Things to do in El Nido for Solo Travelers

I have been solo traveling for the past few years. For me, there is just some sort of independence that solo traveling gives. It could help you rediscover yourself and your values in life. It could help you meditate after the long hustling and bustling in the city. It could also help you escape life temporarily, be it your work, your studies or anything that stresses you the most.

So, how am I able to travel on my own despite being a petite girl? Simple. For each travel, I always plan ahead so I wouldn't get lost and to save time as well. If you are an aspiring solo traveler, then this blog is for you.

El Nido

El Nido is located at the north side of Palawan. It is known for its pristine white-sand beaches, coral reefs, lagoons and the wonderful steep cliffs. It is also known for its beautiful sunset view at Las Cabanas Beach.

The province of Palawan is home to flora and fauna which are somewhat similar to its neighboring island Borneo than the rest of the Philippines. So, you may find some unique species you'd never see outside Palawan. You would also find amazing rock formations like the ones in Nui Beach, Thailand. Most of all, you will find the most pristine beaches and pure white sand.

How To Get There?

You may take a direct flight to El Nido via AirSwift or you may opt to book a flight to Puerto Princesa and take a 5 hour commute via bus or van. You may also book a flight to San Vicente which is just an hour ride away from El Nido. During my trip, I chose to book a plane ticket to Puerto Princesa City and stayed for a night then, ride the van the next which I have already booked via Klook prior to my trip.

Activities You Can Do
If you are the adventurer type like me, you may do some DIY trips around town then book the island hopping tour via booking apps. I recommend using Klook since they have been in operation for a long time and they offer the best deals you can find. You may use Agoda, it's way cheaper but you only have a few selections there. For me, I opted to allot one day for strolling around the island so, I can also see the beautiful shores around town.

Anyway, here are some activities that you can do on your travel:

📌Book an Island Hopping Tour

The main reason why El Nido is so popular is because of its white sand beach and turquoise colored sea. If you are planning to go here, I suggest you book at least two island hopping tour rather than just wandering around the shores and beaches. They have a lot of secluded and uninhabited island that you would surely be mesmerized with once you see them in person.

Below are the 4 tour options that you can choose from.

Tour A (Cadlao Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and Commando Beach)

Tour B (Snake Islanda and Entalula Island)

Tour C (Helicopter Island, Secret Beach, Talisay Beach and Star Beach)

Tour D (Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Pasadigan Cove, Natnat Beach)

Where to book?
Again, you may book online via travel booking platforms such as Agoda, TripAdvisor and Klook. Like what I mentioned above, Agoda has the cheapest offer and they also offer refunds (depending on the condition) for cancelled bookings. Just reach out to the customer service and they will assist you as soon as possible.

You may also book directly at El Nido. They have a lot of travel and tour establishments around the town. If you plan not to bring anything heavy on your flight... Don't worry. They also offer rental gears such as underwater cameras, diving equipment and even motorcycles.

Take note: For online bookings, each platform offers slightly different destinations.

📌Go to Las Cabanas and witness the lovely El Nido sunset

As I was preparing for my itinerary, I was searching on google map for tourist spots that I might go to. I saw all the islands featured as well as the falls around the area. Then, I stumbled upon a beach called Las Cabanas Beach and there was this tag "best sunset viewing spot" from a fellow traveler. So when I went there, I immediately rushed to the said beach the lovely sunset as described by Google.

📌Eat. Eat. Eat.

Visit and dine in the most popular restaurant in town. Prices of the food are just similar to prices in Manila but, most of the establishment are foreign owned so, you get to taste international cuisine within the local town.

I myself usually try those tourist recommended dishes so, I went and dine in Cafe Athena which is a Greek themed restaurant in town. I have to say, the food was really tasty and the ambience at nice was fantastic.

📌See the Entire El Nido Dock at the Taraw Cliff

If you know me, I actually have acrophobia but, in all fairness I was able to pull off this activity. Upon arriving at El Nido, I was really curious about how the entire bay looks from above and boy, it was really awesome and mesmerizing. It's a bit scary to cross the hanging bridge and climb to the top but it was all worth it.

Why Visit El Nido?

Aside from the pristine beaches and white sand, you also get a view of the stunning landscapes and rock formations on the island. There are also a ton of good restaurants around the island and the nightlife there is the definition of fun. When it comes to prices, it's fairly cheap especially if you opt for budget stays and tours. It surely is the best place to relax and go on full holiday mode.