El Nido is located in the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan about 430 km southwest of Manila. The Bacuit Bay area of El Nido, where the El Nido Resorts are located, has been established by the Philippine government as a Marine Reserve. El Nido's majestic limestone cliffs are estimated to be 250 million years old. They stand guard over clear waters, with 200 species of tropical fishes, more than 100 species of corals, and three species of endangered sea turtles. El Nido's forests are host to more than 100 species of birds, a large number of which are endemic to Palawan.

The municipality covers the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan. It is composed of 45 islands and islets, each has its own unique geological formations. Like the rest of Palawan, it is part of the Eurasian Plate, a plate that is entirely separate from the Philippine Plate to which the rest of the Philippines belongs. The limestone cliffs here are similar to those that can be found in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and Guillin in China, as well as Krabi in Thailand, all of which are part of the Eurasian Plate.

El Nido is a showcase of Palawan's geology and diverse wildlife It is one of the most important sites for biological diversity in the country and has been declared by the Philippine government as a protected area. Palawan is the last frontier nature frontier in the Philippines because of the virgin forests and wildlife.

El Nido Resorts offer activities as diverse as the environment. Sunbathe in secret coves, kayak in hidden lagoons, explore isolated islands, hike through a tropical forest, have a picnic on a private beach, go on a mangrove river tour, snorkel or scuba dive with colorful tropical fishes among fringing and submerged coral reefs.

El Nido Resorts

It is where the first resort in El Nido, which first started as a diving station for Japanese and European tourists, can be found. It is a great place for snorkeling, scuba diving and kayaking. Its Big and Small Lagoons showcase a kaleidoscope of marine life in its orchid-lined limestone walls.

Miniloc Island Resort is situated in a cove with a backdrop of sheer limestone cliffs. The resort resembles a quaint fisherman's village, with Water Cottages built on stilts, Garden Cottages surrounded by tropical plants, and Cliff Cottages nestled in the hillside. Right off the pier,one can snorkel with tropical reef fishes. A short kayak ride away are the spectacular Big and Small Lagoons.

The most luxurious exclusive resort in the area is situated in its cove, which is fringed by a lush forest and limestone walls. Its Leta-Leta Cave was an important burial site of the Late Neolithic Age, where a collection of stone and shell artifacts, and sophisticated pottery and nephrite adzes and axes were recovered. Other materials include stone ornaments and shell beads. It was excavated by Dr. Robert Fox in 1965.

Lagen Island Resort is set in a lush forest, with a magnificent view of the El Nido sunset. Also set in a cove, Lagen Island has Water Cottages built on stilts, Beachfront Cottages with a view of the entire cove, Forest Rooms and Forest Suites built on the fringes of a tropical forest. A short hike in the Lagen forest will take you through a canopy of giant trees and lead you to a private cove.

It has one of the widest stretch of powdery white beaches in El Nido, which is very ideal for sun bathing, sunset viewing, and other beach activities.

It is an important anthropological site, where jewelry and pottery dating back to the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 BC) were yielded. The anthropologists believe that the cave dwellers were from Borneo, and travelled across the ancient land bridge that connected Palawan from Borneo.

Matinloc Island, the longest slim island in El Nido, has a secret beach that is inaccessible by boat and surrounded by steep rock walls. To reach it, divers must swim underwater through a narrow crevice in a rock wall. According to local legend, this beach inspired Alex Garland's novel The Beach.

Famous Diving Sites

El Nido is one of the wold class diving destination in the Philippines. El Nido dive sites are also the home of the exotic and colorful tropical marine life. With it's unexploited underwater scenery, divers will have a good look od the colorful tropical fishes and corals.

This island is located 6 km west of El Nido. Dilumacad Island is known for a cave dive that can be found on the north side. The cave has an entrance wide enough for two divers to enter together and a 15-20m tunnel leads to a cavern at the centre. The bottom is quite sandy where you can see small exotic fish and crabs. The way out is norrow and one diver at a time. Outside, you can see larger fish.

This island is located in the west of El Nido. This island has beautiful and interesting dive sites like the Banayan Point, Bikanayos Rock and Inbogal Point.

Located on the southern tip of the Matinloc island. This marvelous dive site is great to see pelagics. The current can be strong and you can see tuna, jacks, mackerel and coral encrusted rocks.

This dive site is located on the western side of the Matinloc Island. This dive is also known as Picanayas. You can see whitetip sharks. Pelagics can often be seen here as well.

This site is located in the southwest of Binkanayos Rock. Beautiful gorgonians and green corals can be seen in this site. This dive site, you can see Jacks, tuna and mackerel are common and it is home to a unique species of angelfish.

This island is a cove surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs with a fine white sand beach lined with coconut trees, and clear waters teeming with marine life. The island is situated in the west of El Nido. There are a number of attractive dive sites like Tagbao Island, Biet Point and Twin Rocks.

This tiny island Located at the northwest point of Miniloc Island. This island is locally known as Tres Marias in reference to the three reefs that lie between the two islands. Snorkeling is best in here because it is shallow and you see a lot of reef fish, colourful corals and painted crayfish.

This dive site is located at the southern tip of the Miniloc island. In this beautiful dive site, you can see plenty of lettuce corals and sponges. Jacks, barracuda, squid, cuttlefish and angelfish can be encountered in here.

Located at the north side of the Miniloc Island. It is charactarized by a profusion of table corals, sea whips and sponges. You will see small stingray and angelfish here.

Transportation

The fastest and most direct way to El Nido is from Manila. The flight takes one hour and fifteen minutes, and lands directly at Lio airport, which is located about 4 kilometers from Poblacion (town proper). There are only two airlines that fly to El Nido, namely Southeast Asian Airlines (SEA Air) and the El Nido Resorts-owned Islands Transvoyager Incorporated (ITI).

The main roads of El Nido are organized around a set of radial and circumferential roads that radiate and circle in and around the town proper and its rural barangays. Its interconnected roads are connected to the major highway that leads Puerto Princesa City, Palawan's capital.

The main port in El Nido is located in Buena Suerte (Zone II), although a number of small and accessible wharfs are being used in other rural barangays. A number of ferry and other sea vessels owned by Atienza Shipping Lines and San Nicholas Shipping Lines have regular trips from Manila to El Nido town proper.

Labels: Beaches, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines