El Nido is among the prime vacationer locations within the Philippines. This coastal city in Palawan is famend for its white-sand seashores, coral reefs, and beautiful limestone cliffs. Composed of 45 islands and islets, every with its personal distinctive geological formations, El Nido persistently ranks as the most effective island locations within the Philippines – and the world.
I bear in mind our first journey to El Nido again in 2010 when getting there concerned lengthy land journey from Puerto Princesa. I used to be amazed at how stunning the place was after we spent per week island-hopping across the totally different sights and having fun with secluded seashores and coves all to ourselves. One in every of El Nido’s nicknames is “Heaven on Earth” and seeing the tropical landscapes, towering cliffs, and secret seashores for the primary time, I couldn’t agree extra.
Quick ahead to our Palawan Highway Journey to have a good time Artwork’s birthday in February 2018 and I used to be dismayed to see how briskly the tempo of growth is altering the panorama. Strolling across the busy poblacion or city heart felt like being in Bali or Khao San Highway fairly than a laid-back provincial city within the Philippines.
I couldn’t consider there was an precise multi-story mall alongside the freeway close to city and shops good beneath the cliffs. I sort of have combined emotions about El Nido as it’s now due to the way it’s modified since I first noticed it.
What with all the issues surrounding Boracay which pressured its closure, I hope that companies and vacationers alike will keep in mind that it’s El Nido’s pure magnificence that pulls vacationers within the first place and maintain every part low-impact and sustainable. Nonetheless, I can’t blame individuals for wanting to go to, as a result of it’s an amazingly stunning vacation spot. I simply hope the pure great thing about the seashores, cliffs and smaller islands will likely be preserved regardless of El Nido’s elevated reputation.
Till not too long ago, El Nido was comparatively unknown to international vacationers in comparison with different Southeast Asian locations. However due to social media and simpler entry (with direct flights to El Nido from Manila and different key hubs like Cebu), increasingly vacationers are visiting, drawn to the place due to the beautiful seascapes and journey it gives.
There have been debates about which vacation spot is best: Coron (one other island of Palawan) or El Nido, as often vacationers select between the 2 Palawan spots due to the flights. However sea journey has made it potential to go to each in a single journey. When you’ve got time to spare and need quick access, you possibly can guide customized personal boat excursions from El Nido to Coron to maximise your island-hopping journeys across the Philippines.
For first-timers, the best solution to get round El Nido is to hitch the neatly packaged island-hopping and land excursions to totally different island clusters. There are additionally a number of notable spots inland, which I checklist beneath.
1. Marvel at El Nido’s iconic lagoons and seashores
Some of the standard island-hopping excursions in El Nido, Tour A focuses primarily across the stunning lagoons surrounded by limestone cliffs in Miniloc Island and some good seaside stops. You get to calm down on the white sand seaside and revel in a picnic lunch of grilled specialties at Shimizu Island, go snorkeling on the Seven Commandos Seashore, and have an opportunity to see a number of sea turtles.
2. Go to secluded caves and coves
Island Hopping Tour B takes guests to a couple caves, coves hidden throughout the islands and different notable sights. Essentially the most well-known attraction on this tour is Snake Island, a slim sandbar that connects mainland Palawan to neighboring Vigan Island. You additionally go to a number of Caves together with Cathedral Cave and Cudugnon Cave (the place locals used to cover from Japanese invaders throughout World Battle II), and swim or snorkel within the hidden seaside of Pinagbuyatan Island.
Since that is barely costlier than different excursions, vacationers often don’t guide this as a lot and like to do Tour A or Tour C.d
3. Discover world-famous islands and secret seashores
Island-Hopping Tour C is a favourite of vacationers as a result of it brings you up near the nice, white seashores and breathtaking landscapes. You get to go to the well-known islands of Dilumacad and Matinloc, the place the “Bourne Legacy” was filmed and go to the distinctive Helicopter Island, named for its limestone cliffs resemble that of a helicopter. This tour additionally features a cease at Matinloc Shrine the place you get to listen to native tales and a cease at Talisay Seashore, an amazing spot for snorkeling.
One of many highlights of this tour the go to to the Secret Seashore, a hidden pocket of nice sand enclosed by towering karst cliffs. It’s accessible solely by way of a small opening that requires guests to swim by way of it. If you happen to solely have a day to spare for island-hopping and the climate is sweet, I’d suggest you do Tour C. Boatmen often cancel Tour C if climate is dangerous, so you are able to do Tour A, B or D as a back-up.
4. Discover offbeat seashores nearer to city
Tour D takes guests to a few of the seashores nearer the mainland together with Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan, Paradise, Natnat Seashore and Bukal Seashore.
Usually missed by mainstream vacationers in favor of the extra standard locations, these spots can supply tranquil and secluded getaways in the event you simply need to benefit from the easy seaside life. These require much less journey time and could be simply visited in the event you don’t have a complete day to spare.
