Palawan, western Philippines · Philippines
Limestone cliffs rising from emerald lagoons in Bacuit Bay, with secret beaches, hidden coves and some of the most photographed seascapes in Asia.
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0
El Nido sits at the northern tip of Palawan, an elongated island in the west of the Philippines, on the edge of Bacuit Bay. The bay holds 45 islands and islets, mostly limestone karst, whose sheer cliffs, caves and lagoons feel like a fantasy landscape. The area is part of the Bacuit Archipelago and Palawan, often named the best island in the world by travel magazines.
The town itself is small and functional, a strip of guesthouses, dive shops, restaurants and tour offices on a curved beach. Visitors come for island-hopping: standard tours, called A, B, C and D, run by outriggers that visit lagoons such as the Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon, the Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, 7 Commando Beach, Hidden Beach, Matinloc Shrine and Helicopter Island. Each tour costs the same and covers different sites, so many visitors do two or three.
El Nido has grown fast, and can be crowded at peak times. Booking early tours, choosing small groups, and visiting quieter places like Nacpan Beach, Cadlao Island and Corong-Corong makes for a better trip. Weather is best from December to May, and the sea can be too rough for boats in the rainy season.
Why visit
El Nido is the best place in the Philippines for classic lagoon-and-limestone scenery.
Emerald water and cliffs.
Four standard tours.
Nacpan and 7 Commando.
Reefs and marine life.
Over Bacuit Bay.
Main attractions
The sights are all on the water or on nearby beaches.
A wide lagoon on Miniloc Island, ringed by cliffs, and best explored by kayak.
Tip Go on Tour A early.
The bay's islands are steep karst formations covered in forest.
Tip Take a boat at sunrise.
A hidden lagoon reached through a small hole in the cliff, where you must wade or swim.
Tip Go before midday.
A 4-km white-sand beach north of El Nido, reached by tricycle.
Tip Good for sunset.
A snorkelling stop and lunch spot with clear water.
Tip Bring a mask.
A limestone cliff you can climb for a view over the bay.
Tip Wear sturdy shoes.
Things to do
El Nido is about time on the water.
Tours A, B, C and D.
Tip Pick small groups.
Paddle through channels.
Tip Go early.
Colourful fish.
Tip Wear reef-safe sunscreen.
Caves and drop-offs.
Tip Use a certified dive centre.
A long beach.
Tip Take a tricycle.
For views.
Tip Go early.
Local food
El Nido's food is seafood and casual.
Fresh fish and squid.
Where to try it Beach restaurants.
Raw fish in vinegar.
Where to try it Seaside restaurants.
Home-style.
Where to try it Local eateries.
Mango and coconut.
Where to try it Stalls.
Served on tours.
Where to try it On your island tour.
Accommodation
Stay in town or on a quieter beach.
Transport
El Nido is remote.
Tricycles and boats.
When to go
El Nido is best in the dry season.
Cool and dry.
Hot and clear.
Rain and rough seas.
Typhoons possible.
Worth planning around: The wet season for boat trips.
Itinerary
Island tours and a beach.
Settle in.
Lagoons.
Hidden beaches.
Beach.
Travel tips
A few tips help you plan.
FAQ
Three to five.
Tour A and Tour C are the most popular.
Van from Puerto Princesa.
Yes at peak times.
A few, but bring cash.
December to May.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with El Nido, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Palawan, Calamian Islands, Philippines
A base for the Calamian Islands, with world-class wreck diving, Kayangan and Barracuda Lakes, Twin Lagoon, Siete Pecados reef snorkelling and Maquinit hot springs.
Don't miss Swimming in the warm, glass-clear waters of Kayangan Lake, ringed by steep limestone cliffs.
Explore Destination — CoronPalawan, western Philippines, Philippines
Palawan's gateway city, and the base for the UNESCO-listed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, plus Honda Bay island hopping, firefly watching and city tours.
Don't miss Paddling in near darkness through the vast chambers of the Puerto Princesa Underground River, lit only by your guide's lamp.
Explore Destination — Puerto Princesa and the Underground RiverAklan, Western Visayas, Philippines
A 7-km island with White Beach, Puka Shell Beach, sunset paraw sailing, kitesurfing, and restaurants and nightlife, after a 2018 environmental clean-up.
Don't miss Watching the sails of the paraw boats glide across the water at sunset off White Beach.
Explore Destination — BoracayRead next
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