Introduction

I kept the question simple: whether El Nido is worth visiting in 2026 or just touristy. My answer is honest, and my opinion comes from real experience in the Philippines.

I spent a few days in the town, staying close to the beaches. I explored nearby spots and watched how people moved around. It was beautiful, but I also saw the stuff that can shape your mind.

Over three months, I put together a practical guide with tips and info. I tried different things on my own, to judge it properly. This is a quick and little map of what you could expect.

I won’t say all is perfect, and I’m not selling a dream. I just want you to see how much this place works naturally as a part of your trip. Let’s get into what felt right and what was a bit off there.

Quick Answer on El Nido

My quick take on El Nido is mixed, and I felt it fast. El Nido town in the Philippines looks like a beach town that got too touristy and too built up. It also felt messy, and fairly a bit hard to enjoy.

To me, it was the ugliest stretch in town, with shops, restaurants, and hotels packed tight. It even reminded me of parts of Thailand where the old character got buried. The main beach felt terrible, not relaxing at all.

The waterline was full of tour boats and noisy scooters. I barely saw anyone enjoying that beach for fun. The only calm reward was the bay view, which still looked special.

Still, I’d say it’s worth visiting because the nature surrounding it is incredible. The beaches, limestone cliffs, turquoise water, and hidden lagoons create stunning scenery. I did Tour A and Tour C, the famous boat trips, and the stops were imaginary.

On my own exploring, I took a scooter and found beautiful beaches away from the crowd.

Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting El Nido

Limited Electricity in El Nido

The Downside

Despite its booming popularity, El Nido is located in a hard-to-reach area. I did the long haul, including a nine-hour boat ride to get there, and you feel the isolation fast.

That isolation shows up in the town with a sufficient and stable power supply issue. The local rule is that electricity is only available from 4 pm to 6 am. If you’re not aware of this quirk while traveling, it can be frustrating to deal with.

Most tourist-oriented businesses run generators during the day, including high-end restaurants and cafes. That meant there was no reprieve from the brutal heat unless you buy an overpriced beverage and mooch at an establishment with AC or a fan.

I even tried to order a smoothie with lunch one day. But since there was no electricity, they couldn’t blend the fruit, which felt kind of sad.

The Upside

Having no power forces you outside all the time in El Nido. That’s how I recognized it’s one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful places I’ve ever been. And I’m not exaggerating, even if there’s a whole lot to do in El Nido.

Since hanging out at the hotel is not an option, I ended up spending a lot of time walking around the surrounding neighborhoods. I remember chatting with friendly residents and experiencing minor things I might not have seen. The lack of a quick option to hide indoors makes the day feel more real.

You can’t escape into a cool, chill hotel’s AC or watch a movie on a laptop. Without electricity anywhere, the world slows down in a good way. For that, probably the best place is El Nido.

El Nido’s Main Beach Didn’t Impress Me

The Downside

El Nido sells magical settings, like a village that grew into a tiny resort town. It feels perched on the shores of Bacuit Bay and overlooks a perfect stretch of sand. From there, you see a series of rugged isles and a mesmerizing landscape with calm waters.

It looks damn near a perfect beach, so when I stepped foot on the sand, I was excited to swim. But it is important to note that the bay is also a dock for tour boats and fishing boats. It gets crowded, and I wade into the water and see tons of algae floating in a murky patch.

Unfortunately, the main beach doesn’t make the most refreshing swims possible. You can swim there, but I saw that most people don’t.

The Upside

Las Cabanas is a gorgeous beach, and it is located a short tuk-tuk ride from El Nido. It has a wide swath of white sand with rolling waves. For me, it felt like a great beach right away.

The ride costs around 300 pesos round-trip by tuk-tuk from the main road in El Nido. If you are a great haggler, it is possible to get a ride for less. I enjoyed the beach so much that I didn’t mind paying a little bit to get there.

I was disappointed I couldn’t walk from town, but this beach is a wonderful alternative to El Nido’s main beach.

