Town
First-timersHostels, restaurants and tour agencies by the bay.
El Nido town guide
Things To Do In El Nido
Limestone cliffs rising from turquoise water, hidden lagoons you kayak into, and island-hopping tours that are among the most beautiful day trips in Asia.
38
Hostels in the city
8.3
Average, from 10,811 reviews
A–D
Island-hopping tours
5–6 h
From Puerto Princesa
4 h
Boat to Coron
The lagoons of Bacuit Bay
El Nido is a town at the northern tip of Palawan, facing Bacuit Bay, where dozens of limestone islands rise straight out of the sea. Hidden among them are lagoons, secret beaches and coral reefs.
Island-hopping tours, labelled A to D, are the main event, and the town has grown fast to serve them.
Most travellers fly into Puerto Princesa and stop at the Underground River on the way north. Three or four days is right.
Where to stay
El Nido town, by the bay, has most of the hostels, restaurants and tour agencies, all walkable. Corong-Corong, just south, is quieter with sunset views. Nacpan, about 45 minutes north, has beach huts on a long empty beach, far from town.
Corong-Corong
SunsetsQuieter, just south of town.
Nacpan
BeachHuts on a long empty beach, 45 minutes north.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in El Nido
El Nido's island-hopping tours, labelled A to D, are the reason to come. Tour A covers the Big and Small Lagoons, which you kayak into between limestone cliffs, and the Secret Lagoon; Tour C visits Hidden Beach, Secret Beach and Matinloc Shrine; tours B and D cover caves and quieter beaches. Lagoon kayaking has daily limits, so book early; private boats cost more but avoid the crowds.
Nacpan Beach, a long golden beach north of town, is the best on the mainland and much emptier. Las Cabañas, south of town, is the sunset spot, with a zipline to an island. Taraw Cliff, above town, is a hard guided climb over sharp limestone to the best view in El Nido.
On the way from Puerto Princesa, the Puerto Princesa Underground River, a UNESCO-listed river flowing through a cave for over eight kilometres, can be visited with a permit booked in advance.
Free things
Free things to do in El Nido
Nacpan Beach and Las Cabañas Beach are free, apart from small entry fees in some places, and sunsets from Corong-Corong and Las Cabañas cost nothing.
The town beach and the view of the bay from the waterfront are free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in El Nido
El Nido's restaurants are mostly aimed at travellers, with seafood, pizza and Filipino dishes, pricier than elsewhere in the Philippines. Island-hopping tours include a lunch of grilled fish, pork and fruit on a beach.
Cheaper canteens are in the streets behind the waterfront.
A meal is €3 to €10.
Nightlife
Going out in El Nido
El Nido town has bars along the waterfront and in the main streets, with live music and happy hours, and a few beach bars. It is sociable but not wild.
A beer is €1.50 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around El Nido
Vans from Puerto Princesa take about five to six hours. Flights from Manila land at El Nido's small airport but are expensive.
Boats run to Coron, about four hours, in good weather.
An eco-tourism development fee is charged once, valid for several days. Tricycles get around town and to Nacpan and Las Cabañas.
Costs
What El Nido costs
El Nido is mid-priced. Dorms start around €10 and a careful day is €25 to €40, plus tours.
Shared island-hopping tours are about €20 to €30 each including lunch, plus the eco-tourism fee. A tricycle to Nacpan is around €15 to €20 return.
The currency is the Philippine peso (PHP); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 65 pesos to the euro. ATMs are limited and often run out; bring enough cash.
Safety
Staying safe in El Nido
El Nido is safe. Wear reef shoes on tours; the coral and limestone are sharp. Taraw Cliff is only for guided, fit climbers.
Boat trips are cancelled in rough weather; take the weather seriously.
Typhoons hit roughly from June to November and can cancel flights and ferries for days; build slack into island plans.
Emergency number is 911.
Day trips from El Nido
Lagoons, a long empty beach, the underground river and Coron.
Island hopping
Lagoons, beaches and snorkelling on tours A to D.
Underground River
A UNESCO river through a cave; permits needed.
Coron
Wrecks and lakes.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The dry season is the season.
15 Jul – 26 Dec
Organica
DJ sets pulse through The Treehouse Beach Club as neon lights wash over a crowd that moves together without pretense. Drinks flow, the music…
15 Aug – 26 Dec
Saturday Beach Party
Every Saturday, the sand at Mad Monkey Nacpan Beach fills with travelers, locals, and DJs for a party that runs right into the night.…
18 Jul – 26 Dec
Saturday Soul SessionAcoustic Saturday Sunset Jam with Jam Sessions
Acoustic Saturday Sunset Jam is a weekly live music event held at Taraw Rooftop Bar in El Nido. Guests can enjoy acoustic performances by…
17 Aug – 28 Dec
Monday Mad Quiz
A weekly trivia night at Mad Monkey Nacpan Beach puts your random knowledge to work while you settle into island mode. The beachfront hostel…
18 Aug – 26 Dec
Filipino Night
Every Saturday, Happiness El Nido hosts Filipino Night, a themed dining event celebrating Filipino culture and cuisine. Guests can enjoy a Pinoy-style dinner featuring…
1 Oct – 29 Mar
Monkey Game
Inspired by Squid Game, this competition throws you into a series of strategic challenges where only the sharpest players make it through. Gather your…
6 Oct – 3 Apr
It's Chewsday, Innit?!
A weekly game night with a British twist brings backpackers together at Mad Monkey Nacpan Beach. Show up at the bar at 8:30 PM…
7 Oct – 5 Mar
Bar Olympics
Two teams go head-to-head in classic bar games like beer pong and hula hoops, with a bottle of shots and serious bragging rights on…
Hostels
Where to stay in El Nido
The top-rated places to stay in El Nido right now, live from Hostelworld.
Mad Monkey Nacpan Beach
Dorms from €10 a night
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Outpost Beach Hostel
Dorms from €14 a night
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Coluradel Hostel
Dorms from €12 a night
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Frendz Hostel El Nido
Dorms from €14 a night
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Sustainable
OIA Beach Hostel - El Nido
Dorms from €6 a night
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Mama Hostel
Dorms from €4 a night
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Spin Designer Hostel
Dorms from €17 a night
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The Beach House
Dorms from €12 a night
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Maya Hostel El Nido
Dorms from €16 a night
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Kame House Backpackers
Dorms from €17 a night
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Sustainable
Frida Ka
Dorms from €6 a night
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Austrias Guest House
Dorms from €7 a night
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When to go
December to May is dry and calm.
Jan
Cool and dry
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Hot, Holy Week
May
Hot
Jun
Rains begin
Jul
Typhoon season
Aug
Typhoon season
Sep
Typhoon season
Oct
Wet
Nov
Drying
Dec
Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in pesos locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes island tours and fees.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
El Nido travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Which island-hopping tour is best?
Tour A for the lagoons, Tour C for the hidden beaches. With time, do both.
Do I need to book?
Yes, lagoon kayaking has daily limits; book tours a day or two ahead.
How do I get there?
By van from Puerto Princesa, five to six hours, or by flight from Manila.
Is there an entry fee?
An eco-tourism development fee, paid once and valid for several days.
How many days do you need?
Three or four.
When is the best time to visit?
December to May.
Can I get to Coron by boat?
Yes, about four hours, in good weather.
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