✈️🛳🚌 How to get to El Nido, Palawan:
⏺ Take a plane from Metro Manila to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (e.g. Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia).
⏺ Charter a tricycle to reach San Jose Terminal then ride a van to get to the town of El Nido (travel time: 4 – 5 hours).
⏺ Alternatively, you can fly from Manila directly to El Nido via AirSwift. You may also use San Vicente Airport as your entry point which is much closer to El Nido compared to Puerto Princesa. The flight of Philippine Airlines to San Vicente operates out of Clark while SkyJet flies to San Vicente from Manila.
🏄🏝🚴 Sites To Explore/Activities:
⏺ Tour A (Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon and Seven Commandos Beach)
⏺ Tour B (Entalula Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave and Cathedral Cave)
⏺ Tour C (Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island, Secret Beach, Matinloc Island and Talisay Beach)
⏺ Tour D (Bukal Island, Ipil Beach, Nat-Nat Beach, Cadlao Lagoon and Paradise Beach)
📌If there are no available travel agencies offering this tour, you may rent a kayak to get to Cadlao Island and neighboring beaches. Cadlao Island is just facing the beach which serves as the jump-off for island hopping.
📌You may also ask the locals where you can rent a small boat to get to Cadlao.
⏺ Inland Tour (Nacpan and Calitang Twin Beaches, Makinit Hot Spring and Nagkalit-kalit Falls)
📌You can opt for a van tour or you may hire a tricycle that will take you to these spots.
⏺ Marimegmeg Beach/Las Cabanas Beach
📌Hire a tricycle that will take you to this beach. This beach is perfect for sunset viewing.
⏺ Taraw Cliff
📌The best time to start your climb is early morning since all public tours in El Nido usually start at 9:00 AM.
📌The climb to the top takes about 1 – 2 hours depending on your pace.
📌Bring enough hydration and take extra precaution as you will mostly be scrambling through the rocky trail. Be careful of your footholds and handholds.
📌You should contact your tour guide beforehand if you plan on climbing Taraw Cliff. Confirm first if the guide fee is inclusive of helmet, harness and gloves.
My first trip in El Nido transpired in December 2015. My mum was supposed to go with me but due to her appointments, I had to go alone. It was my first ever solo backpacking trip. Honestly, I had reservations of pushing through with the trip. I’ve been always traveling with my friends since 2011 so I was scared at first to go out of my comfort zone. But it was a good thing I did. It is now one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. 📍Taraw CliffI was welcomed by a sunny weather at Puerto Princesa Airport. I quickly booked for my island hopping tours and van service to El Nido. After eating lunch, I was on my way to paradise. 📍Bukal IslandThe roads leading to the municipality of El Nido were already cemented so I reached the town in approximately five hours. Based on the blogs I have read and stories shared by my friends who have visited this side of Palawan, their travel experience en route to El Nido was a struggle because of the rough roads back then. The travel duration from Puerto Princesa actually took about 8-10 hours before, especially during rainy season. 📍Taraw CliffI had a total of three whole days for my tour in El Nido. I availed the tour agencies’ bestsellers, Tours A and C. It won’t be a problem if you are traveling alone since the travel agencies would include you in their public tours as a joiner. The island hopping fee already includes lunch as well. 📍Nacpan and Calitang Twin BeachesBecause it was December, we had to deal with rough northeast monsoon waves just to get to the tourist attractions. Moreover, since it was peak season, all of the islands were crowded with loads of boats. Our guides had a hard time parking our boat since the spaces where they normally secure the boat in place were full. In short, our boatmen had to anchor our boat at spots which were way too far from the entrances to lagoons and hidden beaches. We had no choice but to swim against strong currents. If I’d known that it would really be a challenge, I should have brought my fins as it proved to be really tiring. I thought it was somehow a good thing that my mum was not with me during that time because she’s already old for this type of activities. 📍Matinloc IslandTour C welcomed me on my first day of island hopping. This was the very first island I saw in El Nido, Helicopter Island.I was no longer surprised to see the islands crowded with tourists. After all, El Nido is a mainstream getaway for vacationers. I had to wait for my turn so I could get solo shots just like here at Hidden Beach. Actually, this was the only photo I had of this place without other people in it.The crystal clear water in this snorkeling spot of Talisay Beach gives the illusion that it’s shallow. I told one of the guides my concern that I might get wounded by the sharp corals once I plunge into the water. He smiled and confidently said that the water is actually deep. He was right all along. This just proves how pristine this snorkeling site is. And if swimming is not your thing, you can already see the corals from the boat anyway.Right after our lunch near the shore of Talisay Beach, we sailed