Happy Monkey Hostel
Busy hostel with something running most nights and a common area people sit in.
El Nido.
Palawan's headline act, and one of the few beach towns that earns the hype. The short version of three weeks here: where your money actually goes, and what is safe to skip.
- Best Months
- Feb to Apr
- Average Temp.
- 79 to 82°F (26 to 28°C)
- Sea Temp.
- 82°F (28°C)
The stillness sneaks up on you.
Three weeks of notes on the bay. The air at four, the boats at seven, where the trike drivers eat dinner.
El Nido is small enough to walk in twenty minutes. The main strip is six bars deep on a Saturday and empties by ten. The boats leave at seven, and they stack the orange life vests by color, by tour.
Limestone islands sit just offshore. The water is clear enough to see your own knees, and to watch the small fish decide whether you count as weather. Mornings are glassy. Afternoons turn breezy. By four the lagoons go still again, the way they do when the day starts to let go.
It is also a working town. Roosters at five, generators at noon, an evening rush of tricycles when the day boats come in. The postcards do not lie, but they leave out the kindest part, which is the slowness.
Three nights are not enough. Four are the floor. The right shape is two days on the water, one for a long beach, and one for whatever the weather decides.
Top picks
Big and Small Lagoon kayak access
The most famous route. Crowds arrive after 10 AM.Hidden Beach snorkeling
Rope entry through a rock arch. Worth it.Nacpan Twin Beach
45 minutes north by motorbike. Almost always quieter.Sunset Island bar crawl
Small bars on stilts. Weak drinks, strong views.Fresh seafood on the beach
Grilled at the table. Pay in cash.
The weather has opinions.
Two seasons, both usable. The difference is what kind of trip you want to have.
Dry season
November to May
Flat water, clear cliffs.
Mornings are glassy and the boats run on time, with up to about 8 hours of sun a day. Book the lagoons before you fly.
- Highs
- 77 to 90°F (25 to 32°C)
- Humidity
- 72 to 78%
- Sun
- Up to 8 hrs/day
- Rain
- Rare
Rainy season
June to October
Greener. Slower. Costs less.
Showers turn heavy in August and September. Crowds thin, the jungle wakes up, and dramatic skies come with the deal.
- Highs
- 79 to 86°F (26 to 30°C)
- Humidity
- About 82%
- Rainy days
- Frequent
- Rates
- Lower
Average rainfall, inches / mm per month
1.4"35mm
Jan
0.9"22mm
Feb
1.6"40mm
Mar
2.4"60mm
Apr
4.5"115mm
May
7.9"200mm
Jun
9.1"230mm
Jul
9.8"250mm
Aug
9.6"245mm
Sep
8.5"215mm
Oct
5.9"150mm
Nov
3.5"90mm
Dec
Best time to go. Late May and late November thread the needle: usable weather, lighter crowds, and rooms below peak rates.
Off season Peak season Best time to go
Boarding pass
EZ 001 · 21A
From
YOU
To
ENI
Wherever you areEl Nido, Palawan
Flight
EZ 001
Seat
21A
Gate
Inbox
Boards
Monthly
How to get to El Nido.
An international hop to Manila, then one of two routes onward across Palawan. Both can land you in by dinner.
Step one
Fly to Manila MNL
Ninoy Aquino is the gateway. Most travelers connect here before continuing to Palawan. Leave a three-hour buffer, the terminals are not adjacent.
Step two
Manila MNL → El Nido ENI
Two ways across, depending on your schedule and budget.
Option A · Fastest
Direct to Lio ENI
Short and simple, the plane lands about fifteen minutes from town.
about1h 25in the air
Option B · Cheapest
Via Puerto Princesa PPS
Frequent flights into Puerto Princesa, then a shared van across Palawan.
about1h 15flight5 to 6 hrvan
What we'd do
Under a week? Fly direct to Lio. Ten days? Take Puerto Princesa and aim to connect the same day, a three-hour buffer in Manila is ideal. The van is a long ride, but it runs through jungle and rice fields, and the drop into the bay is a decent first look at what you came for.
Where to stay.
Pick the corner of the bay that fits your trip first. The room follows from there.
