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WHEN TO GO

Recommendations for El Nido are extensive throughout Palawan.

• Climatology: Palawan has an excellent climate in terms of temperature is concerned, we will spend practically all year round in flip flops and shorts given their usual annual temperatures between 28 and 32ºC (82-89F) maximum and 24 to 26ºC (75-79F) minimum, although extreme humidity increases the thermal sensation and sultriness. The problem here is the rain; in February and March it barely reaches a daily probability of 5%, in January and April it increases to 10%, and from there it shoots up; In May, June, October and November we will find rain half of the days and from July to September, the odd thing will be that it does not rain, we will be in full monsoon, with high probabilities of typhoons. It is true that precipitations tend to be in the form of generally morning storms, which come to last minutes or hours, leaving the sky clear in the afternoon, but outside the months of December to March it is very likely that the rain spoils the trip.
• Number of tourists: The Philippines is very, very on fashion, and El Nido is the site that has become most internationally famous; In the last 9 years the number of foreigners visiting the country has increased by around 10% per year. High season coincides with the best season according to weather, increasing the prices of hotels and transport up to triple compared to rainy season. New Year is the time of greatest occupation and most expensive prices.

ZONES IN EL NIDO PENINSULA, ACCOMMODATIONS AND RESTAURANTS

Accommodation ranges from PHP 800 per double room with private bathroom and air conditioning in low season to PHP 3,000 the same room in high season. We paid 2,000 PHP in February 2016 for a room with these characteristics that was very good, and although prices tend to rise, the Philippine peso offers a better change currently than in 2016 respect to euro and US dollar.

• El Nido Town is a frightening jumble of houses, shops and tourist accommodations crammed one on top of the other. With a null urban planning, streets are narrow and tortuous, many are not paved, and where a year ago a modern and beautiful hotel was promoted as “terrace overlooking the sea” today it does so as “terrace”, because nobody is attracted by the claim of “terrace with views to the building that someone just built in front f mine”. All interesting restaurants, of different quality and price, are fish restaurants, and the most desirable thing is to dine in one of those with chairs on the sand of the short beach. In general they are expensive.

• Immediately to the northeast is Caalan Beach, an area somewhat more relaxed than the town itself, with a good range of accommodation and restaurants, but the beach is quite scarce.
• We decided on Corong Corong, which starts a kilometer south of the village following the road and continues almost to Marimegmeg Beach / Las Cabañas Beach (in a few years there will be no “almost”, it will reach Marimegmeg). A zone by now much quieter than the previous ones, with a relaxing beach from where a great sunset is contemplated from any of its beach bars or restaurants. It is in full development and in a short time it will become a second Caalan Beach. Our accommodation was St. John Island View Pensionne; although expensive in quality / price (like everything in the Philippines) they were very friendly while I was sick and it was very clean; We use the traditional backpacking technique of pre-internet era to get off a tricycle in the area and go door to door asking for prices and looking at rooms, that crazy people we are… In all these areas there is electricity 24 hours.

• The northern part of the peninsula is even quieter and less developed; Currently there is only electricity in the night hours and some accommodations directly have no supply except that provided by their own generators, which only start up a few hours a day. It is the ideal place for those who want to enjoy the surroundings calmly, away from the crowds. With most accommodations near the beaches from Nacpan to Sibaltan, you have the inconvenience of having to travel from 20 to 40 kilometers (12.5 to 25 miles) to El Nido Town if you want to do any of Bacuit Archipelago excursions, as well as the restaurant options may be limited to our accommodation and those around. However, spending a few days on a beautiful beach isolated from the noise and the crowd is something that can certainly be desired at some point on a trip to the Southeast, why not here? It is the only area that offers the possibility of camping, in designated areas or for free.
• Staying in dream islands is within reach of only a few, since in these there are only luxury resorts, for which we will pay between PHP 25,000 and 50,000 per night.

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