El Nido, Palawan - A paradise worth coming back!

Picture taken Last 2014 at Corong-corong, El Nido, Palawan. Beach front of our staffhouse showing our company motor boat

El Nido is one of the few famous places which I was assigned for work as a construction supervisor from April 2014 – May 2015 in Cauayan island resort which is approximately 10 km from El nido ferry terminal.

During my stay for about a year, I was able to visit each and every islets of El Nido and experienced water adventures like island hopping, snorkeling, swimming and etc. Except, I never got a chance to explore other parts of mainland El Nido as a whole. So I decided to plan another trip and explore the places which I haven’t been before.

As one of the Philippines' airline companies offered “Piso fare” promo. I was lucky enough to book a round trip tickets for only Php 980.24. So I booked the dates starting October 19, 2018 to October 25, 2018 which suits my ideal schedule and for the reason that the island will not be that overcrowded on the specific dates. One thing I liked about Piso fare Promo is that most of the booked flights gets to be cancelled or rescheduled months before your travel dates, so you have the privileged to re-schedule on the same day of your original travel dates or choose any flexible dates without any additional charges.

As expected, my flight going to Puerto Princesa has been cancelled and I was offered by the airline to reschedule the dates as compensation of the cancelled flights, but the dates that I booked was so ideal and the only schedule available was late in the afternoon for Cebu-Puerto Princesa, so I requested to have an earlier flight, though it was a connecting flight from Cebu-Manila-Puerto. And the only thing I paid was my additional 20kg(2 way) check-in baggage for only Php 918.40 since I have lots of stuffs which I used for my blogs  and vlogs like my camera, camera accessories and clothes.

Day 1 - Arrival at Puerto Princesa Airport

Puerto Princesa Airport New Terminal 

From Cebu house (One Oasis Cebu) to Mactan Cebu International Airport - Taxi Fare at around 225pesos. To fill my stomach as I left house without eating something. I ordered some food and coffee in one of the fast food chains inside the airport, flavored water on a vending machine and a cup noodle during the flight.

Arrived at Puerto Princesa at around 10:50am. Since I already booked a Van transfer from Puerto Princesa to El Nido at Eulynjoy van transport for only PhP400.00. I just waited at the airport for the van transfer to fetch me. We then left Puerto Princesa at 12noon. Van stop over at Roxas, Palawan to fill  our stomach. Because Puerto Princesa to El Nido takes 5 to 6 Van hour travel. Depending on how fast the driver drove the van.

Arrived at El Nido at around 5:30pm. Rode a trike from the terminal to the hostel were i will be staying (regular trike fare is only 10pesos). 

At The Moment (ATM) Hostel - The place were I stayed and was booked via Traveloka.

Booked a 5 night stay for only 2,025pesos minus 600pesos, since I got a promo code from Traveloka.
Booked room was a shared 8 bed room with A.C., wifi and daily free Breakfast
For the experience, kindly click this link.
Bought a 1.5 liter purified water daily, since the hostel does not offer free drinking water.

Since my previews company is still in El Nido for another project and the Architect or the in-charge of the construction is one of my friend Ar. Julie Anne Velasco. I  contacted here, together with one of my friend Angel. We then ate at Scape Skydeck Restaurant. With its very nice ambiance, friendly and accommodating staff and the very delicious food.

Carbonara

Baby Back Ribs

Chicken Croquette

Along with this foods are flavored beers. 

PS: bill payed by Ar. Julie Anne Velasco. haha.

PPS: This restaurant also has a very nice view during sunset. 

Day 2 - Tour A Island hopping

Tour A is one of the most popular tour packages El Nido can offer with beautiful lagoons and beaches for only PhP1,200.00 including lunch.

Along with Tour A package are the islands,

1. 7 Commandos Beach - The island was named after the 7 lost soldiers of El Nido.

2. Small lagoon - not literally small. It was called small, because it is the smallest of all lagoons in El Nido.

3. Simizu Island - A small island surrounded by clear waters of El Nido rock formations and a scene of towering mountains were we spent an hour for our lunch.

