Is El Nido Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2025

I’ve had quite a few people ask me lately: is El Nido worth visiting? So I thought I’d put together a quick little guide to answer that question properly.

I’ve spent close to three months in the Philippines and tried to see as much of this beautiful country as I could and naturally, El Nido was part of the trip. I spent a few days there, did all the touristy stuff, and explored a bit on my own around town and the nearby beaches.

So in this quick guide, I’ll give you my honest opinion on whether El Nido is actually worth it or not. Obviously, this is just based on my own experience, but I’ll also throw in some practical tips and info so you can make up your own mind, because we all like different things, right? Let’s get into it.

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Is El Nido Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2025

Is El Nido Worth Visiting? My Quick Answer

Alright, so my quick answer to this is: unfortunately, yes.

What do I mean by unfortunately? Well, I’ll be honest, I really didn’t love El Nido town. Actually, I thought it was kind of a mess. It’s super built up, overly touristy, and easily the ugliest beach town I visited in the Philippines. There are shops, restaurants, and hotels crammed into every corner, and not in a cute or charming way. It reminded me of one of those trashy beach towns in Thailand that’s lost all character.

There are a couple of decent places to eat or grab a drink, but overall, the town just isn’t nice. And the beach in El Nido is just terrible. It’s packed with tour boats and scooters, no one actually hangs out there. The only nice part of El Nido is the view out into the bay.

Okay, dramatic rant over. Because here’s the thing: El Nido is still 100% worth visiting.

Why? Because the nature surrounding it is absolutely incredible. The beaches, the limestone cliffs, the turquoise water, the hidden lagoons, it’s some of the most stunning scenery I saw anywhere in the Philippines. I did Tour A and Tour C (the famous boat trips), and every stop was just wow. Even when I went exploring by scooter, I found some beautiful beaches on my own.

What I Loved About El Nido Palawan

Island Hopping Tours: The boat tours from El Nido were incredible. I did Tour A and Tour C, which are the ones most people recommend and honestly, the nature I saw was unlike anything else. The clearest turquoise water, hidden lagoons, massive limestone cliffs, stunning white-sand beaches… it was just amazing. Every stop felt like a dream.

Beaches Around El Nido: Some of the best beaches I visited in the Philippines were just a 30–40 minute scooter ride from town. Nacpan Beach and Duli Beach especially, they were quiet, spacious, super chill, and just ridiculously beautiful. Way better than the beach in El Nido town.

Coron to El Nido Expedition: The Coron to El Nido expedition (or the other way around) was hands down one of the highlights of my time in Palawan. Instead of taking a regular ferry, I joined a 3-day island-hopping trip through remote beaches and uninhabited islands. Sleeping under the stars, snorkeling in untouched waters, it felt like a real adventure, not just another tour.

What I Didn’t Like About El Nido Palawan

El Nido Town: I really didn’t like El Nido town, especially after visiting places like Siargao, Siquijor, or even nearby Port Barton, which all felt way more relaxed and charming. El Nido just felt chaotic and overbuilt. There’s no real vibe, and it’s not particularly nice to walk around.

El Nido Is More Expensive: Because it’s so touristy, everything in El Nido is noticeably more expensive, restaurants, hotels, even basic stuff. And the worst part is that I often felt like I was getting less for my money. That got frustrating really quickly.

Touristy Crowds: El Nido is built entirely around tourism, and that vibe is hard to ignore. It’s packed with people, tour boats, and shops trying to sell you something. I think I just came with the wrong expectations, but still, it’s by far the most touristy place I visited in the Philippines.

The Nature in El Nido is Incredible

I know I’ve been a bit harsh on El Nido in this article, but I want to be clear, I’m not here to sugarcoat anything. At the same time, it’s important to say that the nature in El Nido really is incredible.

I mentioned earlier that I did Tour A and Tour C, both boat tours that take you to spots like Secret Lagoon, hidden beaches, kayak areas, snorkel sites, and some other beautiful remote beaches. And honestly, this is the reason why I think El Nido is 100% worth visiting, more so than a lot of other places in the Philippines. The landscapes here are just so iconic and beautiful.

