El Nido, Palawan (Ultimate Paradise)

I waited for 3hrs at NAIA 3, but it’s fine, coz I know in about 2hrs of plane ride, I’ll reach a paradise.yey!

After arriving at Puerto Princessa Airport, I took the 5 hour journey to EL Nido.. Yes It was that long, the road to El Nido is as tumultuous as a roller coaster is an understatement, yet it is all worth'it.  Took a van, shed around P600 for the fare and comfort, compare to a bus which is way cheaper for only P300, yet travel time is an hour longer and not to mention sacrificing the comfort.

Once again, I wish to be selfish and keep El Nido's beauty a secret.

Unfortunately, you're just tooo beautiful to be kept a secret, so I shall tell...

White-sand shores, Amazing Krast formation, hidden lagoons, coral-crusted reefs, mysterious caves, lush green forests, and towering cliffs All-in-One. ‘twas ELNIDO. 

See that? Im sure you can now imagine how im catching my breath. did i just tell you I can't breath?!  

now wait, lets start over.. upon arriving in a small coastal town of ElNido, the van actually halted in a small terminal, where tricycle are abundant and are very willing to bring you to your hotels/inns. P50 is the minimum fare if you will rent it, I rented one and we paved our way to Strong Tower INN. Thumbs-up for the cleanliness, Its also affordable and the location is within the proper. Free towel, Air-conditions and fan rooms available. 

the bonus factor? the view outside our window!

from our home stay, you can have a short walk going to the beach, hmm mga 100 na hakbang or less nasa dagat kna. and from there, Beautiful set of islands will amaze you. I almost want to ride the boat and start the island tour.

A bit of a steady drizzle in the morning,

but still a beautiful view to wake up to.

The beach is a parking lot for boats. and that added a kick to the scenery, It was just pretty breathless! Look! Isn't it Amazing?!

ElNido houses the best if not the best'est Islands in this country, so why just go for a single package tour if you can avail of all the packages, wherein you can visit every single islands! so yeah, our group decided to spare a larger piece of moolah, and up to this day i never regreted that I spend bucks to witness the beauty of this place!

Island Tour A. B, C and D 

Rates:

Tour A P1,200

Tour B P1,300

Tour C P1,400

Tour D P1,200

This is per pax. and it is for the Island Hopping rates alone(with free Lunch). Inclusive of the Environmental fee na rin. Not included the accommodation,food and other expenses. So just a heads'up, bring a lot of extra cash. You can avail for all the tours tutal nasa El Nido na kayo. We did, and It's worth'it!

Picking a favorite spot in El Nido is just so impossible, I cannot possibly choose one. It’s like asking parents to pick a favorite child amongst their brood; it’s unfair.  

We rested and had our lunch in SHIMIZU  Island

The island named after the Japanese who got lost and died in that area.

I don't think that's creepy, It's actually cool.haha

if you want an island named after you, 

all it takes is just your life really.haha

 

Our Lunch? Taste great! Seafoods overload!

Oh El NIdo, I have fallen for you! 

So many lagoons of different sizes and forms.

Lush greenery from both towering cliffs and deepest waters,

This is as virgin as nature could get.

Of all the lagoons this is the biggest,

so common sense it's called  BIG LAGOON. haha

wanna see another parking lot? here!

This is SMALL LAGOON parking lot.

If you think nothing so special about it?

well, wait till you rent a kayak for P300 and thread yourself to this hole:

 and squeeze yourself to this hole:

Squeeze in the body tight then exhale at the grandness that Mother Nature inside!

nothing beats the eye-gasmic view when inside the SMALL LAGOON.

I curse not having an underwater cam.

Lucky us, our companion has one.

We make sure that we also have our own on-the-tip-of-the-boat pictures taken side by side with limestone's that sprout from the waters. The Small and Big Lagoon is where it all happens. It reveled at the clear waters and the rock sentinels from above and marveled at the vibrant-colored corals and the richness of life underneath. 

ohh you gorgeous El Nido! 

And what better way to end the day? (well aside from a bottle of cold beer while in the beach) It is always and forever be better to end the day by watching the sun set with this Panoramic view

And great way to start the night?

