“Welcome to my paradise, where the sky so blue, where the sun shines so bright.” I wasn’t able to track how many times this particular song was played on my night trip from Puerto Princesa City to El Nido. Cherry Bus has a lot of vacant seats and I was the only tourist going to El Nido that time. Most of the locals dropped off in Roxas and Taytay. The song kept on playing on the bus until I fell asleep. When I woke up, the bus was already parked on a terminal in El Nido.

The destination is known for its islands, sandbars, beaches, lagoons, caves, limestone mountains, amazing marine biodiversity, and also the high-end resorts. On my first visit in El Nido, here’s the tourist attractions, destinations I was able to cover

EL NIDO ITINERARY

DAY 1
0500AM          Arrive in El Nido via Cherry Bus
0500AM – 0900AM	Check in SPIN Designer Hostel
0900AM – 1200NN	Nacpan – Calitang Twin Beaches
1200NN – 0100PM	Travel back to El Nido town
0100PM – 0500PM	Marimegmeg Beach
0500PM – 0600PM	Dinner Sea Slug Restaurant

DAY 2
0530AM – 0800AM	Climb Taraw Cliff
0800AM – 0900AM	Breakfast at hostel
0900AM – 1200NN	Rest / Check-out Hostel
1200NN – 0200PM	Lunch / Laze by beachfront restaurants
0200PM – 0300PM	Corong – Corong Beach
0300PM – 0600PM	Back in Marimegmeg Beach for sunset

DAY 3
0700AM – 0800AM	Breakfast in Silog Republic
0800AM – 0500PM	Combination Tours C and D
                - Hidden Beach
                - Talisay Beach
       		- Matinloc Shrine
       		- Cadlao Beach and Lagoon
       		- Paradise Beach
       		- Pasandigan Beach
       		- Ipil Beach

DAY 4
0800AM – 0500PM	Combination Tours A and B
       		- Small Lagoon
       		- Big Lagoon
       		- Snake Island
       		- Cudugnon Cave
       		- Pinagbuyutan Island
       		- Seven Commandos
0500PM – 0600PM	Refresh
0600PM – 0800PM	Dinner in Mezzanine

DAY 5
0600AM		ETD to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

SAMPLE EL NIDO ITINERARY 3D2N

DAY 1
Early AM	Arrive in El Nido
AM		Nacpan – Calitang Twin Beach
PM		Marimegmeg Beach

DAY 2
Early AM	Climb Taraw Cliff
Whole Day	Tour A / Combination A and B

DAY 3
Whole Day	Tour C / Combination C and D

WHERE TO EAT

El Nido has also its local restaurants, from budget eateries to fancy cafes. Most travelers visiting the destination talk about the lavish lunch being served on island hopping activities yet they search the dusty streets of El Nido when they get back in town to have that rewarding meal before calling another day in paradise.

WHERE TO STAY

In terms of where to stay, El Nido provides numerous options from backpacker dormitories to groups and some luxury accommodations. On my visit, I wanted to experience the newly opened SPIN Designer Hostel so I booked a night but moved to Rainforest Beach Hotel to join my friends who arrived on my second day in town.

Book your stay in El Nido, Palawan on the search box below.

 WHAT TO SEE AND DO

SAMPLE EXPENSES

Transportation		950
Accommodation		3000
Tours			3500
Food / Drinks		1744
Environmental Fees	250
Kayak Rental		120
TOTAL			PHP 9564

HOW TO GET THERE

Via Puerto Princesa City
Cebu Pacific Air and Philippines Airlines have direct flights from Manila, Cebu, and Iloilo to Puerto Princesa City.
By Van
From Puerto Princesa City Airport, vans plying the Puerto Princesa City to El Nido route are available, travel time from 5 – 6 hours and fare of Php500.
By Bus
Bus is also an option and on cheaper fare Php480 (aircon). From the airport, you need to head to San Jose Bus Terminal where buses bound for El Nido waiting and. From the airport, take a tricycle to the junction (near the capitol), and from junction, you can take a multicab bound to San Jose Market where the last stop is the bus terminal. Just ask locals for help with the directions. Cherry Bus has 3 schedules for El Nido; non-aircon (7AM, 11AM,5PM) and aircon (9AM, 1PM, 9PM), same schedule for El Nido to Puerto Princesa City.
Via Busuanga, Coron
There are numerous shipping lines that cater the Coron – El Nido route daily. Travel time takes 8 hours with fares from Php1500. You can check a comprehensive guide on the boat schedules on Lakas.ph’s website.
Direct to El Nido
Island Transvoyager Inc offers 3 flights daily from Manila direct to El Nido and back with the following schedules: Manila – El Nido (7AM, 11AM, 3PM) and El Nido – Manila (9AM, 1PM, 5PM). You can book via their GSA at Artcafe, or by sending an email to flights@elnidoboutiqueandartcafe.com.

TRAVEL TIPS

1. Tricycles bound to and from Marimegmeg Beach offer a Php150 rate per way. You can split it among your group. If you’re alone, you have the option to walk/run from El Nido town to the beach, it will take you 30 – 45 minutes.
2. In climbing Taraw Cliff, I advise you get a guide because the activity is extreme and dangerous. Bring also gears like gloves, knee pads, and proper footwear. Guide fee is Php350 that you can split with your group. You may contact Northern Hope Tours for guiding assistance.
3. Availing combination tours is not advisable as you will not enjoy much of the destinations as you have a lot to cover. Depends on you though and if you only have limited time in town and want to visit more island attractions.
4. There are also accommodations in Nacpan Beach just in case you opt to spend a night away from El Nido town.