The Best Beach Resort in El Nido Palawan: My Honest Review of Angkla Beach Resort (2025)

Lately, a bunch of people have been asking me if I can recommend anywhere to stay in El Nido and honestly, my answer is always the same. So I figured it’s about time I put together a proper review (and a bit of a travel guide) for it.

I stayed for two nights at Angkla Beach Club & Boutique Resort, and it was one of my favorite hotels in all of the Philippines. I absolutely loved it. It’s right on the beach, has a beautiful pool, and just perfectly matched that image I had in my head of a paradise vacation in the Philippines.

So in this little guide on the best beach resort in El Nido Palawan, I’ll give you a quick review of this beautiful beach resort, show you a few photos, and tell you what I loved about staying there.

And hey, if you want to support my travel blog, feel free to use the booking link I’ll drop below. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it really helps me out. Alright, let’s get into it.

In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in El Nido Philippines

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Morgan Villas – Click here for rates & availability

⭐️⭐️ Sea Cocoon Hotel – Click here for rates & availability

⭐️Frendz Hotel El Nido – Click here for rates & availability

The Best Beach Resort in El Nido Palawan: My Honest Review of Angkla Beach Resort (2025) — We love the pool at this **beach resort** in El Nido Palawan

What’s the Best Beach Resort in El Nido Palawan? My Quick Answer

Alright, so the quick answer to the whole “what’s the best beach resort in El Nido Palawan” question is: Angkla Beach Club & Boutique Resort, or just Angkla Beach Resort for short.

It’s a boutique resort, so it’s super small, but that honestly made it feel really exclusive when I was there. The rooms were absolutely beautiful, and I swear the bed was one of the most comfortable I’d slept in during the past six months of traveling.

What I really loved was how the rooms felt like they were tucked right into the jungle, while the entire resort itself is also right on the beach. It’s just picture-perfect Philippines.

But my personal highlight was definitely the restaurant and beach club area. There’s a gorgeous pool in the beach club, super comfortable loungers and sunbeds to chill on, great snacks for lunch, and cold drinks whenever you need one.

I usually don’t stay at fancy places all that often, but this one made me feel like I was in the middle of The White Lotus and I absolutely loved it.

Angkla Beach Club & Boutique Resort – My Top Luxury Beach Resort in El Nido Palawan

Alright, so a few things about this resort. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s a boutique property, so it’s on the smaller side, but that’s exactly why I liked it. I’m not really a fan of huge resort complexes, and the smaller size here at Angkla made it feel really upscale and exclusive, which I definitely preferred.

The rooms (or villas) are tucked into the jungle, surrounded by palm trees, and they all face either into the greenery or toward the pool, which is such a peaceful view to wake up to. There’s actually a second pool tucked in the back that’s just for guests, which is a great touch since the beach club itself is open to outside visitors.

That said, because the resort is in a more remote part of El Nido, I barely saw anyone from outside coming in. It never felt crowded or too busy at any point.

All in all, I’d say this is probably the best luxury resort in El Nido I’ve ever stayed at.

The Beach Club

The beach club itself is absolutely stunning. It’s set right on Nacpan Beach (more on that below), with super comfortable sunbeds and loungers, a really cool pool, and amazing service. The staff were so friendly, bringing out drinks, snacks, lunch, you name it. It was honestly such a treat.

It’s not a party beach club, at least not during the day. There’s some background music playing, but the vibe felt more upscale and chill, like a place to just relax, enjoy the view, and just be on vacation if that makes sense.

That said, they do host events with DJs and live music now and then. You can check their schedule on Instagram. When I was there, they had a DJ one evening, which I enjoyed for a little bit before heading back to the room early.

Even though my room was one of the closest to the beach club, I couldn’t hear a thing once I was inside, so if you’re worried about noise, don’t be. Totally fine for an early night.

Book Here: Angkla Beach Resort

How was our room?

My room was gorgeous. I had a ground-floor unit with a little porch outside surrounded by tropical plants, which I loved. I’d sit out there with my coffee in the mornings, and it just felt so peaceful.

The room itself was great. The bed was insanely comfortable and I slept like a baby. The air conditioning was quiet and worked perfectly, and the whole space felt super spacious. The decor was kind of modern-boho: you’ve got sleek, modern facilities (the bathroom was especially nice) mixed with earthy tones and a very relaxed, beachy vibe.

