Where to stay in El Nido

El Nido sits at the northern tip of Palawan, facing the limestone islands of Bacuit Bay. Most people come for the island-hopping: boats leave the town beach each morning for hidden lagoons, sandbars and snorkelling spots among the karst cliffs, and come back in time for sunset.

The town itself is small, busy and built for travellers, with guesthouses, dive shops, tour desks and restaurants packed into a few streets behind the beach. The places we list are mostly simple guesthouses and small hotels in or near the town, which is where tours start. Filter them below, or read the area guide first.

Nearest airport
El Nido (Lio) Airport, a few kilometres north of town, with flights from Manila
Main gateway
Puerto Princesa, roughly 5 to 6 hours south by road
Getting around
Tricycles, scooter hire and tour boats
Driest months
Usually December to May

Places to stay in El Nido

4 hotels

Hotel in El Nido town

RL Harbor Inn

Every room has its own balcony or terrace, a short walk from the boats

  • terrace
  • air-conditioning
  • free Wi-Fi
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"Our order" puts hotels we have fully written up first. Commission doesn't affect the order.

Where to stay in El Nido, area by area

Most visitors stay in El Nido town, close to the boats. Corong Corong, just south, is quieter with sunset views, while the beaches to the north need transport but give you more space.

El Nido town

Best for island-hopping tours and eating out

The town, known locally as the poblacion, is squeezed between the bay and the towering limestone of Taraw Cliff. Its narrow streets are lined with guesthouses, cafés, bars and tour agencies, and the long town beach doubles as the departure point for most island-hopping boats.

Staying here means you can walk to your boat in the morning and choose from dozens of restaurants in the evening. The trade-off is noise and crowds in the peak months, and the town beach is busy with boats rather than ideal for swimming. Caalan Beach, at the northern end, is a quieter patch of sand within walking distance.

Corong Corong & Las Cabanas

Best for sunsets and a calmer base

Corong Corong is a strip of resorts and guesthouses along the bay a short tricycle ride south of town. It faces west, so sunsets over the islands are the main event, and evenings are much quieter than in the poblacion.

Further south, Las Cabanas (also called Marimegmeg) Beach is one of the most popular sunset spots on the mainland, with beach bars and a zipline. Some tour operators pick up from Corong Corong, but you will often head into town to join a boat.

Lio, Nacpan & the north

Best for long empty beaches

North of town, Lio is a planned beachfront development beside the airport, with a long white-sand beach, shops and restaurants. It is tidier and more spacious than the poblacion, and handy for flights.

Nacpan Beach, a long golden curve backed by palms, is roughly an hour's drive north and is best treated as a day trip unless you want real seclusion. You will need a scooter, a hired tricycle or a van to get around up here.

Questions about staying in El Nido

Should I stay in El Nido town or Corong Corong?

El Nido town if you want to walk to your boat and have plenty of restaurants nearby. Corong Corong if you prefer quieter evenings and sunsets, and don't mind a short tricycle ride into town.

How do I get to El Nido?

The quickest way is a direct flight from Manila to El Nido's Lio Airport, though seats are limited and fares are usually higher. Most travellers fly to Puerto Princesa instead and take a shared van or bus north, which takes around 5 to 6 hours. Boats also link El Nido with Coron, a trip of several hours.

What are the El Nido island-hopping tours?

The standard boat tours are labelled A, B, C and D, each visiting a different set of lagoons, beaches and snorkelling spots in Bacuit Bay. They can be booked through your guesthouse or any tour desk in town. An environmental fee is charged on top; check the current amount locally.

When is the best time to visit El Nido?

The dry season, from about December to May, brings the calmest seas and the most reliable island-hopping. From June to October the south-west monsoon can bring rain and rough water, and tours are sometimes cancelled.

Is Nacpan Beach close to El Nido town?

Not really. It's about an hour north by road, so most people visit on a day trip by scooter, tricycle or shared van.

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