Philippines is a country filled with the most beautiful landscapes, natural beauty, white color beaches and home to thousands of islands, making it an ideal country to spend your precious travel time with nature in Asia. When you simply type in Google or scroll about what are the country’s breathtaking beauty and natural landscapes, surely you came across the name of EI Nido.
A lot of people, including backpackers, thought that EI Nido is a small urban areas, no such great travel spots available to explore. But it is not true, when we went deeper about the travel aspect of EI Nido we came to know that, EI Nido is not just a town, moreover it is heaven for natural backpackers.
Even if you call it EI Nido is one of the underrated travel destinations in Asia, there is no much surprise in that. Despite its ample natural beauty, landscapes and vibrant water activities, the destination is unknown for many global backpackers, waiting to explore its beauty.
Therefore today we came up with a brief article about the EI Nido in Palawan, in order to help visitors especially for those who are willing to take Ei Nido as an upcoming travel destination or want to know more about this destination or wish more insights of what are different types of things to do in EI Nido.
Related Search: Visit Phi Phi Island, Thailand.
Things to Do in EI Nido
Under EI Nido there are multiple things available for us to explore, but the interesting part is activities and things here we can enjoy in different aspects. For clear understanding we bifurcated it into three parts, visitors can choose which one is ideal to them.
1. Free Things to Do in El Nido
1.1 Visit EI Nido’s Local Markets
If you are a budget conscious traveller looking to enjoy things without spending a penny, then you need to start your day from EI Nido local markets. Since the market is so vast where visitors can freely take leisurely stroll amidst the market. Since it is a public market where visitors go to see local items like fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. Additionally, the market is home to many local restaurants that help us to taste seafood items like grilled fish, prawns and lobster.
The market often connects to locals and tourists through their local lifestyle and experiences of the vibrant culture such as skills like handmade crafts and pottery. Try to visit Kalye Artisano is another budget conscious option under EI Nido local market, it is a complex where small/petty shops exist and offers the regions best unique handcraft items and souvenirs.
Filipino life adds more value to this public market, especially Filipino street foods. It helps us to catch and learn local traditions, local delicacies, community life, and customs through tasting bakery items, visiting their shops, dine and attending any social gathering. Make sure that if you like street gambling games, there are probably some chances to make it, but check properly whether it is legal or illegal.
1.2 Take Hiking to Taraw Cliff Viewpoint
Spending time hiking in Taraw Cliff Viewpoint is another free thing in EI Nido. Taraw Cliff is located on the right in the heart of EI Nido town, often considered as the most popular activity for adventure backpackers who are looking for challenging hiking routes.
During your hiking journey backpackers are more blessed to enjoy the panoramic views of EI Nido’s limestone formations, Bacuit Bay including surrounding islands and town views. It is a natural landmark that offers more scenic beauty and outdoor enthusiasm which help photographers to take a perfect click to their Instagram pages. While on your journey backpackers go to spot dramatic scenic views, with towering cliffs, crystal clear turquoise waters and natural settings, creating the most picturesque backdrop to your journey.
The trail is completely free of cost, since it is so rough and challenging hiking trails, we insist on choosing a valid guide to understand the summit more and to enjoy more rewarding experiences. We recommend you to take a hike during sunrise or sunset, when the weather is cool and you’ll not experience much harsh and extreme conditions during hiking.
Taking precautionary measures is must and should, along with your guide visitors need to hold sturdy shoes or sneakers with good grip, gloves and jackets to escape from more harsh damages. Always follow your guide and enjoy every nearby scenic beauty.
1.3 Relax at Nacpan Beach
Another popular activity is located in the north side of EI Nido town on Palawan Island, where you can enjoy things or relax at Nacpan Beach without spending money. Truly a gem for beach lovers that stretch for 4 km of palm trees, crystal clear waters and white color sands, making it one of the most beautiful beaches in Asia.
Relaxing at Nacpan Beach is truly based on walking along the pristine shores of Nacpan Beach. Its vast stretching of coastlines offers us breathtaking stroll experiences, spots for relaxing ambiances, swimming and allows us to take perfect photos. Often considered for its more intimate setting environment where even couples can travel and spot some of the romantic ambiances.
Part of the “Twin Beach” Nacpan Beach is close access to the nearby fishing village and Calitang Beach, it is known for its incredible sunset views and Dabdal Bay View. Compared to other famous beaches in the Philippines, Nacpan is an underrated one and undeveloped too. So, if you are the kind of traveler looking to spend time sunbathing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, surely you can spend your quality of time here.
Visiting Nacpan Beach is also a crucial task, it explains how we will enjoy its beauty, since every season is not ideal. Dry season (November to May) is the most recommended one, it helps us to swim, have great sunset views and experience beach lounging.
