Compare the areas
Travel times are typical tricycle or van times from El Nido town.
| Area | From town | Beach | Evenings | Price level | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nacpan | 45 min north | Long, wide, good swimming | Very quiet | Budget to luxury | Switching off |
| Lio | 15 min north | Long, clean, calm | Relaxed, a few restaurants | Mid to luxury | Families, comfort |
| El Nido town | 0 min | Working boat beach | Busy and loud | Budget to upscale | First visits, budgets |
| Corong-Corong | 10 min south | Shallow, tidal, sunsets | Quiet, some beach bars | Budget to luxury | Couples |
| Marimegmeg | 15 min south | Swimmable, sunsets | Beach bars, restaurants | Mid to upscale | Beach days |
| Islands | Boat only | Private | Resort only | Mostly luxury | Honeymoons |
Area by area, north to south
Nacpan
Nacpan is a four-kilometre beach with coconut palms behind it and very little development. The sand is wide and the swimming is good, though waves pick up on windy days.
It is a long way from everything else. The road is much better than it used to be, but you are still looking at around 45 minutes each way to reach town, the tour boats and most restaurants.
Stay here if
- The beach is the whole point of your trip
- You are happy eating at your resort most nights
- You have already done the island tours, or plan only one or two
Skip it if
- You want to walk to dinner and bars
- You plan to tour the islands every day
- You have a very early flight or ferry
Places to stay here: Angkla Beach Club & Boutique Resort, Nacpan Beach Glamping, Nacpan Beach Villas, Akoya Beach Park & Cottages, Casa Nacpan, Casa Vina El Nido, Nacpan Beach Resort, AMARAV Pension House, Amwani Breeze, Duli Beach Farm Hostel, Eco Sanctuaries Nature Lodge, Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach and 4 more. See all 16 and check prices
Lio
Lio is a planned beach estate next to El Nido’s airport. It has a long, clean beach, paved and lit paths, and a small cluster of shops, cafes and restaurants you can walk to.
It feels calmer and more ordered than town, which is exactly why some people love it and others find it too tidy. Town is a 15-minute ride when you want more choice.
Stay here if
- You are travelling with children or older relatives
- You are flying in and want the shortest transfer
- You want a swimmable beach and quiet nights
Skip it if
- You are on a backpacker budget
- You want nightlife on your doorstep
- You prefer somewhere with rough edges
Places to stay here: Lio Villas Resort, Piece Lio, Bahala Na Villas, Huni Lio, Seda Lio, Balai Adlao, Charlie’s El Nido, Domes and Dreams Lio Glamping, Isla Amara Resort, Casa Cecilia, Happy Monkey Hostel, Island Lyfe Adventures Hotel and 1 more. See all 13 and check prices
El Nido town
Town is a tight grid of streets pressed between limestone cliffs and the bay. Almost everything practical is here: tour desks, dive shops, pharmacies, cash machines and the widest choice of places to eat and drink.
The trade-off is noise, traffic and a beach that is used for boats, not swimming. Rooms a few streets back or at the edges of town are quieter than those on the front.
Stay here if
- It is your first visit and you want it easy
- You are solo and want to meet people
- You are watching your budget
Skip it if
- You are a light sleeper
- You want to swim in front of your hotel
- You want space and greenery
Places to stay here: LIHIM Resorts, Amari, The Inn at El Nido, H Hotel El Nido, La Salangane Caalan Beach Villa, Morgan Villas El Nido, The Funny Lion El Nido, Angel Nido Resort, Barco El Nido Hotel, Bill Tourist Inn, Cadlao Resort & Restaurant, Cuna Hotel, El Nido Beach Hotel and 44 more. See all 56 and check prices
Corong-Corong
Corong-Corong is the next bay south of town. It faces west across the islands, so sunsets here are the best of any area close to the centre.
The beach is narrow and the water is shallow. At low tide the sea retreats a long way, which is lovely to look at and poor for swimming. Many tour boats also pick up here, and town is a short tricycle ride.
Stay here if
- You want quiet nights but easy access to town
- Sunset from your room or a beach bar matters
- You want a villa or boutique hotel with a view
Skip it if
- Swimming straight off the beach is essential
- You dislike relying on tricycles
- You want a wide sandy beach
Places to stay here: Karuna El Nido Villas, Panorama Villas El Nido, Buko Beach Resort, El Nido Moringa Resort, Frangipani El Nido, Last Frontier Beach Resort, Maligaya Beach Bungalows, Panorama Beach Club & Resort, Doublegem Beach Resort and Hotel, El Nido Coco Resort, Glamping at Karuna El Nido, Happiness Boutique Resort El Nido and 17 more. See all 29 and check prices
Marimegmeg and Las Cabañas
Marimegmeg, also called Las Cabañas, is the best swimming beach within easy reach of town. It faces the sunset and has a row of beach bars, plus a newer strip of shops and restaurants just behind it.
It gets busy from mid-afternoon as day visitors arrive for sunset. Stay here and you have the beach to yourself in the morning.
Stay here if
- You want a real beach and somewhere to go at night
- You like a sunset drink with your feet in the sand
- You want something between town and remote
Skip it if
- Afternoon crowds would bother you
- You are looking for the cheapest beds
- You want total seclusion
Places to stay here: Maremegmeg Beach Club, Dolarog Beach Resort, Mua Tala Hotel, The Birdhouse El Nido, 89 Villas Resort and Spa, El Nido Bayview Resort, Las Cabañas Beach Resort, RC Villas and Resorts, The Nest El Nido Beach Resort, Lexias Hostel and Workspace. See all 10 and check prices
Islands and boat-access resorts
A handful of resorts sit out in Bacuit Bay on their own islands or on beaches with no road. They have the scenery the day-trippers come for, without the day-trippers once the tour boats leave.
They are the most expensive beds in El Nido and you depend on the resort’s boat schedule. Many people split a trip: a few nights on an island, then a few on the mainland to explore.
Places to stay here: Cauayan Island Resort and Spa, Lagen Island Resort, Matinloc Resort, Miniloc Island Resort, Pangulasian Island Resort, Vellago Resort, Dryft Darocotan Island, Isla, The Island Experience, Richcoast Eco-camp Darocotan. See all 9 and check prices