EL NIDO, PALAWAN
El Nido Palawan is one of the top list places we visited during my Philippines trip. There is no words to describe the place, except it is magical. It is one of those tourist places in the Philippines that I really dreamed of visiting. We only stayed there for two days and two nights instead of one week. My daughter was very sick that we needed to go out of the place as soon as we can. And we fly to Cebu soonest as we can and rested there until the baby got better. From Puerto Princesa, we hired a private van cost 10k pesos to take us to El Nido. About seven hours of a road trip. It was fun and tiring but the view along the road was so pretty.
We arrived there almost evening. And was so amazed by the view of the town. It was in the middle of the jungle and those big rocks which formed so beautifully up high there. Really beautiful. I am in love! I have never been to this kind of place before. This is like a heavenly paradise to me. I really love those high rock formation. So so pretty! We stayed at El Nido beach hotel. Not the best luxury hotel there, but the view was amazing. Okay, the photo above was the view from our hotel room. Beachfront and this amazing view. I was so happy about the hotel hubby picked and booked the night before we went there through Agoda.
We booked flights and hotel one night before our trip. I know not good, but that was good for us. We didn’t want to hurry or something or stay in one place that we don’t like to stay anymore. So we decided to book trips right away. It works well for us except we spent a lot of money that way. But it was fine. That night we booked our island hopping. Set for two days. But because of a sick baby, we canceled the other island hopping package. We traveled early morning back to Puerto Princesa the following day. But we had a whole day spent island hopping around El Nido. It was so much fun and perfect. Here are the details….. read on!
We rented a boat for about 2800 pesos. Only us, me, hubby, my sister, and baby girl. It was a combination of tour A and tour B. The wave was very strong that day so there are few islands in tour B that we didn’t visit, but we visited some of the tour C islands. It was okay because it was only us so the boat operator lets us choose what we want.
The first stop was the “Small Lagoon”.
This is the entry to the small lagoon. You have to swim going inside. And when you’re there you will be amazed. It was very nice. I do not bring a waterproof camera that is why I do not have photos inside the small lagoon. Also, it was far. I even think I cannot go there because I was scared. But the tour guide helped us and guide us so I was able to go there.
Next stop the “Big Lagoon”…
Quiet and peaceful in there. We stayed for only a few minutes to take a few photos and then we sailed again to the next lagoon. We do not stay longer at the big lagoon because the wave going there was very heavy and scary. But we went there anyway.
Next is the “Secret Lagoon“
That small hole is the entry to the secret lagoon. It is indeed a secret lagoon because it was hidden. And no one knows there is a lagoon there unless you enter in this hole. You have to be careful because there is a sharp rock underneath the water and the strong wave can drag you down. So you have to be perfect timing. Go swim slowly when the wave is slow. It’s tricky and scary and we bring the little baby there passing that little hole. But it was worth it when you are inside. The water is cooler there. So quiet and beautiful.
After visiting the lagoons, we visited a few islands like Simizu, etc. And then we stopped by at the other island to have lunch. I forgot the name of the island. All I remember was the sand was white and the water so blue and clear.
And there are two big rocks in the middle of us. Very nice. There are few tourists having lunch there as well.
Our boat operator and tour guide cooking our food. Grilled pork and fish.
My sister picking seashells while I was snapping her photos. She found few shells and said she would bring it at home as souvenirs. Oh yeah, you go sistah!!!!
That’s our simple but so yummy lunch freshly cooked for us. Being away from my home country for two years makes me miss the real BBQ so much! I love food and fruits. I was very full and happy tummy.
The “Snake Island“
After lunch, we visited the cave. I didn’t go inside this time because baby girl was sleeping. So we stayed on the boat while hubby and sis went there. The cave was nice. They had funny and crazy photos there that I cannot include here. Too funny photos. We also come to this island called snake island (photo above). If you try to look at it. The shape of the island looks like a snake. Can’t you tell? That’s our boat there waiting for us. This time hubby didn’t come, he stayed on the boat with the baby girl sleeping. We climbed up this high rock mountain to see this snake island and another amazing view you can only see perfectly when you’re up here.
This hotel costs at least 15, 000 pesos per night or around 300€ a night. It’s so beautiful but I would not waste my money there. I don’t stay in the hotel the whole day. I explore the island. Why would I pay for a very expensive hotel when I only sleep? haha I know right? practical dude!!!!
Another island I am not sure the name. This was the last island we visited until the strong heavy rain came. We sailed on a big wave making our boat dancing in the middle of the ocean. The wind was very strong as so as the rain. It was so scary. We were on our last stop the Seven Commandos island but didn’t pursue there. We stopped at the private island while waiting for the rain to stop. But the adventure didn’t end there. It happened that the island caretaker sells some buco. So happy me because I really miss young coconut so much! We eat and drink buco juice. It was so good. The owner of the island was a Filipino who married a foreigner. Of course! it makes me dream of having my own white sand island too. Grrrr….. just daydreaming yeah know!
After the rain, we sailed again going back to the main island. Exhausted and tired and happy. We were able to explore the hidden gem of El Nido. Hello El Nido, Palawan I miss you already. It was the best place ever!
In the evening baby girl was having a high fever so we decided to cancel the next day island hopping. It was okay because most of the islands are the same. And we already explored enough and we were contented. Well, there are still so many nice things to see and to do. In short, the baby girl’s health first. So the next morning as early as 6 am we traveled back to Puerto Princesa and fly to Cebu. El Nido was the best and we would like to come back here next time we will visit the Philippines.
Here are the islands that we have visited.
Island Hopping A:
Small Lagoon
Big Lagoon
Payong- payong Beach
Simizu Island
Intalula Island
Seven Commandos Beach
Island Hopping B:
Snake Island
Codugnon Cave
Cathedral Cave
Pinagbuyutan Island
South Pangulasian
Island Hopping C:
Matinloc Shrine
Tapuitan Island
Star Beach
Secret Beach
Helicopter Island
I don’t mind waking up to this view every morning. I could live there forever.
If you happen to visit the Philippines, make sure to visit El Nido Palawan. It’s an hour’s flight to Manila. A place where you can relax and do adventures if you are a beach person. You will really love it. Promise!
Glad to read of someone who has been to El Nido with a baby. We are planning a trip in a few months. How many days to you recommend staying in El Nido? Our baby will be 11 montha by then. Do you have any tips?
Hello – I am travelling to El Nido with my two small kids (one of which is a baby) next week. I was wondering, how old was your daughter when she went? Also, what company did you book the private tour with? Were life jackets required on the boat? I would love to hear more about your experience. Thanks
Hello! My daughter was one year and half year old when we went there. I can’t remember what’s the name of the tour company we used, but you can ask that from the hotel where you staying at. About life jackets they will provide and yes it is required. There is tour A, B and C. El nido is really a nice place. Have fun there with your family. It’s quite difficult though with little kids.
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I don’t mind waking up to this every morning too!! Stunning pics!
Hi! I’m a new follower of your lovely blog via GFC.
Have a nice day!