My 4 Day El Nido Itinerary: What I Did, Loved & Would Do Again (2025)

El Nido, Palawan is easily one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines, and honestly, I’d say it’s the number one place you have to include in your Philippines itinerary.

El Nido has some of the most beautiful little pockets of nature I’ve seen anywhere in the country. And I’ve spent around three months hopping around the islands, so if I’m putting it at the top of the list, that actually means something.

In this El Nido itinerary, I’ll walk you through exactly how I spent four amazing days in El Nido, Palawan and share what I loved, what I’d do again, and the best things to do while you’re there. Let’s get into it.

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My 4 Day El Nido Itinerary: What I Did, Loved & Would Do Again (2025)

4 Days in El Nido Itinerary – My Experience

From my experience, four days in El Nido is actually a pretty decent amount of time. You’ll get to do most of the fun activities without rushing. But just so you know, there’s a lot more you could include in this El Nido itinerary if you wanted to. I only did two of the island hopping tours (the two most popular ones), but there are four in total.

I did island hopping on my first two days. I just wanted to get that out of the way early, mostly to avoid any issues with the weather later on. Island hopping was the one thing I had to do here, so I didn’t want to risk leaving it for the end and getting rained out or something. Priorities first.

After two days of boats and lagoons and snorkeling, I felt like I had to do something different. El Nido town itself didn’t really do it for me, it’s busy, built-up, and the beach there isn’t anything special.

So I rented a scooter and spent a whole day exploring the beaches in El Nido Palawan. And honestly? That was one of the best days of the trip. I had no idea how many amazing beaches were just a short drive away with massive stretches of golden sand, turquoise water, and barely any people around.

I also used the time to chill out a bit. There are some amazing beach resorts in El Nido, including a few private island ones, so I took the chance to treat myself a little. After all the moving around I’d been doing, it felt good to slow down for a couple days and just relax somewhere beautiful.

My Perfect El Nido Travel Itinerary

This is the Island Hopping Tour I Did!

Day 1: Island Hopping Tour A (Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Seven Commandos Beach, the Secret Lagoon)

Since I woke up to clear blue skies on my first morning in El Nido, I figured I might as well knock out the most famous island hopping tour right away, Tour A. It’s the one that takes you to all super iconic spots: Big Lagoon, Seven Commandos Beach, and the Secret Lagoon.

Let me just say this: island hopping in El Nido is mass tourism to the max. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. We were out on a little boat all day, with about a hundred other boats floating around us. It’s honestly chaos. But somehow… it’s still beautiful.

Tour A definitely lived up to the hype when it came to scenery. The colour of the water is something else, like ten different shades of blue you didn’t even know existed.

Our guides were super friendly, we stopped for a proper Filipino lunch on the beach, did a bit of kayaking, snorkeling, and generally just enjoyed the beautiful nature around us.

That said, I’ve got to be honest with you: those Instagram shots of people peacefully floating in the Secret Lagoon must be completely fake. That place was packed, we’re talking queues to get in, people slipping on rocks, and honestly, it kind of ruined the vibe. I actually found that part a bit gross. But other than that, the day was amazing, and I’ll include some of my own photos so you can get a real feel for what it’s actually like.

Day 2: Island Hopping Tour C (Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island)

On my second day, I did pretty much the exact same thing as Day 1, another full-day island hopping tour. This time, I went with Tour C, since everyone kept saying that Tour A and Tour C are the two best ones to do in El Nido.

Honestly, I liked both tours equally, but Tour C felt way less crowded. Our boat was still full, but there were just fewer other boats around, which made the whole experience more enjoyable.

If you’re after something a little less touristy, I’d say Tour C is the better option. Tour B and D are supposed to be even quieter, so if you’ve got more than a few days in El Nido, I’d definitely consider trying one of the lesser-known ones too.

Tour C took us to Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island, and a few amazing snorkel spots. Again, it was some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve seen in the Philippines and I would 100% recommend doing two El Nido island hopping tours if you have the time.

The pace also felt a bit more relaxed compared to Tour A. We had more time to enjoy each stop, and the snorkeling was especially good. We also got a huge Filipino lunch buffet with grilled fish, tons of fresh fruit and veggies and surprisingly, it was some of the best food I had during my whole three months in the Philippines.

I booked both tours through GetYourGuide. I just like the extra peace of mind of having a real company with customer service I can contact in case anything goes wrong. When you book directly with a local agency in El Nido, getting refunds or support can be tricky.

Day 3: Explore Beaches in El Nido on a Scooter

On my third day, I finally didn’t have to get up early for a tour, so I took it slow and started my morning at one of my favorite cafés in El Nido, Hama Coffee. I’ve tried quite a few places across Palawan, and this was for sure the best coffee I had. It also comes with the most amazing views over the bay.

Afterwards, I planned to explore a bit more of El Nido on land, so I rented a scooter for the day and just headed off to see what I could find.

My first stop was Duli Beach, which took about 40 minutes by scooter and honestly, this was the most beautiful beach I saw anywhere in Palawan outside of the island hopping tours.

It’s a long, wide stretch of golden sand lined with palm trees, crystal-clear water, and barely any people around. There was a little beach shack selling cold coconuts, and apparently you can even surf here during the right time of year.

