El Nido was a blast! We were exhausted after three days of non-stop boat rides, snorkeling, beach bumming, and hiking around the archipelago that surrounds this small town. People compare the mountains and rock formations here to Halong Bay in Vietnam. The limestone cliffs in Halong are more colorful but these seem more imposing, diverse, and spread apart. We went to hidden beaches, lagoons, caves, saw a ton of sea life, coral, and met (literally) boat loads of interesting people.

 

The overnight cargo ship ride from Coron to El Nido was an adventure in itself. We would suggest doing all three of the three (main) tours they offer, A, B, and C. Some people balk at the word “tour”, but they are only tours in the sense that you will require a boat and guide to get to these places. There’s no way around it, and they are very affordable at around $14 per person, per day, including lunch.

What We Learned

 

- The backpacker center of El Nido is a place called “Art Botique.” It’s a western-owned, newly built, two-story building not far from the dock. They have a professionally run restaurant, free Wi-Fi, a good happy hour, great live music, and a good view. Don’t book your tours here however, they are much more expensive than elsewhere.

 

- The electricity is off in the city from 6am until 2pm. So there is no need for an alarm clock. Your will begin sweating and wake up in time to catch your 9am tour boat.