4. Big Lagoon - a very big and shallow lagoon were you can walk all around.

5. Secret Lagoon - a lagoon were you will have to enter a small passage and upon entering, you will see a crater like sea bed sorrounded by mountain of stone formations.

**End of  Tour A**

Went back to the hostel very tired from all day swimming and snorkeling, but very satisfied.

Opted to eat at a budget restaurant, since this vacation is not the usual vacation were you spend in luxurious restaurant, eat fancy foods and spend thousands and end up going home breaking the bank.

So, I ordered 2 BBQ  for 40pesos, 1 serve Bopis for 60pesos and 2 cups of rice for 40 pesos.

Right after eating, went home since I was already tired and i need more energy for the next days another island hopping.

Day 3 - Tour C Island Hopping

Tour C is the most expensive tour package but has the best islands to visit. At a prize of PhP1,400.00, You will visit 5 different island/beaches.

1. Hidden beach - The beach is literally hidden from two rock mountain formations. Upon reaching the area, you will need to swim and walk going to the back of a rock mountain and at the back another rock mountain , covers a secluded beach with fine white sand and very clear water. Their you can relax and be amazed with the stunning limestone formations.

Lunch prepared by the boat staff at Talisay beach

Walking at Talisay beach front after lunch.

2. Talisay beach - This is where we stopped and ate lunch. Obviously, Talisay beach is named after the Talisay tree, which grows all round the island. In the right most part of the beach (is you're facing the beach) is also very nice spot for snorkeling. It has a very beautiful coral stones and lots of fishes, both big and small. But just be very careful not to step on the corals, as they are also living creatures and are very sensitive.

Inside the crater like rock formation is the Secret beach, where you can swim or just lie down in its white sand beach.

You will need ,to swim this deep to reach the entrance of the Secret Beach, so better wear your life vest.

3. Secret beach - This beach is in Matinloc island, same island where the Matinloc shrine is located.  It is called Secret, since it is surrounded by very tall rock formations and can only be accessed through a very small entrance, and you need to swim to get through the hole.

This picture was taken way back 2014, when I was still working in El Nido as a construction supervisor and Matinloc shrine can still be accessed for free. 

4. Matinloc shrine - formerly, the shrine was known as the shrine of our lady of Matinloc, built in 1992.  This shrine was left and was completely neglected. Few years back, tourist was still allowed to enter for free, take pictures, go up to the cross at the top of the cliff (picture above). At present, as what the guide told us, you will need to pay a hundred pesos just to enter the area and take pictures. So we decided not to enter, since we thought of whats the point of paying 100pesos if you can just take pictures of other island with the same features.

Helicopter Island from a far.

Me playing with waves. haha

5. Helicopter Island - Locally and officially known as Dilumacad Island. This island was named for the tourist after its shape. A Helicopter without it's propeller. Way back 2014-2015, this island is my favorite island. As it is the nearest island in the mainland El Nido and has also one of the most beautiful snorkeling site. Upon arriving at this island during the tour, a heavy rain came with thunder and lightning, we haven't much enjoyed the place because of the weather. so we just decided to just swim right beside the boat and play with the waves, as the water felt hot. Maybe because of the lightning that is directly hitting the sea in the neighboring islands.

**End of  Tour C**

Upon going back to El Nido proper, I just went back directly to the hostel to take a bath, went out for a stroll and ate cheese burger for 50pesos and a special halo-halo for 60pesos. Walked around El Nido, look for some souvenirs to buy until I felt hungry and went to some carenderia for dinner and eat Spaghetti for 120pesos per serving, good for 2. Yes! carenderia, I never opted to go to a fancy restaurants, since i am solo and I already experience eating to those fancy beach front restaurants way back when I was still working in El Nido.

If you want to ask me where to eat on those beach front restaurants? I would say, at Squidos or at Seaslugs Restaurant, as they were already in El Nido long before the island was still deserted and no proper electricity but regardless, they are serving very good foods.

