El Nido or Siargao? My Honest Comparison (2025)

From my own experience, traveling the Philippines takes a bit of effort, it’s a country made up of islands, and naturally, you’ll want to visit as many as you can. But because of that, I often get asked things like “Is Siargao better than Siquijor?” or “Should I go to El Nido or Siargao?”.

These questions totally make sense. If you only have two weeks, you can’t do everything, and if you try, you’ll end up spending more time in airports and ferry terminals than on the beach. So choosing where to go is kind of essential.

In this quick guide, I’ll give you my honest comparison between El Nido and Siargao, which one I personally liked more, and which one might be better for you, depending on what kind of traveler you are. Because let’s be real, everyone’s looking for something different.

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El Nido or Siargao? My Honest Comparison (2025)

El Nido vs Siargao – My Experience

Let’s start with my personal experience. I spent about three months in the Philippines and really took my time exploring different islands.

El Nido and Siargao are very different. For starters, El Nido is a town (or region) on Palawan, while Siargao is a full island, so technically, comparing El Nido Palawan to General Luna Siargao might make more sense. But anyway, here we are.

I personally loved Siargao. The overall vibe was super chill, with a strong surf culture, great restaurants, and tons to explore. The people were cool, the energy was laid-back, and it just had that kind of place-you-don’t-want-to-leave feel. I ended up staying well over a month, and it was amazing, especially for surfers, digital nomads, and backpackers.

I’ve also visited El Nido, and honestly, I wasn’t the biggest fan. El Nido town felt overly built-up and way too touristy. It reminded me more of some of the crowded beach towns in Thailand, a bit chaotic, not that cute or pretty, and definitely leaning toward mass tourism. Siargao, on the other hand, just had way more character.

That said, I can’t deny that the surroundings of El Nido are out of this world. Some of the beaches I explored by scooter were stunning, and the boat tours (Tour A, B, C, D) are in all honesty guys, some of the most beautiful things I’ve done in the Philippines.

Beaches in El Nido or Siargao – Which Are Better?

Here’s the thing, neither place is amazing when it comes to the main beaches near town.

In El Nido town, the beach is honestly terrible. I really disliked it. It’s full of tour boats, smells like fuel, there’s rubbish floating around, scooters driving past, it’s not a beach anyone actually relaxes on.

But General Luna in Siargao isn’t exactly beach heaven either. Because of the tides and rocky coastline, there’s pretty much no swimmable beach right near the main tourist area. So if you’re staying in General Luna, you also won’t be lounging on white sand with a coconut in hand.

That said, both places have some amazing beaches, you just have to go find them.

In Siargao, I loved riding my scooter out to more remote spots like Pacifico Beach or my favorite, Pasikon Beach. And the island-hopping tour (Daku, Guyam, Naked Island) has some stunning beaches too.

But El Nido has Nacpan Beach and Duli Beach, which are two long, golden stretches of sand that took me around 30 min to get to on a scooter and they were incredible. And then, of course, there are the boat tour beaches, with those amazing limestone cliffs and secret lagoons. They’re probably the most beautiful in the entire country.

So even though both towns themselves aren’t ideal for hanging out on the beach, I’ve got to give this one to El Nido.

Best Beaches Winner: El Nido, Palawan

Accommodation in Siargao or El Nido

I was lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time in both Siargao and El Nido, and I tried a few different places to stay in each. So here’s what I can say: both destinations have amazing hotels, villas, beach resorts, and plenty of affordable hostels and homestays too.

El Nido definitely has more large beach resorts where you could spend a full week hanging out by the ocean. Most of them are a bit outside of town, but they’re honestly stunning. I got to stay at one of them for a while, and it felt like a proper luxury escape.

Siargao, on the other hand, doesn’t really do big resorts, but it does have some of the coolest private villas, beautiful boutique hotels, and stylish hostels I’ve seen in the Philippines. The accommodation in Siargao just has more… taste? I don’t know if that’s the best way to put it, but everything feels unique and design-focused, with a more laid-back island vibe, it just works.

Siargao definitely feels more personal and special compared to the polished-but-generic feel of big resorts. That said, if you love a full-on 5-star beach resort experience (which is totally fair), then you might prefer El Nido.

But for me? Siargao wins this one.

Best Accommodations Winner: Siargao

Where Has Better Food – El Nido or Siargao?

I’ll keep this one short because there’s no need to overthink it, Siargao wins by a mile.

The food scene there is just next level. The number of amazing restaurants and cafés is honestly kind of ridiculous. Places like Cev (where I had incredible ceviche) or beautiful cafés like Marmalade were all so good.

I genuinely loved every spot I tried. The whole food scene in Siargao reminded me a lot of Bali, trendy, high quality, and super tasty.