I didn’t think much of it at the time, but the upstairs rooms actually have balconies that look out into the jungle, which would’ve been amazing. So if I come back (maybe Angkla Beach Resort is reading this, feel free to invite me), I’d definitely go for a top-floor room just for that view.

Food & Restaurant

My booking came with breakfast included (I think it’s included with all room bookings), and it was amazing. The breakfast buffet was honestly so extra in the best way. Loads of fresh fruit, baked goods, eggs, avocado, and even a smoothie bowl station. I was obsessed. I had a smoothie bowl every single morning and loved it.

I also had lunch and one dinner at the resort, and both were great. I only had dinner once since I went into El Nido town the other night, but everything I tried was really good. My favorite was definitely the little tacos, they were so tasty. Cocktails were great too.

It’s definitely on the premium side price-wise, but with a resort like this, I kind of expected that.

Staff & Service

The staff and service here were honestly over the top and probably the best I’ve ever had at any hotel I’ve stayed in. Everyone was so attentive, helpful, and genuinely friendly. It almost felt too nice at times (like I didn’t deserve that level of service!), but they were amazing, always smiling and always ready to help with anything.

Even though I only stayed two nights, they changed the sheets and cleaned the room thoroughly. At the beach club and restaurant, the staff made sure I had everything I needed and just made the whole experience feel super easy and relaxed.

From check-in to check-out, it was genuinely flawless. And just to be clear, I’m not getting anything in return for saying this, it’s just my honest opinion.

Nacpan Beach El Nido Palawan – Location of the Resort

Just a quick note on the location: Angkla Beach Resort is right on Nacpan Beach, which is a stunning golden sand beach lined with palm trees and crystal-clear water.

It’s a little outside of El Nido town and also a bit of a drive from the airport, but the hotel has a great shuttle service that makes it super easy to get there and back.

They also offer all the popular El Nido day tours straight from the resort, so technically you never need to leave Nacpan and honestly, I’d recommend exactly that.

El Nido town itself isn’t nice at all, and you’re not missing out by skipping it. If I could do my whole El Nido stay again, I’d stay at Nacpan Beach the entire time and just do Tour A and Tour C directly through the hotel. In my opinion, there’s really no reason to go into town at all.

Alternative 5-Star Resorts in El Nido Palawan

If you’re really going all out and want that full-on private island experience, these two resorts are definitely a level (or five) above. I didn’t stay at either of them, maybe next time when I win the lottery, but I seriously would’ve loved to. Both are set on their own private islands, which already makes the whole thing feel so incredible.

El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island

This one is pure luxury. Private villas, white sand beaches, and total seclusion in Bacuit Bay. It just looks unreal and honestly would be my top pick if I ever come back for a proper splurge.

Book here: El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island

Cauayan Island Resort

Also on its own island, Cauayan looks incredible like the perfect island getaway. Overwater villas, insane views, and it just feels like the ultimate escape. Definitely the kind of place I’d love to stay at one day.

Book here: Cauayan Island Resort

FAQs About El Nido Beach Resorts

What is the best hotel in El Nido Palawan?

I can only speak from my own experience, but I had an amazing time at Angkla Beach Club & Resort. If you’re looking for a luxury resort in El Nido, I’d honestly recommend it to anyone.

What are the best El Nido luxury resorts?

Cauayan Island Resort and El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island are definitely up there. Both are on private islands and look absolutely stunning. But there are actually quite a few other amazing 5 star resorts in El Nido if you’re planning to splurge.

Is El Nido Palawan expensive?

That really depends. There are loads of backpackers staying in hostels, so it doesn’t have to be expensive at all. But yeah, if you’re booking a 5-star beach resort, it can add up quickly.

Is El Nido worth visiting?

Absolutely. El Nido town itself is super touristy and not the nicest, but if you stay at a beach resort outside of town that offers island-hopping tours (A, B, C, or D), that’s the way to do it. That’s where El Nido really shines.

Final Thoughts on the Best El Nido Palawan Hotels

To wrap this up, I just want to say that this stay at the beach resort in El Nido was honestly one of the most luxurious experiences I’ve had in a long time. I don’t think my standards for luxury are that high (just haven’t stayed at many), but I was super happy with the whole experience.

I hope you’ll give it a go soon, and when you do, let me know how it was!