Pukka Bar

After dinner, I thought of how does Pukka bar looks like 3 years after I left the island. I went to the bar and saw it my self, how it already changed through time. As expected, the appearance of the bar changed a lot, but the crowd is still their and still the same as how it is before.

Pukka bar

Inside Pukka bar, I just ordered a bottle of beer for only 80pesos to chill and just listen to the live band and observe. After a couple of hour, the crowd started to look like tipsy and danced with the lively music sang by the band. As the bar was filled with approximately 70% to 80% of local guest, tourist started to go away. I then also went back to the hostel and slept for next days activities.

Day 4 - Nacpan Twin Beach

Nacpan beach is a long stretch secluded beach slowly getting crowded with a 4-kilometre (2.5 mi) stretch of powdery white sand and pristine azure waters which is 45 minutes to an hour away from downtown El Nido via Tricycle or Van. 

Few years back, Nacpan was a place with no bars, no restaurants, no hostels/hotels/resorts, only locals living in the area. Through time, because of its popularity, as the place is very beautiful with its waves almost good for surfing and a very nice place for relaxation. Developers slowly building establishments. As to date, their are already restaubars and hostels in the area. But still, Nacpan is a very quiet place, good for swimming or just chilling at the beach front with your whisky or just food and drinks.  

Day 4, around 9am is my schedule going to Nacpan with the van I rented going to and from. For only 600pesos, you can already go to Nacpan conveniently sitting inside a Grandia van. If you are lucky enough, just like me, you will be hopping in the van  alone with nothing to worry of who you should wait or anybody keeping you waited. 

Van transfer from El Nido proper to Nacpan twin beach will be roughly about 45minutes, and you will know if you are already near the area if you are already traversing rough roads.

Upon reaching Nacpan twin beach, you can rent a 2 beach bed with umbrella for PhP400.00, or for me, I just rented a single beach bed with umbrella for PhP250.00. Bought some hawaian pizza at PhP495.00 and a mango shake for PhP220.00. I just chill, sleep and later swam. Schedule of going back to El Nido proper was 2pm, but since I wanted to extend my stay, I told the van transfer which is waiting for me all day in Nacpan if we can extend until 6pm, and the driver said yes sir we can.

At around 6pm, we went back to El Nido proper, saw some street food vendor, bought and ate some vegetable lumpia at 3 for PhP25.00. Ordered 12pieces and considered it my dinner. I went back to the hostel to freshen up and sleep.

Day 5 - Extra day for other activities

9am, went directly to the tour operator, coordinated for some activities. I wanted to go to Taraw cliff for that iconic very beautiful overlooking 180 degrees view of El Nido. But, as the tour operator told me that 2 days ago, a foreigner climbed up and fell down at the cliff with broken legs. Resulting to closing the cliff  to tourist again.

View at Taraw cliff
(proto credit to www.elnidopalawan.net)

Due to the incident, the 2nd option was the Taraw canopy walk, which is a bit lower than the Taraw cliff with installed bridges and path walks for convenience of tourist for PhP400.00. Included in the PhP400.00 are the safety gears and a tourist guide.

Taraw canopy walk still got a very nice  180degree view of El Nido, and if you want more, you can pay another PhP300.00 for the human sized spider web design, which you can hop in for some pictures. For me, I chose not to add PhP300.00 and just enjoyed the view at the canopy walk, as PhP300.00 fee for that spider web design rope is not worth the money.

An hour later, we went down and ended the walk. Rented a Scooter at the town for 500pesos for all day use (excluding gasoline I bought, worth 103pesos to fill the tank for my trip).

I thought of how about going to some waterfalls around the area. Searched through internet and found online the "Nagkalit-kalit falls" but the locals suggested there is another waterfall that I might like to go too. The "kuyawyaw falls" in Taytay, Palawan. Roughly 40km away from downtown El Nido or an hour travel via scooter. Bought 2 cheese burger with egg for PhP45.00 x 2 and 2 banana que at PhP10.00 each and considered it lunch, as I was in a hurry to reach the place early.

