10 Best Things To Do in El Nido Philippines (Besides Island Hopping!)

On my fourth day in El Nido, I found myself sinking into boredom. We just did a full day of island hopping the day before and had nothing else to do. 

El Nido isn’t just about visiting the beautiful islands, I was sure of that, but there aren’t many resources online that say otherwise. 

When even ChatGPT can’t give me ideas not related to water activities, this little-miss-inquisitive took matters into her own hands and visited every interesting thing she could find on the map. 

I ended up doing food crawls, getting a traditional Filipino massage called hilot, and hearing about eating woodworms called tamilok. Let me share with you what I found!

1. Go on a Day Hike at Taraw Cliff

As an outdoorsy gal, I always look for nearby hikes first whenever visiting a new place. Taraw Cliff is a popular scenic hike that you can do in El Nido, and the best thing about it is that this place is easily accessible via the main tourist area. 

There’s an entrance fee of PHP800 or $14 per person on the popular route where you’ll go through a paved road and get plenty of time to get photos. But if you are not this type of traveler and prefer to squeeze some adrenaline, I found this Taraw Peak guide where you can hire a guide who will take you on a more dangerous, but seemingly, rewarding route.

2. Hop on an Archeological Adventure 

It might be less known that Palawn is actually known as the cradle of civilization in the Philippines. The earliest evidence of man in the Philippines, known as the Tabon Man, was found in the Tabon cave in Quezon, Palawan. 

El Nido, Palawan, although more popularly known as a tropical paradise, is also an archeological treasure. Ille Cave is located in Brgy. New Ibajay, a 45-minute drive by motorbike away from the main tourist area. There has been evidence that the cave has been inhabited since 12,000 years ago with archeological findings such as pottery and animal bones, as well as signs of cremation! 

3. Try hilot, a Traditional Filipino Massage 

Southeast Asia is a haven for massage, and Filipinos have their signature technique called “hilot” which you can experience in El Nido. I had hilot many times as a child, it being at the center of ancient Filipino healing traditions. I remember it being the most common alternative medicine practice for us when we get sick since it’s more affordable than going to the doctor. 

Hilot is intended to restore health using oil, medicinal plants, and orasyon (whispered or written prayers). There are a handful of tourist massage places offering hilot on their services, but doubt this includes whispered prayers, so no worries about that! The massage technique is what we’re after.

4. Sample Tamilok (El Nido woodworms)

When visiting Palawan, Tamilok is one of the “exotic” dishes you should try. Even my sister, a picky eater, tried one when she visited the island during her university days, and that’s the first time I heard about them. 

Tamilok is woodworm which eats its way through wood. This makes it known as a sea termite but they are actually a type of mollusk, effectively grouping them among saltwater clams. Locals told me that tamilok are commonly found on rotting mangrove woods, but are only abundant in specific seasons. They are eaten fresh and raw but die when dipped in vinegar. 

5. Don’t Miss the Smoothies!

One good thing you can never miss in El Nido are the smoothie stands. I mean, what’s a tropical paradise without some tropical smoothies, right? Right. For the price ranging between $2 to $4, you can get an endless choice of fruits. There are bananas, mangoes, dragon fruits (the cute and healthy pink drink!), coconuts, and lesser-known ones like guyabano (soursop) and langka (jackfruit). 

There are a lot of smoothie shops scattered around El Nido’s main tourist streets. Fancier-looking booths mean higher prices, so I always go for ones that are less decorated but just as good! 

6. Cafe Hop

El Nido is an absolute food and cafe hub, much like its tropical sister Siargao which is another popular island in the Philippines. In El Nido, you’ll find different types of cafes from traditional mom and pop to fancy places. Some come with modern interior feels while my favorite are ones with al fresco dining with a good view of the beach. 

One of the ones I enjoyed most is AP KALA being just a three-minute walk from my hotel. I love that it’s spacious, with the wind blowing in the right direction and makes it a perfect place to relax while reading a book. I couldn’t say much about the food because I paid for the ambience, and the prices are considerably okay compared to the average cost in El Nido. 

7.Do a Night Food Crawl

The night food crawl is probably the activity I enjoyed most in El Nido. As the day passes, the island changes character from a tropical paradise to an ultimate food hub. 

There’s an entire street filled with little seafood stands selling a wide-variety of fishes, clams, shrimps, and meat skewers. You have the option to request how the dish will be cooked which could be quite an experience. However, I noted that many of the items sold are overpriced, so I ended up doing it just for the experience. 

If you’re not into the seafood kind of stuff, there are a lot of street food and restaurants along the main tourist street to try. I did a pre-game with the streetfood and got some quail eggs and a gizzard skewer before retiring in a Thai restaurant for some Pad Thai.

8. Enjoy El Nido Nightlife with a Hostel Group

If you’re looking to add more fun into your day, I found that there are many hotels and hostels that organize bar hopping activities around El Nido. I was staying in a hotel that organizes one and the group went to several spots together during the night. This is a great idea for solo travelers since being in a big group could be more fun sometimes than trying to do it all yourself. 

9. Relax! Duh, You’re in El Nido!

Well, there’s a day when you should clear your schedule and stay put, with no agenda in mind. When traveling for a long time, I always find myself trying to fit in as many activities as I can in a week to avoid getting bored. But actually, that is not the best way to do it because you’ll find yourself exhausted from overstimulation in no time. 

El Nido is the best place to be bored! Book a cozy hotel with a good view of the beach, sunbathe, and read a book. Rest is just as important as movement. 

10. Visit the Nacpan Beach from El Nido

Nacpan Beach is the easiest day trip you can make from El Nido. It is a mere 30 to 45-minute drive from the main tourist road, and there is a round trip shuttle service that will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel for 600 pesos or $11 roundtrip. Nacpan has a 4 km stretch of sand and blue waters where you can relax and swim. 

El Nido Weather

It is best to check El Nido weather to make the most out of your stay. The best time to visit is during the dry season from November to May, with average temperatures ranging 25 Celsius to 32 Celcius. This is a perfect time to do both land activities such as cafe hopping, visiting caves, and driving around, as well as water activities like snorkeling, diving, and kayaking since El Nido’s turquoise waters are crystal clear. 

Puerto Princesa to El Nido

Many people book their flights to the capital city Puerto Princesa instead of directly to El Nido because of the cost! The most popular way to travel from Puerto Princesa to El Nido is using vans, and the cost is 700 pesos or $12  for a five to six-hour ride. 

Cherry buses are increasingly becoming a popular mode of transportation between the two towns. They ride costs 800 pesos or $14 for the regular ride which lasts 7 hours. 

El Nido to Coron

There are fast crafts connecting El Nido to Coron. The price ranges between 2700 pesos ($47) to 2900 pesos ($51), and the ride lasts for 3 hours and 30 minutes. You also have the option to fly between the two islands, although at significantly higher prices.