HomeAsiaPhilippinesLuzonPalawanEl NidoFirst Taste of Island Hopping in El Nido, Palawan By Marcos Detourist on August 12, 2011Undoubtedly, the biggest attraction that draws tourists to El Nido are the picturesque islands sprinkled off its coast. I planned on staying in El Nido for at least two full days so I can indulge two different island hopping tours. There are a handful of organized island hopping tours in El Nido codenamed “Tour A,” “Tour B,” … C, and D. Each of these tours go around four to five spots in the islands. Even if you’re traveling alone, the boatmen will just let you join a group for the island hopping tours in El Nido. The tours are a whole day affair (picnic lunch included) with prices ranging from P500 to P900 per person. I read from everywhere that the best tours were A and C, so I booked “Tour C” first with Kuya Jason, my contact. I woke up at around 6:00AM, which was really early for my standards, I must have been very excited to finally go on the island hopping tour :) On the boat approaching Cadlao IslandWaited at Rovic’s to get my morning coffee. I got introduced to my new travel buddies Gen and Nick, a couple from Canada. The three of us had the whole boat to ourselves, which was great! Gen and Nick were very friendly. It was nice to finally meet new friends during the trip. We left El Nido town proper at 9:40PM, I got excited seeing Cadlao Island and its towering steep mountain up close. We only passed by Cadlao Island since it was not part of the tour … I can only imagine the great the view of El Nido atop its peak. Departing from El Nido Town Proper Monolithic rock cliffs at the western edge of El Nido town proper Cadlao IslandTour A mainly goes around the islands of Matinloc and Tapiutan including: Hidden Beach (Matinloc Island), Star Beach (Tapiutan Island), Matinloc Shrine (Matinloc Island), Secret Beach (Matinloc Island).Hidden Beach, Matinloc IslandOur first destination was the Hidden Beach in Matinloc Island. So called “hidden” because you won’t be able to notice its enticing white sands when passing by from the coast. It’s partially surrounded by steep limestone cliffs, which blocks the view of the beach.The crystal clear waters coupled with the scenic raw beach setting was just so beautiful! Perfect for swimming :) There was not much to see when snorkeling though so we moved to this snorkeling spot off the coast of nearby Tapiutan Island.Star Beach, Tapiutan IslandAfter snorkeling, our boatmen took us to Star Beach, named after the abundance of starfish in the area. I went around the beach to take photos while waiting for lunch to be cooked and served. It was raining on and off yesterday, I so was happy that we got to experience the gorgeous blue skies since the tour started.Our picnic lunch consisted of grilled chicken, grilled fish, rice, fresh mangoes, and pineapples. Nothing remarkable about the food but the novelty of eating lunch at the beautiful beach was very fulfilling.Snorkeling in Star Beach was a lot better than in Hidden Beach. There were many live corals and fish. There was also a steep drop-off a couple of meters from the beach, so I didn’t venture out too far.Stranded in El Nido WatersAfter leaving Star Beach, we were already in middle of the channel separating Matinloc and Tapuitan Islands (enroute to Matinloc Shrine) when our engine suddenly stopped! The boatmen told us that their engine broke down. Gen and Nick told me they’ve had the same bad luck during their previous island hopping tour … great! To make things worse, dark clouds were starting to form in the distance and it looked like it was closing in on us … fast. We were stranded for almost an hour, it was horrible.Luckily, another tour boat passed us and noticed we were stranded. Next thing we knew, our boat was already moving … it was being towed by the other boat! cool. We were supposed to go to Matinloc Shrine and Secret Beach but it seemed unlikely since we were already headed to the “Helicopter” Island (Dilumacad Island).Cadlao IslandAfter snorkeling in Helicopter Island, the boatmen took us to Cadlao Lagoon, which isn’t actually part of tour C. I think the boatmen wanted to make up for the mishap earlier. We couldn’t dock at the beach since it was low tide. We tried snorkeling but the water was too murky and the corals were too “in your face” so we decided to end the tour. When we got back to the town proper at 5:30PM, I asked for a discount because of the boat engine failure … I only paid P600 for tour C (original price was P900). Although our island hopping tour had its major hitches, the times that we did spend at the beach were just divine! El