Overpriced Accommodation in El Nido

The downside

Because I arrived in El Nido directly from typhoon-damaged Coron, I hadn’t done much research. I didn’t check hotel rooms online, and El Nido’s popularity with backpackers made me think it would be easy. I wasn’t concerned about finding a low-priced place to stay.

But the majority of budget-friendly hotels were clustered near the pier, and I saw construction. I decided to keep looking, so I walked further up the main road that runs along the beach. That’s when I found the rates were really high.

A few places exceeded $100 USD a night, a price tag I didn’t expect to encounter in an isolated little village. It appeared that anything on the beach was out of price range, so I kept walking. I finally came across Silverise Pension.

It cost 1400 pesos, about $32 per night for a double room with AC. That was more than I wanted to pay, but I was exhausted and decided to go for it.

The upside

Hotel prices felt much higher than I thought, even though a guidebook suggested good value. In my case, the really poor deals were in the most popular parts of El Nido. Over the last few years, Prices have been increasing fast.

The best way to handle it is with a tighter budget plan and more research. I did better once I stayed in areas surrounding El Nido. A five-minute stroll down the beach can reveal tons of budget-friendly bungalows with way better value.

I saw bloggers find a great bungalow for only 600 pesos.

Tours in El Nido Aren’t Cheap

The downside

In El Nido, I was traveling on a fairly tight budget, about $40 a day. My guidebook said a trip would cost around 700-900 pesos ($15-20) for an island-hopping trip. A few months before the trip, I didn’t expect an overall increase in price.

But I saw notes that in November 2013, prices jumped to 1200-1400 pesos for tours A-C. On top of that, a 200 peso environmental fee made it compulsory for every tourist to pay more. Island hopping is the number one entertainment in El Nido, so there is no way to miss it.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I felt a little irritated. That day’s trip was double expensive as I anticipated. For one day, the cost came nearly to my full day’s budget.

The upside

Looking back, I feel kind of silly for being irritated about the $35 dollar price tag. The island hopping in El Nido was fantastic. I floated past perfect beaches, hidden lagoons, and rustic islands that felt imaginary.

It was easy to see why the Bacuit Archipelago is rumored to be the location of a real beach. I also heard it inspired Alex Garland and his famous novel, and I felt lucky enough to see it. In mere travel terms, it’s rare to get that much for $35 a day.

My Favorite Things About El Nido, Palawan

Island Hopping Tours

The boat tours in El Nido are incredible, and they show the real heart of the place. I joined Tour A and Tour C, which most people recommend, and I can say honestly, the nature felt unlike anything else.

You glide over the clearest turquoise water and slip into hidden lagoons. Then you pass massive limestone cliffs and land on stunning white-sand beaches. It was amazing, and every stop felt like a dream.

Beaches Around El Nido

Some of the best beaches I visited in the Philippines were a 30–40 minute scooter ride from the town. I rode out early and reached Nacpan Beach and Duli Beach. Both felt open and easy to enjoy.

I loved them especially because they were quiet, spacious, and super chill. The coast looked ridiculously beautiful, and it felt way better than the main beach in El Nido town.

Coron to El Nido Expedition

I went from Coron to El Nido by expedition, not the other way around. It was hands down one of the highlights of my time in Palawan. I missed the regular ferry and joined a 3-day island-hopping tour.

We stopped at remote beaches and unpopulated islands, and I thought of sleeping under the stars. The snorkeling was imaginary in untouched waters. It felt like an actual adventure, not just another tour.

The Nature in El Nido is Incredible

This article might sound harsh, but I won’t sugarcoat it: the clear and important truth is that the nature in El Nido is incredible. As I mentioned earlier, Tour A and Tour C boat tours hit the best spots. I still consider it 100% worth visiting for that alone.

You get places like Secret Lagoon, unseen beaches, kayak areas, and snorkel sites. I saw beautiful remote beaches that felt unreal, and that is honestly the main reason I rate it more than other places in the Philippines. The landscapes are iconic, even when the town isn’t.

