El Nido

El Nido is a first class municipality and managed resource protected area in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. It is about 420 kilometers southwest of Manila, and about 238 kilometers northeast of Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s capital.

El Nido is located at the far northern most tip of Palawan Island. It is noted for its stunning inlets, limestone cliffs, sandy beaches and clear water. Historically, the area relied heavily on fishing as source of revenue, however in recent years it has gained an international reputation for water sports such as diving, snorkeling and kayaking, and so the economy is becoming more recreational based.

El Nido is a fourth class municipality and marine reserve park in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. It is about 420 kilometers southwest of Manila. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 27,029 people in 5,191 households. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the population are living in the rural barangays, while only fifteen (15%) of them are in the Población.

The municipality covers the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan. It is composed of 45 islands and islets, each has its own unique geological formations. Like the rest of Palawan, it is part of the Eurasian Plate, a plate that is entirely separate from the Philippine Plate to which the rest of the Philippines belongs. The limestone cliffs here are similar to those that can be found in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and Guilin in China, as well as Krabi in Thailand, all of which are part of the Eurasian Plate.

The islands around El Nido have several lagoons, Caves, Coral reefs, hidden beaches and coves and on the mainland more to see like hot springs, waterfalls

Island hopping tours, snorkeling, kayaking, trekking, cliff climbing, diving. El Nido is a protected area, so while beach combing may seem an enjoyable activity, it is prohibited with Corals and Shells being confiscated during check-in luggage search at the airport. Highly recommended is camping for a night on one of the beaches. You can either hire a boat to drop you off and pick you up in the morning, or you can kayak out on your own. The best beaches to be reached by paddling are on Cadlao Island and Helicopter Island.