El Nido Travel Guide: Lagoons, Tours & 5-Day Trip
Tour A and Tour C island hopping, Nacpan Beach, Las Cabanas sunsets, where to stay, and how to pace five days in El Nido.
The mistake most first-time visitors make in El Nido is treating it like a checklist: Tour A one morning, Tour C the next, Nacpan crammed into an afternoon, a quick sunset at Las Cabañas, and done. The lagoons are worth slowing down for. Give each boat day its own day, leave Nacpan as a proper beach morning, and don't schedule anything after Las Cabañas. El Nido is part of Palawan; most people pair it with Coron or Port Barton on a longer trip. See the El Nido vs Coron comparison to decide between the two.
How to Get to El Nido
El Nido has two airports and a ferry from Coron. None fast, but which one makes sense depends on your budget and how much travel time you're willing to burn. For a detailed transport guide, see How to Get to El Nido.
Lio Airport (ENI), fast, premium, from Clark and Cebu
The small airport just north of El Nido town. Cebgo (formerly AirSWIFT) is the main operator, with direct flights from Clark, Cebu, Caticlan, and Panglao/Bohol. Since the March 2026 NAIA turboprop ban, there are no longer direct flights from Manila.
- From Clark or Cebu: Around 75 minutes in the air on Cebgo. Fares are typically 2 to 3 times the Puerto Princesa equivalent.
- Airport to town: 15 to 25 minutes by shuttle or tricycle. Most resorts arrange a pickup.
- Trade-off: Saves a full day on each end of the trip. Worth it on a short trip or if the extra cost is easier to stomach than the extra travel.
Puerto Princesa (PPS), cheaper, more flexible, longer
The main Palawan airport. Multiple airlines, the most schedules, and the lowest fares.
- From Manila: Around 90 minutes. Cebu Pacific, PAL, and AirAsia all run direct.
- From Cebu: Around 75 minutes. Less frequent.
- Airport to El Nido: A 5 to 6 hour shared van north. Companies like Cherry, Eulen Joy, and Daytripper run from terminals around the city. Fares are PHP 600 to 900 one way. Book a day ahead.
- The catch: It's a full travel day. Don't plan to fly in and do anything else on day one.
Ferry from Coron
The fast ferry is the standard connection if you're coming from the north of Palawan.
- Crossing time: 3.5 to 4 hours in good conditions.
- Fare: Around PHP 1,800 to 2,500 one way.
- Seasonal warning: June to September crossings can be rough or get cancelled. Leave a buffer day when you arrive. Don't book a tight onward flight the same day.
Getting Around El Nido
- In El Nido town: Walkable. Tricycles for Corong-Corong, Las Cabañas, the airport, and longer hops.
- To Nacpan, Duli, or the northern beaches: Tricycle round-trip with wait time, or rent a scooter (PHP 400 to 700 a day) if you're comfortable on dirt roads.
- Tours: Joiner boats handle their own transfers. They meet on the town beach and you walk straight on.
- Onward to Coron: Fast ferry from the main town port; book a day or two ahead in peak season.
Where to Stay in El Nido: Town, Corong-Corong, or the Northern Beaches?
El Nido is small but where you sleep shapes the trip. Town is the convenience call, Corong-Corong is the sunset call, the northern beaches are for a trip that's more about the sand than the schedule. For a first visit, town or Corong-Corong covers most people.
El Nido Town
The walkable centre of the trip. Tour boats leave from the town beach, the restaurants and bars are within a 10-minute walk of each other, and you can sort tour bookings, ATMs, and SIM top-ups in one afternoon. The town beach itself isn't the swim beach (that's Nacpan or Las Cabañas) but the location is the point.
Typical spend
PHP 2,200 to 6,500 per day
- Walk to most tour operators and morning boat pickups
- Widest range of food, bars, and accommodation in the area
- Best base for short trips where every hour counts
- Town beach is for boats and views, not swimming
Corong-Corong
A 5-minute tricycle ride south of town and a much calmer evening. Corong-Corong runs along the same Bacuit Bay coast as Las Cabañas, which means the sunset is right outside your door. Quieter at night, fewer tour operators, slightly higher mid-range rates. You'll still ride into town for boat pickups and most dinners.
Typical spend
PHP 2,400 to 7,500 per day
- Sunset right outside the room, no commute to Las Cabañas
- Quieter than town after dark
- Tricycle to town is 5 minutes and cheap
- Better for couples than for first-timer logistics
Nacpan & Duli (Northern Beaches)
A different kind of trip. Eco-stays and small beachfront resorts along the long, empty sand of Nacpan and Duli, 45 minutes to an hour north of town. Good if the beach matters more than having everything to hand. Riding back and forth for tours every day gets old fast. Better as a 2-night add-on after a few days in town.
