There’s enough around El Nido to keep you busy for an entire week, and more. Of course your first priority is to explore the sublime Bacuit Archipelago. But if you’re like me and crowded tours aren’t always your thing, there are a multitude of activities you can do on your own on the island, at your own pace and on your own schedule.
First off – enjoy a lazy morning! You’re on vacations after all and needing to rush out early to meet your tour is not everyone’s cup of tea. Order breakfast service and just gaze at the stunning scenery to the sound of birds and local life. I really couldn’t have asked for a better breakfast nook than on my balcony at El Nido Overlooking.
A filling and delicious Filipino breakfast of eggs, garlic fried rice and tocino (a sweet, cured pork cut similar to bacon).
A little morning walk in the middle of all the island’s activity is a great way to start your day and see the locals in their day-to-day. The market is right outside the main downtown area and easily reachable by foot.
You’ll find a riot of colors as you peruse the wonderful fruits, veggies, herbs and other local staples of the Filipino diet.
Smell your way to the Japanese hot cakes stand and make sure you grab one of these freshly made pancakes. They’re a popular street food snack here in the Philippines and just melt in your mouth.
A rice stand with different kinds of this daily staple.
The main building is filled with seafood and meat vendors and a quick tour will make you want to throw a giant dinner party. The shrimps are huge and superb, the squid as fresh as you’ve ever seen them with bulging bright eyes, and the meat just perfectly fatty – they do love their pork belly over here!
A catholic church down from the market.
At the entrance of the downtown area, you’ll see a sign pointing towards the cliffs for El Nido Canopy Walk. It’s a fantastic and quick morning activity to stretch your legs and take in some pretty cool views. Within 2 minutes of leaving the main road, you’ll find yourself in a wooden area, sign up with a guide at the entrance gate, and after getting a harness and hard hat, make your way towards the cliffs.
You’ll start climbing first through some large rocks before beginning the ascent via a series of metal staircases, until you reach the suspended bridge.
Nice views of Mount Taraw which is the huge backdrop of El Nido as you approach from the water.
More stairs await at the end of the bridge which will lead you to the top and the observation deck.
Totally worth it! You’ll have the best view of El Nido from up here and all the tour boats on their way to the archipelago.
Time to venture outside of town! You could rent a motorbike or hire a local tuk-tuk for the day which I recommend for peace of mind and having someone who knows the way. Getting around Palawan is fairly simple though some of the roads are in bad shape so make sure you’re comfortable on whichever wheels you choose.
Heading north, there’s a nice and easy hike one can do to see some waterfalls called the Nagkalit-Kalit Falls.
The trail is mostly flat and goes through lovely pastures and into the forest, providing you with some welcome shade for the majority of it. You’ll need to follow a guide as the trail is unmarked. With around eight river crossings, going alone could be somewhat disorientating!
Wear flip flops for this one – your feet will get very wet and the cool water will feel divine.
While there’s not a lot of wildlife activities in these parts, keep your eyes open for huge butterflies which make a regular appearance.
After about 20-30 minutes you’ll reach the small waterfall.
There’s an inviting natural pool for you to take a refreshing dip before retracing back your steps.
That was a pretty packed morning, so now the rest of the day should be spent lounging on one of the most beautiful beaches on the island: Nacpan Beach.
3 km of golden sand, gently rolling waves, swaying palm trees, and just enough beach restaurants and bars to cater to everyone without it feeling too developed. It is perfect.
Rent a lounge chair and spend the rest of the day relaxing in this gorgeous setting.
Sunmai Sunset Restaurant has a very cool and beach chic vibe, and the food and drinks were tasty as well. Here’s the local dish of sisig made with minced pork, chopped onions and chicken liver and served on a sizzling platter.
Another option for a great day in El Nido is to stay close by and enjoy the emerging local beach scene. While NacPan beach is superb, no need to drive 45 minutes away to get your sun, sand and sea action as there are some great beaches right on the outskirts of El Nido. The closest one, Corong Corong, is only 10 minutes away and accessible via a lovely promenade lined with little eateries and shops.
This beach is pretty quiet during the day and you could certainly have a little corner all to yourself for a while. Bring a book and some sunscreen as shade is hard to come by and the shallow waters aren’t great for swimming. This is the beach for when you just want to lay down and do nothing!
Come lunchtime, take your pick from the handful of hotels and restaurants sparsely lining the shore. Having the luxury of that setting without the crowd (everybody’s gone on a boat tour) is pure bliss.
A simple meal of fresh grilled tuna with rice and vegetables.
If you’ve had enough of the sun and looking to just lounge around, head over to La Plage Sunset Bar & Restaurant where the chill vibe will win you over. Choose between the bar, a table, some floor cushions or even the mini pool to while away a few hours.
If you have room, their mango crumble is the perfect mid-afternoon treat…
Beach-hopping is easy around here and you should aim to get to the next one just down south called Marimegmeg for the golden hours of late afternoon. It’s a totally different scene here – more people, great swimming, lots of cute little bars and restaurants and absolutely perfect angle to watch the sunset, which is why it gets crowded late in the day.
If you keep on walking along Marimegmeg you’ll end up at yet another beach – Las Cabañas. More rugged and absolutely beautiful, you might have an entire stretch to yourself if you’re lucky.
Station yourself here for that fleeting golden hour before walking back along the beach to find the entrance to a very special place…
What is probably the best secret of that beach, and if not of the entire town of El Nido, hides in the middle of the jungle climbing up from Marimegmeg. A ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ sign among so many others points the way inland behind a beach bar to ‘The Birdhouse‘.
Follow the path until you reach the entrance and the foot of the stairs.
Take your time – you’ll be climbing for a little while! Your spirits are kept high though as you’ll come across a few signs with motivational messages like “one step at a time!” and “the best is yet to come!”.
Eventually you’ll reach your destination which is a collection of glamping tents around a wonderful restaurant high up on the hill. I had looked into staying here as it is truly inspirational but they were fully booked, and are usually sold out months in advance so early planning is required. At least you can come up for a meal or partake in one of their yoga sessions.
The onsite restaurant – The Nesting Table – is as instagrammable as they come. All the eco, boho-chic adjectives apply here, and the view is drop-dead gorgeous. Treehouse Gone Glam would be an appropriate moniker.
Order a freshly pressed juice or a cocktail and settle outside in their very cozy terrace.
The birds-eye view never gets old…
Hang around until sundown and stay for a cozy and delicious dinner. The menu is locally sourced with a lot of vegetables-focused dishes and the candle-lit room makes for the dreamiest of evenings.
Walking down all those stairs should be easier now, unless you’ve decided to end your Philippines stay with a cocktail marathon! The evening beach scene waiting below might convince you to extend your stay, or at least grab another drink with your feet in the sand. Paradise truly is harder to leave than you thought…
