Palawan island in the Philippines was voted the best island in the world by Conde Nast Traveler in 2015, and again by Travel + Leisure in 2020, because of its outstanding natural beauty, activities, and value for travelers. Palawan is the largest province in the Philippines, and the most famous destination to visit there is El Nido, a seaside town surrounded by dozens of smaller islands in the Bacuit archipelago.
The El Nido area was once considered an uncharted, remote area of Palawan, but its popularity has exploded in recent years. It’s known for having some of the most beautiful and exotic scenery anywhere in the Philippines, with perfect white sand beaches, pristine lagoons, and limestone karst mountains. A popular way to explore these sights is with an island hopping boat tour departing from El Nido town.
Getting to El Nido is easier than ever, thanks to a local company called AirSWIFT operating several domestic flights daily from Manila, Cebu and Puerto Princesa to the boutique Lio Airport. Another popular way to get there is to fly to Puerto Princesa in central Palawan, and then take a van or bus from there to El Nido. Regional flights to El Nido take about 1 hour, while the van or bus journey takes a bit more than 6 hours (although it’s significantly cheaper). A final option is the ferry from Manila, although this takes two full days.
Airport transfers to El Nido town are relatively cheap and easy, with tricycle taxis waiting outside the arrival hall and the journey only taking about 35 minutes. The town has a population of over 40,000 people, but it continues to grow rapidly because of the influence of international tourism in the area. It’s a small enough town to get around on foot, although for longer trips there are taxis or scooter rentals available for bargain prices.
WiFi and 4G cell service have only become available recently in El Nido, and they can be spotty, although coverage is improving. The town of El Nido has a large number of restaurants, cafes, and street food stalls, with one of the main restaurant pioneers being the El Nido Boutique & Artcafe, which was established in 1995 and serves a variety of different types of Asian and Western cuisine, while also handling boat tours and flight bookings.
Hotel choices in the El Nido area are increasing quickly, with new budget and luxury hotels springing up every year. The most popular place to stay is in El Nido town itself, although the nearby Nacpan Beach and Corong Corong Beach are becoming popular alternatives. Backpackers traveling on a budget can choose from homestays, hostels, or tent camping on the beach, while luxury seekers have high end options including private island resorts (Cauayan, Miniloc, Lagen, Matinloc) or beachfront resorts situated next to El Nido town.
Palawan island has a tropical climate with hot and humid weather year round. The cooler and less rainy months are from November to May, although this time is busier with tourists. The area is also home to many species of birds and marine life, including some endemic species that are native to Palawan. Snorkeling and scuba diving are popular activities in Palawan, and underwater life is especially vibrant in Coron and the Calamian islands northeast of El Nido.
By far the biggest attraction of El Nido (and Palawan island in general) is the assortment of boat tours that visit the nearby islands and natural sights. These tours are alphabetically named and organized into different areas of the Bacuit Bay (Tour A, B, C, and D), and each tour visits different islands, beaches, caves, and lagoons in the area around El Nido. Some of the most popular sights from these tours include Shimizu Island for snorkeling, Entalula Island for its pristine beach, and Vigan Island, where you can walk across the ocean on a natural sandbar ‘bridge’ when the tide is low.
Miniloc Island, one of the smaller islands in the Bacuit Bay near El Nido, boasts a 4-star luxury resort (the Miniloc Island Resort) tucked in a cove between the mountains, as well as two shallow blue lagoons that are popular for swimming and kayaking. Located just a short distance from El Nido town proper, Miniloc is easily one of the most popular places to visit on island hopping tours, and the turquoise lagoons are considered a highlight of the whole El Nido area.
All in all, the beautiful and exotic natural scenery from these tours is helping to propel El Nido to stardom in the travel industry.
Thank you to David Leiter from The World Travel Guy for permission to share the photograph.
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