El Nido, Palawan – Travel, Diving & Visitor Guide
El Nido is located in northern Palawan and can be reached either by flying directly into El Nido Airport from Clark or Cebu, or by flying to Puerto Princesa and continuing overland to El Nido by shared van or private transfer.
For international visitors arriving through Manila, there are no longer direct flights from Manila to El Nido. Travellers need to transfer from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Clark International Airport, a road journey that normally takes around 2 to 3 hours depending on traffic. We recommend allowing at least three hours for the transfer, plus sufficient time for flight check-in at Clark. From Clark, you can then fly directly to El Nido.
Another convenient option is to travel through Cebu, where direct flights to El Nido are available. Travellers can also fly from Cebu to Puerto Princesa Airport and continue to El Nido by van or private transfer.
Flight schedules and travel times can change, so we recommend checking current connections carefully before booking, particularly when connecting with an international flight on the same day.
Getting to El Nido, Palawan
El Nido is located in northern Palawan and can be reached either by direct flight into El Nido or by travelling overland from Puerto Princesa.
For most international visitors, the easiest route is to fly into Manila and then connect to El Nido. Direct flights into El Nido are the fastest and most convenient option, while flying to Puerto Princesa and continuing by van or private transfer can sometimes provide more flight choices.
Travel times and flight schedules can vary, so it is always worth checking your connections carefully, especially if you are arriving on an international flight and planning to continue to El Nido on the same day.
Flying to El Nido via Manila
If you are arriving in the Philippines through Manila, you can no longer fly directly from Manila to El Nido. Flights to El Nido now operate from Clark International Airport.
From Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, you will need to travel to Clark International Airport before taking your flight to El Nido. The transfer by road can take around 2 to 3 hours depending on traffic, so we recommend allowing at least 3 hours for the journey, as well as enough additional time for airport check-in.
From Clark, you can fly directly to El Nido Airport, making this one of the most convenient routes for travellers arriving through Manila.
Getting to El Nido via Puerto Princesa — H3
Puerto Princesa is another common gateway to El Nido and can be a useful alternative when direct flights to El Nido are limited or do not fit your travel schedule.
After arriving at Puerto Princesa International Airport, travellers can continue north to El Nido by shared van, private van or private car. The road journey normally takes around 4 to 6 hours depending on traffic, road conditions and the number of stops along the way.
Shared vans are usually the lower-cost option, while a private transfer offers more comfort and flexibility, particularly for families, groups or travellers carrying dive equipment.
If you plan to travel to El Nido on the same day as your flight into Puerto Princesa, allow enough time for baggage collection and the road transfer, especially when arriving later in the day.
Where to Stay in El Nido
For travellers who want to stay right in the centre of El Nido without giving up a beachfront location, The Beach House offers a convenient choice of both private rooms and dorm accommodation. Pasted text
Guests can choose from comfortable private rooms if they want more space and privacy, or dorm beds for travellers who are working with a smaller budget but still want to stay in one of the best locations in town.
The Beach House is located directly on the main beachfront in central El Nido, within easy walking distance of restaurants, cafés, shops and local transport. It is also closely connected with Submariner Diving Center, making it especially convenient for guests who are visiting El Nido to dive. Pasted text
For divers, the location is a major advantage. Guests can combine their accommodation and diving through the Dive & Stay package and receive a 10% discount on both accommodation and diving activities.
Getting Around El Nido
Getting around El Nido is relatively easy, especially if you are staying in or close to the town centre.
Tricycles are the most common form of local transport and are widely available for short trips around town, to nearby beaches and to Lio Airport. For longer journeys, private vans and cars can also be arranged.
Many restaurants, cafés, shops and dive centres in central El Nido are within walking distance of each other. If you are staying near the beachfront, you may be able to reach most of what you need without using transport at all.
For guests staying further outside town, it is worth allowing extra travel time each morning, particularly if you have an early dive departure or island-hopping tour.
Guests staying with Submariner Diving Center’s Dive & Stay accommodation have the added convenience of being right on the beachfront, with direct access to the dive operation and boat pickup from the property.
Where to Eat in El Nido
El Nido has a wide range of restaurants and bars serving everything from traditional Filipino dishes to international favourites, fresh seafood, snacks and casual beachside meals.
For visitors staying around El Nido town and the main beach, two convenient options are Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar and Mabuhay Sports Bar. Both offer a good selection of Filipino dishes together with a large range of international food.
Cloud 9 is located directly above the beachfront and offers elevated views across El Nido Bay. It is a particularly good choice for visitors who want to enjoy a meal or drink while taking in the scenery, especially around sunset.
Mabuhay Sports Bar is also located on the main beachfront and offers a relaxed atmosphere, a broad food menu and plenty of choice for groups with different tastes.
