El Nido Itinerary (2 – 5 days): Must-Dos and First-Hand Tips

El Nido is the most popular island hopping destination in Palawan, and it’s easy to see why. Your El Nido itinerary is your chance to explore vast lagoons, dramatic limestone islands and secret beaches you’ll be talking about for years.

With over 45 islands and islets in the vicinity, island hopping is definitely the star of the show.

However, as I found out over two trips, there’s plenty to do back on land, too.

In this El Nido itinerary, I’ll explain how to climb the Taraw Cliffs for views of the bay, the best local beaches and how to join an unforgettable expedition to Coron.

There are a lot of things to do in El Nido, so it can quickly feel overwhelming. That’s why I’ve pulled together my first-hand tips, the must-do activities in El Nido and my advice for avoiding the crowds.

If you’re still planning your route, I suggest starting with my detailed Palawan itinerary.

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. If you decide to click through and make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you – thanks for your support.

What to Expect in El Nido

El Nido is the most popular destination for island hopping in Palawan, as I explain in my detailed guide to where to go island-hopping in Palwan. Located at the northern tip of Palawan island, it’s a spectacular launchpad for boat trips to the 45 local islands and islets.

Among them are large, turquoise lagoons surrounded by limestone rock and ‘secret’ or hidden beaches that left me open-mouthed…

Big Lagoon

Big Lagoon, Secret Beach and Hidden Beach are the main must-dos in El Nido.

However, back on land, I also recommend doing the via ferrata on the Taraw Cliffs for spectacular views of the bay and the zipwire at nearby Las Cabañas Beach.

With great views comes great crowds. Naturally for somewhere with such dramatic scenery, El Nido has become very popular with tourists.

High season runs from December to April, and accommodation and boat tours get busier and busier as the season goes on. Having a clear plan is essential.

Tip: How to Escape the Crowds in El Nido

Having visited El Nido twice, I know first-hand how crowded it can get.

I love El Nido’s dramatic scenery, but if you really want to experience Palawan – its remote islands, vibrant colour reefs and island culture – you really should take an island-hopping expedition from El Nido to Coron (or the reverse).

The expeditions spend several days exploring Linapacan, where the corals are healthier and crowds are practically non-existent.

I’ll never forget sleeping in bamboo huts on the beach and snorkelling directly from the traditional bangka boat. I’ve done the route twice now, and hope to return for a third time.

How Many Days Do You Need in El Nido?

The last time I visited El Nido, I spent over a week in the town. However, you only need two to five days for your El Nido itinerary.

There are four main island hopping tours in El Nido: A, B, C and D. Each tour departs at 8am, taking one full day to complete.

The best El Nido tours are A and B, so most people complete two tours and spend a third day climbing the Taraw Cliffs or visiting local beaches.

If you want to complete all four set tours, you need at least four days in El Nido.

Unfortunately, you can’t climb the Taraw Cliffs on the same day as an island tour. The via ferrata route is only open from 8am to 4pm.

It’s also worth mentioning that the island tours can be physically demanding, featuring kayaking and/or swimming/snorkelling. If you’re prone to tiredness, you may want to factor in a rest day.

Getting to El Nido

Getting to El Nido is easy. There are direct flights to El Nido Airport (ENI) from Manila or Cebu.

It’s only a small airport, so a cheaper alternative is to fly directly to Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) – perhaps stopping for a tour of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River – and then take a five-hour van to El Nido.

From Coron, the route is a little more complex.

As I explain in my guide to getting from Coron to El Nido, you can either take a direct flight, a 3.5-hour ferry or take an island-hopping expedition.

Where to Stay in El Nido

The first time I visited El Nido was in 2018. Back then, there were limited places to stay. However, that’s not the case anymore. It is a busy tourist town with hotels, guesthouses, and luxury hotels.

I stayed at Frendz Hostel, which is a 10-minute walk from the main beach. Meeting other people was effortless, as it has a rooftop pool and a coffee shop.