On the way back toward El Nido, I stopped at Nacpan Beach, another absolutely stunning spot. There are a few beautiful beach resorts here, and again, this long stretch of beach has that soft sand and perfect turquoise water.

One thing to know though, when you arrive, you’ll probably arrive at the far end of the beach, which is technically called Twin Beach. That area is super crowded, with way too many shops and plastic chairs cluttering the sand. It’s not a great first impression.

But if you walk about 15 minutes down the beach, you’ll reach the actual Nacpan Beach part which is quieter, way more peaceful, and so much prettier.

Day 4: Relaxing in a Beach Resort in El Nido or Enjoy More Activities

For my last day in El Nido, I think this one really depends on what kind of mood you’re in. After three full-on days of exploring, I decided it was time to slow down a bit.

I spent a couple of nights at Angkla Beach Resort, a beautiful little boutique hotel right on the beach. I made the most of their spa, their beach club, and basically just hung out by the pool doing absolutely nothing and it was perfect.

That said, if you’re not quite done exploring yet, there’s still plenty more to do. One of the most memorable things I’d recommend is the El Nido to Coron expedition, a 4-day, 3-night boat cruise that takes you from El Nido all the way to Coron, stopping at remote beaches, lagoons, and snorkeling spots along the way. I loved Tours A and C, but this expedition felt even more special, so if you have the time, I’d absolutely add that to your trip.

If you’d rather stay around El Nido town, there are still a few fun options. There’s the iconic zipline at Las Cabanas Beach, if you’re up for a bit of an adrenaline rush, and loads of cool bars and restaurants to check out in the evening too.

Where to Stay in El Nido Palawan

When it comes to where to stay in El Nido, you’ve basically got two main options: either stay in El Nido town, which is pretty built up and busy but packed with bars, restaurants, and cafés.

Or stay at one of the luxury beach resorts in El Nido Palawan outside of town, where you’ll get direct beach access, beautiful pools, palm trees, and much more of a tropical vacation vibe.

I actually did both, and I’m glad I did. I spent the first few nights in El Nido town, which was perfect for joining the island hopping tours and getting a feel for the place.

Then I wrapped up my trip with a few slower days at a beach resort a little outside of town, and that combo of adventure and chill worked out really well.

Here are the places I stayed in El Nido Palawan that I genuinely recommend:

Book Here: Morgan Villas El Nido Palawan

Book Here: Angkla Beach Club & Boutique Resort

Best Time To Visit El Nido Palawan

One thing you should definitely know about the Philippines, and something I learned the hard way, is that not all parts of the country have the same dry season.

While islands like Siargao and Siquijor have their high season from around May to October, Palawan (including El Nido, Coron, and Balabac) is pretty much the opposite. The high season here runs from December to April.

That said, I do think people are sometimes a little dramatic about it. I was in Siargao in March and had great weather most of the time. Then I flew over to El Nido at the end of April and also got a string of beautiful days. So it’s not like the moment the season shifts, the skies open up and ruin your trip.

But generally speaking, the best time to visit El Nido Palawan is between December and April, the official dry season, when you’ll have the best shot at clear skies, calm seas, and smooth boat tours.

One thing I’ve noticed (and heard from a lot of locals too) is that Filipinos love traveling around their own country during Christian holidays. Christmas and Easter in particular get very busy. If you’re hoping to avoid crowds, I’d try to steer clear of those periods since hotels get booked out fast and almost everywhere gets packed.

FAQs About My El Nido Palawan Itinerary 4 Days

Is El Nido worth visiting?

Yes, I do think El Nido is worth visiting. I’m personally not the biggest fan of El Nido town, but the nature you see on the island hopping tours is absolutely stunning and iconic. If you’re visiting the Philippines, you kind of have to include El Nido.

What is a good Coron El Nido Itinerary?

I’d recommend flying into Coron, spending one day exploring, then doing the Coron to El Nido expedition right after. Spend a couple more days in El Nido and head off to your next destination from there.

What are the best beaches in El Nido Palawan?

Aside from the beaches you’ll see on the island hopping tours, Duli Beach and Nacpan Beach are for sure the best ones in El Nido Palawan.

What’s better, El Nido or Siargao?

This is such a hard one. I personally prefer Siargao, it’s just cooler, less touristy, more long-term travelers, and way more surf culture. But if you could only pick one, I’d say El Nido because the nature here really is just so amazing.

What to Do in El Nido?

There is so many things to do in EL Nido Palawan, however the island hopping tours around El Nido are probbaly the highlight here.

Final Thoughts on 4 Day Itinerary El Nido Palawan

I’ve said this in a few of my other travel guides already but I’m a little on the fence when it comes to El Nido Palawan.

It’s super touristy, the town feels overbuilt, and the tours are made for mass tourism. But I also can’t deny that the most beautiful nature I’ve seen in the Philippines is here with it’s stunning limestone cliffs, hidden beaches, snorkeling spots in more shades of blue and green than I even knew existed. That’s also El Nido.

I think this 4 days in El Nido itinerary is perfect for seeing the highlights, relaxing a bit, and then moving on to your next stop.

Just make sure to come with the right expectations. If you’re hoping for a quiet, off-the-grid island getaway, then you should probably book one of the private island resorts around El Nido and do your island hopping from there. That’s going to be a very different experience than what I had.