EL NIDO BY LAND
My first travel in Palawan was 5 years ago when I got to visit Tabon Caves with my Mom and our closest family friends. El Nido was merely a dream destination during that time, and it was only accessible by chartered plane. But, as the years went by, tourism boomed in the province of Palawan. Vans were readily able to pick up tourists from Puerto Princesa (Palawan’s Capital) to El Nido. 5 years have passed, and I was given another opportunity to visit the ever beautiful province.
It is a 5-hour drive from Puerto Princesa by van. As much as I want to show photos of the scenery, my travel was set during the late afternoon until evening. Hence, I slept my way through the bumpy ride (my apologies).
MY SUPER MAXIMIZED ITINERARY (NOT ADVISABLE IF YOU WANT TO CHILL AT EL NIDO FOR A LONG TIME.)
Day 1: Underground River
*Note – If you opt to do-it-yourself, make sure that you book this ahead. Subterranean National Park accepts 800 visitors per day only. 🙂
- 6:40 AM Flight MNL – PPS
- 8:00 AM Arrival
- 8:30 AM Travel to Sabbang Port (for Underground River Tour)
- 10:00 AM Arrival at Sabbang Port
- 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM Underground River Tour (NOTE: Underground River Tour takes about 30 minutes only, what’s time consuming is the long queue for boats inside.)
- 1:30 LATE LUNCH
- 3:00 PM Travel to El Nido by Van
- 8:00 PM El Nido Arrival (Check-In, Desert Rose)
- 9:00 PM Dinner by the beach and check out Art Cafe.
Day 2: El Nido
- 8:00 AM Pick-Up Time for Tour A
- TOUR A
- 7-Commandos Island
- Big Lagoon
- Small Lagoon
- Shimizu Island
- Secret Lagoon
- 4:00 PM End of Tour
- 5:00 PM Travel Back to Puerto Princesa
- 9:30 PM Arrival Puerto Princesa (Check-In, Filigan’s Hotel)
- 10:00 PM Dinner at Kinabuchs
Day 3: Honda Bay
*Note – This was my biggest mistake that time. I should have done this first before I went to El Nido (because I was not able to appreciate the beauty of Honda Bay as I already saw the majestic formations in El Nido earlier.)
- 8:00 AM – Pick-Up for Honda Bay Tour
- Luli Island
- Starfish Island
- Cowrie Island
- 4:00 PM – Back to city
- 5:00 PM (Check-In at Palawan Uno Hotel)
- 6:00 PM Robinson’s Palawan
- 8:00 PM Dinner at Ka Lui’s (It requires a reservation but it’s a MUST TRY!!! Check-out my restaurant review here.)
Day 4: Town Tour, Flight Back
- 8:00 AM – Pick-Up for Half Day Town Tour
- Mitra’s Ranch
- Baker’s Hill (Best Sellers: Pineapple Hopia and Ube Hopia)
- Butterfly Garden and Eco Village (where you get to meet the Palaw-An Tribe and know more about their culture.)
- Puerto Princesa Bay Walk
- Plaza Cartel (to know more about a little history of Puerto Princesa during the World War 2.)
- Pasalubong Center
- 12:00 NN Lunch at Gypsy’s Lair Art Cafe (beside Island Souvenirs)
- 2:00 PM Travel to Airport
- 4:30 Flight PPS – MNL
HOW I DID IT FOR P5,500Â ($110 AUD) FOR 4 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS
*Exclusive of FOOD (DINNER) AND PASALUBONG ALLOWANCE
- Air Fare – P1,300 (via Air Asia with insurance 2-WAY)
- J-Rhanz Package P4,200/person (Land Transfers, Tours, Breakfast and Lunch, and Accommodation All-In)
The best part about this trip, though my itinerary (which I did myself) was kind of tiring, I was able to see and experience the best parts of it all. I found J-Rhanz Travel and Tours at a travel expo months before my trip to Palawan. Everything was hassle-free. At the same time, I was able to book for an P18 ($.36) flight back to Manila via Air Asia.
FOR BOOKING INQUIRIES, KINDLY SEND ME A PERSONAL MESSAGE OR COMMENT HERE AND I’LL TRY TO GET BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 🙂
TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR FUTURE TRAVEL TO EL NIDO AND PUERTO PRINCESA:
- It is best to bring your own aqua shoes and snorkeling gears (though they are available for rent). Some sea creatures are extremely poisonous.
- If you plan to stay long in El Nido, bring enough cash with you as there are no ATMs within the area.
- Visit Honda Bay first before El Nido if you are planning to include it in your itinerary.
- June-August is jellyfish season.
- Land Travel from Puerto Princesa to El Nido is 5- hours long. It is advisable to bring anything that would make you comfortable and entertained during the travel.
- Bring an extra foldable bag with you during the Town Tour. (You never know what you will see, ONLY IN PALAWAN.)
- Pearls are really cheap in Palawan, from high-end ones down to cultured pearls. Name it!
- Restaurants and Food Stops to try at Puerto Princesa: Kinabuchs Resto Grill, Ka Lui’s Seafood Restaurant, BAGA BAGA Food Court, Gypsy’s Lair Art Cafe
- Try to experience Fireflies Watching at night.
- Get to meet new friends from joined tours. During this trip, I met several people from different parts of the globe. (Saying hi to my friends from my El Nido and Puerto Travel!)
- Have fun and happy travels!~