2. Things to Do in EI Nido at Night
If you are not satisfied or looking to do some more additional activities in EI Nido especially during night time, landmarks well known for some travel things to enjoy during night time.
2.1 Explore Night Market
Visiting the market is a unique experience and you’re going to enjoy some of the things which you are unable to find during day time. EI Nido night market exhibits some of the unforgettable experiences in Palawan, where visitors encounter thrilling journeys of restaurants, cuisines options, souvenirs shops and some adventure feelings.
Once the sun dips below the horizon, EI Nido casts long shadows across the beach front, making us take the most thrilling journey in the heart of the Filipino streets. If you are a food lover then, surely it is a great idea to be a part of this market, since it contains a number of restaurants that serve multiple mouthwater cuisines like Balut, Adidas, Fish Balls, Isaw and Tuna Kinilaw.
Fish Balls are a must try dish in night markets especially after sunset. It is a traditional Filipino street food, primarily made by the deep fried orbs of fish, served on skewers, dipping sauces and other unique flavour served as a side dishes. In the same way, Adidas cuisines sit in the same seat, purely made by the grilled chicken feet blend of species with delightful textures and savory flavours.
There is some information you need to keep in mind while strolling amidst this night market. The market is not always cash friendly especially during night time. It is better to keep sufficient cash during your shopping’s and the market could be more filled by the bustling crowds probability of theft and travel scams is high, so be careful about your belongings.
2.2 Stroll in the Town Proper
The Town Proper hub of the region’s incredible natural beauty contains the country’s best stunning limestone cliffs, lagoons and beaches. Therefore taking a leisurely stroll is very crucial to enjoy the series of town beauty. Besides its natural beauty, perhaps the town is even more known for its main gateway to Bacuit Archipelago. Often called as EI Nido Town, Town proper served as the commercial centre during ancient period and tourist hub in present centuries.
While during your walking you are even more fortunate to spot diverse marine life and crystal clear waters. If you stroll just looking for restaurants or cafes or accommodation options then the city will not disappoint you, offering a range of budget friendly luxury resorts, a wide range of accommodations and small cafes, bars, and shops.
Streets like Serena Street and Hama Street are ideal places to find our preferred shops, cafes and restaurants and each one is parallel from budget friendly to premier. An interesting factor is that this city welcomes any sort of visitor whether you are a nature lover or looking for food or accommodations and simply stroll for relaxation during night time, the Town properly appreciates you.
No matter what your intention is to be at Town Proper, we insist you to be a part of the Island Hopping Tour. In Simple Island hopping is an activity where travelers can travel from one island to another. Since, EI Nido is full of islands, beaches and lagoons, island hopping is a qualifying activity under Town Proper’s Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon and Secret Beach.
Since your journey is at night time, don’t miss out on enjoying the city’s vibrant night life, live music venues and cultural dance programmes. It keeps your night trip more fun and entertaining.
2.3 Enjoy Sunset at Las Cabanas Beach
If you are looking to spend your time with family or solely under EI Nido’s beaches during night time then probably you need to hear about the sunset beauty of Las Cabanas Beach. An ideal beach to watch the sunset with more calm waves and peaceful ambiances, Las Cabanas Beach is always more breathtaking and tranquil especially under moonlight.
Located where you need to take just 15 minutes of journey from the centre of the town. Immediately after you step into this sandy beach it welcomes you to indulge and makes you to the part of the live music venues, cocktails, beach bars for hangouts and some sunset activities.
Sunset at Las Cabanas is recognised as the most picturesque one, if you bring a camera you’ll get plenty of the most beautiful views to capture. Since it is lined the beachfront, palm trees and warm tropical waters alongside makes us spend more time with vibrant night atmospheres.
Despite its beauty and tranquil ambiances, Las Cabanas is home to some restaurants which exclusively serve amenities to its guests during night time. Las Cabanas Beach Resort is a renowned accommodation option where you can enjoy evening cocktails, bars, live music and band venues along with try dish samples like grilled seafood skewers.
3 Unique Things to Do in EI Nido
Along with free things to do and things to do at night, visitors are very blessed to enjoy some of the unique things to do in EI Nido. What are the unique activities you’ll going to experience here won’t able to find anywhere in the world and each one is different.
3.1 Island Hopping
Among all your activities here in EI Nido, Island Hopping always sits in the first place, such a mind blowing activity preferred by most of the world’s backpackers. Island hopping taking you to different ideal spots of the regions like beaches where crystal clear water and soft white sands located, sharp and unique cliff surrounding lagoons, caves, sandbars and other beautiful natural views exist.
