OF THE BEST BEACHES IN EL NIDO, PALAWAN

It’s the holy grail of travellers — the perfect icing-sugar sand beach with clear, turquoise waters, and swaying palm trees. Our insiders pick some of the best

Entalula Beach

ITS NAME ALONE is magical and mysterious. Entalula beach is a picturesque destination, with over 250 meters of fine white sand lined by coconut trees, and waters the color of turquoise and emerald. The beach is great for swimming, and is a favorite place for picnic lunches and sports like volleyball, badminton and introductory rock-climbing. Dive sites are located in the west south side of the island

Bulang Beach

LOCATED ON THE northeast coast of San Fernando, El Nido is the quiet, hidden Bulang Beach. It is situated some 55 minutes away from El Nido town and offers little to no phone and internet reception, giving you that solitude and digital detox that you desire. Visit from November to March and watch the beach come alive with kitesurfers, while enjoying the views of far off Linapacan island.

Secret Beach

FOUND ON MATINLOC Island, Secret Beach is a sinkhole which you enter by snorkeling into a small opening through a limestone wall. At the corner of the sinkhole is a 10-meter white sand beach, the island’s secret beach. At noon, the sun streams in through the opening, allowing a play of light and shadow against the beautiful rock formations.The beach floor drops abruptly. There are four dive sites around the island with the one at the south tip of Matinloc being the deepest at 39 meters (124 feet). Best to visit when the sea is calm. Secret Beach is a famous tour destination in El Nido so expect to see a number of tourists stopping by.

Pangulasian Beach

PANGULASIAN ISLAND is El Nido Resorts' private “eco-luxury island” in Bacuit Bay. It has a 750-meter stretch of pristine whitesand beach, crystal clear Philippine tropical waters, a marine sanctuary at its doorstep, and enviable views of the sunrise and sunset. A trail located in the middle of the island is a good place for birdwatching, especially during early mornings and late afternoons. The trail ends at the peak of the island and provides a magnificent 360-degree view of Bacuit Bay and nearby islands. On the eastern part of the island, there's a 50-meter whitesand beach, a perfect spot to spend the day, away from other resort guests

Pangulasian Resort (www.elnidoresorts.com) has 42 deluxe contemporary Filipino cottages and villas, all built to take advantage of the stunning beach views. The Beach Villa, which has immediate access to the pristine beach, costs from about Php54,000 a night and can accommodate three people. You have to be a guest at the resort to gain access to the island.

Helicopter Island

THE 120-METER beach on Dilumacad island or Helicopter island is a favorite stopover for snorkeling, swimming and picnic lunches. But on some days, you might just be lucky and find you have the island all to yourself. For divers, there is an underwater tunnel at the northern side of the island and a fringing reef on the southern side. If you’re with small children, make sure to keep an eye on them as the sea floor drops abruptly. Both ends of the beach have snorkeling spots .

Tapiutan Island

FURTHER OUT of Bacuit Bay is Tapiutan (pronounced tap-wee-tan) Island, majestic for its vertical limestone walls and rich marine life. Located here is Star Beach, a white, sandy beach named after its resident star fishes. The beach is excellent for snorkelling. Talisay Beach, also located here, is about 50m long and is a heart spot for snorkelling.

Maremegmeg Beach

LOCATED IN CORONG CORONG, some 20-30 minutes away from El Nido town by tricycle is Maremegmeg Beach. It’s quite developed with several resorts, restaurants and bars on the beach strip. It has a nice long stretch of sandy beach, about 900m long, with a seabed that slopes gradually. Locals and tourists, however, come here not just for the beach, but the best sunsets view in El Nido. The main beach has an unobstructed view of Bacuit Bay, and if this is not enough, there is a zipline set up from the top of the island, ending on Depeldet island.

Imorigue Island And Bacuit Beach

THE STAR OF IMORIGUE ISLAND is what's underwater rather than on shore. Imorigue is the only karst island on the eastern side of El Nido, surrounded by spectacular diving and snorkeling sites. Expect impressive corals and schools of tropical fish. If you don't want to snorkel or dive, there's a 20-meter stretch of beach on the island called Bacuit beach where you can laze about and swim.

