How to Get to El Nido, Palawan
El Nido seems to be a far flung place when I first heard about it. I was so ignorant about this place that the first thing that comes to my mind whenever I hear the word El Nido is an expensive resort. But now that I’ve spent a couple of weeks here, I know that this paradise on Earth is accessible and can be a cheap destination too.
Here’s how you can get here:
By Air
Unfortunately as of now, only Seair serves the Manila-El Nido-Manila route by air. There seems to be no competition as of now although sometimes a chartered flight flies here too (check ITI Air). Alternatively you can fly from Manila to Cebu to Puerto Prinsesa via Cebu Pacific Air, Zest Air or Airphil Express.
Overland
Once you get to Puerto Prinsesa, you can either take the bus which will cost you around P350 or take the shuttle van which will cost you around P600. They are only available at 5AM, 7AM and 9AM. If you don’t get to catch the bus or the van, you can then contact Fort Wally if they have a special trip in the afternoon. The special trip will cost you around P700.
Warning:
On our way to El Nido, we stopped by a terminal to pick up more passengers. Unfortunately those passengers didn’t show up and some guys in the terminal asked us to add P500/person more to cover the cost. Together with the other passengers we politely decline to pay more since it isn’t our fault that their expected passengers didn’t arrive.
By Sea
There’s a ferry service that brings passengers to El Nido and vice versa via Atienza Shipping. The cost is around P1000 and the travel time is around 28 hours.
EL Nido – Manila: M/F Departs at 12MN
Manila – El Nido: T/F Departs at 6PM
Suggestion:
If you have more than a month to travel and enjoy the beauty of Palawan, I suggest you start your trip by flying from Manila to Coron and then hop on a ferry to El Nido and continue on to Puerto Prinsesa overland. From Puerto Prinsesa, you could just catch a plane back to Manila. Both Manila to Coron and Puerto Prinsesa is being served by local carriers such as Cebu Pacific Air, Zest Air and Airphil Express. You will definitely see most of the famous tourist spots here if you take this route.
Accommodation in El Nido for All Budgets
There’s a variety of accommodation in El Nido that caters to all budget. Rooms can be as low as P400 or as high as more than a $100 per night. Depending on your budget, you can definitely find a place to stay in when you go to this beautiful paradise.
Below is an excel file that I made to summarize the accommodation from Sitio Pacalsada, Bgy, Corong Corong and El Nido town proper. Bear in mind that this is a list of their high season prices. Rates are definitely lower during low season (June-November), where some guesthouses slash the publish rate to a considerable amount.
Also, you can bargain for a bigger discount if you stay longer. Most guesthouses are generous enough to give you a discount if you stay for a week or so. Always try to ask for a discount.
If you stay for a month or so, you can opt to rent a cottage instead. The rate will definitely be cheaper since they are going to give you their monthly rate. Bear in mind though that this is only applicable during the low season.
If price is your main consideration, you can walk around and ask for a “boarding room”. Usually this is a spare room in a local’s houses that they rent out.
How Much did I Spend in El Nido
I thought El Nido was an uber expensive place but after staying there for one month I realize that budget travellers like me could also afford to travel in this paradise. They now have a few budget hostels in El Nido that can accommodate foreign and Filipino backpackers and I’m sure that in a couple of year’s time the number of hostels will double or triple.
Food is a little expensive when you eat at restaurants with prices ranging from P100 ($2.50) up. But don’t worry, there are a few carinderia or eatery that caters to budget travellers. If you bring your own cook set and cook your own meal, the price will definitely be lower. Most food items in the market are cheaper compare to manila with the exception of oil and some vegetables since they mentioned that they also import it from Manila.
Tour prices are almost as the same as with anywhere else. The key to saving money on tours is by joining group tours instead of renting an entire boat (unless you’re travelling in a big group). Do not forget to bargain hard (but polite) because a lot of them are generous enough to give you discounts (especially if you travel here during off peak season).
Here’s how much I spent in El Nido:
• Taxi to Airport 100
• Cebu Pac Promo Ticket MNL-Puerto-Manila 1426.8
• Terminal Fee (Manila and Puerto Princesa) 240
• Van and Bus PP-El Nido-PP 1050
• Rent Room in El Nido (Mar24-Apr20) 1500
• Tours (A&B and Inland) 1300
• Hostel in Puerto Princesa (Apr 21) 150
• Food, Water and Halohalo 3000
• Pasalubong (Dried Fish) 250
• Reinstatement of baggage allowance 800
Total Cost for 29 days in Palawan 9816.8
Bear in mind that rent price is shared, its actually P3000 for one spare room in a local’s family’s house. The house is located in Bgy. Corong Corong which is 15 minute walk away from El Nido town. If you’re interested to stay long in El Nido for a very cheap price then I suggest that you look for a “boarding house” instead of asking hostels for their monthly rate.
Food cost is cheap because our meals were usually fish and vegetables which is way cheaper than meat products. I didn’t buy bottled water which cost around P30 for 1.5 liter instead we rented a 5 gallon container at Ionic and had it refilled for only P50.
Airfare is cheap because of Cebu Pacific’s promo fare. Van and bus prices are fix and non-negotiable.
The price that you would have to pay on your trip depend on some comforts that you can compromise. If you can’t compromise airconditioning and wifi, then your cost would definitely be higher. Long staying guest also get discounts which vacationers (those who stay for less than five days) don’t typically get.