Best Coffee and Breakfast in El Nido
For coffee and breakfast in the centre of El Nido, Hot Gossip Coffee Shop is located directly on the main beach at the centre of the bay.
It is a convenient place to start the day before diving, island hopping or exploring El Nido. Guests can enjoy coffee, breakfast and light meals while being only a short walk from the centre of town and the beachfront.
Its central location also makes Hot Gossip an easy meeting point for travellers staying nearby or heading out for a day on the water
Where to Watch Live Sport in El Nido
For visitors who do not want to miss an important game while travelling, Mabuhay Sports Bar is one of the best places in El Nido to watch live sport.
Located directly on the main beach, Mabuhay shows a wide range of major sporting events and provides a lively but relaxed atmosphere for watching games with friends, other travellers and local sports fans.
The venue combines live sport with a full food and drinks menu, making it easy to settle in for an evening game, major tournament or international sporting event.
Live Entertainment and Cocktails in El Nido
Mabuhay Sports Bar is also a popular option for evening entertainment in El Nido, with live music and entertainment on selected nights.
Alongside the entertainment, Mabuhay offers one of the largest selections of cocktails in El Nido, together with beer, wine, spirits and other drinks.
With its beachfront location, live sport, entertainment, food and wide drinks selection, it is a convenient place to spend the evening after a day of diving, island hopping or exploring El Nido.
Functions & Events in El Nido
For birthdays, celebrations, group dinners, private parties and special events, both Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar and Mabuhay Sports Bar offer flexible venue options in the heart of El Nido.
Cloud 9 is especially suited to functions where the setting matters. Located above the beachfront, it offers elevated views across El Nido Bay and works well for sunset events, private dinners, celebrations and group gatherings.
Mabuhay Sports Bar is a good option for more relaxed and lively events, with beachfront access, food and drinks, live sport and entertainment. It is well suited to birthdays, parties, sports gatherings and larger social groups.
Both venues offer a wide range of Filipino and international dishes, making it easy to cater for mixed groups and different tastes.
Scuba Diving in El Nido
El Nido is one of Palawan’s most rewarding scuba diving destinations, with warm tropical waters, colourful coral reefs, dramatic limestone formations and a wide variety of marine life throughout Bacuit Bay.
Dive sites around El Nido are suitable for a wide range of experience levels. Beginners can enjoy sheltered reefs and generally gentle conditions, while more experienced divers can explore deeper sites, walls, swim-throughs and areas with stronger currents.
Marine life commonly seen around El Nido includes tropical reef fish, turtles, moray eels, nudibranchs, rays and many other species. Each dive site offers something different, with varied underwater landscapes, coral formations and conditions.
Submariner Diving Center offers daily fun dives, beginner diving experiences, PADI courses, specialty training and private VIP diving. Depending on the trip and conditions, divers can enjoy up to three dives in a day.
Because weather, visibility and currents can change throughout the year, dive sites are selected each day according to the conditions and the experience level of the divers. This helps ensure the best possible diving experience while maintaining safety and comfort
Dive & Stay in El Nido
For divers who want to make their trip as easy as possible, Submariner Diving Center offers a convenient Dive & Stay option in the centre of El Nido.
Guests can stay at The Beach House, directly on the beachfront and only steps away from the dive centre. This makes it easy to combine accommodation and diving in one place without needing to travel across town each morning.
Dive & Stay guests receive a 10% discount on both accommodation and diving activities, making it a simple and good-value option for visitors planning several days of diving.
One of the biggest advantages is the location. Our dive boats can pick guests up directly from the beachfront, allowing you to start your dive day from your doorstep.
The Beach House also places guests within easy walking distance of restaurants, cafés, shops and the centre of El Nido, so it works well for both diving days and time spent exploring the town.
Plan Your El Nido Diving Trip
Planning your diving in advance can make your El Nido trip much easier, especially during busy travel periods.
Submariner Diving Center offers daily fun dives, beginner diving experiences, PADI courses, specialty training, Dive & Stay packages and Private VIP Diving experiences. This means you can choose an option that suits your experience level, schedule and the type of diving trip you want.
Certified divers can join our regular daily dive trips, while new divers can start with a Discover Scuba experience or begin a full certification course. More experienced divers can continue their training with advanced and specialty courses.
For guests wanting more privacy and flexibility, our Private VIP Diving Experience offers a dedicated boat, private guide and a more personalised diving day.
If you are staying in El Nido for several days, our Dive & Stay option can also make planning simpler by combining beachfront accommodation with your diving in one booking.
During peak periods, we recommend booking your diving in advance so we can reserve your preferred dates and help organise the right trip for you.