Island Hopping is bifurcated into 4 major designated tours as A,B,C and D, among which A is most preferred by the visitors and even more popular too. If you are confused why A is popular, the answer is simple, it takes you to paradise island, Shimizu Island, Seacrest Lagoon, Big Lagoon and Payong Payong Beach. However, A tours allow us enjoy snorkeling, swimming and kayaking.
This tour includes little cost, where visitors need to keep money to pay for rentals and fees. For example if you go to Big Lagoon there you need to pay $4 or 200 HP, likewise everything available to us for a certain amount of fee/rentals.
In the same way tour B allows us to step into the world famous Snake Island, Entalula Island, Cathedral Cave and Cudgeon Cave. Even though it’s less popular than Tour A, tour B is a good idea for those who dislike huge crowds, like open water explorers and beach waves.
Tour C is nothing very popular but a little surprising tour, it offers the same feeling that you’ll get during tour B. Island Hopping under tour C is even more calmer than A and B, during journey visitors might find some of the unknown or underrated beaches of EI Nido like Secrest Beach, Talisay Beach, Hidden Beach.
If you have time during island hopping, then only go to tour D, not much recommended and not super friendly when it comes to destinations. Normally it stops at Small Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Bukal Beach and Cadlao Lagoon.
Make sure that each tour tries to exhibit something new and each one passes unique attractions that allow us to indulge in the most epic beauty of nature. If you are budget conscious it is a good idea to skip tour A and take B,C or D.
3.2 Visit Secret Lagoon of EI Nido
Your unique things to do in EI Nido also will extend in order to visit the Secret Lagoon of EI Nido. Such a mindblowing destination Secret Lagoon located in the Miniloc Island where emerald waters are covered by the towering limestone cliffs. The lagoon welcomes visitors from very narrow passages and leads to the most beautiful lagoon of Ei Nido.
Often known for its pristine waters and stunning surrounding rock formations, secret lagoon is only accessible either kayaking or swimming from a small opening, surrounded by the towering karst limestone, giving a very narrow entrance. Once you enter its full display there are plenty of diverse marine life exist along with its scenic natural beauty.
Swimming is one of the ideal activities to help us to explore the Secret Lagoon through the opening in the rocks and allow us to swim under tranquil crystal clear water with marine life. If you’re not a big fan of swimming, then probably kayaking is your next choice. This helps to take the lagoon to the densest areas and beneath caves, where you couldn’t swimming easily. Kayaking is exhibited with a more breathtaking perspective of limestone formations and emerald waters. If you are going with a camera, then do not miss to take the perfect captures of surrounding limestone formations, clean water surfaces and beautiful surroundings during your kayak tour.
If you have a plan to take Island hopping especially under tour A, you’ll need not to take any separate trip to Secret Lagoon. While your tour A stops at Secret Lagoon and this is a common yet recommended tour including its itinerary. Visit during the middle of November to May, when weather perfect for island hopping and swimming or kayaking.
3.3 Enjoy Cruise Journey in Big Lagoon
Like Secret Lagoon, Big Lagoon is another most renowned place in the EI Nido located on Miniloc Island. But the activities you’re going to take in Big Lagoon are completely different, Cruise is a most renowned and recommended activity here since it is the largest lagoon in the EI Nido. One of the easiest ways to reach Big Lagoon is through Tour A of island hopping.
Big Lagoon Cruise helps photographers take the most breathtaking images through their cruise journey. Passing amidst the towering cliffs and limestone rock formations, each photo you are going to click will blow your mind. Visitors have an option to choose either traditional boat or private or luxurious cruise options to explore.
We suggest you choose Island Hopping Tour A for your Big Lagoon cruise tour for a better experience and more convenience. It allows you to experience the breathtaking beauty of Big Lagoon through different cruise options or help to enjoy the lagoon through different activities. However, the tour also takes you to some other landmarks of the EI Nido.
3.4 Spend Your Time in EI Nido Art Cafe Restaurant and Bar
It is very important to finish your things/ activities here in EI Nido in order to visit one of the unique restaurants and taste local cuisines. So, we are going to recommend you to visit EI Nido’s Art Cafe Restaurant and Bar. Compared to other popular restaurants, this one is totally unique and offers delightful breakfast, lunches and romantic dinners under its more artistic settings.
Including vegan and vegetarian cuisine options, restaurant highlighting local flavours of Palawan and organic dishes made by the produce sourced from nearby farmlands. The cafe always tries to keep its customers more entertaining in order to offer live music performances, vibrant tea selections and cozy atmosphere through intrinsic pictures and painting in the walls makes every guest curious.
It is better idea to book your seat for your family, since it includes an outdoor seating feature where you and your family make dining in the midst of the EI Nido’s most stunning scenic views. No matter if you are visiting with your family, solo or with your partner, EI Nido art cafe could be the greatest point for your dining journey to make unforgettable dining experiences. So, don’t miss it.