Nido is definitely a must-visit, so far its a 5 out of 5 for me :) Back in El Nido Town ProperSunset Walk at Calaan BeachThe town center of El Nido doesn’t have a sunset view because of the super tall cliffs on its west side. What I was recommended to do was to walk past the guardhouse at the northernmost end of the town proper beach and go to this next beach called “Calaan.” It’s a place where you can bum around and see the sunset.I wished I brought a bucket load of insect repellent because mosquitoes started to crowd all over my body as the night crept in. I looked funny jerking around at the beach to avoid getting bitten, thank goodness there weren’t other people around …. the things I do to get the photos that I want :)Dinner at SquidooWanted to try this place called “Squidoo” after Gen and Nick recommended it. I ordered stuffed squid with garlic rice and mango shake with rum for P290. It was expensive but ohh so gooooood! Best squid I’ve tasted and the rum twist complemented the mango shake really well. It was worth every penny :)I’m a budget traveler but I’m selective when it comes to scrimping out on travel expenses. I stay at the cheapest hostels so I’d have money left to indulge at getting to see more sights (transpo fares + tours) and to an extent, enjoy good food.El Nido Island Hopping Notes Tour C (incl. lunch) – P600 discounted price because of the pumpboat engine breakdown (P900 original price) Stuffed Squid and Mango Rum – P270Don’t leave yet. There’s more!Breakfast at Calaan Beach. Planning an epic 3-day El Nido…Arrival in El Nido: DIY Solo BackpackingEntalula Island Lunch and fish feeding at Shimizu in El NidoEl Nido Tour A + B: Snake Island and Cudongon CaveMiniloc Island Lagoons in El Nido, PalawanSurvived Palawan, the Philippines’ Last FrontierComments Nathalie saysAugust 12, 2011 at 2:37 pmEl Nido is paradise…. can’t wait to be back! Marcos saysAugust 13, 2011 at 4:10 pmI agree ^_^ It’s the most beautiful place I’ve been to in the Philippines … it’s haunting me to come back too Renz Bulseco saysAugust 12, 2011 at 3:43 pmLove the sunset photos!!! And also, expect the unexpected talaga sa mga trips. Good thing walang nangyari sa inyo nung nastranded kayo in the middle of the sea. O_O Gabz saysAugust 12, 2011 at 10:08 pmOh you missed the Secret Beach! It’s my most favorite among Tour C islands. Secret Beach is the inspiration of Alex Garland, writer of the novel and film “The Beach”, starred by Leonardo DiCaprio. You have to swim through a small hole in the rock to get inside the beach. Very risky due to strong waves that can smash your head on the rock. But effort is all worth it once you get inside. :) Marcos saysAugust 13, 2011 at 4:12 pmTrue, hehe. Sayang nga di kami na punta sa Secret Beach …. Its one of the places that I really wanted to visit. bariles saysAugust 13, 2011 at 4:16 pmYou make me want to go there at this very instant Mark!Been following your Palawan series since Post #1.Excited to read the rest.Damu gid sang salamat migo! Marcos saysAugust 13, 2011 at 4:31 pmThanks Kuya Avel :) It’s my pleasure to know other people are interested about my travels, hehe … I have a few more posts coming. Journeys and Travels saysNovember 3, 2011 at 8:29 amGreat and timely post. ang dami ko pa talaga dapat puntahan sa pinas. Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 6:35 pmDami na nga napuntahan mo! … actually, ako din, hehe… marami pa gusto ko puntahan :D Allen Trottier saysNovember 7, 2011 at 3:37 pmReally love El Nido. One my most favorite places ever. Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 7:13 pmMe too. El Nido is one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines I’ve traveled to. was saysJanuary 7, 2012 at 4:35 pmnice post. magnificent shots.your post is very helpful. we are going to el nido this coming march 2012. kailangan ko pala naming magdala ng off lotion? Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 11:59 amYep. Better bring off lotion since it’ll be useful especially if you’re venturing out of the town proper. Erwin Aniban saysFebruary 12, 2012 at 11:26 amHi Marcos, I am so delighted I came across your blog. Nice layout, very useful and informative contents. As I was searching for ways to go to Palawan from Iloilo (I am in Boracay now for a one week holiday), I saw your blog and I was indeed overjoyed. This was the perfect blog I was looking for. Now, I only have 5 days to explore Palawan (Puerto Princesa, El Nido & Cuyo) so your blog really will help me plan as I need to be back in my hometown Leyte on the 20th catching flights from Bacolod and Cebu.I was in Coron last month so I want to compare