You won’t have seen El Nido if you haven’t experienced island hopping here. This place is gorgeously studded with breath-snatching limestone cliffs that cradle swirling mix of aquamarine water and gleaming talcum sand, plus jade-colored lagoons that look miles away from the ordinary.
To help you plan your El Nido tours and island hopping, here is my El Nido travel guide blog.
TRAVEL BLOG CONTENTS
- HOW TO GET TO EL NIDO
- GETTING OUT OF EL NIDO
- EL NIDO TO CORON , PALAWAN
- EL NIDO TOUR PACKAGE 2018
- WHERE TO STAY IN EL NIDO
-
- BUDGET
- Joaquinn’s Bed and Breakfast
- CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
- Dayunan El Nido Tourist Inn
- CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
- Bayog Beach Campsite
- CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
- MID-RANGE
- Rainforest Beach Hotel
- CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
- Rovic’s Tourist Hotel
- CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
- HIGH-END
- Vellago Resort
- CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
- El Nido Resorts Lagen Island
- CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
- Cauayan Island Resort
- CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
-
- EL NIDO ITINERARY (3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS)
- EL NIDO TRIP BUDGET
- EL NIDO TRAVEL TIPS
- EXTEND YOUR TRIP
HOW TO GET TO EL NIDO
Manila to Puerto Princesa to El Nido
From Manila there are daily flights to Puerto Princesa via local airlines such as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
VIA VAN
At Puerto Princesa City, you can take a multi-cab or charter a tricycle to Robinson’s Mall. There are shuttle vans available to take you to El Nido town. Van departs almost every hour from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Travel time is approximately 5 hours.
There are also some shuttle vans that depart for El Nido at Puerto Princesa Airport. You can find them near the airport arrival area.
Here’s a list of shuttle vans that travel between Puerto Princesa and El Nido.
| VAN COMPANY | FARE | CONTACT NUMBER |
| Lexus Shuttle | PHP 550 (€ 10/USD 11) to PHP 600 (€ 10/USD 12) | 0920 957 1025 |
| Eulene Joy Van | Php 550(€/10 USD 11) to Php 600 (€ 10/USD 12) | 0999- 7093- 766 |
| Day Tripper Van | Php 550(€ 10/USD 11)to Php 600(€/ USD 12) | 0918 – 2546 – 749 |
VIA BUS
At Puerto Princesa airport, exit the gate and hail a tricycle (outside of the airport). Tell the driver to drop you off at Junction 1. Fare is PHP 8 (€ 0. 14 /USD 0.16 ). At Junction 1, ride a multi-cab to San Jose Terminal, fare is PHP 13 (€ 0.23/USD 0.26).
Alternatively, you can also charter a tricycle to take you to the terminal for PHP 100 (€ 2/USD 2) – PHP 150 (€ 3/USD 3) depending on your haggling skills.
At San Jose Terminal, there are buses (Cherry or Roro Bus) bound for El Nido, travel time is approximately 6 – 7 hours . Roro bus fare is around PHP 290(€ 5/ USD 6) for non-air-conditioned bus and PHP 380 (€ 7/ USD 8) for air-conditioned bus. Cherry bus fare is Php 480(€ 8/USD 10) for aircon bus and ordinary bus is Php 385 (€ 7 /USD 8). Travel time is approximately 6 hours.
The ride ends at El Nido Integrated Bus Terminal where you can hire a tricycle to take you to downtown El Nido or wherever your hotel is.
