El Nido Travel Guide — Island Hopping, Getting There and Best Time to Visit

El Nido is the crown jewel of Philippine island-hopping — a small town perched below dramatic limestone karst cliffs on the northern tip of Palawan, surrounded by 45 islands of extraordinary beauty. The Big Lagoon, Hidden Lagoon, Secret Beach: these are real places, and they’re better than the photographs.

El Nido Island Hopping — The Four Tours

Every visitor to El Nido does island hopping. Tours are sold as A, B, C, and D — each visiting a different cluster of islands and lagoons. Tours depart at 9am from the town beach, return around 4pm, include lunch on an island, and cost ₱1,400–₱1,800 per person. Entry fees to some sites are charged separately.

Tour A — The Classic (Most Popular)

The iconic El Nido tour. Stops include:

Big Lagoon: A large enclosed lagoon ringed by towering limestone cliffs — kayak rental available at the entrance (₱200). The scale is breathtaking.
Small Lagoon: Enter through a narrow passage between cliff faces by kayak (rental required). The enclosed space amplifies the silence. Often the most photographed spot in El Nido.
Secret Lagoon: Accessible by swimming through a small hole in the cliff at low tide. A hidden circular lagoon on the other side. Bring underwater shoes.
Shimizu Island: Excellent snorkelling over coral gardens and reef fish. Usually the lunch stop.
Seven Commandos Beach: A long white sand beach lined with coconut palms — the most “classic Philippines beach” feel of the tour.

Tour C — The Dramatic (Best Scenery)

Tour C covers the most spectacular terrain in the Bacuit Archipelago:

Secret Beach: Accessible only by swimming through a tiny gap in a cliff face — on the other side is a perfect hidden beach. The approach is the attraction.
Hidden Beach: A beach enclosed in a natural amphitheatre of limestone walls. Completely sheltered from wind and swells.
Matinloc Shrine: A dramatic cliff-top shrine with panoramic views of the surrounding islands. The hike up is steep but short.
Tapiutan Island: Spectacular limestone formations, clear water, good snorkelling.

Tour B and Tour D

Tour B covers cave systems (Cudugnon Cave and Cathedral Cave), Entalula Beach, and some of the more remote islands. Tour D covers Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, and nearby spots. Both are less crowded than A and C and worth doing if you have more than 2 days in El Nido.

Getting to El Nido

By Air

El Nido Airport (ENI) handles small aircraft from Manila (Air Swift, ~1.5 hours, ~₱5,000–₱10,000 one way). Flights are limited and book out quickly in peak season — reserve as early as possible. The airport is a 10-minute tricycle ride from town.

Via Puerto Princesa

The most common route: fly to Puerto Princesa (PPS) from Manila (many airlines, ~1 hour, often cheaper), then take a shared van north to El Nido (5–6 hours, ₱700–₱900). The road through central Palawan is now fully sealed — the journey passes through jungle, over rivers, and through small farming towns. Budget travellers often take the van. Those with more time can hire a private vehicle (₱4,000–₱6,000) for a faster, more comfortable ride.

Ferry from Coron

Fast craft ferries connect El Nido and Coron (2GO, Montenegro, Island Hopper) — approximately 4 hours, ₱1,800–₱2,500. The journey passes through the Calamian Islands and dozens of limestone karst formations — a spectacular trip in itself. Many travellers do El Nido–Coron as a one-way route, flying into one and out of the other.

Best Time to Visit El Nido

November to May is the only reliable period for island hopping — you need calm seas for the small bangka boats to access the lagoons safely. December to February is the best weather (cool, dry, calm) but the most crowded. March and April are warm and busy — book accommodation months ahead.

May is a sweet spot: the dry season is technically ending but El Nido usually stays dry. Fewer crowds, lower prices, perfectly blue sea.

June to October — rough seas frequently cancel boat tours for days at a time. The lagoons are only accessible in flat conditions. Not recommended unless you have a flexible schedule and are happy to wait out bad weather.

Where to Stay in El Nido

El Nido town has a wide range of accommodation — from beachside bamboo guesthouses at ₱500–₱1,000/night to boutique resorts at ₱5,000–₱20,000. The town is small and walkable. Most guesthouses are on or just behind the town beach (Corong Corong Beach).

For a more exclusive experience, several island resorts operate in the Bacuit Archipelago — you sleep on the islands themselves. Lagen Island, Miniloc Island, and Pangulasian Island are owned by El Nido Resorts (the pioneer eco-resort operator in Palawan). These are significantly more expensive but put you inside the archipelago.

El Nido Beyond Island Hopping

Nacpan Beach: A 4-kilometre undeveloped white sand beach 45 minutes north of town by motorbike — far less crowded than anything accessible by boat, and consistently rated among the Philippines’ finest beaches.
Night snorkelling: Several dive shops offer guided night snorkels on the reef just off town — bioluminescence visible in some conditions.
Kayaking: Rent a kayak and paddle independently around the nearest islands (calm conditions only).
Diving: The reefs around El Nido are healthy and diverse — dive shops run sites that aren’t included on the tour boats.

Explore All of Palawan

El Nido is the northern anchor of Palawan’s tourist trail. The province also includes Coron wreck diving and Puerto Princesa Underground River. Browse Philippines beaches and dive sites across the whole archipelago in the OutdoorLifePH directory.