El Nido, Philippines

El Nido Palawan Philippines has some of the most beautiful scenery we have ever encountered. This cluster of islands off the tip of the Palawan Island is full of dramatic rock formations and surrounded by bright blue waters.

There are a ton of things to do in El Nido so give yourself a week in El Nido if you can. The town itself has enough options for food and the basics for a week-long trip or so. Hotels range from gorgeous over the water beach huts, budget-friendly rooms, or you can even rent an entire beachfront home on Airbnb.

The easiest and fastest way to El Nido is by air. There are daily direct flights to El Nido from Manila and Cebu. Air Swift is the airline that services El Nido Palawan, flights are on a 50 seater ATR. El Nido flights land at the Lio Airport, which is a 20-minute tricycle ride from El Nido Town.

There are ferry boats from Coron to El Nido, but we didn’t take this nor would we recommend it. After you explored Coron Palawan you could get on a boat heading to El Nido, which on a map this journey makes the most sense.

Boats from Coron to El Nido are scheduled to run 4-5 times a week and take 7-10 hours. It is very common for the boat to be canceled for days, as the trip is very dependent on the weather. Seas can be really rough and not suited for those prone to even the slightest seasickness. Ferry price to El Nido averages around 1,800P.

Tropical rains during our morning boat ride

Island Hopping in El Nido is an absolute must-do in the Philippines. Take a boat tour along the stunning lagoons and paradise islands in Bacuit Bay. The protected bay hosts 45 islands that belong to the most beautiful destination in the world. There are four El Nido island hopping tours that all take you along different islands.

Island Hopping in El Nido. This one is called Helicopter Island.

El Nido is more than just a place it’s a cluster of 45 small islands on the tip of the Palawan island. There are plenty of things to do in El Nido to fill a trip itinerary for more than a week exploring all that El Nido has to offer.

The islands of El Nido are some of the most beautiful and enchanting in the entire world. Here is a list of the top activities in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines.

Here are my suggestions on what to do..

Shaped like, you guessed it, a helicopter this island looks remarkably like a giant helicopter sitting in Bacuit Bay. The island is home to a few nice beaches and is part of the El Nido Tour C day trip.

There are also many dive trips that will take you to this part of the bay. The biggest draw to the island is the shape and it’s best seen from a boat. You don’t necessarily need to stop at the island unless you just want to have some beach time, but there are so many things to do in El Nido you might not have time to lie around.

Emerald Colored Lagoons and Waterfalls

The Large Lagoon in El Nido is a magical place. The water here is a one of a kind color surrounded by tall rock formations. It’s nothing short of breathtaking. It’s paradise!

Update: Plan your time right, now you can only visit Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon during your Tour A in El Nido and the traditional Filipino boats are not allowed inside the lagoons, you must take a kayak.

El Nido town is facing to the west so every night you are blessed with an amazing sunset to finish your action-packed day in El Nido. Grab your camera and a Filipino beer and enjoy while reflecting on all the amazing things you’ve done in El Nido.

While there!...EAT A BALUT EGG and TRY THE BANANA FLOWER CURRY