How to get to El Nido and get around

EL NIDO TOUR A: BOOK A TRIP FOR A FULL DAY ADVENTURE IN EL NIDO!

There are a few ways to reach El Nido, depending on where you’re coming from. If you’re travelling from the Underground River, it takes about 4 hours to get to El Nido by road, when taking a private transfer. If you’re taking public transportation, it will take a bit longer.

From Coron, you can either take the ferry or book a flight. The ferry takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes, while the flight is only 40 minutes. 

From Manila or Clark or Cebu, it’s about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and all flights are direct.

Most visitors in El Nido rent motorbikes to get around, especially if they are planning to explore outside El Nido’s main area. It’s a small town, so unless you’re going out in the rural areas, you can simply hail tricycles instead.

Things to do and see

Many activities in El Nido include boat tours and water activities. Many of these tours are an all-day trip. There are a lot of islands surrounding El Nido that you can explore. Even with an entire day tour, it’s not possible to visit them all.

We recommend taking El Nido Tour A, to enjoy most of what El Nido has to offer. 

Miniloc Island (Small Lagoon and Secret Lagoon)

This is the most famous area to explore in El Nido. On Miniloc Island, you will find two of the most iconic spots. The Small Lagoon is where you will be riding a kayak and paddle through a valley surrounded by sky-high rock formations. The crystal clear waters make it a fantastic spot to swim and go snorkelling.

On the other hand, Secret Lagoon is a more thrilling adventure. There’s a reason for its name. To get to the lagoon, you must get on a kayak and paddle your way through a cave.

You will be passing through under a cave or rock, depending on how high the tides will be. On the other side of the cave is a peaceful, quiet, and stunning lagoon where you can swim, enjoy the clear waters, and go snorkelling as well.

El Nido Tour A is the best boat tour out there. It covers Miniloc Island but also visits a few more spots. This includes the Big Lagoon, Payong-Payong Beach, Shimizu Island, and the Seven Commandos Beach.

Matinloc Island (Hidden Beach)

This island is directly west of El Nido’s coastline and northwest of Miniloc Island. Here, you will find the remarkable Hidden Beach, which is led by a hallway of towering rock formations. The passage is wide enough for the boats to pass through. 

The scenery is so magical as you sit on the beach facing two tall rocks leading out to the ocean. This is a wonderful place to see corals and various fishes as well, so don’t forget to bring some goggles with you.

On the other side of the island is the Secret Beach. Not all tours go on that part, but it’s definitely worth the trip. The shoreline has more rocks and corals, but that means more opportunities for snorkelling.

Helicopter Island

Helicopter Island is such a fun area in El Nido. From afar, it looks like a helicopter. But apart from its fun shape, it’s also a great spot for snorkelling due to its colourful and lively corals. It’s not as busy as the neighboring islands, where you’ll be bumping with other snorkellers as long as you go a bit away from the shoreline and the boats.

Seven Commandos Beach

This is located on the mainland; however, it can only be accessed by boat. Seven Commandos Beach is part of the boat tours. Although it is beautifully located for the sunset, boats don’t really stay here long enough for that.

If you book a boat tour and hope to enjoy the beach, sandy beaches, and cold drinks, this is a great stop throughout the tour.

El Nido Town

Well, you can’t go to El Nido without exploring its main town. It’s a small area, so you can simply walk around and browse shops, restaurants, and bars. The town comes to life at night, where there is music everywhere and sometimes even live shows or dancing on the street. 

Nacpan Beach

Nacpan Beach is actually not in the main town, but it’s also not an island. It’s about 35 minutes directly north of El Nido. If you’re looking for a beautiful white sand beach, you have to go to Nacpan.

It’s a long strip of fine sand, perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Many people come here, but it’s spacious enough that you won’t have a problem finding a great spot if you want a more serene atmosphere. There are resorts and restaurants, and you can easily find a place to eat and drink if you plan to spend the entire day here or, even better, stay until the sunset.

You can rent a motorbike from El Nido town and get here on your own – there are plenty of parking spots for a fee. But it’s close enough that you can also take a tricycle and either ask the driver to wait on you or get another one from Nacpan back to El Nido.

Las Cabanas Beach

Only 15 minutes south of El Nido’s main town is Las Cabanas Beach. The beach is so nice because the waters by the coastline are covered in sand, making it so easy to swim and enjoy the clear waters without sharp rocks.

There are also a lot of restaurants, bars, and resorts where you can order food and drinks. It’s much closer than Nacpan, and it also offers a stunning spot for the golden hour, or you can sign up for a zipline.

El Nido Secret Lagoon

El Nido is a must-see when travelling around the Philippines!

The beautiful and tall limestone karst makes you feel like you’re in a different world. Being able to access lagoons with a kayak is such an incredible experience. Not to mention the abundant choices of locations where you can snorkel or dive to explore the colourful marine life of the Philippines.