Top 5 EI Nido Hotels
Each hotel that we’re going to explain is blended by multiple amenities options, offers stunning locations, most elegant and premier rooms and mouth-watering delicious cuisine options. I know if you are already planning your trip to EI Nido and looking for a perfect place to stay, don’t worry, these below 5 hotels are for you.
1. Lagen Island Resort
Location: Lagen Island Resort is a premier hotel option in EI Nido located in the Bacuit Bay Archipelago, prime location of Lagen Island. Its location is always captivating the mind of its visitors by its epic location surrounded by lush greenery and beautiful beaches.
Rooms: Lagen Island Resort offers 51 rooms to their guests, rooms are available to visitors in 3 different ways like Forest rooms and suites, Water cottages and Beachfront cottages. Each one is uniquely located in a different part of the resort, where guests could expect modern amenities, cozy atmospheres and blending comfort with nature.
Amenities: There is an outdoor swimming pool, spa/wellness centres, on site spa, gift shops and newsstand, space for business meetings and sightseeing’s. If you go with your family, the children’s resort caters through babysitting/ child care, concierge desk, supervised child activities and safe deposit boxes.
Cuisines: Just try a variety of local and global dishes and cuisines options especially if you love sea foods, grilled items or Filipino flavours of dishes.
2. Cabanas Beach Resort
Location: Cabanas Beach Resort located in Cabanas Beach on Palawan, situated where pristine waters and coral reefs exist more in number. It’s ideal locations help us to catch beautiful sunset views, enjoy the zipline and swim in Cabanas Beach.
Rooms: Cabanas known for its condo-style accommodation options where 8 inclusive rooms available to its guest including adult friendly total. Rooms purely made for those who seeking more intimate feeling, calm atmospheres and perfect view of Cabanas beach.
Amenities: same like other resorts in EI Nido, Cabanas offers basic amenities like private beach facilities, restaurants, open bar, outdoor swimming pool, and water sports.
Cuisines: Guests can taste grilled salads, evening cocktails and sea foods along with local Filipino menu items. If you love vegan food, then it is a great idea to be part of this resort where plenty of vegan food options are available including fruit juice items.
3. EI Nido Resorts in Miniloc Island
Location: EI Nido Resort perched on Miniloc Island, where visitors easily encounter most panoramic views of the dramatic limestone karsts and crystal clear lagoon waters.
Rooms: Miniloc Island has a total 47 rooms each one that are thatch roofed and furnished with indigenous Filipino materials. Both floors and roofs are made of wood and the walls are covered in woven bamboo slats. Rooms options include water cottages, beachside room, garden cottages, deluxe seaview rooms, and seaview room.
Amenities: Since Miniloc island is located close to the water so guests obviously expect more water sports, along with you’ll experience eco tours, eco tours and option to spend time at beachfront restaurants.
Cuisines: Dining experience is super interesting here, Miniloc Island boasts locally sourced food stuffs like seafoods and buffet style meals. However, guests must be thankful for its international cuisine ranges such as Sushi and sea foods.
4. The Beach House
Location: The Beach House located in the central part of EI Nido city renowned for its relaxed atmospheres guests can access multiple water based activities since the house has its own dive centre.
Rooms: Beach House welcomes its guests from a wide range of room options, ranging from private en suite room options to best town views rooms. Each room contains modern amenities, if you like shared bathrooms you can access here.
Amenities: Amenities contains rooftop bar, cafe, diving options, wide range of accommodations and vast dining areas. One of the interesting elements under the beach house is the diving centre. It allows onside diving options around EI Nido for any skill level divers.
Cuisines: Enjoy casual meals under its Beach Cafe and taste snacks and evening cocktails with local savouring in Cloud9 bar. Don’t miss the evening sunset view of the beach and island while tasting cuisine.
5. Charlie’s EI Nido
Location: Situated in the Barangay Villa Libertad, more secluded area of Palawana region. Located where visitors so easily access Lio Airport, Nido main Beach and Lio Beach.
Rooms: Charlie’s caters its visitors from 55 rooms ranging from deluxe rooms, family and premier rooms. Each one has similar basic amenities like fitness centres, free Wi-Fi, mini bar, A/C and free toiletries.
Amenities: Guests can expect a good number of hotel amenities like meeting rooms (upto to the capacity of 40 guests), gift shops, lobby lounge, yoga areas, fitness centre and swimming pool.
Cuisines: Restaurants menu contains both local and international cuisine options. Charlie’s restaurant, Charlie’s Cocktail Bar, Liam’s Beach Cafe and Charlie’s Kubo and Baking Studio are options available for us to choose where to eat and drink. Every centre has different menu options so choose wisely which one you wanna taste.
Related Article: Things You Should Know about Hanoi, Vietnam.
