For the most spectacular seascape in the Philippines. Bacuit Bay is a labyrinth of limestone islands, hidden lagoons and white-sand coves, with reefs holding over 800 fish species, best seen on the island-hopping tours the area is built around. It rivals Ha Long or Phang Nga for scenery but feels wilder and, on the water, less crowded. For island-hopping and karst landscapes, nothing in the country beats it.

How do you get to El Nido?

Two ways. The quick route is an AirSwift flight to Lio Airport, El Nido's own small airport, from Manila, Cebu or Clark, then a short transfer. The cheaper route is to fly into Puerto Princesa and take a van north, a scenic but long five to six hours. Private island resorts run their own boats across Bacuit Bay.

When is the best time to visit El Nido?

November to May, the dry season, for calm seas and reliable island-hopping; December to April is the sunny peak. The June-to-October wet season is cheaper and quieter but brings rougher water that can cancel boat tours, which is a real risk given that the tours are the main reason to come. The dry months are well worth the higher prices.

Should you stay in El Nido town or on a private island?

It depends on budget and what you want. The town and Corong-Corong are lively and cheap, close to the bars and the cheapest tours, but noisy and crowded. The private islands of Bacuit Bay offer the bay's scenery in seclusion, on their own beaches, reached only by boat, at a much higher price. Lively and accessible, or quiet and exclusive, that is the trade.

What are the island-hopping tours in El Nido?

Four set routes, labelled A to D, that cover Bacuit Bay's highlights by boat. Tour A takes in the Big and Small Lagoons and Secret Lagoon; Tour C covers Hidden Beach and the dramatic Matinloc area; B and D add other coves, beaches and snorkelling spots. They can be joined as group tours from town or arranged privately, and most visitors do at least one or two.

Boutique Hotels in El Nido

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Introducing El Nido

El Nido is the scenery that put Palawan on the map, and Palawan, for many, is the most beautiful corner of the Philippines. At the northern tip of the island, Bacuit Bay is a maze of limestone karst rising sheer from clear green water, its cliffs hiding lagoons, sea caves and white-sand coves reachable only by boat. Comparisons to Thailand's Phang Nga or Vietnam's Ha Long are fair, but El Nido is wilder and, on the water at least, emptier.

The bay is the draw, and you see it by boat. The island-hopping tours, known plainly as A, B, C and D, work through the Big and Small Lagoons, Secret and Hidden Beaches, snorkelling stops and shimmering coves; the reefs hold over 800 species of fish, and the limestone scenery is the constant. It is among the great day-on-the-water experiences in Asia.

There are two El Nidos, though, and the difference matters. The town, Corong-Corong and the main beach are backpacker-busy and boat-loud, fine for nightlife and cheap tours but not for quiet. The private islands of the Bacuit Archipelago are the other version: a handful of resorts on their own beaches, reached only by boat, where the bay's scenery comes without the crowds. Which you choose shapes the whole trip.

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Explore 1 exceptional boutique hotel hand-picked in El Nido. Click a pin to discover each property.

Hotels in El Nido

Philippines, El Nido
El Nido Pangulasian
A 42-villa private-island resort on Bacuit Bay, with a long west-facing beach, a protected house reef and real conservation credentials, reached by…
€837.49
Price for 1 night from
4.6 (18)

El Nido Guide

Where to Stay in El Nido

El Nido splits cleanly between the town and the islands, and the choice defines the holiday. In town and along Corong-Corong, the budget and mid-range places put you close to the bars, dive shops and the cheapest tours, at the cost of noise and crowds. On the water, the private islands of Bacuit Bay are a different proposition entirely, and the pick of them is Pangulasian, the largest island in the bay: an eco-minded resort of beach and forest villas on a 750-metre west-facing beach, with a protected house reef and the karst as its backdrop. It suits travellers who want the scenery, the diving and seclusion together, and are happy to trade the town's buzz for a boat transfer and a private shore.

When to Go

The dry season runs roughly November to May, and it is the time to come: calm seas, clear water and the reliable island-hopping the bay is famous for. December to April is the busy, sunny peak. The wet season between June and October brings rain, wind and rougher water that can cancel boat tours, so it is cheaper and quieter but a gamble for the very thing most people come for. March to May is hot but dependable.

Frequently Asked Questions about El Nido

: For the most spectacular seascape in the Philippines. Bacuit Bay is a labyrinth of limestone islands, hidden lagoons and white-sand coves, with reefs holding over 800 fish species, best seen on the island-hopping tours the area is built around. It rivals Ha Long or Phang Nga for scenery but feels wilder and, on the water, less crowded. For island-hopping and karst landscapes, nothing in the country beats it.