Typical spend
PHP 1,800 to 6,000 per day
- 4 km of empty sand and almost no crowd
- Duli has the best beginner surf in the El Nido area
- Far from town: tours and food are limited
- Bring everything you'll need before heading north
Lio Estate
A planned beachfront estate next to Lio Airport, run by Ayala Land. Polished resorts, a short white-sand beach, restaurants and cafes within the estate, and almost no town noise. Best if you flew AirSwift, want everything sorted on arrival, and aren't that bothered about the town scene in the evenings. The estate runs a shuttle into El Nido town.
Typical spend
PHP 4,500 to 12,000 per day
- Walking distance from Lio Airport
- Quiet, polished, resort-leaning stays
- Less character than the town or Corong-Corong
- Tricycle or shuttle into town for tours and dinner
Best Things to Do in El Nido on a First Trip
The list is shorter than people expect. Two big boat days, one slow beach day, one sunset, and one wildcard. That's a full first trip. Fitting a third boat day into the middle usually kills the pace. At some point it stops being El Nido and starts being a schedule.
Do Tour A First, Then Tour C
Tour A is the postcard tour: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, 7 Commando Beach. It's the most popular for a reason and the one to do if you only have time for one boat day. Tour C is the obvious second day: Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Helicopter Island. Save Tour B and D for a longer trip. Shared boats are PHP 1,200 to 1,800; private boats PHP 8,000 to 15,000 are worth it for groups of four or more.
Note: Plus the El Nido Environmental Tax (ETDF) of around PHP 200, valid for 10 days.
Get to Big Lagoon Early
The inner section of Big Lagoon is kayak-only, and the queue for kayaks builds fast once the late-morning boats arrive. Book a tour that promises an early Big Lagoon stop, or pay for a private boat that can flip the standard route. Calm water in the morning is also when the colour is at its best.
Sunset at Las Cabañas
Las Cabañas Beach in Corong-Corong is the standard El Nido sunset: the sun drops behind Cadlao Island and the beach bars come on. Arrive 30 minutes before sunset to grab a spot. There's a zipline overhead if you want the novelty. Tricycle from town is 5 minutes; from Corong-Corong stays you can walk.
Note: Republica Beach Bar is the busiest spot; quieter places sit further north along the same beach.
Spend a Slow Day at Nacpan Beach
Nacpan is a 4 km stretch of golden sand 45 minutes north of town by tricycle. Round-trip tricycle is PHP 1,500 to 2,000. Agree on the wait time before you leave. The Twin Beach viewpoint at the south end is a 15-minute hike and worth the sweat. It's the photo most people take when they say El Nido. Bring cash for the entrance fee, beachfront food, and a beer if you stay for sunset.
Try a Beginner Surf at Duli Beach
Duli Beach, 20 minutes further north of Nacpan, has the most consistent beginner waves in the El Nido area. Surf shacks rent boards for PHP 300 to 500 per session and run group lessons for PHP 1,000 to 1,500. The break is small, the crowd is small, and the road in is rough enough that day-trippers usually skip it. Worth a half-day on a longer trip.
Note: Best surf season is June to October. Overlaps with rainy season but the rain is short.
Kayak Bacuit Bay on Your Own
If the joiner tours start to feel like a conveyor belt, rent a kayak from Corong-Corong or town beach (around PHP 500 to 800 a day) and paddle out into Bacuit Bay on a calm morning. Cadlao Island, Paradise Beach, and several smaller coves are all within an hour's paddle. No schedule, no stops you didn't want, no other boats at lunch. Just check the wind forecast before you leave.
Hike Taraw Cliff or Canopy Walk
Taraw Peak rises straight behind El Nido town and gives the best bay view in the area. Two options: the full Taraw Cliff climb (steep, sharp limestone, gloves required, around 1.5 to 2 hours up, only with a licensed guide for around PHP 600 to 800) or the easier Canopy Walk on a fixed-route via ferrata for around PHP 800 to 1,200. The Canopy Walk is the right pick unless you specifically want a scramble.
Add a Waterfall or Inland Day
On a 5+ day trip, an inland day breaks up the boat schedule. Nagkalit-kalit Falls is the most accessible: a short jungle walk and a swimming pool under the falls. Other options include Bulalacao Falls and the more remote Makinit Hot Springs. None are spectacular on their own, but they pair well with a slow lunch in a barangay and a half day off the water.
El Nido Island-Hopping Tours (A, B, C, and D)
El Nido's tours are standardized: every operator runs the same four routes, with the same stops at similar prices. The boats and the lunch quality vary; the itineraries don't. For a detailed stop-by-stop breakdown of all four tours side by side, see the full El Nido tour comparison guide.