Even though I’m a hater of El Nido town, I still believe this one place absolutely deserves a spot on a Philippines itinerary. It’s purely because you get to see so much from the tours. It includes the Coron to El Nido expedition, a whole other scenic adventure.

I also spent a full day exploring by scooter, which a lot of travelers skip. I went to Nacpan Beach and Duli Beach, and Duli felt especially empty. It was pretty much only people for miles, with golden sand and crystal-clear water.

The palm tree-lined backdrop was a Total paradise scene. I’m really happy I made the effort to get out there.

Best Things to Do in El Nido

El Nido Tour A or C

• If your main reason to come is the big highlights, Tour A is the easiest win in El Nido.
  
• Tour A is built around stunning lagoons, the kind that made me stop talking mid-boat ride.
  
• Tour C feels more adventurous, with stops that lean into hidden beaches and fewer “crowd” moments.
  
• Both tours serve nonstop beautiful scenery, so the day stays exciting even if you’re tired.
  
• I’d choose Tour A for smooth, classic views; Tour C for a more “explore” vibe in El Nido.
  
• Either way, you’ll leave feeling the beautiful scenery was worth the come for your main reason.

Sail from Coron to El Nido

• This route is way more adventurous than taking the ferry, and it starts feeling special fast.
  
• Instead of a quick ride, you commit to a multi-day trip that slows everything down in a good way.
  
• Each day lets you explore stops that don’t feel “touristy,” just raw and quiet.
  
• You hop between remote islands, with simple beach landings and open-water views.
  
• I loved that you never saw places where one sunset stop felt like it was just for us.

Explore Beaches by Scooter

• Riding out to Duli felt easy and freeing, with the road opening up bit by bit.
  
• Then Nacpan Beach hit me like a postcard: long, wide, and instantly beautiful.
  
• These two were my absolute highlights, especially when I timed them outside peak hours.
  
• Duli stayed quieter, and I could actually hear the waves between breaks.
  
• Nacpan Beach was beautiful even on a dull day, and I lingered longer than planned.

Snorkel or Paddle at Las Cabañas

• Las Cabañas is easy to reach, but my absolute highlights were still Duli and Nacpan Beach.
  
• I paddled close to shore first, and the water looked surprisingly beautiful in the sun.
  
• Snorkeling was simple and relaxed, with a few calm pockets that felt quiet between groups.
  
• After that, I kept comparing it to Nacpan Beach with bigger views, but less “activity” in one spot.
  
• If you want a softer beach day, Las Cabañas works; if you want wow, go back to Duli.

Hama Café Break

• Hama Café is one of my favorite quick pauses when my legs need a reset in town.
  
• Prices are a little overpriced, but I still go back because the vibe works.
  
• The main pull is the view, especially when the light turns soft near late afternoon.
  
• Grab a seat on the balcony so you’re above the sound and near the breeze.
  
• It’s one of those chill spots where I end up scrolling less and watching more.

Do the Zipline

• If you want a quick hit of adrenaline, this is the easy-peasy add-on day in El Nido.
  
• The beach-to-beach zipline is near Las Cabañas, so it’s simple to fit in.
  
• I was nervous for the next, but actually, the launch felt smooth and controlled.
  
• The ride is short, but super fun, with sea views rushing under you.
  
• Do it once for the story, then chill back on the sand right after the landing.

Where to Stay in El Nido, Palawan

For staying in El Nido, you have a couple of different options. I stayed in two totally different areas, so here’s a solid overview. The first choice is staying right in El Nido town.

It’s super convenient because the bus can drop you off close to where popular boat tours leave from. You also get tons of restaurants, cafés, and hotels. The only downside is it’s a bit hectic and noisy, and not the most relaxing spot, even if it’s definitely practical.

The second option is to stay outside of town, which I did for a few nights. I booked a little boutique beach resort near Nacpan Beach: Angkla Beach Club & Resort, El Nido.

Honestly, it was a nice, super remote, so don’t expect much around, but looking for peaceful luxury, it’s right on the beach with a pool, a great restaurant, and kind of perfect.

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