Enchanting El Nido

    El Nido is a magical place. Here you can find beautiful lagoons, caves that need to be explored and a very diverse variety of wildlife. From its towering marble cliffs to its white sand beaches with crystal clear waters, it is truly the Philippine’s last frontier.

1. Island Hopping in El Nido’s cliffed-backed islands

There is no point in going to El Nido if you don’t do island hopping. Motorized outrigger boats can be hired from tour providers. You can visit Miniloc Island’s Big and Small Lagoons, Entalula Island, Shimizu and 7 Commandos Beach. You can also island hop between Cadlao Island, Helicopter and Snake Island and Ipil Beach.

2. Snorkeling and Diving

El Nido is rich in marine life. From its clear, blue waters you can do snorkeling and diving and you are likely to see an array of wildlife including dugong, turtles, manta rays, occasional whale shark and beautiful corals, walls and tunnels.

3. Enjoy the music at Balay Tubay

It is a 70-year old house turned into a bar along Calle Real where paintings and handicrafts of local artists are put on display. It’s a good place to hang out especially in the evening because there is a local band that plays reggae music. You can enjoy Bob Marley songs while munching their house specialty pizza and a bottle of beer.

4. Explore the Ille Cave

A 45-min drive from the town proper, Ille Cave is frequently visited by local and foreign guests alike. Human and animal bones and potteries dated back 8,000 years ago were found in this cave. So if you want to be Indiana Jones for a day explore the cave and appreciate ancient artifacts and culture.

5. Trek to Nagkalit Falls

It is located 14 km north of El Nido town proper. The hike passes through rice field, jungle with some river crossings along the way. And after a long and tiring trek, you can dip and relax in its natural pool collected from the falls.

6. Climb Taraw Cliffs

It is composed of jagged, sharp and irregular edges. It is visited by mountaineers and those who want to see the breathtaking view of Bacuit Bay and neighboring islands from the top.

 7. Dip and Relax in Makinit Hot Spring

It is a hot pool of water about 20 km north of El Nido Poblacion. If you want to go here, you need a 10-15 min walk along the rice fields and few minutes more on the stream leading to the hot spring.  After which you dip into the water and relax your tired muscles.

8. Shop souvenirs in El Nido Boutique and Art Café

Before you leave the town you may want to take a piece of El Nido with you. There are souvenirs shops offering shirts, handicrafts and other local products.