Even though I’m a bit of a hater when it comes to El Nido town, I still believe that if there’s one place that absolutely deserves a spot on your Philippines itinerary, it’s El Nido, purely for what you get to see on those tours. That includes the Coron to El Nido expedition, by the way, which is a whole other kind of scenic adventure.

I also spent a full day exploring by scooter, which I feel like a lot of travelers skip. I went to places like Nacpan Beach and Duli Beach, and especially at Duli, we were pretty much the only people there with just miles of golden sand, crystal-clear water, and a palm tree-lined backdrop. Total paradise. I’m really glad I made the effort to get out there.

Things to Do in El Nido

Do an El Nido Island Hopping Tour (Tour A or C): This is the main reason to come to El Nido – stunning lagoons, hidden beaches, and a beautiful scenery.
Join the Coron to El Nido Expedition: Way more adventurous than a ferry, this multi-day trip lets you explore remote islands you’d never see otherwise.
Rent a Scooter and Beach-Hop: Duli and Nacpan Beach were absolute highlights for me, they were so beautiful and quiet.
Snorkel or Paddle from Las Cabañas Beach: You can rent a kayak or SUP right on the beach and head out to explore the islands on your own.
Grab a Coffee at Hama Café: A little overpriced maybe, but the view from the balcony was one of my favorite chill spots in town.
Try the Zipline: If you want a quick hit of adrenaline, the beach-to-beach zipline near Las Cabañas is actually super fun.

Where to Stay in El Nido

When it comes to staying in El Nido, you’ve got a couple of different options and since I stayed in two totally different areas, I feel like I can actually give you a solid overview now.

The first option is staying right in El Nido town. It’s super convenient since this is where the bus will drop you off and where all the popular boat tours leave from. There are tons of restaurants, cafés, and hotels here too. The only downside is, it’s a bit hectic and noisy and not the most relaxing spot, but definitely practical.

The second option is to stay somewhere outside of town, which is what I did for a few nights. I booked a little boutique beach resort out on Nacpan Beach called Angkla Beach Club & Resort, and it was honestly such a nice break. It’s super remote, so don’t expect much around, but if you’re looking for peaceful luxury, right on the beach with a pool and a great restaurant, this place was kind of perfect.

These are the two places I stayed in El Nido and would 100% recommend:

👉 Book Here: Angkla Beach Club & Resort

👉 Book Here: Morgan Villas El Nido

FAQs About Is El Nido Worth Visiting

Which is cheaper, Coron or El Nido?

I’d say El Nido can definitely be cheaper. It’s also way more practical to visit. Coron is a bit more remote and less built-up, so unless you’ve got extra time and patience, El Nido just makes more sense for most people.

Should I pick Coron or El Nido for a honeymoon?

100% pick El Nido. There are so many beach resorts here that are perfect for a romantic trip. I recently stayed at Angkla Beach Club & Boutique Resort and had such an amazing experience.

What are the best things to do in El Nido?

For sure, the boat tours. I’d recommend doing Tour A and Tour C, they were both incredible, and the nature I got to see was absolutely stunning.

What is El Nido known for?

Definitely the nature. All those classic Philippines photos you see, massive limestone cliffs, turquoise water, white-sand beaches and a lot of that is in or around El Nido and Coron.

How to get to El Nido Palawan?

Most people take the bus from Puerto Princesa, but there is a small airport in El Nido as well, which you can fly into from Manila.

Final Thoughts on Is El Nido Worth It

I feel like I’ve made my opinion pretty clear in this article, but to wrap it up, yes, El Nido is absolutely worth it. Sure, El Nido town itself isn’t the main highlight, but that’s not why you come here. The boat tours, the scooter rides, the beaches, the island-hopping… the nature around here is just next level. Even the Coron-to-El Nido expedition I did was unforgettable.

In my opinion, El Nido is the number one must-visit spot in the Philippines. It’s iconic, and it totally deserves a place in every Philippines itinerary.