🇵🇭 El NidoPhilippines
Postcards from Paradise: The Ultimate Guide to El Nido, Palawan
If crystal-clear turquoise waters, towering limestone cliffs, and dramatic lagoons are on your travel bucket list, El Nido in Palawan, Philippines is probably already on your radar.
Getting there has changed recently, and navigating the town takes a bit of planning, but once your feet hit the sand, every minute of travel is entirely worth it. Here is exactly what it's like to journey to and experience this slice of tropical paradise.
The Journey: Navigating the New Route to El Nido
Getting to El Nido used to mean a direct flight from Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) straight into El Nido's Lio Airport. However from March 2026, direct commercial flights to El Nido are no longer available.
To adapt, we took a point-to-point (P2P) bus from NAIA terminal 3 straight to Clark International Airport (CRK). The bus ride was efficient, taking only about 1.5 to 2 hours. From Clark, we boarded an ATR 72-600 turboprop operated by Cebgo. Aviation geeks will love this part. There is something incredibly cool, nostalgic, and scenic about flying relatively low over the Philippine archipelago in a twin-engine turboprop.
Once you land in El Nido, you'll notice right away that conventional public transport is limited. There are no city buses or endless lines of standard taxis. Instead, you'll be charmed by the sights of the local transit lifelines: tricycles (a unique combination of a motorcycle and a welded passenger side-cab). They are completely ubiquitous, highly affordable, and the absolute best way to weave through town.
Where to Stay: El Nido Town Centre
Instead of staying right in the middle of the crowded Town Centre grid, we chose a spot located about 15 minutes outside the main hub.
This ended up being the perfect compromise. It gave us a peaceful, quiet base to retreat to at night, completely away from the late-night bar music and dense street traffic.
Logistically, getting into town or down to the main beach for our morning island-hopping tours was incredibly easy. Because tricycles are so ubiquitous, we never had to wait more than a minute or two to hail a ride. That quick 15-minute commute quickly became a fun part of our daily routine—buzzing along the coastal roads in a tricycle, catching the morning breeze, and watching the local town wake up.
Exploring El Nido Town Centre & Las Cabañas Beach
When we did head into El Nido Town Centre, we found a lively, bustling grid packed with energy. It's a fantastic hub for food and nightlife, filled with boutique cafes, wood-fired pizza spots, open-air bars, and dive centers.
We also made sure to spend an evening at Las Cabañas Beach. While the Town Centre beach is great for launching tour boats, Las Cabañas faces west, making it the prime spot in the area for sunset. We grabbed a cold drink at a beachside bar and caught an incredible view of the sun dipping behind the dramatic limestone silhouettes.
The Main Event: Island Hopping
Island-hopping excursions in El Nido are standardized by letters (Tour A, B, C, and D). We opted for Tour A, which is universally regarded as the most popular option because it hits the quintessential, postcard-perfect spots. The excursion takes about 5 hours in total.
Here is what you get to experience (make sure your camera or waterproof phone pouch is ready for these):
1. Big Lagoon
The crown jewel of El Nido. To enter, your motorized outrigger boat anchors outside, and you rent a kayak to paddle your way through a narrow opening. Inside, you are surrounded by towering, cathedral-like limestone cliffs framing perfectly still, emerald waters.
2. Shimizu Island
A fantastic spot named after a Japanese diver, framed by striking rock formations. The water here is teeming with vibrant coral reefs, making it an incredible stop for snorkeling.
3. Payong-Payong Beach
A small, picturesque white-sand beach tucked neatly beneath jagged cliffs. It's the perfect spot to feel like a castaway and appreciate the sheer scale of Palawan's unique geology.
4. Secret Lagoon
To access this hidden gem, you have to carefully swim or wade through a small, rocky opening in a massive limestone wall. Once inside, you find yourself standing in a secluded, shallow pool completely cut off from the open ocean.
5. 7 Commando Beach
The final stop of the tour and the perfect place to unwind. It's a long stretch of fine white sand lined with coconut trees, complete with a small beach bar selling fresh coconuts and rum cocktails. I had the chance to play beach volleyball with some locals.
Beyond the Water: Land Adventures
If you want to stretch your legs on land, there are three absolute must-dos that show off a completely different side of El Nido:
The Via Ferrata Canopy Walk
Right near the town center, you can strap into a harness and scale a series of secure walkways and a suspension bridge built along the face of the Taraw Cliff. It gives you an absolutely breathtaking, panoramic view of Bacuit Bay without requiring a dangerous, vertical rock climb.
Nacpan Beach
Located about 45 minutes north of the main town via tricycle or rented scooter, Nacpan is a spectacular 4-kilometer stretch of golden sand and swaying palm trees. It's wide, spacious, and far less crowded than the island-hopping spots—ideal for a dedicated beach day.
Corong-Corong Beach
If you're looking for a closer, more laid-back escape just outside the town center, Corong-Corong Beach is a fantastic stop. It has a relaxed, bohemian vibe with great resorts and beachside restaurants where you can sink into the sand, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy a quieter coastal atmosphere.
The Verdict
El Nido requires a tiny bit of extra effort to get to nowadays, but the moment you enter the Big Lagoon or watch the sunset from Las Cabañas Beach, you realize it's still one of the most magical places on Earth.