My guide to where to stay in El Nido has all of the details on the best areas, hotels and other tips.

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El Nido Itinerary: Things to Do and See

My first piece of advice for your El Nido itinerary is to work out what you really want to do.

Therefore before I provide my suggestions for 2-5 days, I’m going to discuss all of the best things to do in El Nido.

If you’re not keen on one activity, you can rule it out and skip to the next.

1. Take an island-hopping tour

The island hopping tours are the reason why many people come to El Nido. There are four set tours (A, B, C and D), each visiting a different set of attractions.

This is where I recommend opening up a new tab with my detailed comparison of the best El Nido tours. For your convenience, I have also provided a quick summary below:

Option 1: Tour A

If you have seen pictures of El Nido’s vast lagoons, surrounded by towering karst-limestone cliffs, Tour A will let you experience them first-hand.

It begins by visiting Big Lagoon, a lagoon that’s so huge the only way you can explore it is by kayaking.

Our boat dropped us into the ocean, where we paddled through choppy waves for five minutes before reaching the calmer, turquoise waters.

It’s a truly incredible place, with huge cliffs, some small caves, and a few patches of sand where you can decamp.

Tour A then visits Secret Lagoon, where crawling through a narrow opening gets you to an amphitheatre lagoon, followed by the relaxing Seven Commandos Beach and Shimizu Island.

Check the availability for Tour A.

Big Lagoon

Secret Lagoon

Shimizu Island

Option 2: Tour B

Tour B is a less-crowded itinerary that shouldn’t be underestimated if you love beautiful beaches and sand bars.

This relaxing tour takes you out to the famous sand bar at Snake Island, as well as remote white-sand beaches on Pinagbuyutan Island and Popolkan Island.

It also stops at Cudugnon Cave, where Japanese soldiers hid themselves during World War II.

Check the availability for Tour B.

Snake Island

Option 3: Tour C

Love the idea of visiting secret beaches? Me too. That’s why Tour C was one of my top picks, and I didn’t regret my decision.

Not only did I get to visit Hidden Beach and Secret Beach, which are concealed from sight initially by limestone rocks, but I also fell in love with the scenery at Helicopter Island.

This tour definitely has the surprise element combined with ample beach time.

Check the availability for Tour C.

Hidden Beach

Secret Beach

Helicopter Island

Option 4: Tour D

Tour D is a nice alternative to Tour A. It features kayaking at Small Lagoon, which is smaller but less-crowded than Big Lagoon.

You also get the chance to swim in the lagoon at Cadlao Island and island hop between stunning beaches such as Pasandigan Beach, Nat Nat Beach and Paradise Beach.

Check the availability for Tour D.

Small Lagoon

2. Rent a private boat to explore El Nido at your own pace

Group tours mean sharing a boat with 10 – 12 strangers. If you’re not too keen on that idea, the alternative is to book a private island-hopping tour.

By doing this, you get a traditional bangka boat to yourself and get much more flexibility with how long you spend in each place.

The private boat tours typically visit a combination of the most popular sites, which is usually Big Lagoon, the Snake Island sandbar, Helicopter Island and Cadlao Lagoon.

3. Experience the Taraw Cliffs via ferrata route

Aside from island hopping, climbing the Taraw Cliffs is my favourite activity in El Nido.

The dramatic limestone cliffs tower over the town, looking out over the beach and surrounding islands.

Recently, locals built a via ferrata route to the top of the cliffs. Before this, the only way to get to the top was to climb, an activity that led to several people getting injured.

The via ferrata route is only open from 8am to 4pm and requires an advance booking.

You can either go to the booking office directly or check the availability online for the Taraw Via Ferrata.

4. Try the Las Cabañas Beach zipwire

The Las Cabañas Beach zipwire is an underrated activity near El Nido. It’s located a 20-minute tricycle ride from El Nido town and soars between two hills above a golden-sand beach.