Here’s the bus trip schedule from Puerto Princesa to El Nido
PUERTO PRINCESA TO EL NIDO CHERRY BUS TRIP SCHEDULE
| TIME | CLASS | FARE | |
| 05:00 AM | Ordinary | PHP 380 (€ 7/ USD 8) | Fix trip |
| 07:00 AM | Ordinary | PHP 380 (€ 7/ USD 8) | Fix trip |
| 09:00 AM | Air-conditioned | PHP 480 (€8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 11:00 AM | Air-conditioned | PHP 480 (€8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 01:00 PM | Air-conditioned | PHP 480 (€8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 03:00 PM | Ordinary | PHP 380 (€ 7/ USD 8) | Extra trip |
| 05:00 PM | Air-conditioned | PHP 480 (€8/USD 10) | Extra trip |
| 07:00 PM | Ordinary | PHP 380 (€ 7/ USD 8) | Extra trip |
| 09:00 PM | Air-conditioned | PHP 480 (€8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
PUERTO PRINCESA TO EL NIDO RORO BUS TRIP SCHEDULE
| TIME | CLASS | FARE | |
| 04:00 AM | Ordinary | PHP 367 (€ 7/ USD 7) | Fix trip |
| 06:00 AM | Air-conditioned | Php 483/ USD 9.75 | Fix trip |
| 08:00 AM | Ordinary | PHP 367 (€ 7/ USD 7) | Fix trip |
| 10:00 AM | Air-conditioned | PHP 483 (€ 8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 12:00 PM | Ordinary | PHP 367 (€ 7/ USD 7) | Fix trip |
| 02:00 PM | Air-conditioned | PHP 483 (€ 8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 04:00 PM | Ordinary | PHP 367 (€ 7/ USD 7) | Fix trip |
| 06:00 PM | Air-conditioned | PHP 483 (€ 8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 08:00 PM | Ordinary | PHP 367 (€ 7/ USD 7) | Fix trip |
| 10:00 PM | Air-conditioned | PHP 483 (€ 8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
GETTING OUT OF EL NIDO
EL NIDO TO PUERTO PRINCESA
From El Nido town, you can charter a tricycle to El Nido Bus Terminal.
At El Nido Bus Terminal there are vans and buses (RoRo Bus and Cherry Bus) to Puerto Princesa City.
Here’s the contact number of shuttle vans that travel between El Nido and Puerto Princesa.
| VAN COMPANY | FARE | CONTACT NUMBER |
| Lexus Shuttle | Php 550 (€ 10/ USD 11) – Php 600 (€ 10/USD 12) | 0917- 5859 – 612 |
| Eula Joy Van | Php 550 (€ 10/ USD 11) – Php 600 (€ 10/USD 12) | 0999- 7093- 766 |
| Day Tripper Van | Php 550 (€ 10/ USD 11) – Php 600 (€ 10/USD 12) | 0918 – 2546 – 749 |
Here’s the bus trip schedule from El Nido to Puerto Princesa
EL NIDO TO PUERTO PRINCESA CHERRY BUS TRIP SCHEDULE
| TIME | CLASS | FARE | |
| 05:00 AM | Ordinary | PHP 380 (€ 7/ USD 8) | Fix trip |
| 07:00 AM | Ordinary | PHP 380 (€ 7/ USD 8) | Fix trip |
| 09:00 AM | Air-conditioned | PHP 480 (€ 8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 11:00 AM | Air-conditioned | PHP 480 (€ 8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 01:00 PM | Air-conditioned | PHP 480 (€ 8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 03:00 PM | Ordinary | PHP 380 (€ 7/ USD 8) | Extra trip |
| 05:00 PM | Air-conditioned | PHP 480 (€ 8/USD 10) | Extra trip |
| 07:00 PM | Ordinary | PHP 380 (€ 7/ USD 8) | Extra trip |
| 09:00 PM | Air-conditioned | PHP 480 (€ 8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
EL NIDO TO PUERTO PRINCESA RORO BUS SCHEDULE
| TIME | CLASS | FARE | |
| 04:00 AM | Ordinary | PHP 367 (€6/ USD 7) | Fix trip |
| 06:00 AM | Air-conditioned | PHP 483 (€8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 08:00 AM | Ordinary | PHP 367 (€6/ USD 7) | Fix trip |
| 10:00 AM | Air-conditioned | PHP 483 (€8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 12:00 PM | Ordinary | PHP 367 (€6/ USD 7) | Fix trip |
| 02:00 PM | Air-conditioned | PHP 483 (€8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 04:00 PM | Ordinary | PHP 367 (€/ USD 7) | Fix trip |
| 06:00 PM | Air-conditioned | PHP 483 (€8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
| 08:00 PM | Ordinary | PHP 367 (€66/ USD 7) | Fix trip |
| 10:00 PM | Air-conditioned | PHP 483 (€8/USD 10) | Fix trip |
EL NIDO TO CORON , PALAWAN
Montenegro Lines started offering ferry service between Coron and El Nido since last year. Travel time is about 3.5 hours and fare is about PHP 1,760 (USD 35/€31/SGD 48).