NACPAN-CALITANG TWIN BEACH

SITUATED ON THE NORTHWESTERN side of El Nido, about an hour's boat ride from El Nido town, are the twin beaches of Nacpan and Calitang. The two white-sand beaches, separated by a hill, are ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Nacpan is a 5-kilometer stretch of white-sand beach with an undercurrent to be mindful of, while Calitang is smaller, like a little cove, with gentler waves. Lots of boats dock on Calitang's side because it's close to a fishing village. Most people who visit are day trippers, who arrive by habal-habal or bike or van from the main town.

Pinagbuyutan Island

FROM THE WATERS, Pinagbuyutan island is enchanting to look at. Tall vertical cliffs and white-sand beach dotted with coconut trees. It’s something fresh off a postcard! The beach has shallow waters, extending several meters from the shore, perfect for a leisurely dip. Surrounding the island are colorful reefs, offering amazing diving and snorkeling.

Hidden Beach

NOT TO BE CONFUSED with Secret Beach, Hidden Beach is a favorite stopover for those doing an island hopping tour. The beach can’t be seen from the ocean as it is surrounded by limestone rock formations, hence its name. Instead, you will have to swim for 5-10 minutes to get to the clearing of shallow, knee-deep water, which will lead you to a gorgeous white sand beach.

7 Commandos Beach

THIS IS A RATHER HUGE BEACH, stretching to about 200-300 meters with fine white sand, crystal clear waters, gradually sloping sandy seabed, safe for small children to wade in. About five meters on the left hand side of the beach is a snorkeling area where you can spot corals and schools of small fish. Locals on the island sell refreshments like fresh coconuts and fruit shakes to island hopping guests. You can swim and lounge or even join the locals in a game of volleyball while here!

Maosonon Island

LOCATED IN SIBALTAN VILLAGE, Maosonon is a small privately-owned uninhabited island (except for the caretaker’s family) with 500 meters of pristine whitesand beach. There are small makeshift huts on the beach where you can take shelter from the sun. No electricity, no resorts or any other structure means you get bare, idyllic beauty that will definitely spell out paradise.

Sandbar

THE SANDBAR, a 25-meter-long private beach at the back of Lagen Island Resort in El Nido and 45 minutes away from El Nido town, is a great place for a romantic dinner under the stars. It's also a favorite location for island weddings and has been witness to many marriage proposals. Lagen Island Resort usually arranges lunch and dinner picnics on this private beach for its guests. But you don't have to be a resort guest to enjoy the Sandbar. Just make sure you give the resort advance notice if you intend to visit.

Cadlao Island

CADLAO ISLAND, about a 25-minute boat ride from El Nido town, is known locally as a ‘‘mini-Tahiti.’’ It has six beaches — Sandigan, Paradise, Sunset, Natnat, Subang, and Kalarangan — all fine, creamy white sand beaches with a gradually sloping sea floor and crystal clear waters, perfect for snorkeling and swimming. It is also home to Cadlao Lagoon or Ubugon Cove, which has the highest limestone peak in El Nido at 609 meters above sea level. Before entering the lagoon you'll find a coral garden teeming with schools of colorful fish.

Snake Island

LOCATED NEAR PANGULASIAN ISLAND, Vigan island is referred to as ‘’Snake Island’’ because of its fine natural sandspit sandbar the shape of a snake. The 130-meter long sandspit is clearly visible only when the tide is low. Enjoy swimming around the island as there are shallow swimming areas on both sides. It's a favorite destination in El Nido so expect to see tourists around.

Our thanks to insiders Marte Abueg, Ferdz Decena, and Arvin Acosta for information on the various beaches. For more information, call El Nido Tourism at +63919 002 1339 or find them on Facebook El Nido Tourism.

Essentials

HOW TO GET THERE. Book your AirSWIFT flight directly to El Nido, Palawan via www.air-swift.com

From Lio Airport, it’s about a 30–45 minute drive to El Nido town. Tricycles are the most common means of transportation but can be pricey since most locations in El Nido are spread out. It’s best to rent a bike in El Nido town for Php500 for a whole day’s use. There are many boat operators and tour guides that offer island hopping tours, but it’s always best to ask your hotel for recommendations. Kraken El Nido offers special tours onboard the famous Kraken boat. Find them on Facebook @KrakenElNido or call +63 916 207 3075