El Nido: Top things to do on your trip to this beautiful island
El Nido is an amazing place to visit that will likely pop up on almost any tour itinerary you look at for the Philippines. It is both a launch point and disembarkation point for the multi-day island-hopping tours between Coron and El Nido as well as offers numerous single day island-hopping tours to the lagoons and islands around El Nido. It also has close access to remote beaches and a thriving restaurant and nightlife scene. Some of the main roads are blocked off to vehicle traffic at night, making the area a pedestrian-friendly walking street for accessing restaurants and bars.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Take Island-Hopping Tours A & C (B & D if you have extra time)
El Nido is well known for its many island-hopping expeditions and for good reason. The lagoons, islands, and beaches near El Nido are quite spectacular, and full-day expeditions to the islands are relatively inexpensive even if you book a private tour. I opted to do Tour A and Tour C while I was in El Nido. These are considered the most popular island-hopping tours, but they do also offer a Tour B and Tour D for those looking to complete all of the island-hopping adventures or those that are looking for a slightly less crowded experience.
I found out that several tour operators offer a “premium” tour package for slightly more than the regular tours, and I would highly recommend the upgrade. You get a larger boat with much more sun protection as well as a buffet style lunch. As you head to the waterfront to hop on the tour boats, be sure to stop by Grounded Coffee Shop for some amazing banana bread or a delicious chocolate chip cookie! The coffee is great as well if you enjoy a good cup of coffee and not the instant coffee found in many cafes in the Philippines.
Views of some of the beautiful islands near El Nido from the boat on Tour C
Kayaking in Cadlao Lagoon…This was a substitute stop on Tour C because they were filming a movie at another tour destination
Stopping at Seven Comandos Beach, the final destination on Tour A
Hang out at Nacpan Beach, Lio Beach, Corong Corong Beach, or Las Cabañas Beach
To get away from some of the crowds, you can head to some of the nearby beaches that are less crowded than the El Nido waterfront. I had Nacpan Beach on my travel itinerary for this very reason and to relax after my 4-day/3-night island-hopping trip from Coron to El Nido, but I was unable to go as I had to seek out a clinic that provided rabies shots instead after I got bit by a cat on my multi-day island-hopping tour.
This meant that I only had time to go to watch the sunset at Corong Corong Beach one night after one of my El Nido island-hopping tours. People I met on my multi-day tour did visit Nacpan, Lio, and Las Cabañas Beach, however, and said they were well worth visiting. Due to the towering limestone cliffs in El Nido and Cadlao Island, you do not get a direct view of the sunset from the El Nido waterfront. This is where travelling south to Corong Corong Beach and Las Cabañas Beach or north to Nacpan Beach will give you a more unobstructed view of the amazing sunsets.
Get a panoramic view of the waterfront from the via ferrata/canopy tour or hike Taraw Cliff
If you are an early riser and looking for a challenging tour, consider booking a guided hike/scramble up Taraw Cliff. The views at sunrise are said to be spectacular. This is definitely reported to be a challenging tour with lots of exposure, which is why a guide is required for the trip. I did not hike Taraw Cliff but instead opted to do the via ferrata/canopy tour excursion. A guide is also required for this short trek, but there is very little exposure, and you get clipped into a guide wire while crossing the suspension bridge. The most challenging part is probably the beginning of the tour where the rocks and roots have been worn smooth by so many feet eroding the path.
If you watch your step, however, you will be just fine and will still get some amazing views of the limestone cliffs and the El Nido waterfront. I did not pay extra for the Dreamcatcher photo op, but I think that would be fun if you were on vacation as a family and wanted some pretty unique photographs. Do note that this is a relatively short expedition, and the cost seems a little steep for what you get, but that is also due to the requirement of a guide, helmet, harness, and via ferrata equipment. If you have some extra funds and are looking for a shorter trek within El Nido, the via ferrata/canopy tour is a great option.
Views of the El Nido waterfront from the Via Ferrata/Canopy Walk
The only part of the canopy walk where you need to clip in with carabiners is the super bouncy suspension bridge
Checking out the limestone cliffs and waterfront views from the Via Ferrata/Canopy Walk viewpoint
Take in the sunset and enjoy cocktails at Piece of Sky
If you are looking to relax after a day of island-hopping with a cocktail and some amazing views of the waterfront, check out Piece of Sky Cocktail Bar. You can ride an elevator to the rooftop lounge that has a great happy hour and spectacular view of the waterfront. Due to the surrounding limestone cliffs, you do not get a view of the actual setting sun, but the orange glow over Cadlao Island and the waterfront is still stunning.
If you go to El Nido:
I stayed in the Amos Pili Tree Inn powered by Cocotel and would certainly recommend the inn to others. It was not a luxury resort but was plenty comfortable, the air conditioning was adequate for a good night sleep, and it was within easy walking distance of anywhere in town (click here to check rates for Amos Pili Tree Inn). They do have a continental breakfast, but I did not get to experience it since I was heading off to my island-hopping tours when breakfast was offered. I also recommend booking the premium island-hopping tours through Klook (Follow these links for Klook Island-Hopping Tours: Tour A, Tour B, Tour C, Tour D).
The premium tour is only slightly more expensive and includes a larger boat with more sun protection and a buffet-style lunch on an island or onboard the boat. If you are going from El Nido to Coron next, check out Big Dream Boatman for a multi-day island-hopping tour for an absolutely amazing experience that you will remember forever (click here for Big Dream Boatman Tours). If you have just come from Coron and are headed to Puerto Princesa next, check out Klook again for super inexpensive transportation with a shared van (click here for Klook transportation). You can also check out options for the Via Ferrata/Canopy Tour on Klook (click here for via ferrata/canopy walk options).