Since Kuyawyaw falls was suggested by the locals, I went immediately to the area. Upon reaching the area, paid PhP20.00 for the parking fee and another PhP380.00 just by going through the 3 levels of all small waterfalls.

Upon entering the area, a person accompanied me to the waterfalls, which they said a tour guide, literally a guide only going to the waterfalls, as I don't think he has knowledge about the history and how the waterfalls started accepting tourist or whatsoever.

Picture above is the 4 waterfalls of Kuyawyaw where you can swim in just minutes, as the guide will likely ask you if you are ok already, so we can proceed to the next waterfalls.

Actually, the money paid is not worth it as the waterfalls is just a small stream of water running through the area. I have been to other waterfalls around other provinces, but, this Kuyawyaw waterfalls is by far the most expensive yet very small. And even the operators are not giving official receipts as what other provinces or other areas with waterfalls are doing. All I can say is that the money paid does not justify the experience. Almost even backed out after reaching the site and knowing the entrance fee cost without any receipt, but I already spent a lot on motorcycle rent and gasoline and wasted 1 hour, so I just did enter for the sake of all the energy wasted. I regret listening to the locals suggestions without doing additional research...😑😑😑

Around 3pm went back to El Nido, stopped at one of the best location for sunset viewing. Stayed at the beach for more than 2 hours to relax and slowly watch the sun set.

PS: Another place good for sunset viewing is Lio Beach. Below is the schedule of Free van transfer. Yes! it's free and it's a first-come, first-served basis. I wanted to go to Lio beach during my day 4, right after going back to downtown El Nido from Nacpan beach for some sunset viewing, but because of time constraint due to I extended my stay in Nacpan twin beach. I failed to go.

6:30pm, went back to the hostel to freshen up, called the van transfer to reserve a slot for the next days schedule back to Puerto Princesa which is 7am as the earliest schedule offered for only PhP400.00.

(discounted price, as the van transfer Eulynjoy is my previous company's van transfer partner and regular fare is PhP500.00)

Dinner again is at some carenderia around El Nido town proper, ordered 1 serve of dinuguan for PhP60.00, 4sticks of bbq for PhP10.00 each and 1.5 cup of rice, PhP25.00.

Day 6 - Back to Puerto Princesa

7o'clock in the morning, travelled back to Puerto Princesa. Stop at Roxas, ate bicol express for PhP70.00 per serving and PhP30.00 for the 1.5cup of rice.

Alesseo Backpackers Hostel

Alesseo Backpackers Hostel at night

Since we arrived at Puerto Princesa around 1pm and I thought it is still very early, decided to go stroll at some Malls and later bought some pasalubong at the Puerto Princesa Pasalubong Center. I then thought of how about look for some place to eat. I remembered chaolong, a famous food in Palawan served in Bona's Chaolong. Perfect if paired with french bread. I immediately went to Bona's Chaolong, ordered 1 serve for PhP70.00 and a french bread for PhP30.00.

Beef stew with noodle paired with french bread

Chaolong, a vietnamese food brought by the Vietnamese Refugees during the war, and when the war ended, Vietnamese went back to their country, but, the Palawenous kept the taste and tradition alive.

Went back to the hostel, for dinner ordered some food at a carenderia in front of the hostel and snacks while swimming at the pool. 

Before sleeping, had some chitchats  with my foreigner roommates, talked about other places we want to go etc, etc, etc.

Day 7 - Last day of vacation

Breakfast again at the carenderia. Flight back to cebu is at 12:55pm so at 9:30am, me and my roommate Oriley (french woman) decided to go to the airport together, as we both have the same flight schedule and both heading to Cebu, but we both are in different airline.

Nothing new. my flight was delayed but Orileys flight flown as per schedule.

Around 4pm, arrived home safely.

***Back to reality***

If you are planning to go to EL Nido

These are the island hopping tour choices you can pick. Just message me for some assistance and I will be very glad to arrange any customized tour package for you.

As per experience, recommended island tour packages are Tour A and C, as they have the best islands beaches and lagoons to offer.

Hotel/Resort/Hostel accomodation will be up to you're budget.