Beer, bonfire, sand and stars!

IT'S OFFICIAL I'M IN LOVE WITH EL NIDO.  

*********************

  Leaving the place really broke my heart. I will be back for sure. Over and over.

How to get there:

CebuPAc flies to Puerto Princesa, Palawan four times daily and offers year round fare promos. Vans and Bus drives from Puerto Princesa to to El Nido and vice versa eight times daily from 5:30am to 5:30 pm. AirAsia has four daily flights between Manila and Puerto Princesa City. Tip: check out for promo tix, it will save you a lot!

Where to stay:

For those who want a cheaper yet quality accomodation, you can check out STRONG TOWER INN and BLESSED INN. P300/pax for a non-aircon room good for two with CR anf free wifi,coffe and towel(yes towel as in tuwalya.hehe)  And if you have enough budget, best is Cadlao BeachFront or El Nido Beach Hotel is located along the beach of the town and provides for one of the best sunrise vantage point. They also offer Island hopping and land tours, scuba diving, and cliff climbing activities. Their standard room goes for 3,000 PHP for a non sea-view room to 5,500 PHP for a sea-view family room.

P5,000 budget?! (Weekend Travel)

Our El Nido trip was for 5days, Im broke after this El Nido trip.haha

There are four Island packages and we all tried those,we partied every night and I spent a lot for pasalubongs. But whoever says that El Nido are for rich kids like us? charot! haha

A friend asked me: "Keri na ba ang 5K pa Elnido?"

Definitely YES! (without the airfare and airport fees)

Say you will be spending your weekend in El Nido,then you need to be back in Manila by Monday coz of work. (I strongly suggest you plot your leave on a Friday) 

The lowest airfare are usually around mid afternoon or after 12NOON, so let say you booked the 1PM flight Manila-Puerto Princesa on a Friday, and a return flight on a sunday afternoon/Night).

let me give you a sample itinerary and budget breakdown.

Day1 Friday

2:00PM     Arrived PP Airport

7:00PM     Arrived El Nido

Day2 Saturday

6:00AM     Breakfast

7:00AM     Preparing for Island tour

8AM-5PM  Island Tour

6:00PM     Dinner

7:00PM     Pasalubong Shopping

8:00PM     Night @ the Beach

Day3 Sunday

7:00AM     Breakfast

8:00AM     Check the Beach / stroll

11:00AM   Lunch

12:00NN   Travel back to PP

5:00PM     Arrived PP City

6:00PM    ETD PP

7:00PM    Hello Manila!

**I suggest you eat dinner at an earliest time possible as the store and establishments in El Nido are mostly closed by 7PM. No Jolibee/Mcdo and other fastfood chains, No resto's as well. The bars located in the beach offers foods as well, yet its always jam packed for a night party and drinking session.

Now based on the sample itinerary, we can do the sample budget breakdown.I will not include your budget for the pasalubongs and for your Nigh Life party or Drinking session.

Day1

P30.00      Trike and Jeep from PP airport to PP provincial terminal

P300.00     Bus bound to El Nido

P100.00     Dinner

P500.00     Accomodation/for two. additional P200 for extra mattress (Inns or homestay)

Day2

P500.00     Accomodation

P100.00     Breakfast

P1,200.00  Package A Island Hoping (package A kasi ang may pinaka magagandang Islands)

                 Its a whole day tour, inclusive of lunch

P100.00     Dinner

Day3

P100.00     Breakfast

P100.00     Lunch

P50.00       Trike to terminal

P300.00     Bus bound to PP City

P50.00       Trike/Jeep to PP Airport

**the food (breakfast/lunch/dinner) are fixed for P100.00 ( subject to change though as you can either buy food more than the said amount.)  No fast food chains or resto in the area, there are eateries/karenderias that offers delicious and quality meals, that's less than P100.00

Now, do the math guys. : )

To whoever want to visit ElNido, please tag me along.hehe

Qouting from an article I recently read:

"Travel. As much as possible, whenever you can. Traveling will change you like little else can. It will put you in places that will force you to care for issues that are bigger than you. It’s about experiencing true risk and adventure so you don’t have to live in fear for the rest of your life. And...inspiring others to step out of that fear, too"