El Nido, Palawan | A Blissful Escape

Travel guide, itinerary, tips and actual expenses on El Nido, Palawan

Before my planned birthday trip to Cebu, I need to (at least) draft the second part of our Holy Week trip - El Nido, Palawan. A super delayed blog post because laziness attacks! Haha! Anyways, if you are wondering what we did on the first part, visit my Port Barton blog ☺.

Why visit El Nido?

From white sand beaches to pristine water to hidden lagoons to snorkeling and diving sites to limestone cliffs that El Nido offers, who doesn't want to escape the frenzy of city life? It is one of the sought-after getaways in the province of Palawan and ranked as number 1 in CNN Travel article - The Philippines' best beaches and islands.

El Nido, "The Nest" in Spanish, named after the edible nests of swiftlets or "balinsasayaw" as the locals call it, is found on limestone cliffs and is the main ingredient on the most expensive local soup - the Nido Soup.  You can order this on restaurants for P1,500 for 10 persons or P400 for 3-4 persons or P200 for 2 persons. Wondering why that expensive? Imagine locals harvesting these nests from very high limestone cliffs ☺.

Based on the tour packages offered by Northern Hope Ticketing and Island Tours - one of the tour operators in El Nido, there are 5 types of tour - Tour A, B, C, D and E. I think the local tourism formulated these tours to standardize the tour cost just like how it is implemented in Puerto Princesa City.

Tour A is the most famous and availed package as it consists of lagoons and beaches. Tour B for caves and coves exploration. Tour C comprises the hidden beaches and shrines. Tour D is also for beaches. If you are a fan of inland beaches and waterfalls, then avail Tour E.

El Nido Tour Map (photo courtesy of www.gopalawan.travel)

Below are the tour packages based on Northern Hope Ticketing and Island Tours:

Tours A to D include lunch and snorkel. Lunch is consists of grilled pork or chicken, fish, squid, vegetables and fruits. If you have preference, inform your tour operator. 

For Tour E, you only pay for the multicab, if you want the food to be included, coordinate it with your tour operator.

A one-time Eco-Tourism Fee is collected before the start of your island hopping tour.

The tips, travel guide, itinerary, contacts and summary of expenses for El Nido are available on this blog, so happy reading!!!

From Puerto Princesa City to El Nido:

1. There are vans with regular trips from Puerto Princesa City Airport to El Nido. A 10-seater van would cost P8,000, just try to haggle it as low as P7,000. Travel duration is 5 hours.
2. The second option is like going to Port Barton. From Puerto Princesa City, ride on a multicab (tricycle) going to San Jose terminal. Fare is approximately P60, depending on the number of passengers and travel duration is 10-15 minutes. From San Jose terminal, ride a RORO bus bound to El Nido. Bus departs at the terminal for El Nido every 2 hours and the last trip is 6PM. Fare for the aircon bus is approximately P480. These buses stop along the way to pick up passengers so expect a 6-hour travel duration. There are also non-aircon buses at the terminal but I prefer the aircon bus because part of the road to El Nido is unpaved and rough.
3. The third option is not from me. I didn't see it either in San Jose Terminal when we picked up our travel buddy there. But while drafting our itinerary, I learned from different El Nido sites that there are vans in San Jose Terminal with regular trips to El Nido. The operators are Fortwally, Eulen Joy and Lexus. Fare is P600 and travel duration is 5 hours.
4. If you have budget and you want to fly directly from Manila to El Nido, ITI - the charter airline in El Nido offers 3 flights daily but you can only book your flight 5 days before your scheduled trip.

Cebu Pacific, Zest Air, Seair, PAL Express (previously known as Airphils) and PAL have regular trips from Manila to Puerto Princesa City.

Monday, March 25, 2013

At 6AM, we left Port Barton for El Nido with the van we hired for the Puerto Princesa City - Port Barton trip. We stopped by at Fort Wally restaurant for breakfast. The cost and quantity of food here was good enough for us.

Unpaved road to El Nido

After long hours of travel, our next stop over was at a view deck few kilometers away before reaching El Nido town proper.

View from the deck

Around 11AM, we reached El Nido Public Market where we were blocked by tourism people and told us that vans coming from Puerto Princesa City are only allowed to drop tourists at the public market and asked us to ride the multicabs that will take us to our lodging/hotel at P10/head. None of us were aware of this rule so we got off the van and talked to their supervisor. Their supervisor insisted that a memo has been implemented (and provided to Puerto Princesa City van operators) stating that dropping of passengers/tourists will only be at the public market to avoid traffic and congestion in the town proper. We also insisted that we were not informed about the rule and we're not willing to ride the multicab with our heavy luggage. Of course, we rented the van for convenience! Haha! Mga pasaway! She gave up eventually and requested the van operator to inform their next passengers about the memo, and they too have to conform with El Nido's regulations. So for you to avoid this kind of hassle and argument, ask first your driver/van operator the exact drop off point in El Nido ☺.

El Nido Public Market

We proceed to Og's Pension House, the lodging I reserved for our group for 2 nights. There are lots of budget and nice lodging with beach front view aside from Og's but most were already booked the time I called for reservation. It doesn't have a website so I just relied on blogs and accommodation reviews.