Where you'll base
5 areasAreas (1/5)
El Nido Town
Mainland · town center
Central and walkable. The pier, operators and most restaurants sit a few minutes apart on foot. The strip runs late, so light sleepers book a street back.
Pier · 2 min walk
The beach in front of town is a working bangka harbor. Boats on the sand, shallow and murky when the tide drops. Not a swimming beach.
Our shortcut
First trip, base in town; chasing the slow end, go Corong-Corong; early flight or kids, choose Lio.
Stays
20 in El Nido TownHotels (1/5)
Chislyk Inn
Small inn with sea-facing balconies. Near dining and activities.
Happiness Hostel
Social hostel with a garden bar. A friendly base for solo travelers.
Cadlao Resort
Resort with a pool facing the sea. Good for couples.
The Funny Lion
Contemporary resort with an infinity pool and jungle views.
Bahala Na Villas
Private villas with ocean views. Comfortable and unshowy.
Carandang Tourist Inn
Basic and budget-friendly stay close to transport options.
H Hotel El Nido
Modern rooms in a central area. Walkable access to the town and beach.
Banana Grove
Simple bamboo bungalows set back from the strip.
Moringa Resort
Garden resort a short walk from the shops and the sand.
Spin Designer Hostel
Stylish and social. Walking distance to restaurants and the beach.
Frenz Hostel
Modern hostel with a rooftop pool. Good for nightlife and nearby tours.
Bale Cabugao Cottages
Rustic cottages with local charm. Near eateries and sunset spots.
The Nest
Boutique resort with sea views and peaceful surroundings.
S Resort
Central hotel with a rooftop lounge and easy access to town.
Hidden Garden Pensione
Guesthouse with a small courtyard. Convenient base for town visits.
OIA Beach Hostel
Beachfront hostel with an open-air bar and a relaxed setting.
Rosanna's Pension
Longstanding traveler favorite. Close to the beach and town center.
Viewdeck Cottages
Hill cottages with wide views and peaceful mornings.
Maya Hostel
Low-key, with a sea-facing lounge. Close to the beach.
Everything worth doing.
Most of what you come for happens on the water. Island hopping covers the lagoons and beaches. Beyond that, the pace is yours to set.
On the water
On the beach
Inland & slow
The four boat routes.
One bay, four ways across it. Each route is a full day on a wooden bangka: lagoons you swim into, sandbars you walk at low tide, a grilled-fish lunch on a beach the boat pulls right up to. Pick a route below, read what each stop is like, and follow it from the morning wade-out to the ride back before the wind turns.
A
Lagoons & limestone
6 stops·9 AM to 4 PM·lunch aboard
Tour A features the lagoons that made El Nido famous. Expect flat water, tall limestone walls and clear spots for snorkeling between the stops.
Stop 1 of 6
Big Lagoon
Kayak between limestone cliffs
You paddle a kayak between limestone walls that rise straight from the water. The lagoon narrows as you go deeper, the color shifting from pale green to something closer to blue. Most groups stop here first, before the wind picks up. By midday it is busy. Go early.
9 AM· Wade out to the boat4 PM· Back before sundown
Before you leave the water
You have seen the water. Now pick the corner of the bay you want to wake up in.
What and where to eat.
Eating well here does not require a budget. Family-run turo-turo counters, beachfront spots with a wine list, most of it along the main street.
What to order
9 dishesThe food follows the sea. Grilled fish, squid in its own ink, kinilaw from the morning catch, rice with everything. At home the answer is almost always adobo, meat braised slow in vinegar, soy, and garlic, on the table most days of the week.
The cards on the right are typical Filipino plates, the everyday spread rather than a tourist menu. Start with the fish off the boat, then order one more than you think you need.
Beyond the seafood, the grill keeps going with charcoal chicken inasal and crispy sisig. Finish cold with halo-halo.
Come hungry.
Dishes (1/9)
Inihaw na Isda
Keeps eye contact.
Grilled whole fish served with a soy-vinegar dip and fresh toppings.
Chicken Inasal
The charcoal did the work.
Marinated chicken grilled over charcoal with citrus and lemongrass.
Kinilaw
Cooked by vinegar, technically.
Raw fish marinated in vinegar, citrus and ginger. Similar to ceviche.
Laing
Milder than it lets on.
Taro leaves cooked in coconut milk with mild heat. Can be made vegetarian.
