travel guide El Nido

Must-Visit Places in El Nido

El Nido is a must-visit destination in the Philippines, known for its stunning natural beauty, secluded beaches, and emerald lagoons surrounded by impressive limestone cliffs. To make your visit unforgettable, check out our Top 10 Places to Visit in El Nido, featuring picturesque beaches, crystal-clear waters for snorkeling and diving, and more.

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Big Lagoon, Miniloc Island

Wide, open, and framed by sheer limestone walls that rise straight out of the water, the Big Lagoon on Miniloc Island is the most iconic place in Bacuit Bay, El Nido. Its deep turquoise water and the sense of space between the cliffs make it a favorite for photographers, and the views are best from the middle of the lagoon.

👉Included in El Nido Tour A, the Big Lagoon is the place to paddle at your own pace. Glide out toward the center of the lagoon, look up at the towering cliffs, and take in the scale of Bacuit Bay’s landscape.

Small Lagoon, Miniloc Island

Tucked behind a narrow opening in the rock, the Small Lagoon in Bacuit Bay feels like a hidden pool. Enclosed by cliffs on every side, its calm, green-tinted water is shaded and quiet, and a little more secluded than its bigger neighbor.

👉Included in El Nido Tour D, the Small Lagoon rewards the adventurous. You can paddle in by kayak or swim through the gap, then float inside the cove and enjoy the stillness.

Secret Beach, Matinloc Island

On Matinloc Island, a wall of steep limestone hides one of El Nido’s best-kept surprises. Secret Beach is a small pocket of soft white sand sealed off from the open sea, and boats can’t reach it. The only way in is through a narrow gap in the rock, which you wade or swim through, depending on the tide.

Once you’re through, the cliffs open up around a private cove with clear shallow water, powdery sand, and a view of the sky framed by rock. It takes a little effort to get there, and that’s what makes the arrival feel special.

👉Included in El Nido Tour C, Secret Beach is the stop for travelers who like their beaches hidden and a little adventurous.

Nacpan Beach

Nacpan is the best beach in El Nido. Roughly four kilometers of golden sand curve along the coast north of El Nido town, backed by coconut palms and washed by wide, rolling surf. There are no cliffs closing in here, just open shoreline, big sky, and plenty of room to walk, swim, or settle under a palm with nobody next to you.

It sits on the mainland, away from the island-hopping crowds, so it feels more like a relaxed beach day than a sightseeing stop. Sunset is the favorite time, when the sand turns copper and the whole stretch goes quiet.

👉 Included in El Nido Tour E, Nacpan is the pick for travelers who want a slow day on a beach with space to spare, away from the bustle of El Nido town.

Snake Island

Snake Island, also known as Vigan Island, is named for the S-shaped sandbar that curves across the water of Bacuit Bay. At low tide, the sand rises out of the sea as a narrow path you can walk on, with clear water lapping on both sides and the island’s green hills ahead.

Take your time along the path. The wet sand is dotted with shells and starfish, and the curve of the bar looks best from a little distance, so it’s worth turning around to see it behind you.

👉 Included in El Nido Tour B, Snake Island is a must-visit destination that offers visitors a chance to experience the natural beauty of El Nido.

Hidden Beach, Matinloc Island

From the open sea, Matinloc’s Hidden Beach doesn’t look like much: just a wall of jagged limestone with no hint of a shoreline. Step closer and a small cove appears behind the rocks, with a strip of pale sand and clear, shallow water so still it mirrors the cliffs above.

The water is calm and warm, good for wading and floating, and the sharp edges of the limestone make a dramatic backdrop for photos. It’s a place to slow down and take in the scenery.

👉 Included in El Nido Tour C, Hidden Beach is the stop for travelers who love to see hidden cove, with jagged cliffs, clear shallow water, and plenty of time to wade, float, and take photos.

7 Commandos Beach

After a day of lagoons and limestone cliffs, Seven Commandos Beach is where the pace slows down. A wide stretch of white sand slopes gently into warm, clear water, with coconut palms leaning over the shore and shade waiting underneath.

This is the place to swim, stretch out on the sand, and sip a fresh coconut while the day winds down. The water is shallow and easy to wade into, and nothing is on the schedule except a bit of sun and a lazy afternoon.

👉 Included in El Nido Tour A, Seven Commandos Beach is the perfect way to close the island-hopping day, with a swim, some sun, and time to unwind by the sea.

Shuizu Island

Shimizu Island is where El Nido’s best snorkeling happens. Just below the surface, clear water opens onto coral gardens and schools of colorful fish drifting between the formations, and a mask and fins are all you need to be right in the middle of it.

When you’re done in the water, a small white beach and warm turquoise shallows are waiting for a rest on the sand.

👉 Included in El Nido Tour A, Shimizu Island is the snorkeling stop, with reef life to explore and a beach to relax on afterward.

Entalula Beach

At Entalula Island, a crescent of white sand curves along calm turquoise water, with jagged limestone cliffs rising straight up behind it. The cliffs give the beach a dramatic backdrop that few other stops in Bacuit Bay can match.

The water is gentle and clear, easy for a long swim or a slow float, and the karst formations around the island make every direction a good view. Bring a mask if you like: the shallows are a nice place to look around.

👉 Included in El Nido Tour B, Entalula Island is the stop for travelers who want a postcard beach framed by cliffs, with time to swim and soak in the scenery of Bacuit Bay.

Las Cabanas Beach

When the day winds down in El Nido, Las Cabanas is where the evening begins. The sun sets over the water, the sky turns orange and pink, and the golden sand is the best seat for it. The sea is clear and calm, so a last swim before dusk is an easy choice.

Along the beachfront, bars and restaurants set tables right by the shore. Order a cold cocktail or a fresh seafood dinner and watch the light fade, a perfect way to end a day of island hopping.

👉 Getting there: Las Cabanas is a short tricycle ride from El Nido town proper.