By air
Lio Airport, El Nido (ENI), ~7 km; or Puerto Princesa (PPS), ~5 h by road
Southeast Asia · Philippines
El Nido, Philippines
Limestone lagoons and hidden beaches
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to May — dry season
Don't miss
The Big Lagoon
The Small Lagoon
The Secret Lagoon
Nacpan Beach
Things to do
Island-hopping tours
Kayaking the Big Lagoon
Sunset at Las Cabañas
Where to eat
What to pack
Swimwear, a dry bag, water shoes
A quieter corner
Duli Beach, a quiet surf beach north of town
Questions travellers ask
When is El Nido's dry season?
December to May. Pack swimwear, a dry bag and water shoes.
Which airport should I use for El Nido?
Lio Airport, El Nido (ENI) is about 7 km away. Or fly into Puerto Princesa (PPS) and travel about 5 hours by road.
Which lagoons are worth seeing in El Nido?
The Big Lagoon, the Small Lagoon and the Secret Lagoon. Kayak the Big Lagoon if you can, and save an evening for sunset at Las Cabañas.
Is there a quieter beach near El Nido?
Duli Beach, a quiet surf beach north of town. Back in town, finish with grilled seafood and halo-halo.
About El Nido
- Island
- Coastal
Where it is
El Nido is a municipality at the northern tip of Palawan, the long island province in the west of the Philippines, facing Bacuit Bay and its scatter of limestone islands.
History
The area was once known as Bacuit, and fishing and the gathering of edible swiftlet nests from the limestone cliffs were long its livelihoods before it was renamed El Nido in the mid-20th century. Its beaches and islands have since made it one of the Philippines' best-known destinations, and much of the bay and its islands is now a protected area.
People
El Nido's people come from across the Philippines, and Cuyonon, Tagalog and English are all spoken in town. Many fishing families now also run the outrigger bangka boats that take visitors around the bay.
Known for
- Island-hopping in Bacuit Bay
- The Big and Small lagoons
- Limestone cliffs and karst islands
- Nacpan Beach
- Sunset at Las Cabañas
Did you know?
El Nido, Spanish for the nest, is named after the edible nests of swiftlets on its limestone cliffs, prized in Chinese cooking for bird's nest soup.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.