After finishing a strong cup of iced Americano and a juicy BLT from The Cavern, I felt a strong surge of energy that I had to walk it off. The town proper is about 2KM from where I was and easy to reach via the Taytay-El Nido road.
The road leading to El Nido town is a narrow, two-lane street. There's plenty of tricycles, vehicle smoke and though it's not ideal for walking, you can see limestone rock formations, a common sight in this little town.
Despite the inconveniences, I focused on the scenery. It's not everyday I see mountains and huge rock formations just along my walking route. I took advantage and enjoyed the serenity that only nature can provide.
Corong-Corong bay is not along the road but there are restaurants and resorts I passed by that have access to the beach. In the afternoon, the water is filled with so many parked boats. Making up for the cluttered landscape is the view of surrounding islets and islands.
Close to where I stayed (Overcomer Lodge), just a little off the main road is Altrove Pops (location map here), a small street lined with street art, cafes, stores and a food park.
I eventually reached the town center. It's small and you can just walk around and into narrow streets to discover restaurants, fruit shake stands and souvenir shops. I craved for a light snack and found Midtown Bakery along Rizal street. El Nido's most popular bakery serves typical Filipino pastries sold in local bakeshops around the country. Their pan de coco is filling and packed with coconut which I love. While it's a bit more pricey than your usual bakery next door, it's a much cheaper snack option than eating inside a restaurant. (Tip : Midtown Bakery is beside Casa Cecilia located, along the main road leading to the dock.)
More travel tips! Here are some helpful blogs on where to eat in El Nido :
Just Globe Trotting | Where to eat in El Nido
Simply Philippines | A Foodie's Guide to the Best Restaurants in El Nido
Travel Resources when planning for your trip to El Nido :
Lakas ng Trip | Helpful El Nido posts
Travel in Boots | El Nido, Palawan : Full Travel Guide(with Practical Itinerary)
Lakwatsero | El Nido Travel Guide 2018 : How to Get There, Where to Stay, Sample Itinerary and Other Tips
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| First meal in El Nido was as The Cavern. They serve burgers, sandwiches and coffee. |
The road leading to El Nido town is a narrow, two-lane street. There's plenty of tricycles, vehicle smoke and though it's not ideal for walking, you can see limestone rock formations, a common sight in this little town.
Despite the inconveniences, I focused on the scenery. It's not everyday I see mountains and huge rock formations just along my walking route. I took advantage and enjoyed the serenity that only nature can provide.
Corong-Corong bay is not along the road but there are restaurants and resorts I passed by that have access to the beach. In the afternoon, the water is filled with so many parked boats. Making up for the cluttered landscape is the view of surrounding islets and islands.
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| Corong-Corong bay |
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| Altrove Pop District |
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| a typical street in El Nido town proper |
Just Globe Trotting | Where to eat in El Nido
Simply Philippines | A Foodie's Guide to the Best Restaurants in El Nido
Though there's a BPI ATM in town, it's still advisable to bring cash with you. I also observed cafes with wifi are everywhere though I'm not sure how fast it is. I traveled in November 2017, off the summer season but there's still plenty of visitors, mostly foreigners.
I was nearing the end of my walk when I chanced on Peak Corner, a fitness gym located at the corner of Calle Hama and Osmena streets. With its glass walls, I could see good- looking, chiseled men working out, another attraction in town. LOL! You can just grab a shake and stand in the corner and do some "man bathing". It's an idea, though a very creepy one. :P
Tricycle drivers are also available in town to take you on your tour. For an entertaining and reliable driver, you can contact Nelson Fernandez through his mobile number +63 907 327 1050. His rates for island tours A,B,C,D ranges from 1,200-1,400 PHP/head. You can also hire him to take you on an inland tricycle tour and visit Nacpan beach or see Kuyawyaw waterfalls. His tip, if you want to see a good sunset, visit Las Cavanas or Maremegmeg beach (he can take you there for 300 PHP). *Rates may change and I may not be able to update this blog. Please always confirm before booking.
This is my first trip to El Nido and while I found it very touristy, I enjoyed my stay and will be coming back. I love that there's plenty of dining options, there's good coffee such as the one served in The Cavern and that I can just book an island hopping tour even if I'm going solo and it won't be more expensive that traveling with a group since most operators charge per head.
This is my first trip to El Nido and while I found it very touristy, I enjoyed my stay and will be coming back. I love that there's plenty of dining options, there's good coffee such as the one served in The Cavern and that I can just book an island hopping tour even if I'm going solo and it won't be more expensive that traveling with a group since most operators charge per head.
Lakas ng Trip | Helpful El Nido posts
Travel in Boots | El Nido, Palawan : Full Travel Guide(with Practical Itinerary)
Lakwatsero | El Nido Travel Guide 2018 : How to Get There, Where to Stay, Sample Itinerary and Other Tips
This trip is part of my week long birthday trip. Here are my other blog posts on this:
Leg 1 : El Nido Experience with Northern Hope Tours | Walking Around El Nido Town (You're here!:))
Leg 2 : Birthday Hike at Mt. Matutum