Tour A, the first-timer tour (most popular)
- Big Lagoon: The iconic emerald-green lagoon with sheer limestone walls. Kayak-only entry for the inner section.
- Small Lagoon: Reached through a narrow gap in the rock. Swim in or take a kayak.
- Secret Lagoon: A small pool behind a low limestone opening you swim through.
- Shimizu Island: Snorkel stop with reef and fish.
- 7 Commando Beach: Lunch stop, white sand, basic facilities.
The one to do if you only have time for one. Around PHP 1,200 to 1,500 shared.
Tour C, the second-most popular (often called the most scenic)
- Hidden Beach: Reached through a small gap in the cliff. Goes on tide.
- Secret Beach: Swim through a low arch into a hidden cove. Touristy but distinctive.
- Matinloc Shrine: Abandoned mid-century shrine with a viewpoint over the bay.
- Helicopter Island: Snorkel stop and beach lunch.
- Star Beach: Quick swim stop.
Around PHP 1,400 to 1,800 shared. The obvious follow-up after Tour A: different coastline, different feel.
Tour B, the quieter alternative
- Snake Island sandbar (walkable at low tide), Pinagbuyutan Island, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave, Pangulasian Island reefs. Less iconic than A or C; worth it on a longer trip if you want the islands less crowded.
Tour D, the skip-on-short-trips one
- Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Natnat Beach, Bukal Beach. Closer to town, more snorkel-focused. Best as a third tour if you have the time.
Tao Philippines: Multi-Day Boat Expedition
A different category altogether. Tao runs 4-night boat trips between El Nido and Coron (or reverse), camping on remote beaches across the Linapacan Strait and stopping at uninhabited islands along the way. Small groups, no generators, no Wi-Fi, no other boats at the same campsites. Around PHP 25,000 to 30,000 per person all-in. Departures run roughly twice a week in season and book out months ahead. Not a casual add-on (it needs its own trip or a clear block of time at the end of one) but nothing else in this part of Palawan comes close for remoteness.
Tips for Booking
- Book the day before through your hotel or a beach-front booth. Walk-ups are fine most of the year; book two days ahead in December peak.
- The El Nido Environmental Tax (ETDF) is around PHP 200, valid for 10 days. Your operator will arrange it.
- Private boat for any tour: PHP 8,000 to 15,000. Worth it with a group of four or more.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag, water shoes, and a towel. Boats provide lunch and water; bring your own drink if you want anything else.
- Snorkel gear is included but tends to be basic. Bring your own mask if visibility matters to you.
Where to Eat in El Nido
El Nido has a better food scene than most island destinations its size. It's been on the map long enough that proper restaurants have taken root alongside the guesthouses. Just don't eat beachfront every night.
- Trattoria Altrove: Wood-fired pizza, busy from sunset onward. Worth the wait when it's full.
- Artcafé: Long-running cafe and restaurant in town. All-day menu, breakfast through dinner, reliable.
- Happiness Beach Bar: Mediterranean-leaning menu, hummus and pita, a long-time favourite.
- Republica Sunset Bar: Sunset cocktails over Corong-Corong beach. The view is the meal.
- Angel Wishes: Filipino classics, cheap and generous. The local-priced option in town.
- Carinderias along Calle Real: PHP 100 to 150 a plate. Eat here for at least half your meals and the food bill drops fast.
- Las Cabañas beachfront grills: A few sit right on the sand. Pick one for a single beachfront sunset dinner rather than every night.
Evenings and Nightlife in El Nido
El Nido isn't a party town, but it isn't dead either. Most evenings settle into the same rhythm: sunset somewhere on the western coast, dinner in town, a couple of drinks, an earlier bed than expected because most people have a 7am boat.
The town has a handful of low-key bars along Hama Street and Sirena Street (Pukka Bar, Tilapia, Sava) that fill up after dinner and run until 11pm or midnight. Las Cabañas Beach in Corong-Corong is where the evening crowd starts: Republica is the busiest, but smaller bars further down the same sand are quieter and just as scenic. A few places run fire shows on the beach most nights through high season.
If you want a proper late night, El Nido isn't the place. It's a town built around early boats. For that, Boracay or Cebu City does it better.
How to Spend 5 Days in El Nido
For a first El Nido trip, stay in town, keep two big boat days, give Nacpan a slower day of its own, catch one Las Cabanas sunset, and leave yourself one wildcard day.
Day 1: Arrive and Settle In
- Arrival: Fly into Lio for a 20-minute transfer, or fly into Puerto Princesa and take the 5-hour van north. Drop bags, sort the next morning's tour booking.