Og's is an old 3-story building with a dive shop and restaurant downstairs while the view from the second floor's balcony is amazing.

View from Og's balcony

The rooms were pretty basic - we had an aircon room with 4 single beds and an extra mattress. WI-FI is free. Their staff were friendly and accommodating, and since we're group of 7 in 1 room with 1 shower/restroom, we were allowed to use the shower room on the upper floor. Most budget hotels in El Nido has a not so good water services - while some are using a communal faucet, most are dependent on deep wells so it might take you forever to finish your shower! Chos! Also note that electricity in El Nido is available from 2PM to 6AM only. Who mind if you're in the middle of your island hopping tour during these times?

Og's Pension House and Restaurant

Since our budget for this trip is limited, we usually dine in carinderias (a local eatery serving affordable meals) instead on restaurants.

Our lunch - good thing they have "kinunot" or ground shark in coconut milk

Before our lunch, I called Ate Neriza - owner of Northern Hope Ticketing and Island Tours and requested her to arrange 2 multicabs for us for our afternoon activities.

At 1PM, we were on our way to Nacpan Beach. A 45-minute bumpy ride to one of the best beaches I have been.

The rough road to Nacpan Beach

You won't believe me how stunning this beach is until you see it yourself. Truly, I was awe by its beauty - long stretch of very fine white sand, blue and calm water and the best of all, it is NOT crowded ☺.

Nacpan Beach - my favorite!!!

And if you knew Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, one of the great Filipino boxers, he owns the island across Nacpan Beach, the Latulaya Island. Actually its his gift to his wife, Jinkee Pacquiao, according to the locals. What a generous husband! I envy her! Haha!

Latulaya Island is at the right side from this view

After hours of enjoying the beach, we decided to leave and proceed to Maremegmeg Beach. We have to go back to the town proper as this beach is close to the view deck. Though we have to endure the bumpy road once more, I fell asleep on our way (it was either exhaustion or sign of aging! haha!)

Our multicab/service for Nacpan and Maremegmeg

An hour of travel on the multicab and a 5-minute walk, Maremegmeg Beach greeted us - packed with foreign tourists. My eyes wandered and saw several locals (including the one selling soft drinks, beers and snacks with her 2 cute little girls). Maremegmeg is nothing compare to Nacpan (sorry, hehehe). This beach, pronounced as "Marimagmag" is also called the Las Cabanas Beach.

Maremegmeg or Las Cabanas Beach

Here we met Moymoy, the seven-month old monkey being taken care of one of the locals who lived in Maremegmeg. According to the locals, Moymoy just fell from a tree in their backyard, get in their house and doesn't want to leave any more...nice!

with Moymoy

Moymoy is such a STAR!!! He likes foreign tourists the most

Meet Magmag (my travel buddy give that name to her) and her older sister - both cute and playful, giving their best smile on every click of the camera.

Magmag (left), her sister (right) and Joy (my travel buddy)

At 5PM, we left Maremegmeg Beach and called it a day ☺.

While others are enjoying their shower, the boys and I took a stroll on the town to search for places to dine.

Ice Cream!!!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I first met Ate Neriza when she went to Og's the other night to discuss our Day 2 itinerary. She's very accommodating, considerate and helpful. I recommend you contact her if you plan to visit El Nido. Another good thing about Northern Ticketing is that their snorkeling gear is mostly new ☺.

Our itinerary for this day was a combination of Tour A & C. Yes! That is possible if you want to maximize your limited stay in El Nido. Just coordinate it with your tour operator.

Also consider bringing your own drinking water to ensure that you will not run out of supply for the whole-day activity.

I will not let you wait any longer to witness how picturesque El Nido is by writing every little details of the tour as you might get bored ☺. So again, let the pictures speak for itself.

Helicopter Island. Its limestone cliffs looks like a helicopter when viewed from afar. Some of my travel buddies said that it looked like a whale, others said it's like the leg part of Jollibee's chicken. For me it's like a man sleeping with its mouth open.
To Do: Explore the island, swimming

Helicopter Island

Hidden Beach. We found the Hidden Beach! Wahaha! You will not notice the entrance to this beach unless the boatman informed you. With the clear water teasing us, we were tempted to swim and do snorkeling - my first time to see Nemo in El Nido!

To Do: Swimming, Snorkeling

Boats were lined up at the entrance of the Hidden Beach

Passage to Hidden Beach

Blue clam in Hidden Beach

Finding Nemo in El Nido

Photo Ops @ Hidden Beach (Agdie, me, Meong, Joy, Ivy)

Matinloc Island and Matinloc Shrine. Before heading to Matinloc Shrine, we docked at the nearby island for lunch - the Matinloc Island. Fine white sand, high cliffs that will protect you from the heat of the sun, good rock/limestone cliffs formation and school of fishes, what else would you ask for while waiting for your lunch to be ready? Haha! 

To Do: Lunch, Swimming, Snorkeling

Matinloc Shrine, however, was used to be a retreat house. It has a gazebo with Christ's statue. Just beside the gazebo is the entrance to a small cave-like opening with Sto. Niño's statue.

