El Nido Holidays — Limestone Lagoons, Island Hopping & Hidden Beaches
El Nido
Holidays
The most spectacular island hopping in the Philippines — towering limestone karsts, hidden lagoons, secret beaches and crystal-clear turquoise water
Search El Nido Holidays
Flight Time
14–15h from London (via Manila; then 1h15 direct to El Nido with Air Swift, or 1h15 to Puerto Princesa + 5–6h van)
Best Time
December to April (dry season); avoid June–October
Country
Philippines
Suppliers
our travel partners ·
El Nido Holiday Guide
El Nido is one of the most beautiful places in the world — a small town at the northern tip of Palawan, surrounded by a bay of towering limestone karst islands, hidden lagoons, white-sand beaches and extraordinary marine life. The Bacuit Archipelago, the 45-island group that surrounds El Nido, is the most spectacular island-hopping destination in the Philippines and one of the finest in Asia.
The four island-hopping tours (Tour A, B, C and D) are the highlight of any El Nido visit — each tour visits a different set of islands and lagoons, with snorkelling, swimming and beach stops included. Tour A (the Big Lagoon, the Small Lagoon, the Secret Lagoon and Shimizu Island) is the most popular and the most spectacular. Tour C (the Secret Beach, the Hidden Beach and the Matinloc Shrine) is the most adventurous. Tour B and Tour D visit the outer islands and are best for snorkelling and diving.
El Nido is reached by flying to Puerto Princesa (1h15 from Manila) and then taking a van north (5–6 hours) or by flying directly from Manila with Air Swift (1h15). The town has a good selection of guesthouses, restaurants and bars — it is small and walkable, with a relaxed atmosphere.
More Philippines Islands
Average Temperatures
Jan
26°C
Feb
27°C
Mar
28°C
Apr
30°C
May
30°C
Jun
29°C
Jul
28°C
Aug
28°C
Sep
28°C
Oct
28°C
Nov
27°C
Dec
26°C
Ready to Book?
Call us or send an enquiry and we'll find you the best deal across Travelpack and JTA Holidays.
Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in El Nido
The limestone lagoons, hidden beaches, island-hopping tours, snorkelling and sunsets that make El Nido the most spectacular destination in the Philippines.
Tour A — Big Lagoon & Small Lagoon
Tour A is the most popular island-hopping tour in El Nido and the most spectacular — visiting the Big Lagoon (a vast enclosed lagoon of turquoise water surrounded by 200-metre limestone cliffs, best explored by kayak), the Small Lagoon (accessible only by kayak through a narrow gap in the rock, with extraordinary reflections of the cliffs in the still water), the Secret Lagoon (a small lagoon hidden behind a crack in the rock, accessible by swimming) and Shimizu Island (excellent snorkelling with sea turtles and reef fish). Tours depart daily from El Nido town and cost around £15–20 per person.
Tour C — Secret Beach & Hidden Beach
Tour C is the most adventurous island-hopping tour — visiting the Secret Beach (accessible only by swimming through an underwater gap in the rock, emerging into a hidden cove of white sand and turquoise water), the Hidden Beach (a secluded beach accessible only by boat, with extraordinary limestone karst scenery), the Matinloc Shrine (a clifftop shrine with panoramic views over the Bacuit Archipelago) and the Helicopter Island (named for its shape when seen from above). Tour C is best for strong swimmers and those who want a more adventurous experience.
Nacpan Beach — El Nido's Finest Beach
Nacpan Beach, 45km north of El Nido town, is one of the finest beaches in the Philippines — a 4km arc of golden sand and clear water backed by coconut palms, with virtually no development and very few tourists. The beach is reached by motorbike or tricycle from El Nido (45 minutes on a rough road). The twin beaches of Nacpan and Calitang are connected at low tide. A handful of simple beach huts and restaurants serve fresh seafood. Nacpan is best visited on a day trip from El Nido — arrive early to have the beach to yourself.
Cadlao Lagoon — El Nido's Most Beautiful
Cadlao Lagoon, on Cadlao Island (the largest island in the Bacuit Archipelago, visible from El Nido town), is one of the most beautiful lagoons in El Nido — a sheltered bay of extraordinary turquoise water surrounded by limestone cliffs and mangroves, with excellent snorkelling (sea turtles, reef fish, coral). The lagoon is less visited than the Tour A lagoons and has a more peaceful atmosphere. Cadlao Island also has a beautiful beach (Cadlao Beach) and a viewpoint with panoramic views over El Nido Bay.
Corong-Corong Beach — Sunset Views
Corong-Corong Beach, 2km south of El Nido town, is the best place to watch the sunset in El Nido — a long, quiet beach with views of the limestone karst islands silhouetted against the orange sky. The beach has a handful of excellent restaurants and bars (Republica Sunset Bar is the most popular) that fill up at sunset. Corong-Corong is also the departure point for the El Nido to Coron ferry (the 4–5 hour journey through the Linapacan Strait passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Philippines).
Matinloc Shrine — Clifftop Panorama
The Matinloc Shrine, on Matinloc Island (visited on Tour C), is one of the most dramatic viewpoints in El Nido — a small Catholic shrine perched on a clifftop above the sea, with extraordinary panoramic views over the Bacuit Archipelago. The climb to the shrine takes 10–15 minutes from the beach and involves some scrambling over rocks. The views from the top — limestone karst islands stretching to the horizon, turquoise water below — are among the most spectacular in the Philippines.
Tour B & Tour D — Outer Islands & Diving
Tour B visits the outer islands of the Bacuit Archipelago — Entalula Island (excellent snorkelling), Pinagbuyutan Island (a beautiful beach with extraordinary limestone scenery), Cudugnon Cave (a large sea cave with prehistoric artefacts) and the Cathedral Cave (a cave accessible only by kayak). Tour D visits the Cadlao Lagoon, the Bukal Island (a small island with a beautiful beach and excellent snorkelling) and the Pasandigan Cove. Both tours are less crowded than Tour A and C and offer excellent snorkelling and diving.
El Nido to Coron — The Ultimate Ferry Journey
The El Nido to Coron ferry (4–5 hours by fast boat, or 2 days by island-hopping boat) is one of the most spectacular boat journeys in the Philippines — passing through the Linapacan Strait, with its extraordinary limestone karst islands, white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water. The island-hopping boat (2 days, 1 night) stops at Linapacan Island, Coron Island and other remote islands along the way. The fast boat departs from Corong-Corong Beach and arrives at Coron town. Booking in advance is essential in high season.
Explore El Nido on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
Google Maps embed — add your API key to activate
Set mapEmbedUrl in the destination data to display an interactive map here