9 Best Beaches in El Nido: Where to Catch Sun & Sand in Palawan
By Daniella from Sampler Platter Travel – this guide to El Nido contains affiliate links to trusted partners!
Looking for the best beaches in El Nido, Palawan, the Philippines?
If you want white sand beaches, relaxation, and soaking up the sun, El Nido is the destination for you! It is a fantastic town on the top tip of the island of Palawan, attracting young backpackers looking to meet new friends and embark on island-hopping adventures.
We adored our trip to the town last April where we met so many fellow travelers and took a wonderful full-day island hopping tour. On top of the traditional boat tours, there are so many beaches to experience on El Nido’s mainland, 9 of which we’d like to highlight.
In this guide, we will outline the top beaches on the mainland, those accessible by boat, which boat tours to take, and finally, where to stay in the town of El Nido.
El Nido is a great place to spend a long weekend before heading to Coron, Palawan.
Happy sampling!
9 Best Beaches in El Nido, Palawan
- Corong Corong Beach
- Marimegmeg Beach
- Las Cabañas Beach
- Nacpan Beach
- Lio Beach
- Papaya Beach
- Entalula Beach
- Vigan Island
- Secret Beach
Beaches on the Mainland
1. Corong Corong Beach
Distance from El Nido Town: 20-minute walk south
Corong Corong Beach is the most beautiful beach in El Nido that is still within walking distance from the town. It is quite surprising that even though it is super close to the central area, it has significantly fewer crowds than other beaches.
Most travelers take boat tours to the other islands in El Nido and completely ignore Corong Corong! This makes it a quiet beach that is perfect for swimming and reading. It is definitely worth a visit, but make sure to add a towel to your Philippines packing list.
2. Marimegmeg Beach
Distance from El Nido Town: 15-minute tricycle ride south
Technically part of the same coast as Corong Corong, Marimegmeg Beach is further down the shoreline and provides an air of luxury.
You can rent a cabana for the day or grab a drink at the beach bar.
Just steps from Marimegmeg Beach is Vanilla Beach. Contrary to the name, Vanilla Beach is actually a strip mall! And it’s El Nido’s one and only strip mall. It has a row of local shops and restaurants along a beautiful beachfront avenue.
3. Las Cabañas Beach
Distance from El Nido Town: 10-minute tricycle ride north
Las Cabañas Beach is an ideal location for sunset viewing. It has a small restaurant offering tacos and drinks. The rustic beach is a great destination for evening dinner and drinks to watch the sky turn pink.
4. Nacpan Beach
Distance from El Nido Town: 40-minute tricycle ride north
Nacpan Beach is considered to be one of the most beautiful strips of beach in the Philippines, stretching over 4 kilometers. It has super soft sand, beautiful palm trees, and is a great place to spend the day and relax in paradise. Nacpan is quiet, secluded, and makes you feel like you are in a travel ad for luxury.
5. Lio Beach
Distance from El Nido Town: 15-minute tricycle ride north
Lio Beach offers wonderful activities on top of just sitting on a beach. It is home to organized sports such as volleyball, sea kayaking, soccer, and more.
If you are looking to do more than sun tan, Lio Beach is the place to go. It is a lot busier and more developed than the other beaches, leaning more towards tourism and events than untouched nature.
El Nido Beaches Only Accessible by Boat
6. Papaya Beach
Visit on Boat Tour A
Papaya Beach is a busy but beautiful beach that is a frequent stop on El Nido boat tours. It has a bar as well as restroom facilities where you can hang out and relax before continuing on your island-hopping adventure.
Personally, I am not the biggest fan of Papaya Beach, because I got stung by a jellyfish there! For those who are lucky enough to avoid interacting with a jelly, it is a great location.
7. Entalula Beach
Visit on Boat Tours A and B
Entalula is a stunning beach that is frequently used by boat tours as a spot for lunch. It has great sun coverage with thick trees, and it even has a small shack where you can buy beer. It is a great place to hang out, sit in the water, and just catch a break from the sun.
8. Vigan Island
Visit on Boat Tour B
Vigan Island, also known as Snake Island, is a popular beach spot shaped like a snake. More of a sand bar than a beach per se, it measures 3 km long and is an amazing place to walk around. Vigan Island connects 2 small islands, letting you walk between them.
9. Secret Beach
Visit on Boat Tour C
If you are planning to visit Coron, you will realize that the Secret Beach is very similar to the Twin Lagoon in Coron.
This dazzling beach is completely surrounded by limestone cliffs. It is only accessible by a small opening through the cliffs that you have to swim through.
Don’t be afraid to make the swim, though! During low tide, you can see the other side, so you don’t even have to submerge your head in the water.
Best El Nido Boat Tours
El Nido makes boat tours very easy, splitting them up into Tours A, B, C, and D. No matter what tour company you choose, they have streamlined the activities across the board. If you can, we suggest booking your tour through your accommodation, as it will be more reputable, and you won’t have to sort through various companies.