Here’s the ferry/boat/fastcraft schedule between Coron and El Nido, Palawan
| FARE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL |
| Adult (Regular fare) – PHP 1,760 (USD 35/€31/SGD 48)
Student (with valid ID) – PHP 1,496 (USD 30/€26/SGD 41)
Senior Citizen (with SC ID) – PHP 1,257 (USD 22/€25/SGD 35) |
El Nido – 6:00 AM | Coron – 9:30 AM |
| Adult (Regular fare) – PHP 1,760 (USD 35/€31/SGD 48)
Student (with valid ID) – PHP 1,496 (USD 30/€26/SGD 41)
Senior Citizen (with SC ID) – PHP 1,257 (USD 22/€25/SGD 35) |
Coron – 12:00 PM | El Nido – 3:30 PM |
Montenegero Lines
Phone #: (043) 740 2881 / 0917 496 2009 / 0917 650 6468/ 0998 85 1428 / 0908 571 3984
Email: operations.msli@gmail.com
EL NIDO TOUR PACKAGE 2018
Island hopping in El Nido is divided into : Tour A, Tour B, Tour C, Tour D and Tour E (land tour). If you only have a few days to spend, you can pick either Tour A or Tour C.
BOOK DISCOUNTED EL NIDO TOUR A HERE
BOOK DISCOUNTED EL NIDO TOUR B HERE
BOOK DISCOUNTED EL NIDO TOUR C HERE
| TOUR | DESTINATIONS | PRICE |
| TOUR A | Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Simizu Island, Secret Lagoon and 7 Commandos Beach | PHP 1,200 (€ 21 /USD 24) |
| TOUR B | Entalula Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave and Cathedral Cave | PHP 1, 300 (€ 23/USD 26) |
| TOUR C | Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island, Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine and Star Beach | PHP 1,400 (€24/USD 28) |
| TOUR D | Bukal Island, Ipil Beach, Nat-Nat Beach, Cadlao Lagoon and Paradise Beach | PHP 1,200 (€ 21 /USD 24) |
| TOUR E | Land tour includes Twin Beaches, Marimegmeg Beach and some waterfalls | PHP 1,500 (€ 26/USD 30) |
For El Nido Tour E, you can just hire a tricycle for PHP 800 ( (€ 14/ USD 16) – PHP 1,400 ( € 24 / USD 28), good for 3 persons, to take you to Twin Beaches, Marimegmeg Beach and Nacpan Falls.
Island Hopping Tour Schedule: 9 AM to 4 PM
Tour inclusion:
Lunch, snorkeling gear, life vest and guides to assist you.
Does not include the PHP 200 (€ 3/USD 4) per person Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF). This is good for up to 10 days of your stay here in El Nido. (The will ask the receipt before you embark on your island hopping tours so make sure you pay the ETDF)
On every Island Hopping Tour, they serve a generous amount of the following:
Fruits and Vegetables, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Pork, Grilled Fish*, Shrimp/Crabs/Squid*
- * Subject to availability in the market.
- Do advice your tour agent of your food restrictions.
Kayaks are available for whole day rental PHP 700 (€ 12/ USD 14) so you could easily go inside the hidden lagoons.
Underwater camera can also be rented at Northern Hope Tours for PPHP 700 (€ 12/ USD 14) per day.
WHERE TO STAY IN EL NIDO
BUDGET
Joaquinn’s Bed and Breakfast
Real Street, Barangay Buena Suerte, El Nido, Palawan
Trendy but not costly!
Walking distance to the port, quiet location with a great view of El Nido Bay.
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
Dayunan El Nido Tourist Inn
Sitio Cabigsing, Barangay Buena Serte, El Nido, Palawan
Located at the town center
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
Bayog Beach Campsite
Barangay Sibaltan, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
A short ride from the town center.
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
MID-RANGE
Rainforest Beach Hotel
Hama Street, Brgy. Masagana, El Nido
Conveniently located at the heart of El Nido town center.
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
Rovic’s Tourist Hotel
Hama Street, Brgy Masagana, El Nido, Palawan
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
HIGH-END
Vellago Resort
7 Commando Beach, El Nido, Palawan
Situated in an island off the coast of El Nido town.