El Nido, on the other hand, is more hit-or-miss. Yes, there are a few great places to eat, but there are also plenty of spots that are just, meh. Some are straight-up terrible. It feels a lot more like a typical tourist town in that sense.

Best Food Winner: Siargao

Things to Do in El Nido vs Siargao

When it comes to things to do, both El Nido and Siargao have a lot going for them and honestly, this one’s a close call.

In Siargao, there’s a ton to explore, especially if you’ve got a scooter. From beach hopping and visiting the famous Maasin River to the Magpupungko Tidal Pools, Sugba Lagoon, and the Batu Cold Spring, there were so many places I visited riding around on my scooter.

On top of that, you’ve got surfing, amazing restaurants, and even a wake park. It’s an island packed with adventure, and I definitely made the most of it.

El Nido, at least in my experience, doesn’t have quite as many land-based activities. But what it does have are those incredible boat tours, Tour A, B, C, D and the multi-day El Nido to Coron expeditions. Island hopping around El Nido was hands down one of the most beautiful experiences I had in the Philippines. The turquoise water, the huge limestone cliffs, and the hidden lagoons were absolutely stunning.

So even though Siargao might have more to do overall, I’m giving this one to El Nido, just because the island-hopping tours are just too iconic to pass up.

Best Things to Do Winner: El Nido

Surfing in Siargao vs El Nido

This one’s pretty obvious, Siargao wins by a mile. It’s the surf capital of the Philippines for a reason. There are surf schools everywhere, waves year-round, and the iconic Cloud 9 break. I took a few lessons while I was there, and it was honestly such a good time. The whole surf culture is super chill and fun, and since there are so many beginners around, it’s a great place to try it out and meet other people doing the same.

That said, I do want to give a quick shoutout to El Nido. Most people don’t know this, but you can surf there too. If you’re in El Nido at the right time of year, Duli Beach has some mellow longboard waves that are great for beginners. It’s not the same vibe as Siargao, but it’s still worth checking out if you’re in the area and craving some surf.

Best Surfing Winner: Siargao

Remote Work & Digital Nomad Life

This one definitely goes to Siargao, even though the scene is still growing. Out of all the places I visited in the Philippines, Siargao felt like the best spot for remote workers. That’s actually why I ended up spending so much time there, because I was working remotely and it just worked.

There’s a great coworking space called Coco Space, which has a pool, a café, and super good Wi-Fi. But even beyond that, so many cafes and resorts have Starlink now, so it’s easy to find a good place to work from. Plus, there’s a big digital nomad community on the island, which makes it easy to meet people and settle in for a while.

Best Digital Nomad Life: Siargao

Overall Vibe – El Nido or Siargao?

Overall, I’d say Siargao wins, though it’s honestly a tough call. The nature around El Nido, especially everything you see on the boat tours, is just so iconic and beautiful. But take that away, and there’s not a whole lot else that really stands out in El Nido. That said, if you only have 10 days in the Philippines, I’d probably still recommend El Nido over Siargao… which kind of sucks, because I personally think Siargao is the better destination overall.

Siargao has this beautiful, laid-back community vibe. It’s one of the lushest islands I’ve ever seen, absolute palm tree galore. If you’re planning to stay a little longer, or if you’re a surfer, backpacker, or remote worker, I’d definitely recommend Siargao. But if you’re on a tighter schedule, El Nido’s limestone lagoons and turquoise waters are iconic for a reason. They’re worth seeing at least once.

FAQs About El Nido vs Siargao

Is Siargao worth visiting?

Yes, for sure. Even though it’s not as iconic in terms of sightseeing, it’s such a fun place to be, especially if you’re into surfing or just want a more relaxed island vibe.

How to get to El Nido?

Most people take a bus or van from Puerto Princesa, but El Nido actually has its own airport. You can fly there directly from Manila. It’s obviously more expensive, but super convenient if you’re short on time.

Is Siargao expensive?

It kind of is, at least compared to other places in Southeast Asia. But I also think you get a lot for your money, especially when it comes to the experience and the lifestyle there.

Do I need travel insurance for the Philippines?

Yes, absolutely. I have a full guide on travel insurance for the Philippines, but my go-to is SafetyWing. It’s travel medical insurance made by digital nomads, for digital nomads.

Final Thoughts on El Nido vs Siargao

I’ve kind of already said it, but just to wrap it up, I personally prefer Siargao over El Nido. It’s a beautiful island with so much going on: great restaurants, fun surfing, lively nightlife, and a cool community. If you’re a backpacker, surfer, or remote worker, this is the spot for you for sure.

But… if you’re on a shorter trip, say, 10 days or 2 weeks in the Philippines and you’re choosing between El Nido and Siargao, then I’d still pick El Nido. The landscapes, limestone cliffs, hidden beaches, and turquoise lagoons are just so iconic, you kind of have to see them.