El Nido with Coron that’s why I am dying to visit El Nido. And boy, it was my first time to read about Long Beach in San Vicente. Great posts really! I instantly became a fan! Josh saysNovember 9, 2012 at 11:34 pmHello there, can I get the contacts of your bangkero Please, we need to book our tour and get a reservation, thank you so much ;-) Zerah saysMay 9, 2013 at 11:33 amMe and bf are planning to visit El Nido (matagal pa naman, November pa!) Pero he assigned me to do the itinerary and budget (and that means everything) Anyway, I wonder if you could share some of your contacts, where to stay, who to contact for tour packages and all the stuffs. I know he said na don’t mind the budget, pero alam mo naman ang mga bisaya, kuripot minsan. hehehe. So, if you could share some of your contact, that would be great.PS: You might want to visit the province of Romblon. That’s where I’m from, just let me know and I might be able to help you out as well.Salamat guid! :) Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Marcos saysAugust 13, 2011 at 4:10 pmI agree ^_^ It’s the most beautiful place I’ve been to in the Philippines … it’s haunting me to come back too
Renz Bulseco saysAugust 12, 2011 at 3:43 pmLove the sunset photos!!! And also, expect the unexpected talaga sa mga trips. Good thing walang nangyari sa inyo nung nastranded kayo in the middle of the sea. O_O
Gabz saysAugust 12, 2011 at 10:08 pmOh you missed the Secret Beach! It’s my most favorite among Tour C islands. Secret Beach is the inspiration of Alex Garland, writer of the novel and film “The Beach”, starred by Leonardo DiCaprio. You have to swim through a small hole in the rock to get inside the beach. Very risky due to strong waves that can smash your head on the rock. But effort is all worth it once you get inside. :)
Marcos saysAugust 13, 2011 at 4:12 pmTrue, hehe. Sayang nga di kami na punta sa Secret Beach …. Its one of the places that I really wanted to visit.
bariles saysAugust 13, 2011 at 4:16 pmYou make me want to go there at this very instant Mark!Been following your Palawan series since Post #1.Excited to read the rest.Damu gid sang salamat migo!
Marcos saysAugust 13, 2011 at 4:31 pmThanks Kuya Avel :) It’s my pleasure to know other people are interested about my travels, hehe … I have a few more posts coming.
Journeys and Travels saysNovember 3, 2011 at 8:29 amGreat and timely post. ang dami ko pa talaga dapat puntahan sa pinas.
Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 6:35 pmDami na nga napuntahan mo! … actually, ako din, hehe… marami pa gusto ko puntahan :D
Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 7:13 pmMe too. El Nido is one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines I’ve traveled to.
was saysJanuary 7, 2012 at 4:35 pmnice post. magnificent shots.your post is very helpful. we are going to el nido this coming march 2012. kailangan ko pala naming magdala ng off lotion?
Marcos saysJanuary 11, 2012 at 11:59 amYep. Better bring off lotion since it’ll be useful especially if you’re venturing out of the town proper.
Erwin Aniban saysFebruary 12, 2012 at 11:26 amHi Marcos, I am so delighted I came across your blog. Nice layout, very useful and informative contents. As I was searching for ways to go to Palawan from Iloilo (I am in Boracay now for a one week holiday), I saw your blog and I was indeed overjoyed. This was the perfect blog I was looking for. Now, I only have 5 days to explore Palawan (Puerto Princesa, El Nido & Cuyo) so your blog really will help me plan as I need to be back in my hometown Leyte on the 20th catching flights from Bacolod and Cebu.I was in Coron last month so I want to compare El Nido with Coron that’s why I am dying to visit El Nido. And boy, it was my first time to read about Long Beach in San Vicente. Great posts really! I instantly became a fan!
Josh saysNovember 9, 2012 at 11:34 pmHello there, can I get the contacts of your bangkero Please, we need to book our tour and get a reservation, thank you so much ;-)
Zerah saysMay 9, 2013 at 11:33 amMe and bf are planning to visit El Nido (matagal pa naman, November pa!) Pero he assigned me to do the itinerary and budget (and that means everything) Anyway, I wonder if you could share some of your contacts, where to stay, who to contact for tour packages and all the stuffs. I know he said na don’t mind the budget, pero alam mo naman ang mga bisaya, kuripot minsan. hehehe. So, if you could share some of your contact, that would be great.PS: You might want to visit the province of Romblon. That’s where I’m from, just let me know and I might be able to help you out as well.Salamat guid! :)