When I visited, there was hardly anyone there, so it’s a great place to get away from the crowds.

The wide, sandy bay has a small shopping area with coffee shops, a modern gym and restaurants.

The zipwire (20 minutes’ walk from the mall) is located at the top of a steep hill. It extends from the hilltop to the island on the opposite end of the bay.

The zipwire isn’t very fast, so even if you’re nervous about trying it, it’s not that scary. In all, it was a fun activity for a slower-paced day.

5. Take a trip to the local waterfalls or Nacpan Beach

There is so much to see within driving distance of El Nido town, including a handful of waterfalls and the beautiful Nacpan Beach.

If you don’t want to rent a scooter to explore on your own, you could join a jeepney tour, which is tailored to backpackers and solo travellers who want to get off the beaten track (… and have a few drinks).

The tour starts by visiting Lio Beach, a long sandy beach. I stayed at a resort here in 2018, and I was blown away by the views.

It then visits the Bulalacao Waterfalls, a popular waterfall where you can go wild swimming.

The last stop is Nacpan Beach. I also visited Nacpan Beach on my final day in El Nido a couple years ago, and while its popular Nacpan Glamping resort draws many people to stay overnight, it’s a nice spot for some beach cocktails and food.

6. Get a massage at Organic Spa El Nido

I visited The Organic Spa in El Nido three times during my one-week stay. I just couldn’t help myself.

Their hilot (traditional Filipino) massages were so good. Plus, the massage parlour is located on the main road next to the beach, so it overlooks the boats coming to and from the islands.

7. Go diving

While Coron is best known for diving in Palawan, El Nido shouldn’t be underestimated. Marine life in the area includes turtles, eagle rays, groupers and reef sharks.

There are a handful of PADI diving schools in El Nido, such as 200 Bar Diving Centre and Tabanker Divers.

El Nido Itinerary for 2 – 5 Days

By now, you should have a good idea of the best things to do in El Nido. Now that you’re acquainted with all of the sites, you just need to put together a clear pan.

Below, I have provided suggestions for your El Nido itinerary, from two to five days. Feel free to chop and change things as you please.

2-Day El Nido Itinerary

If you plan to spend two days in El Nido, you have time for one or two island hopping tours.

If you only do one tour, you can spend the second day exploring climbing the Taraw Cliffs and visiting the Las Cabañas Beach zipwire.

• Day 1: Take island hopping tour A, B, C or D – Tours A and C are my favourites, but Tour C or D get away from the big crowds.
• Day 2: Book a second island-hopping tour or explore inland (the Taraw Via Ferrata, Las Cabañas zipwire, Lio Beach or Nacpan Beach).

3-Day El Nido Itinerary

With three days in El Nido, you have an additional day available to go island-hopping or explore inland.

You may also want to go diving instead of doing a third day of island hopping.

• Day 1: Take island hopping tour A, B, C or D.
• Day 2: Repeat day two, or try diving.
• Day 3: Either take a third boat tour or explore inland. You can do the via ferrata or head to destinations like Nacpan Beach or Las Cabañas.

5-Day El Nido Itinerary

Five days in El Nido is a great amount of time. You have much more flexibility to explore as you please, whether that’s doing all four island hopping tours and dedicating one day to exploring inland or relaxing more around town.

Alternatively, spend a couple of days in El Nido and then take the Big Dream Boatman expedition to Coron.

• Day 1: Tour A is a great way to begin your five-day itinerary.
• Day 2: Explore secret beaches on Tour C.
• Day 3: Take your pick from tours B and D, or tour Palawan Island’s beaches and waterfalls.
• Day 4: Repeat day three.
• Day 5: Spend a relaxing day in El Nido, with a hilot massage at El Nido Organic Spa and a trip to Las Cabañas beach.

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I hope you found my El Nido itinerary useful. Leave a comment below to let me know your trip plans.