15 Best Things to Do in El Nido, Palawan

El Nido is one of those destinations where the town itself is only the starting point.

The real attractions are spread across Bacuit Bay and the surrounding coastline: limestone islands, hidden beaches, turquoise lagoons, coral reefs and long stretches of sand.

Tour A, the Big Lagoon day, is the one almost every first-time visitor books, and the morning boats fill up first in the December–April dry season. Check live dates before you plan the rest of your stay around it:

Best Things to Do at a Glance

Other Palawan Experiences You Might Enjoy

El Nido also has speedboat days that combine Tour A and Tour C, and many visitors carry on to Coron. These are the current top-rated tours:

1. Take Tour A

The best first island-hopping day.

Big Lagoon is the headline attraction, with Secret Lagoon, beaches and swimming making the rest of the day varied. El Nido Island Hopping Tour A is the most-booked version, with close to 2,000 reviews.

2. Take Tour C

The natural second tour.

Choose it for Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island and more time snorkeling. El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine covers the full route, and has close to 800 reviews.

3. Kayak Big Lagoon

Do not treat Big Lagoon as merely a photo stop. Paddling through the limestone corridor is the experience itself.

4. Spend a Day at Nacpan Beach

After several days on boats, Nacpan gives you something completely different: no schedule.

Walk, swim, eat lunch and stay as long as you want. Our guide to the best beaches in El Nido covers Nacpan and the other mainland beaches.

5. Visit Hidden Beach

A Tour C highlight concealed behind limestone formations.

The geography gives you the sense of entering a hidden pocket of Bacuit Bay.

6. Visit Secret Beach

Reached through an opening in the limestone from the sea.

Best for confident swimmers. Do not confuse it with Secret Lagoon on Tour A.

7. Take Tour B

Choose it for Snake Island, caves and sandbars.

It makes an excellent third tour because it feels different from A and C. El Nido: Island Hopping Tour B Cudugnon Cave & More covers Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave and Entalula, with lunch included and more than 260 reviews.

8. Visit Small Lagoon on Tour D

A more intimate kayaking experience than Big Lagoon. Current Tour D routes vary, so confirm Small Lagoon is included; our Small Lagoon guide covers entry, kayaks and fees. El Nido: Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D lists Small Lagoon, its premium entry fee and kayak rental among its inclusions, with Cadlao Island, Nat Nat Beach and Paradise Beach on the same day. Our El Nido island-hopping guide compares the stops on all four routes.

9. Watch Sunset at Las Cabañas / Marimegmeg

An easy evening activity, with restaurants and drinks nearby.

Arrive before sunset; racing in at the last minute misses the best of the light.

10. Go Snorkeling

Most island-hopping routes include snorkeling stops. Tour C is a strong choice if underwater time is a priority.

11. See El Nido from Above

Use a managed viewpoint or canopy-walk experience. Limestone terrain is sharp and steep, and not something to attempt casually on your own.

The view over El Nido, Bacuit Bay and Cadlao is excellent.

12. Relax at Lio Beach

Close to the airport, and useful for an arrival, departure or recovery day.

13. Escape to Duli Beach

A quieter mainland option, also known for seasonal surfing.

14. Hire a Private Boat

A good option for families and groups.

The main advantage is control over pace and timing, not luxury. El Nido Tour A & C by speedboat has a private option that gives your group the boat for the day, covering Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island and Seven Commandos Beach.

15. Travel to Coron by Expedition

Instead of taking a fast ferry, spend several days travelling through remote islands between El Nido and Coron.

Expect snorkeling, beaches, simple camps, fresh food and limited connectivity. The El Nido to Coron 3-Day 2-Night Island-Hopping Expedition is the best-reviewed version, and our El Nido to Coron expedition guide explains how the multi-day trips work.

Take the Ferry If You Do Not Have Time

The expedition is not automatically better. If your itinerary is short, the direct ferry leaves more time for Coron itself; our El Nido to Coron boat trip guide covers tickets and the crossing.

Scuba Diving

El Nido has coral reefs, limestone underwater scenery and tropical marine life. Our guide to scuba diving in El Nido covers the best dive sites, courses and conditions.

If wreck diving is your main interest, Coron is more distinctive, but certified divers can easily justify one or two El Nido dive days.

Non-divers can try it too. El Nido: Discover Scuba Diving with Manta Rays in Sibaltan needs no certification and includes a skills dive to 6 metres and an open-water dive to 12 metres at a manta cleaning station on the east coast, about an hour from town. Transport to Sibaltan is not included.

Explore Town in the Evening

El Nido town works best after the boats return, when restaurants, cafés, bars and tour agencies come to life.

You do not need to set aside a whole sightseeing day for town.

How Many Days Do You Need?

For most first-time visitors, 4–5 days is ideal.

3 days

• arrive and watch the sunset
• Tour A
• Tour C or Nacpan

4 days

Add both Tour C and Nacpan.

5 days

Add Tour B, Tour D, diving or a private boat.

Best 5-Day Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive, then sunset at Marimegmeg.

Day 2

Tour A.

Day 3

Tour C.

Day 4

Nacpan Beach.

Day 5

Tour B, Tour D, diving or a private boat.

What Should You Book First?

Prioritise:

1. accommodation
2. your highest-priority island tour
3. El Nido–Coron transport or the expedition
4. diving
5. flexible mainland beach activities

What Should You Pack?

Bring:

• swimwear
• a rash guard
• sunscreen
• a hat
• a dry bag
• a waterproof phone pouch
• a towel
• water shoes
• a reusable bottle
• insect repellent
• motion-sickness medication
• a power bank
• cash

Best Time to Visit

The drier months generally give the best conditions for island hopping. Roughly December to April is the most reliable period, while the shoulder months bring fewer visitors but less predictable weather. Our guide to the best time to visit El Nido and Coron goes through it month by month.

What If Tours Are Cancelled?

Switch to the mainland: Nacpan, Lio, a viewpoint, a long lunch or a rest day.

This is why four or five nights work better than trying to compress El Nido into 48 hours.

El Nido or Coron?

El Nido offers more standard island-hopping routes and easy mainland beaches.

Coron offers Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Barracuda Lake and exceptional wreck diving.

The best answer is often to combine both. Our El Nido vs Coron comparison helps if you have to choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the number one thing to do in El Nido?

Tour A and Big Lagoon.

Should I take Tour A or Tour C?

Tour A for lagoons and kayaking, Tour C for hidden beaches and snorkeling.

How many days do you need in El Nido?

Four to five is ideal.

Can you enjoy El Nido without a boat?

Yes, but you would miss the destination’s strongest attractions.

Is Nacpan Beach worth visiting?

Yes, especially as a break between boat days.

Is El Nido good for diving?

Yes, though Coron is stronger for wrecks.

Final Verdict

Start with the essentials: Tour A, Big Lagoon, Tour C and Nacpan Beach.

Then add according to your interests: Tour B for caves, Tour D for quieter kayaking, diving for underwater exploration, or an expedition if Coron is next.

El Nido works best when you balance the famous boat days with slower beach time, instead of trying to fit as many attractions as possible into every day.