Plan 01
1 day in El Nido
- 01
Day 1: Bacuit Bay by boat
Book a shared or private island-hopping tour the evening before, and carry cash for the environmental fee. Ask for a route with lagoons early in the day, then enjoy a beach lunch and a snorkelling stop. Return to town in the afternoon, rest, and walk along the town beach at sunset. Eat an early dinner.
Plan 02
2 days in El Nido
- 01
Day 1: Lagoons and beach lunch
Take a lettered island-hopping tour that includes Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon. Start early to beat the crowd, snorkel at a reef stop, and eat the boat lunch on a beach. Return to the town beach by mid-afternoon and rest.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Big Lagoon About 45 to 60 minutes at the stop Easy Early morning on a calm, dry-season day Small Lagoon About 30 to 45 minutes at the stop Moderate Early morning, dry season Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.
With parents at Small Lagoon: Entry is often by swimming or paddling through a narrow opening and sometimes by clambering over rock. There is no seating or shade. It is a poor choice for people with limited mobility; stay on the boat and enjoy the view from outside.
- 02
Day 2: Nacpan or a viewpoint morning
Hire a tricycle or car for Nacpan Beach for a long beach day, or climb Taraw Cliff early for the bay view and spend the afternoon at Las Cabanas for sunset. Choose the beach if anyone in the party finds stairs difficult.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Nacpan Beach Half a day to a full day Easy Dry season, morning or late afternoon Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.
Plan 03
3 days in El Nido
- 01
Day 1: Arrival and the bay from land
Settle in after the transfer. Walk the town beach, confirm your boat bookings and take a late-afternoon tricycle to Las Cabanas or Corong-Corong for sunset.
- 02
Day 2: Island hopping
Take a full-day boat tour, ideally private if you have older relatives. Ask for the lagoons first, a snorkel stop and a beach lunch, with the Secret Lagoon or Hidden Beach only if the entry suits everyone.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Secret Lagoon About 30 to 45 minutes Demanding Mid-morning at a lower tide, dry season Hidden Beach About 30 to 45 minutes Moderate Early morning, dry season Pace: Secret Lagoon involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.
With parents at Secret Lagoon: Entry is through a narrow opening that you reach by wading or swimming and then clambering over rock and shell. There are no handrails and the footing is uneven. Older travellers or anyone with a knee or balance issue should stay on the boat.
With parents at Hidden Beach: Landing is usually on a beach, sometimes with a short wade or a scramble over coral rubble, and there is no shade other than the cliffs. A simple stay-on-the-boat option exists for those who prefer to watch.
- 03
Day 3: Nacpan Beach and a free evening
Spend the day at Nacpan, with a swim if the surf is calm and lunch at a beachside restaurant, and return before dark. Keep the evening free for packing and an early night before the transfer.
Stop Time needed Walking Best time Nacpan Beach Half a day to a full day Easy Dry season, morning or late afternoon Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.
Read before you go
Guides for the stops on these routes
Pacing
Pacing a El Nido trip for parents and children
- Choose a private boat for island hopping if you can, and ask the crew to help older passengers on and off the boat, which is by stepping into shallow water.
- Pick a ground-floor room or one with a lift, because many town guesthouses have steep stairs.
- Plan one major activity a day, usually in the morning, and rest in the afternoon; shade on boats and beaches is limited.
- Skip Taraw Cliff and the Secret Lagoon if knees or balance are an issue; the view of the bay from the boat and the beaches is easier to enjoy.
- Carry prescriptions and a medical summary. The nearest large hospitals are in Puerto Princesa, about 269 km away, so travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is sensible.
- Fly into El Nido rather than take the van from Puerto Princesa if mobility or motion sickness is a problem, as the vans take several hours.
Book the pieces
Stay close to the route
Pick a base near the first day's sights. Our guide to where to stay in El Nido compares the areas.
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