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FIND NATURE AT EL NIDO’S HOTTEST ECO RESORT
Swim with endangered sea turtles, discover majestic lagoons, beach hop, and dine on a private island. At Pangulasian Island Resort, El Nido, the Bacuit Archipelago is your oyster
Get Your Bearings
El Nido, an archipelago that should be on everyone’s bucket list, is in the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan, bordered by the Linapacan Strait to the north, the Sulu Sea to the east, and the South China Sea to the west. It is the Philippines' last biodiversity frontier and is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, keen beach hoppers, and those who just want to get away from it all. Although the area is no longer an under the radar destination — Bourne was filmed here — the archipelago has 45 islands and islets, an area so vast you could still find untouched beaches with not a soul in sight.
Book a private boat and go off peak. Pangulasian (www.elnidoresorts.com), El Nido Resorts’ eco luxury property, offers private boat tours away from the crowd, taking in the Small and Big Lagoon, Secret Beach, Cudugnon Cave, and Dilumacad, one of the known sites for critically endangered sea turtles.
When To Visit
The best time to visit is from November to May, when the weather is dry and chances of rain rather low. Bear in mind this is also El Nido’s peak season. If you’re flexible, consider timing your visit off peak, sometime June–July or sometime October. July used to be the rainy season, but for the past three years locals say July has been generally dry. March, April, May tend to be the hottest with temperatures hitting 41°C.
Turtle Spotting And Taking Care Of Turtles
Pangulasian, just like its sister resorts Lagen and Miniloc in El Nido, is at the forefront of conservation efforts in the area. Turtles are a prime concern. Bacuit Bay is a protected area since 1984 and declared a Marine Turtle Sanctuary that same year, brought about because of El Nido Resorts’ lobbying efforts and its report that the area was a significant habitat for sea turtles.
All El Nido Resorts — Pangulasian, Lagen, Miniloc — owned by Ten Knots Development Corporation (TKDC) are known for their eco-consciousness and sustainable practices. At check in, you’re given a “biodiversity check list,” showing at least 25 marine species, animals, birds and fauna found on the island. Guests are encouraged to note down what they’ve spotted, where, and at what time. On this list are two of the world’s critically endangered turtle species: the Green Sea Turtle and Hawksbill Turtle.
Of the seven species of sea turtles in the world, five are in the Philippines including the Hawksbill, the Green Sea Turtle, Leatherback, Loggerhead, and Olive Ridley. All are critically endangered.
The Green Sea Turtle, named after its green fat, is regularly spotted by Pangulasian guests while swimming in surrounding waters. It’s considered to be the largest among hard-shell sea turtles, growing up to 1.5 meters. The Hawksbill, identified through the hooked, beak-like appearance of its upper jaw and its serrated carapace, is a little more shy, but has also been regularly spotted in El Nido. Dive sites Dilumacad and Nat Nat are prime spots for turtle sightings.
Sea turtles usually appear at Pangulasian from December to April and sometimes till May, known jellyfish season, as turtles favour this food source. This is all the more reason to ditch single-use plastics (El Nido has banned them), some ending up in the sea, because turtles eat them thinking they are jellyfish. This year, Pangulasian resort staff have discovered turtle nests on its 850m beach, a good sign perhaps that all is well. Some five beaches in El Nido are known turtle nests.
Pangulasian’s house reef as well as the house reefs of all El Nido properties are strictly a “no-take zone” which means you’re not allowed to touch or take any corals or shells or do anything to disturb the marine life, including nests and hatchlings found on the beach. Pangulasian has tag-and-release programs, and resort staff safeguard turtle hatchling releases from nests.
Lights and furniture used on the beach have all been chosen with the welfare of turtles in mind, ensuring turtles coming to nest are not disturbed.
As the biggest employer in the area, El Nido Resorts has led conservation efforts, organising bi-weekly coastal clean-ups, maintaining mooring buoys in 21 sites around Bacuit Bay, and patrolling the waters to report illegal fishing activities.
Where To Stay
Recently gaining top marks at this year’s Conde Nast Traveller’s Reader’s Choice Awards, the 42-room Pangulasian is El Nido Resorts’ eco-minded luxury island resort, where travellers go for the ultimate sun and sea holiday. Relax in one of its stylish palm-thatched villas fronting a pristine beach or perched 18 meters from the ground, surrounded by dense tropical forest. The choice is yours. Some rooms have their own private pool, living and dining space, making you feel you’re on your own private island. All rooms are just steps away from Pangulasian’s glorious beach. Save time for a romantic dinner or lunch on a private island (Choose from Cove 2, Big Lagoon Beach, and Entalula Island), a short boat ride from the resort, or for exploring untouched beaches, caves, and El Nido’s rich marine life. The area is also known for its manta rays, and seahorse.
Essentials
HOW TO GET THERE. There are regular flights from Manila to El Nido. Visit www.skyscanner.com.ph for flights. You can also reach El Nido from Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, a six-hour land travel. From Lio airport in El Nido, it’s a short buggy ride to the pier, followed by a 15-minute speedboat to Pangulasian. Visit www.elnidoresorts.com