Adobong Pusit
Yes, that's the ink.
Squid cooked in soy sauce, vinegar and garlic.
Pancit Canton
The one everyone agrees on.
Stir-fried noodles with vegetables and a light citrus note.
Sisig
Arrives still showing off.
Crispy pork served on a hot plate with onions and chilies.
Bistek
The onions run the show.
Beef cooked in soy and calamansi with onions.
Halo-Halo
No two spoonfuls agree.
A mix of fruit, ice and sweet toppings served cold. Often includes ube and leche flan.
Where to eat it
4 areasPick a part of town, then swipe through the spots in that pocket.
Areas (1/4)
El Nido Town
Mainland · town center
The densest cluster: turo-turo counters, beachfront grills, and late spots packed along the main street and the beach path.
How we'd eat
Grilled fish off the boat for lunch, somewhere with a view at sunset, gelato on the walk home.
Piece Of Sky
InternationalBarA restaurant with bay views and international dishes.
Ver De
VeganVegetarianA plant-based cafe serving bowls, salads and simple smoothies.
Happy Home Restaurant
FilipinoItalianA small family-run restaurant known for pasta and Filipino dishes.
Fuego
AmericanBarA small grill serving burgers, ribs and simple bar snacks.
Taste El Nido
VeganVegetarianAmericanA vegan cafe offering smoothie bowls, wraps and dairy-free drinks.
Ashoka
IndianVegetarianAn Indian restaurant serving curries, naan and vegetarian dishes.
Scape Skydeck
FilipinoAmericanBarA rooftop restaurant with Filipino dishes, small plates and cocktails.
Happiness Beach Bar
MediterraneanSeafoodBarMediterranean dishes and cocktails in a casual beachfront setting.
Gusto Gelato
ItalianDessertHouse-made gelato with local flavors such as ube and calamansi.
Big Bad Thai
ThaiA simple Thai restaurant with noodles and curries. Good for groups.
Osaka Castle
JapaneseSushiA small Japanese restaurant offering ramen, sushi rolls and fried dishes.
Artcafe
FilipinoSeafoodBarA long-standing spot serving Filipino dishes, coffee and simple international meals. Also a place to book tours.
How to get around.
El Nido is small enough to walk across in twenty minutes. But the beaches, lagoons and off-town spots you came for are spread out. Here is how transport works once you arrive.
On Foot
In townWalking
Streets go dark off the main strip. Wear grippy shoes.
Bangka Boat
To the lagoonsSlow on water
Sea spray, partial shade. Bring a dry bag.
Tricycle
Around townTown speed
No meters. Agree the fare first.
Habal-Habal
Tight routesQuick hops
Hold your bag in front; rough after rain.
Scooter
On your ownYour pace
Fuel up in town. License required.
Shared Van
Day tripsFastest far
Partly unpaved; budget an hour each way.
| Mode | For | Speed | Good to know | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
On Foot | In town | Walking | Streets go dark off the main strip. Wear grippy shoes. | |
Bangka Boat | To the lagoons | Slow on water | Sea spray, partial shade. Bring a dry bag. | |
Tricycle | Around town | Town speed | No meters. Agree the fare first. | |
Habal-Habal | Tight routes | Quick hops | Hold your bag in front; rough after rain. | |
Scooter | On your own | Your pace | Fuel up in town. License required. | |
Shared Van | Day trips | Fastest far | Partly unpaved; budget an hour each way. |
Teach a friend Filipino
Useful Filipino phrases.
Tagalog is the national language. In El Nido, most people in tourism speak English well enough for anything practical. But a few words go further than you expect. Tricycle drivers, market vendors and guesthouse staff respond noticeably warmer when you try. These are the ones worth knowing.
0/16 learned
means
Must knows.
Eight things worth sorting before you go. The small frictions that cost you a morning.
Tips by category
4 categoriesCategories (1/4)
Before you ask.
The visa, the tap water, the boats, the plug. Step through the topics, the marker follows you down.
Topics
Still curious? Just email us
Travel Requirements & Safety
North Americans, most visitors from Europe and travelers from ASEAN countries can enter visa-free for up to 30 days. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your stay. Complete the E-travel form up to 3 days before departure at etravel.gov.ph ↗.
Still curious? Just email us