To Do: Pray and explore the place

Matinloc Island from afar

Limestone cliffs

Boatman preparing our lunch

Joy looking for seaweeds - added menu on our lunch

Matinloc Island underwater

Matinloc Shrine from afar 

The Gazebo in Matinloc Shrine

Statue of Sto. Niño

Abandoned rooms in Matinloc Shrine

Secret Beach. It's no longer a secret since lots of tourists were already enjoying the place when we arrived! Haha! To reach this beach, you have to swim then enter a narrow opening surrounded by rock walls.

To Do: Swimming

At the back is the narrow opening to the Secret Beach

Secret Beach

Secret Lagoon. This is divided into two - on the left is the narrow entrance to the lagoon where you need to crouch and crawl a bit to get to the other side, while the other is a long stretch of fine white sand surrounded by coconut trees.

To Do: Swimming and island exploration

Secret Lagoon

Entrance to the Secret Lagoon

Inside Secret Lagoon

The white sand outside Secret Lagoon

Simizu Island. Named after a Japanese diver whose body was seen dead on this island, it is said to be one of the best spots for snorkeling.

To Do: Snorkeling

Underwater of Simizu Island

Small Lagoon. This can be reach through a crack of limestone cliffs.

To Do: Swimming

Can you spot the entrance to the lagoon? It's in front of the small boat

Inside Small Lagoon

7 Commandos. Named after the 7 commandos who lived in this island, it's a perfect place for your sunset photo ops ☺. Nothing much to do on its long stretch of fine white sand.

To Do: Swimming, jump shots while waiting for the sun to disappear

7 Commandos

Jump shots at 7 Commandos

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Before the Holy Week trip, I told Ate Neriza that we wanted an overnight experience in one of the islands in El Nido. She delightedly welcome the request and even suggested that we rent her tents instead of paying for the cottage on the island that cost more than what we budgeted. So this is the day that we've been waiting for - island camping in El Nido!

At 8AM, we checked-out at Og's and proceed to Ate Neriza's lodging where we could secure our luggage. I didn't know that apart from tour operation, she also has rooms for budget travelers like us.

The boys and I went to the public market to buy food for our dinner. We requested Ate Neriza to  cook it for us ☺.

We were not able to visit the Big Lagoon which is part of Tour A because we ran out of time. So we headed on Big Lagoon first for this day's itinerary. A foreign couple who arrived in El Nido the previous night also joined our tour. This means that if you will travel alone to El Nido, or with your partner with limited budget, you can tell your tour operator that you are willing to join the other groups.

Big Lagoon. Wikipedia said it already - a tranquil turquoise-green waters of its orchid-lined limestone walls.
To Do: Enjoy the scenery

Big Lagoon

Snake Island. With its sandbar that resembles a "snake" during low tide, both are shallow swimming areas. Also known as "Vigan" island, it is best to hike the trail like what most of the tourists did if you want a 360-degree view of this island. It is also a good place for a picnic lunch.

To Do: Swimming

Snake Island

Cudugnon Cave. Few steps away from the beach where the boat will dock is the narrow entrance to this cave. Like the Secret Lagoon, one has to crouch and crawl a little to get inside the cave. Since I've been to different caves, for me, there is nothing special on this one aside from the fact that this is an anthropological site, where potteries and jewelries were yielded during Sung Dynasty (960-1279 BC).

To Do: Cave exploration

Ivy on her way inside the cave

Inside Cudugnon Cave

Cathedral Cave. It is a cathedral-like cavern with very high ceiling but the opening is too small for our boat. You can go inside if you know how to swim, or with kayak, but both were not  possible during that time because of the very strong waves so our guides just told us to have a glimpse of the underwater.

To Do: Be amaze with the limestone cliffs formation, snorkeling

Cathedral Cave from afar

Entrance to Cathedral Cave

Fresh-catch shells of our guide from the underwater of Cathedral Cave

Popolkan Island. I haven't seen this name from El Nido sites and just learned it from Ate Neriza, but this island is a good place for snorkeling.

To Do: Snorkeling

Popolkan Island from afar

Underwater of Popolkan Island

Pinagbuyutan Island. At 5PM, our boatman dropped us on this island where we stayed overnight and they proceed to the mainland to drop the foreign tourists.

To Do: Ovenight camping, swimming

Pinagbuyutan Island from afar

Pinagbuyutan Island

Killing time at Pinagbuyutan Island

Jump shot the making ☺

Sunset at Pinagbuyutan Island (photo courtesy of Joy)

Around 8PM, the boat arrived with our tent and dinner! Yey!

Setting up our tent

Our version of bonfire

Our guide

Good morning Pinagbuyutan!!!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

We left Pinagbuyutan Island at 7AM and proceed to Ate Neriza's lodging to shower and finally settle our bill. She also arranged the van that will take us back to Puerto Princesa.

To summarize our expenses (excluding airfare):

A bucket-list trip at a steal of P5700 - great value for money isn't it?

Contacts:
Og's Pension House - +639167070393
Ate Neriza of Northern Hope Ticketing Tours - +639399022216