here at Secret Beach which is surrounded by towering karst formations. Sadly, this was the only solo shot I had. If I had pointed my camera down, all you’d see are tourists in orange life jackets. Considering this place has a small size for a big number of visitors, it actually felt as if we were cramped due to the overwhelming influx of tourists entering this beach through a small hole.We capped off Tour C at this island called Matinloc. Just be careful when you get to this spot to have your photo taken. My shorts almost got ripped due to the sharp protrusions of the rock formation.The next day, we left for Tour A and reached Secret Lagoon as our first stop. We were already welcomed by other tourists when we arrived here. My guide said that the water could have been much clearer if there were no people walking and swimming as the sediment underneath is usually disturbed thus causing the water to look murky.We were supposed to visit Shimizu Island but we were kinda late for our itinerary so we proceeded here at Small Lagoon. After kayaking a few hundred meters to reach the tiny entrance of this lagoon, my newfound friends and I were absolutely awestruck the moment we saw the place with our own eyes. Unfortunately, it was full of tourists. It’s even possible to bump into someone’s kayak. We roam around and waited for the tourists to leave. After a few more minutes or so, we finally had the place to ourselves. I was swimming in its emerald water when I saw a number of jellyfish getting to the surface. It’s as if they knew that most of the humans distracting them were finally gone. More and more sea jellies started to appear. I certainly felt something odd. For someone with a sixth sense, this place is extremely creepy for me, coupled with the silence devouring the whole area. The lagoon radiated an enchanting yet eerie aura as it is being guarded by elementals.Next on our list was Big Lagoon which was shot for the ending of the film “The Bourne Legacy”. Because it was low tide and our boat would touch the seabed, we swam against the strong current to get to the entrance of this lagoon.Too bad I didn’t get a lot of decent pictures here at Big Lagoon since most of my photos were captured against the light. My point-and-shoot action camera just couldn’t keep up with such lighting condition.We ended our tour here at Seven Commandos Beach. We just chilled out by the shore until it was time to go back to the town proper.If you want to see El Nido with lesser number of tourists, I advise you to visit it during rainy season. Besides, it won’t be raining everyday anyway. The monsoon break of one to two weeks would give you sunny days. Just monitor the weather first because typhoons would surely enhance the southwest monsoon in Palawan which in turn will bring heavy rains. 📍Taraw CliffHiking this cliff overlooking El Nido Bay was the best way to jump-start my Day Three in this paradise municipality.My guide and I headed to a residential area which serves as Taraw Cliff’s trailhead. And off we went on an exhilarating climb of a lifetime.Fortunately, I was already a seasoned mountaineer when I scaled Taraw. It would be a hell of a lot challenging had I tried climbing this cliff without any prior mountaineering experience.The summit offers the best spots for daredevil shots just like this one. But please be extra mindful of your handholds and footholds. If you accidentally fall, the sharp edges of this karst formation will make sure to grind the meat out of you.The trail of Taraw Cliff is not your typical walk-in-the-park type of trail. It is rock climbing all the way to the top. My first Taraw climb was one without any safety gears, yet it’s a perfect break from beachineering in El Nido for an adrenaline junkie like me.I always have a thing for peaks in which you would need to scramble to get to the summit. It may be a draining climb when I first braved Taraw Cliff but it was exceptionally fun. I had minor bruises but upon seeing the epic and breathtaking view of El Nido Bay at the top, I could say that the difficult climb was all worth it.I was back at my accommodation before 9:00 AM. Together with other joiners, we boarded the tour agency’s van at 10:00 AM and left for the inland tour. There was not much to see at Makinit Hot Spring and Nagkalit-kalit Falls was dry so we decided to skip them and spent the majority of our time at this beach of Nacpan.This hill is a nice vantage point overlooking the twin beaches of Nacpan and Calitang. The trek to get here is relatively quick and easy.We had lunch at a small cottage by the shore while enjoying the view. Taking a dip crossed my mind but I gave it a pass because the sun was too harsh at noon.If there’s one place near the town proper of El Nido that I love the most, that would be this beach called Marimegmeg.Also known as Las Cabanas Beach, Marimegmeg is the perfect place to chill out as there are stores by the shore where you can buy refreshments. There is no entrance fee and you can also wait for sundown to see the magnificent sunset of the West Philippine Sea.We ended our inland tour here at Marimegmeg Beach. As the sun was about to set, I took a dip together with my newfound friends. Traveling alone wasn’t so bad after all. I actually enjoyed it, to be honest.