Tour A
- Highlights: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commandos Beach
- Big Lagoon: Famous for towering limestone cliffs and beautiful clear water, perfect for snorkeling and kayaking
- Small Lagoon: Great serene environment for kayaking and swimming
- Secret Lagoon: Can be accessed through a small rock crevice and offers a cool exploring experience
- Shimizu Island: A spot for lunch and beach relaxation
- Seven Commandos Beach: Super picturesque white beach with coconut trees
Tour B
- Highlights: Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave, Pinagbuyutan Island, Entalula Island
- Snake Island: Long sandbar that shifts with the tide, awesome views of the surrounding islands
- Cudugnon Cave: Prehistoric cave with rock formations and a small chamber
- Cathedral Cave: Looks like a cathedral interior, although it is only accessible during low tide
- Pinagbuyutan Island: Awesome beach and coral reefs that are great for snorkeling
- Entalulua Island: Fine sand beach with clear waters that make for great swimming
Tour C
- Highlights: Hidden Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island, Tapiutan Island
- Matinloc Shrine: A historical site with panoramic views of the sea and islands
- Secret Beach: Enclosed by limestone cliffs, accessible through a small opening, has a great swimming spot
- Helicopter Island: Named for the silhouette that looks like a helicopter, with vibrant coral reefs and marine life
- Tapiutan Island: Pristine beaches, cliffs, and great views
Tour D
- Highlights: Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan Cove, Nat Nat Beach, Bukal Island
- Cadlao Lagoon: Lagoon surrounded by mangroves and cliffs, great kayaking spot
- Paradise Beach: White sand and turquoise water (well named!)
- Pasandigan Cove: Quiet beach with calm water, perfect for picnics and swimming
- Nat Nat Beach: Peaceful atmosphere with beautiful scenery
- Bukal Island: Known for coral reefs and diverse marine life, great snorkeling
Where to Stay in El Nido
El Nido Town
The first option is to stay in the town of El Nido, which is great if you want to be close to the ferry port as well as restaurants, cafes, and stores. The town is a bit less charming than some of the outskirts, but just because you won’t get immediate beach access, it is certainly convenient. You will be in the heart of everything and is perfect if you are only transiting through El Nido.
This incredibly well-rated hostel is right in the center of the town. From daily food specials and events to a rooftop pool, it’s hard to say no to Frendz. It is perfect for young, social travelers.
H Hotel El Nido gets fantastic reviews for its amazing location in the center of El Nido. It has a restaurant, a bar, and a terrace. The private rooms have great amenities, and it feels very luxurious, even in the heart of the lively town. For travelers who love to party, it is a 2-minute walk from the well-loved SAVA Beach Bar.
Corong Corong Area
The Corong Corong area is a great mix between beach and proximity to the town. While you are still within walking distance of El Nido, you are more secluded in a beautiful beachfront area.
We ADORED our time at the Outpost Hostel! It is a fantastic hostel for young backpackers who want to socialize and meet new friends. The beautiful location has multiple floors looking out over the ocean. The meals are fantastic, and there are daily social events.
If you are someone like me who likes to go to bed early, you’ll be happy to know that all of the activities (including the fun drinking games) begin at 8 pm, so you will be in bed by 11 to wake up early for your boat tour the next day.
The Outpost Hotel organizes island hopping tours which is great not only for convenience and reliability but also because once you meet all your friends, you can hang out with them the next day.
This beautiful hotel is along the beachfront, just a few steps from Corong Corong Beach. The hotel has a terrace and a bar along with room service!
Marimegmeg Beach
The final zone is the more exclusive part of El Nido known as Marimegmeg Beach. It is great for families, couples, and older travelers who want a quieter area. It is farther from the town of El Nido, located all the way south on the shoreline, but you will get more of a relaxed beach feel.
For that reason, there is no budget hostel option here – this is an area of luxury!
Thanks to Marimegmeg’s intense luxury vibes, the El Nido Bayview Resort is sure to knock anyone’s socks off. Located only 5 minutes away from the beach, the hotel includes amazing panoramic views of the rainforest. Their dining area offers Filipino and international cuisines for everyone.
How to Get to El Nido
There are 3 main ways to get to El Nido, Palawan.
Option 1 – Flying into Puerto Princesa
The first option is to fly into Puerto Princesa, a city located on the island of Palawan, further south. Palawan is a long and skinny island, with El Nido all the way at the northern tip. The drive from Puerto Princesa to El Nido is relatively long, lasting about 5 hours. However, the benefit of flying into Puerto Princesa is that you can spend a day touring the Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park. If you have time to spare, definitely consider seeing this natural phenomenon. If your itinerary is short, you may want to skip out on this activity.
Option 2 – Flying into El Nido
The second option is to fly directly to El Nido. The flights are not as expensive as you may think, even though the airport is very small. It is located close to the town of El Nido, and taking a tricycle from the airport should never cost more than 600 pesos. Come to El Nido after a layover in Manila.
However, given the small size of the airport, flights can run into delays surrounding bad weather and poor conditions. It is super convenient but unpredictable as well.
Option 3 – Ferry into El Nido
The final option is to take a ferry into El Nido, usually from Coron. It is convenient because the ferry terminal is located in the heart of the town.
We made the opposite journey, transiting from El Nido to Coron and thought it was a very smooth process. Ferries do tend to be delayed, but if you don’t mind waiting an extra hour, it’s a lot easier than flying.
If you are planning to leave El Nido by ferry, we suggest heading to the ticket office the day before your journey to buy a boarding pass.
We hope you have a beautiful time exploring the beaches of El Nido! Don’t forget to check out the wonderful backpacker town of Moalboal, the jungles of Bohol, and plan the perfect itinerary in the Philippines.