- Afternoon: Walk the town, get a SIM if you don't have one, pick up reef-safe sunscreen if you forgot it.
- Evening: Sunset at Las Cabañas: first time on the beach you've come for. Dinner at Trattoria Altrove or Artcafé in town. Early bed.
Day 2: Tour A
- Early Morning: 8:30 or 9am pickup from the town beach. Big Lagoon first if your operator allows it, then Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu, and lunch on 7 Commando.
- Afternoon: Back in town by 4 or 5pm. Rest, shower, easy dinner.
- Evening: A drink along Hama Street, then early bed. Don't try to add anything else after a full boat day.
Day 3: Tour C
- Early Morning: Same pickup window, different route. Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Helicopter Island, Star Beach.
- Afternoon: Back in town by mid-afternoon. Caalan Beach, a quieter stretch just north of town, is worth a slow swim if you want to stay near the water.
- Evening: Try Happiness Beach Bar or a beach-front spot in Corong-Corong for the second sunset of the trip.
Day 4: Nacpan Beach
- Morning: Tricycle out to Nacpan by 9 or 10am. Sand, swim, lunch at a beachfront kitchen. Hike the Twin Beach viewpoint at the south end for the photo.
- Afternoon: Either stay through sunset on Nacpan if you've arranged a tricycle pickup, or head back early and use the evening for Corong-Corong sunset and a slow dinner.
- Evening: Whichever you didn't do at lunch. This is the night to try a beachfront seafood grill if you've been holding off.
Day 5: Wildcard and Out
- Morning: Go with whatever the trip still needs. Tour B or Tour D if you want a third boat day. Taraw Canopy Walk if you want the view without the climb. Bacuit Bay kayak on a calm morning. Or just a slow breakfast and one last swim.
- Before Leaving: Pay off any scooter rental or outstanding tour deposits. Leave a proper buffer for transit: 30 minutes to Lio is fine, 6+ hours to PPS is the full day.
- Departure: Fly out from Lio or van back to PPS. If El Nido is part of a wider Palawan trip, ferry north to Coron, or continue onward to Cebu or Boracay.
If you have 6 or 7 days, tack Coron onto the end: fast ferry, 3 to 4 days for the lakes and wrecks, one buffer day for weather.
El Nido Travel Tips for First-Timers
- Visa: Philippines is visa-free on arrival for most nationalities. 30 days for most passports, 59 days for some. Extensions through the Bureau of Immigration in Puerto Princesa (none in El Nido itself).
- SIM card: Buy in Manila, Cebu, or at the airport on arrival. Globe and Smart both work in town; coverage is patchy on the boats and on the road north.
- Cash: ATMs in town go down on weekends. Take out PHP 10,000 to 15,000 before flying in. Most tours, tricycles, and small restaurants are cash only.
- Reef-safe sunscreen is required. Tour operators check at the boat: regular sunscreen gets confiscated or refused. Bring a bottle from home or buy in Puerto Princesa before flying in.
- Bring a dry bag. Your phone and wallet are going on a wet bangka for 6 to 8 hours, and the spray is constant. PHP 200 to 400 in town if you don't bring one.
- Water shoes help at the lagoons. Some entries are over sharp limestone. Cheap aqua shoes from any town shop work fine.
- Book Lio flights early. Cebgo (formerly AirSWIFT) is the main operator and capacity is limited; fares spike fast in peak season.
- Ferry vs flight between El Nido and Coron: The ferry is cheaper and runs daily in high season. Cebgo's direct Lio–Busuanga flight is faster and avoids seasickness, but costs more and has limited seats.
- Plan around Holy Week and Chinese New Year. Both double room rates and fill the boats. Book ahead or avoid.
- Drinking water is not from the tap. Most stays and tour operators have refill stations. Bring a 1L bottle and skip the daily plastic.
El Nido Budget Tips
- Fly into Puerto Princesa instead of Lio if budget matters more than time. The fare savings usually exceed the PHP 600 to 900 van fare.
- Book tours at a beach booth rather than your hotel: same operators, often 10 to 20% less.
- Eat at carinderias for at least half your meals. PHP 100 to 150 a plate vs PHP 500+ on the beach.
- Stay one block back from the town beach or on Calle Hama instead of beachfront. Same convenience, much lower rates.
- Share a private boat with another pair rather than a fully shared joiner if you can: same per-person cost, much more comfortable.
- Travel in shoulder months (November or May) for softer rates and decent weather.
- Use the hotel or tour boat refill stations rather than buying bottled water. Saves PHP 200 to 400 across a 5-day trip.
