Philippines
Where to stay in El Nido: the island resorts and hotels we recommend
In El Nido your hotel decides how the day begins. Either you queue at the pier in town, or the boat leaves from the beach outside your villa.
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In short: where to stay in El Nido
The best places to stay in El Nido are the islands out in Bacuit Bay, where each resort has its own island and its own boats. We recommend six hotels across three areas. If you want a beach with restaurants within walking distance, Lio, north of town, is the best option on land.
Our first choice: El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island, the quietest of the islands in the bay. Check availability and prices
Our top picks
For couples: Pangulasian, with villas well apart from one another.
For families: Miniloc, where there is always something going on.
Most private: Cauayan, with just 24 villas on its island.
Best on land: Seda Lio, on the beach near the airport.
For the adventurous: Apulit in Taytay, where few other travellers go.
The islands of Bacuit Bay
The bay west of El Nido town holds more than forty limestone islands. Four have a resort, and three of those are run by El Nido Resorts, which has been operating here since the 1980s. Stay on one and the boat meets you at the airport, while guides take you to the lagoons at times when the public tours are elsewhere.
El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island
From above you see how long Pangulasian's beach runs, and how close the forest grows behind the villas. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island
The villas sit behind a kilometre of beach, backed by forest, with a house reef of moray eels and clownfish just offshore. Several villas have their own pool. Best for couples and adults who want as much peace as possible.
El Nido Resorts Lagen Island
On Lagen the cottages stand on stilts in the lagoon, right below a sheer limestone wall. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
El Nido Resorts Lagen Island
Rooms on Lagen lie between a small rainforest and a shallow lagoon that stays mirror-flat for most of the day. Some cottages stand over the water. Quieter than Miniloc and less formal than Pangulasian, it makes a sensible middle choice.
El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island
Miniloc is built like a small village in its cove, with kayaks ready on the sand. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island
Miniloc is the oldest resort in the bay, built like a small village in a cove beneath the cliffs. The Big Lagoon is on the same island, so you can paddle there before the tour boats arrive. It has more buzz than the other islands, which children tend to love.
Cauayan Boutique Private Island
Cauayan has North Cauayan Island to itself and is the smallest of El Nido's island resorts. It has fewer guests per metre of beach than anywhere else in the area. There is more about it further down the page.
Lio and the north coast
Lio lies a few minutes from the airport and has been built as a beach district of its own, with shops and restaurants along a long stretch of sand. You stay on land, but away from the noise of El Nido town. Boats to Bacuit Bay leave from town, about half an hour away by car.
Seda Lio
Lio beach stretches north from the hotel, a few minutes from El Nido's airport. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
Seda Lio
The hotel sits right on the beach at Lio, with a pool facing the sea and a short hop to the airport. Rooms are bright and simple. A good choice if you want to mix beach days with island hopping, or have an early flight home.
Taytay
Taytay is on Palawan's east coast, a couple of hours from El Nido by road. Few travellers make it this far, and the bay is far quieter than Bacuit.
El Nido Resorts Apulit Island
Apulit's cottages stand out in the bay at Taytay, where few other travellers come. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group).
El Nido Resorts Apulit Island
Apulit is the fourth El Nido Resorts island and the furthest from the tourist trail. Its cottages stand on stilts over the water in front of a limestone cliff. Ideal for return visitors to El Nido, or for anyone keen to combine climbing and diving.
Before you book
Check the transfer. The island resorts run fixed boat times from Lio and from the pier in town. Land late and you may need a night on the mainland.
Ask what is included. Several island resorts include full board and daily boat trips, while others charge per excursion.
Book early. The islands have few rooms, and Christmas, New Year and Easter fill months in advance.
Our recommendation
Cauayan: one island, 24 villas
Cauayan Boutique Private Island is the smallest of the island resorts in El Nido, and you feel it. With only 24 villas on North Cauayan the beach never gets crowded, and the staff have time for every guest. The villas are built in traditional Filipino style with thatched roofs and local materials, and some sit on the hillside looking out to sea. From here the resort's own boats take you to El Nido's lagoons and beaches. Cauayan is made for couples and small groups who want a private island without travelling further than Palawan.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to stay in El Nido town or on an island?
On an island, if your budget allows and you want peace. The town is noisy, traffic is heavy and the beach is not its best feature. Island resorts have their own boats and beaches, and you skip the queue at the pier. For a stay on land, Lio is a good compromise with a beach and restaurants.
Where is Lio in El Nido?
Lio is north of El Nido town, a few minutes from the airport. It has been developed as a beach town of its own, with hotels, shops and restaurants along a long sandy beach. The pier in town, where most island-hopping tours start, is around half an hour away by car or tricycle.
Which El Nido Resorts island is best?
Pangulasian is the most exclusive and best for couples. Lagen is quieter and less formal, Miniloc is the liveliest and suits families, and Apulit in Taytay is the most remote. All four have their own boats, and the Big Lagoon is on Miniloc. The choice comes down to how much life you want around you.
How many nights should you spend in El Nido?
Four to five nights gives you time for several island-hopping trips and a few slow days. Boat tours take up most of a day, and the weather can cancel them. If you stay on an island, plan on at least four nights so the transfer does not eat too much of your stay.