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
El Nido Resorts Lagen Island
Lagen Island, El Nido, Palawan
Situated in a private island off the coast of El Nido
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
Cauayan Island Resort
Bacuit Bay, El Nido, Palawan
Situated in a private island off the coast of El Nido
CHECK ROOM RATES HERE
EL NIDO ITINERARY (3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS)
| DAY 1 | ACTIVITIES |
| 07:30 AM | Arrival at Puerto Princesa Airport |
| 07:45 AM | Charter tricycle for Puerto Princesa City Tour(Php 600 good for 3 persons) |
| 08:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 08:30 AM | Start of City TourPuerto Princesa Provincial Capitol
Puerto Princesa Museum Puerto Princesa Cathedral Plaza Cuartel Baker’s Hill Mitra’s Ranch Crocodile Farm Ihawig Penal Colony |
| 02:30 PM | End of Tour |
| 03:00 PM | Travel to El Nido |
| 09:00 PM | Estiated Arrival in El Nido |
| 09:15 PM | Check in at hotel/resort |
| 09:30 PM | Dinner |
| DAY 2 | ACTIVITIES |
| 07:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 07:30 AM | Register at El Nido Tourism Office and pay the Php 200 Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF) |
| 08:00 AM | Start of El Nido Tour ABig Lagoon
Small Lagoon |
| 11:00 AM | Lunch at SimizuIsland |
| 12:00 PM | Continue Island Hopping TourSecret Lagoon
7 Commandos Beach |
| 04:00 PM | End of tour. Back to El Nido Town |
| 04:15 PM | Buy souvenirs |
| 05:00 PM | Return to hotel |
| 06:30 PM | Dinner |
| DAY 3 | ACTIVITIES |
| 07:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 07:30 AM | Tricycle to Taraw Cliff |
| 07:45 AM | Find local guide |
| 08:00 AM | Start ascent |
| 10:00 PM | Summit Taraw Cliff |
| 11:00 PM | Descent |
| 01:00 PM | End of Climb Back to El Nido |
| 01:30 PM | Late lunch |
| 02:00 PM | Hire tricycle for land tour |
| 02:15 PM | Start of El Nido Land TourNacpan Falls
Twin Beaches |
| 04:30 PM | Back to El Nido town for Marimeg Beach |
| 05:30 PM | Watch Sunset at Marimeg Beach |
| 06:30 PM | Back to El Nido |
| 07:00 PM | Dinner |
| DAY 4 | ACTIVITIES |
| 07:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 07:30 AM | Check out |
| 08:00 AM | Travel back to Puerto Princesa |
| 02:00 PM | Estimated Arrival in Puerto Princesa |
EL NIDO TRIP BUDGET
| ACTIVITIES | EXPENSES |
| Tricycle to San Jose Terminal (roundtrip) | PHP 21 x 2 = PHP 42 (€ 0.73/ USD 0.85) |
| Bus fare (roundtrip) to and from El Nido | PHP 480 x 2 = PHP 960 (€ 17/ USD 19) |
| Eco-Tourism Development Fee | PHP 200 (€ 3/ USD 4) |
| Hotel/Resort (per day x # of days) | PHP 800 x 2 =PHP 1,600 (€ 28/USD 32) |
| Food Budget (per meal x # of days) | Php 150 x 2 x 3 = PHP 900 (€ 16 /USD 18) |
| El Nido Tour A | PHP 1,200 (€ 21/ USD 24) |
| El Nido Land Tour | PHP 1,000 / (€ 17 /USD 20) |
| GRAND TOTAL | PHP 5,902 / ( € 103 /USD 117) |
*Airfare not included.
EL NIDO TRAVEL TIPS
- Bring dry bags with you during your island hopping tour and make sure it is locked securely. My DSLR “drowned” while island hopping, so investing on a reliable dry bag would be wise.
- Almost everything is on cash basis, stack up cash as there is only one ATM in El Nido, only in Coron and Puerto Princesa.
- Bring mosquito repellent especially if you are camping or staying at lodges in the island.
- Food in restaurants in El Nido will cost you at least PHP 150 (€ 3/ USD 3) per meal. There are small eateries dappled around the town proper if you want to save, but just a reminder: you’ll get what you pay for. A reader (Jay) commented they had diarrhea while they were there, never experienced that in any of my visit. I always eat at eateries and restaurants by the beach. But just to be safe, you can buy bottled water or refill from water stations instead of drinking potable water.
- As per comment by Eloise Davis, there is a monkey that bites and steals food and drinks somewhere in Snake Island, please be careful and avoid bringing food and drinks while climbing the hills there.
- There are monitor lizards in some islands, avoid getting close to them as they can bite humans and it is painful and poisonous, resulting to heavy bleeding.
EXTEND YOUR TRIP
Foodietastic 