In northern Palawan, El Nido unfurls Bacuit Bay, its karst cliffs and hidden lagoons. Island hopping, dream beaches and one of Asia's finest marine settings. Here's how to enjoy it in 3 or 4 days.
El Nido at a glance
Region
North Palawan
Airport
Lio (ENI) ยท PPS
Ideal stay
3 to 4 days
Budget / day
โฌ35-150
Access
Flight + van 5-6h
Time diff
+6h / +7h
Current climate
Best season
In brief
One of Asia's finest marine settings
Bacuit Bay lines up karst cliffs, turquoise lagoons and white-sand beaches. A Philippines must.
Island hopping is the whole point
Four boat tours (A, B, C, D) explore hidden lagoons, secret beaches and snorkeling spots.
Plan the access
Count on a flight to Lio airport (ENI) or a 5-6h van from Puerto Princesa (PPS). Book ahead in high season.
Come in the dry season
From November to May, the sea is calm and boat trips guaranteed. June-October rains sometimes cancel the tours.
Beyond the boat tours
Nacpan Beach for golden sand, Las Cabanas for sunset, Taraw Cliff for the view. Pair them with the lagoons.
Must-see
The great classic: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon and Shimizu Island.
Emerald waters ringed by cliffs. Explore by kayak for the silence.
Hidden lagoon reached through a narrow gap in the rock. Magical by kayak.
Secret Beach, Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine. The most spectacular of the tours.
Four kilometers of golden sand north of the village. Far calmer than the lagoons.
The sunset beach, 10 min from the center. Zipline over the sea.
Via ferrata climb for a sweeping view over Bacuit Bay. Athletic.
Turtles, clownfish and colorful coral around the islets. Mask provided on tours.
Cadlao Lagoon and quiet beaches. The least crowded circuit.
Snake Island, caves and secluded beaches. Great to complete Tours A and C.
Choose your district
In the thick of it: restaurants, boat departures, bars. Noisy but convenient. From โฌ20/night.
โ Recommended
Just south, quieter, facing the sunsets. 10 min by tricycle. From โฌ30/night.
Quiet
Near the airport, upscale resorts and a manicured beach. From โฌ110/night.
Premium
To the north, to escape the crowds on a long, empty beach. From โฌ35/night.
Nature
Getting around
Tricycle
The king of transport in town and to the beaches. Fixed fares or negotiable for long trips.
Boat (bangka)
The traditional outrigger for island hopping. Booked through agencies or directly on the beach.
Van from Puerto Princesa
The main overland link (5-6h). Book the day before, regular departures.
Rental scooter
Handy for Nacpan and the far beaches. Roads are decent but sometimes under repair.
Climate & crowds
01
Jan
02
Feb
03
Mar
04
Apr
05
May
06
Jun
07
Jul
08
Aug
09
Sep
10
Oct
11
Nov
12
Dec
Dry season
Nov to May ยท 27-32ยฐC, calm sea ยท Ideal, boat trips guaranteed
Transition
June ยท Occasional showers ยท Fair, still many clear days
Monsoon
July to Oct ยท Rain, rough sea ยท Avoid, tours sometimes cancelled
How much
Backpacker
โฌ35
per day
Comfort
โฌ90
per day
Premium
โฌ230
per day
Our tested itinerary
Day-by-day program.
Around
3-4h ferry ยท Wrecks and lakes
3h van ยท Quiet seaside village
๐ 1h15 flight ยท Capital & hub
FAQ
Marie Laurent โ
ยทSoutheast Asia specialist
Last updated: June 6, 2026.