El Nido town center

If you'd rather be close to the port and the nightlife, the town center is the ideal place to stay.

• Spin Designer Hostel: A modern hostel with good facilities and a good location. A comfortable, budget-friendly option.
• Sea Cocoon Hotel: Simple but comfortable rooms. Excellent view from the breakfast room. A great choice if you'd rather be close to the shops and the tours.
• H Hotel El Nido: A 4-star hotel with an excellent location in the center of El Nido. It has a restaurant, a bar and a terrace.
• Cadlao Resort & Restaurant: A boutique resort with spectacular sea views, ideal if you're looking for comfort and beach access. Its restaurant gets very good reviews. It's a 20-minute walk from the center of El Nido Town.

2. Corong Corong

Just a few minutes from the center, it's quieter and has incredible views.

• Corong Corong Beach Resort: Right on the beach, with a relaxed atmosphere, ideal if you want peace and quiet without being far from the conveniences of the town center.
• Outpost Beach Hostel: A good, cheap, nice-looking hostel right on the beach.
• Lumbung Loft Villas at Karuna El Nido: Luxury loft-style villas with privacy and panoramic views. In a quiet setting, ideal if you're after relaxation, comfort and a more exclusive experience in El Nido. With modern amenities and a restaurant, it's perfect for couples or small groups.

3. Nacpan Beach

Ideal if you're looking for somewhere more secluded, perfect for relaxing surrounded by nature.

• Nacpan Beach Resort: Beachfront cabins with a rustic but comfortable feel, in a setting much quieter than the center of El Nido.
• Nacpan Beach Villas: Perfect private beachfront villas. They're spacious and well equipped, with modern, comfortable decor. Ideal for enjoying the natural beauty of El Nido, with easy access to the beach.

4. Nearby islands

If you'd prefer a luxury stay on an island, these options offer exceptional views and comfort.

• Miniloc Island Resort: A luxury resort on the island, with access to crystal-clear water for snorkeling and diving. The views are impressive and the service is top quality.
• Cauayan Island Resort and Spa: An exclusive resort on a private island near El Nido, ideal for a luxurious, relaxing stay. It has villas and suites with impressive views of the sea and the surrounding nature. Along with a quiet, secluded atmosphere, the resort has a high-end spa, a pool, a restaurant and a range of water activities, like snorkeling and kayaking.
• Pangulasian Island Resort: Exclusive luxury, ideal if you're looking for privacy and peace in an idyllic setting.
• Dryft Camp: On Darocotan Island, a one-of-a-kind stay at an eco-friendly beach camp. This idyllic island, far from mass tourism, lets you enjoy unspoiled nature, sleep in glamping tents and feast on fresh local food.

Where is El Nido?
El Nido is in the north of the island of Palawan, in the Philippines. It's famous for its idyllic beaches and limestone formations.

How do you get to El Nido?
The fastest way is a direct flight to the airport in Manila or Cebu. You can also fly to Puerto Princesa and then take a van (5-6 hours).

When is the best time to go to El Nido?
From November to May, during the dry season. Avoid the months of heavy rain (July-September).

Is it safe to swim or snorkel in El Nido?
Yes, as long as you follow your guide's recommendations. Bringing water shoes and a dry bag makes the experience better.

Can I pay by card or do I need cash?
Most places require cash, especially tours and small shops. We recommend bringing enough cash with you.

Are group or private tours better?
Group tours are cheaper, but private ones let you avoid the crowds and pick a better time. If you can, a private tour is worth the money.

Are there ATMs in El Nido?
Yes, although sometimes they don't work or they run out of cash. It's best to come prepared from Puerto Princesa or Manila.