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Shore Day Trip Live Aboard
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Country: Philippines Area: Philippines
Water Temp: 24 - 30°C (75 - 86°F)
Visibility: 3 - 25m (10 - 82 ft)
Depth Range: 5 - 40m (16 - 131 ft)
Whale Shark Season, Sperm Whale, Manta Ray December February
Plankton Season January March
Jelly fish Season March May
El Nido has been ranked one of the best beach and island destinations in the Philippines. The stunning beauty of the island is perfectly complimented by fantastic dive sites, which vary in intensity and style.
Book A Dive Center OnlineEl Nido is famed for its karst limestone and marble cliffs, isolated lagoons, ancient caves and waterfalls. It is located in Bacuit Bay on the northernmost tip of Palawan, and is comprised of 45 tropical islands. On land activities, including hiking, rock climbing and sun tanning, are just are plentiful and remarkable as the diving itself. The area is relatively unknown and not yet hit hard by tourism, this has won El Nido the title as ‘Philippines Last Frontier’.
Dive sites in El Nido are incredibly varied, and they cater to all levels of experience. Shallow reefs are perfect for beginner divers and snorkelers, while deep caves and drift dives will excite advanced divers. The water teems with vibrant marine life – all divers are likely to encounter pipefish, barracuda, stingray and sea turtle. The area is particularly good if you are into macro diving or enjoy nudibranchs.
El Nido Lagen, Credit
El Nido has two primary seasons: the dry (December – May) and the wet (June – November). The highest levels of rain occur in August.
Temperatures range between 22ºC and 33°C year round. The highest temperatures are felt during the months of April and May, which also happen to be the driest. The coolest month is typically January.
Water temperatures hover between 24ºC and 29ºC. The water is generally warmest between April and November.
El Nido is believed to be one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. With numerous endangered species, unique flora and pristine geological formations, the area has been protected by the Filipino government.
Major conservation initiatives in El Nido began in 1984, when 360 square kilometers were declared to be a turtle sanctuary. In 1991, the area more broadly was declared to be a marine reserve, and the protected area was further expanded in 1992. In 1998, El Nido’s status was elevated to the level of Protected Area, and the area of protection expanded to include the land as well as the marine areas. Currently, the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area is the largest in all of the Philippines. It covers over 900 square kilometers, 60% of which protects aquatic ecosystems.
Crocodile Fish, Credit
Since the establishment and growth of tourism in El Nido, the local environment has deteriorated slightly. It remains an ongoing struggle for local operators to ensure that development is balanced with sustainability.
Most of it in El Nido are Macro like orang-utan crab, commensal shrimp, A lot of nudibranch, Different types of pipefish, some big are Napoleon wrasse, Bump head parrot fish, Mackerel, Tuna, Snappers, Trigger fish and etc.
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Shore diving is only done during confined open water dives and training. Otherwise, there isn’t much that is worthwhile.
Boat diving from El Nido takes divers to a variety of different sites, that cater to beginner through to advanced individuals.
The easiest and shallowest reefs are around South Miniloc. This site was made famous by Jacque Cousteau when he mapped the Paglugaman cave. Here divers see a good variety of macro life. Dilumacad Reef is one of the best places to spot turtles, and is also a great spot for beginners.
The Tunnel, El Nido, Credit
Paglugaban Reef is a far deeper dive site which has an impressive rock formation at the end of the reef. Dilumacad Tunnel is another more challenging site, suited for advanced divers and above.
Other popular sites include West Entalula, a wall dive just west of Bacuit Bay. Here, Ornate ghost pipe fish and other macro life are very common. There is also a sandy area in the area which makes for great deep dive adventures.
Nudibranch, Credit
A few liveaboard companies include dives at El Nido within a broader tour of the Philippines, especially if the tour is focused on cave diving. Liveaboards will often visit El Nido in conjunction with Coron and the rest of the Palawan Area. This is however, a location more typically explored from land.
Helicopter Island Tunnel, El Nido, Credit
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The airport (Lio Airport) just outside the main town of Población has regular flights to Manila (1 hour). South East Asian Airlines and Island Transvoyager Inc. both run commercial flights. From the airport, it is only a quick tricycle ride into the town (15 minutes).
It is also possible to fly to Puerto Princesa from Manila, from where you can take a van or bus to El Nido town over approximately 6 hours.
Ferries are also an option, though they are not recommended due to safety concerns. Most of these boats typically carry cargo. There is also a SuperFerry that operates weekly.
Tricycle ride, Credit
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Restaurants around El Nido are fairly varied, but generally have both good quality and value. Most restaurants serve either European, American or Filipino dishes from pleasant beachside locations.
If you’re craving pizza, the best place to go is Altrove Tratoria. Pizza here is cooked in a stone oven. The El Nido Corner has some really great seafood, prepared according to your tastes. Lonesom Carabao Restaurant serves great Mexican dishes, with their burritos being a local favourite. The Alternative has some of the best health food in town.
One more nudi, Credit
There is a decent variety of evening and nightlife options as well. Puka is a popular restaurant/bar that plays reggae and serves Filipino drinks and meals. The Art Café is somewhat more laid back, and often has live music several nights a week. Balay Tubay Bistru at Galeri also has live acoustic music.
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Plenty of on-land activities allow you to explore the phenomenal natural beauty in El Nido. The beaches are an obvious favourite and there are plenty to choose from. At Las Cabanas and just north of El Nido airport are some typically quieter beaches worth exploring.
If craving a bit of adventure, head to the western side of the township for rock climbing and rugged hiking trails. There are guided treks that take you to the top of the headland for panoramic views of the region. Other trails will lead you past waterfalls and through the forest.
Hiking in El Nido, Credit
If you’d rather stick by the ocean, there are plenty of places to rent a kayak and snorkeling gear, enabling you to explore the nearby islands. Organized boat tours are also a popular way to explore the region.
Another popular activity is to rent a motorbike for a day or two, and explore the countryside independently. Roads are generally well maintained – though a map is certainly worthwhile if you want to find the hot springs and waterfalls.
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When visiting, be careful of vendors selling pearls since they often become pushy with their sales. A firm and calm ‘no thank you’ is often enough to deter them.
Scams from tricycle drivers are often fairly common. Normal charge is only 10 pesos and from Corong-Corong terminal to El Nido town with the tourist baggage is only 50 pesos. From El Nido town to Las cabanas is 150 pesos. From ITI Airport to El Nido town is 200 pesos.
Flabellina, Credit
When you pay the El Nido environmental fee, make sure that you get the ticket because this is valid for 10 days of stay and whatever activities they do in El Nido. It is very important to keep this ticket since you will be asked to show it.
There are no major health facilities in El Nido. The local clinic is able to deal with minor ailments, but severe injuries must be treated in either Puerto Princesa or Manila. The nearest hyperbaric chamber is in Manila.
Hi there,
We've had to shift our trip in the Philippines due to Mayon exploding and we are looking into whale shark experiences in Palawan.
What is the likelihood of seeing whale sharks between the 9th and 12th of February?
Thanks,
Kat
My fiancé and i are planning on visiting El Nido, Philippines next January and One of the main reasons were going is to see the whale sharks. How likely will we see whale sharks during the months of January and/or February?
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