⏰⏳ SAMPLE ITINERARY:
DAY 1
10:00 AM ETA Puerto Princesa Airport
12:00 AM ETD for El Nido
5:00 PM ETA El Nido / check-in
DAY 2
4:00 AM Wake-up call / breakfast
5:00 AM Commence trek to Taraw Cliff
6:30 AM ETA Summit
7:30 AM Start descent
8:30 AM ETD for island hopping
9:00 AM Tour A
4:00 PM ETA El Nido town proper
6:00 PM Dinner
DAY 3
7:00 AM Wake-up call / breakfast
9:00 AM Tour B
4:00 PM ETA El Nido town proper
6:00 PM Dinner
DAY 4
7:00 AM Wake-up call / breakfast
9:00 AM Tour C
4:00 PM ETA El Nido town proper
6:00 PM Dinner
DAY 5
7:00 AM Wake-up call / breakfast
9:00 AM Tour D
4:00 PM ETA El Nido town proper
6:00 PM Dinner
DAY 6
7:00 AM Wake-up call / breakfast
8:00 AM ETD for Nacpan and Calitang Twin Beaches, Makinit Hot Spring and Nagkalit-kalit Falls
3:00 PM ETD for Marimegmeg Beach/Las Cabanas Beach
6:00 PM ETA El Nido town proper
7:00 PM Dinner
DAY 7
5:00 AM Check-out
6:00 AM ETD for Puerto Princesa Airport
1:00 PM ETA Puerto Princesa Airport
💰💶 ESTIMATED BUDGET (for a solo traveler): Php 12,000 – Php 15,000 (exclusive of airfare)
***Expenses may vary depending on the type of accommodation you will avail and personal consumption of food and other necessities. If traveling alone, you will solely shoulder the guide fees and tricycle transfer rates.
After six months, my college friends and I went to Puerto Princesa for our blockmate’s wedding. We used this opportunity to go to El Nido after the wedding reception. I quickly agreed with this set-up since I was planning to complete the tours in this municipality. 📍Taraw CliffAll of my friends opted to try out the bestselling tours, A and C while I enjoyed the caves and beaches included in Tour B on our first day. 📍Entalula IslandThis island of Pinagbuyutan was the first on the list for Tour B. It may have a rocky shore but I was enticed right away by the awesome formation of the coconut trees which was perfect for my photos.Because Tours A and C are the popular island hopping tours usually availed by visitors in El Nido, you will notice that the islands included in Tour B are not that crowded. 📍Pinagbuyutan IslandWe passed by Cathedral Cave before heading here at Cudugnon Cave. Too bad I didn’t have my tripod and my mirrorless camera with me so I was not able to get a sharper shot of this cave. I only used my old-school phone inside a waterproof pouch.Before ending Tour B here at Entalula Island, we stopped by a long sandbar called Snake Island. The light drizzle ruined our photo opportunity so we just enjoyed swimming in its calm waters.Entalula Island has one of the finest and creamiest sand among the beaches I have ever seen. Whenever the waves would mix with the sand of this island’s shoreline, the water would look like vanilla ice cream. Imagine muddy water but the mud has the color of milk.This portion of Entalula Beach is the only part which is open to the public as the other side of its coastline is owned by a private resort.
📜✏️ Tips/Reminders:
📌There are lots of travel agencies offering public tour and accommodation packages in El Nido (tour packages also include van services from Puerto Princesa City Airport and vice versa).
📌The island hopping fee for public tours of travel agencies is already inclusive of lunch.
📌Make sure that you book your accommodation in advance since most hotels/inns are fully booked especially during peak season.
📌Expect rain and rough sea condition during monsoon season (June-February).
📌Always observe the LNT principles.
☎️ Contacts:
📌Van/SUV for hire: Kuya Edward Tuvilla (09271612401 / 09213831037)
📌Tricycle Driver in El Nido town proper (my bad, I wasn’t able to get his name; I hired him to take me to Marimegmeg Beach; you can also hire him if you want to visit Nacpan Beach): 09093914360
For the second time, I didn’t miss out on hiking one of my favorite spots in El Nido. After an accident that has left one of the local tour guides in a comatose state when he fell to save one tourist, the tourism office was much stricter in letting the visitors climb this peak. Even news about the closure of Taraw had been circulating during the time of our visit so I had to coordinate with one of the official hiking guides in the town. Together with our guide and my college buddy who is also a mountaineer, we put on our safety gears as we scaled this ragged karst formation that morning.If you leave for your Taraw Cliff climb at 5:00 in the morning, you will still have ample time to prepare before your island hopping tour as it usually starts at 9:00 AM.In case you are afraid of heights and you think you might not be able to pull off this climbing feat, you may opt to try out the Canopy Walk which is a safer alternative. But if you have mountaineering experience, you shouldn’t really miss out on hiking Taraw Cliff all the way to the top.We went back to our hotel elated from our Taraw Cliff adventure and were just right in time for breakfast. I planned on getting Tour D that day but unfortunately, it was no longer offered by travel operators because most of the visitors especially foreigners just kayak to get to Cadlao Island. I wasn’t in the mood to kayak alone so I had no choice but to improvise. I headed to the fishing community a few minutes away from the town proper and asked some fishermen if I could hire them to take me to the islands included in Tour D. After some price negotiations, one of them agreed. My boatman is actually a licensed boat captain of one of the travel agencies that offer island hopping packages but since his boat was being refurbished, he was on break. 📍Cadlao LagoonEvery time I’d be looking at this photo, I could never contest why this province has always been crowned as one of the best islands in the world. 📍Cadlao LagoonAfter exploring the serene waters inside Cadlao Island, we continued our journey here at Paraside Beach.It was a blessing that my boatman knows the islands where he’s supposed to take me. However, I was toasted by the scorching sun because the boat did not have any roof. It was just a small fishing boat good for a maximum of five passengers so there was no life vest provided. My paranoia was somehow kicking in. What if something happened to my boatman? How the hell was I supposed to go home? What if we capsized? I may be a swimmer but the southwest monsoon swell in the West Philippine Sea that day proved to be ginormous so swimming against rough waves to get to safety would be extremely exhausting. 📍Paradise BeachWe sailed along the other side of Cadlao Island facing the West Philippine Sea and boy did I feel so nervous as we battled the huge swell. I was finally relieved when we reached the portion of the island facing El Nido Bay as it was now calmer. We went straight to this beach called Bukal Island where we spent the rest of our time before going back to the town proper.I was able to finish the tour in four hours because my photo sessions were quick considering I was alone. We didn’t come across anyone in any of the islands we visited. It was an unforgettable experience. Thank the gods we were able to get back to the town center all in one piece amidst the rough seas. 📍Bukal IslandTo wrap up my El Nido trip, I revisited my go-to beach near the town center. My college friends were still on their way back to the town proper from their island hopping tour and since I finished Tour D early, I went straight here at Marimegmeg Beach and relaxed by its shoreline, listening to the soft waves as the sun was about to set while drinking coconut juice. Savoring the tropical island life is one of the best feelings in the world indeed.A lot of my friends have been asking me which of the two mainstream tourist destinations in Palawan is better, Coron or El Nido? For me, it’s actually hard to compare. Each of them is beautiful in its own right. If you’re into snorkeling, seeing shipwrecks and diving, go to Coron. If you wanna see magnificent and surreal lagoons and hidden beaches, consider visiting El Nido. But if there’s one thing that I am sure of, it’s that both of them are undeniably world-class.
***For other destinations in Palawan and MIMAROPA, you may visit this link.