5. Paddle round by kayak
As an alternative choice to packaged island-hopping excursions, you may make preparations to hire kayaks to discover close by islands. You can too mix kayaking with the packaged island hopping excursions, significantly Tour A for Small Lagoon or Huge Lagoon. Stand-Up Paddleboarding can be turning into more and more standard in El Nido.
You’ll be able to hire common and even clear kayaks from El Nido Boutique and Artwork Cafe for half a day or full day. The exercise is weather-dependent, and never beneficial if the wind is just too sturdy.
6. Discover the mainland points of interest
Except for the island points of interest, El Nido has numerous hidden treasures you could attain from the mainland. Tour E or the Land tour contains visits to the dual seashores of Nacpan and Calitang, Nagkalit-kalit Falls, Las Cabanas, and Marimegmeg Seashore.
To avoid wasting cash on the tour, you possibly can merely hail a tricycle to go to the spots. Alternatively, if you understand how to drive a bike, you possibly can simply drive to the spots your self by renting one on the town.
- Tour E: (Land tour) inclusions: Twin Seashores, Marimegmeg Seashore and a few waterfalls. Price: Php 1,500/pax
- Tricycle tour: P1500, good for as much as 4 pax
- Van rental: P3000, good for as much as 12 pax
- Bike rental: P500 per day
7. Admire the view from Taraw Cliff
Throughout our first go to to El Nido, one of many highlights for me was climbing up Taraw Cliffs, which gives a panoramic view of El Nido. Again then, this concerned clambering over jagged rocks. There have been no helmets, ropes or specialised tools on the time. We simply climbed with our naked fingers to succeed in the highest.
Nonetheless, that unique path was notoriously harmful. In truth, there have been incidents of vacationer accidents and deaths right here through the years together with a tour information who tried to avoid wasting a international vacationer who proposed to his girlfriend on the jagged peaks. Since then, the tourism workplaces of El Nido not enable guests to hike as much as the best level.
Today, a safer Through Ferrata path with metallic stairs, walkways, hanging bridges and ropes has been established with the El Nido Cover Stroll. All guests now put on helmets and are accompanied by guides, which has made the view extra accessible and safer for extra vacationers together with senior residents and youngsters. The stroll simply takes lower than an hour and brings guests to a decrease vantage level than the unique level, however which nonetheless gives a very good overlooking view. Right here’s a have a look at how it’s now.
- El Nido Cover Stroll
- Rizal Avenue, Brgy. Maligaya, El Nido, Palawan. Contact Quantity: +63 (48) 434-2341 | +63 (48) 723-3401. Electronic mail: sabangxzipline@gmail.com
- Hours of operation: Open every day, 8:00 am to five:00 pm
- Price: Php 500/pax
8. Take a look at the sustainable choices at Lio Seashore
One of many newer areas being developed in El Nido is Lio Seashore, the place you possibly can get pleasure from nature encounters and out of doors recreation, to luxurious spa therapies and calming yoga periods. The Lio Eco-Tourism Property space is an remoted space surrounded by virgin seashores, breathtaking landscapes, and turquoise waters.
With all the issues in different seaside areas and inflow of vacationers and potential injury to the atmosphere introduced upon by the inflow of tourism, Lio is being developed as an ecologically sustainable tourism vacation spot, quickly to be dwelling to eco-hotels, eating places, and residential communities that can observe world-class requirements to protect the pure great thing about El Nido. You’ll be able to kayak across the space they usually even have Bamboo Bicycles for hire right here. I haven’t been to this spot but, however I’ll positively test it out on my subsequent journey to El Nido.
9. Go on a meals journey round city
After a day of island-hopping, the very best factor to do is simply relax with good meals and drinks at any of the eating places on the town. The poblacion space now has a bustling nightlife harking back to areas like Ubud in Bali or Khao San Highway in Bangkok.
El Nido has a various meals scene, with numerous worldwide choices like Japanese meals, Mediterranean delicacies, gelato and Filipino grilled specialties. Be warned that the majority upscale beach-front eating places serve overpriced meals, charging about P350-P450 for the ambiance. Nonetheless, you’ll find cheaper and easier meals in carinderias.
El Nido Boutique & Artwork Cafe is among the long-time homegrown haunts, which serves scrumptious pizzas and pasta dishes. This is among the oldest eating places within the space and one of many most important spots that serves craft beer from Palaweno Brewery, an area brewery primarily based within the capital Puerto Princesa.
One other attention-grabbing addition within the native beer scene is Boodmo, a Ukrainian nano-brewery established in El Nido in 2017. They serve Cadlao IPA and Pale Ale brewed for the tropical local weather together with Ukrainian beer chow like mussel and shrimp dumplings with pesto.
10. Catch the sundown from the shore
If you would like the very best view, there are a number of beachfront institutions the place you possibly can simply get pleasure from a gorgeous sundown with a beer in hand.
Or you can simply head to the seaside, deliver a picnic mat and sit on the shore for the very best — and free — views.
NOTE: This journey information was compiled from two separate journeys to El Nido in June 2010 and February 2018.
