ESPAÑOL

MARIMEGMEG / LAS CABANAS

We can also find it written as “Las Cabañas”, since that used to be was its Spanish. This is fine white sand great beach more accessible from El Nido Town and surroundings, and therefore the most frequented. Even so, most tourists come to El Nido for excursions on Bacuit Archipelago islands, so even in high season it will not be crowded. It is a highly recommended visit and is an important advantage over its neighboring Coron, where there are no good beaches within walking distance of Coron Town without having to take a boat.

HOW TO GET THERE

Marimegmeg is 5 km south of El Nido Town and just 2-3 km south of Corong Corong, which is the most recommended area to stay (see WHERE TO STAY AND EAT IN EL NIDO).

• We went twice, both walking from our accommodation south of Corong Corong, although it takes at least 20 minutes and there are a couple of sections with small slopes.
• Most people ride a tricycle. We should not pay more than PHP 150 per trip from El Nido or 50 from Corong Corong.
• It is easily accessible with a rented scooter.

There are two entrances to the beach. North is on the top of a hill and is accessed by steps. South is at beach level, it is accessed walking a few hundred meters along a dirt track that connects with the road (for more information see TRANSPORTATION IN EL NIDO)

EAT AND SLEEP

In 2016 there were two bar-restaurants, one of them was also a hotel. Three years later there are at least 5 on the beach, one in the north, noisier, Ibiza type music, and the others in the central-west area, quieter and better placed to watch the sunset. Two of these restaurants offer accommodation, Las Cabanas Beach Resort and Orange Pearl Beach Resort, very well valued although given the location, prices usually do not go below € 100 per double room in high season.

THE BEACH

Shallow, white sand and very thin, semicircular shaped from north to west, which continues several hundred meters to the south; In total it measures approximately one kilometer. Excellent views of the nearby islands and possibility of snorkeling, but you have to get away from the shore. Even in high season it will not be very crowded, although several times a day party-boats may show up, altering the usual tranquility between 30 minutes and an hour.

It has an absolutely recommended zip line despite its price (PHP 500) that connects to Depeldet Island, in the west corner. It takes about 20 minutes to get on a dirt road walking very uphill or by a tricycle lane, but it is usually muddy and it is likely that the tricycles can not get through; We probably have to wait at least another 20 minutes to use it. The views are spectacular and the journey is all fun; we are offered the possibility of sitting or doing the Superman. It is returned on foot by a sand and stone bridge that connects the island with the beach and that may be submerged partially at high tide.

And here we go:

 

Sunset is priceless.

NACPAN BEACH

Also known as Twin Beach, since at its western end there is a double sand tongue that connects the beach to an islet, Nacpan is the best beach in the north of El Nido peninsula which is within an acceptable distance from the main accommodation spots.

HOW TO GET THERE

Nacpan has the advantage and disadvantage of being more than 20 km away from El Nido Town. For this reason there are fewer tourists, but we will have to dedicate time to get there. The road that runs through the north of the peninsula is in good condition, but the last 4 km are a dirt track in poor condition.

• The most common and practical: rent our own scooter, taking into account that the beach is almost 20 km from El Nido Town and that the last 4 km of dirt lane are in poor condition. A full day costs between PHP 400 and 500.
• There is a jeepney a day at 12 noon that runs the peninsula on the main road. Until the intersection of the road with the dirt lane that goes to the beach it will cost approximately 100 PHP and it will take an hour. At that spot there are usually tricycles and motorcycles with driver waiting to take customers to the beach, they will charge at least PHP 150 per trip. Before getting off the jeepney, we must be very sure of what time it returns on its way back; If we miss it, we will have to spend the night in Nacpan or take a tricycle all the way to El Nido.
• Tricycles are practical but offer no greater security than our own motorcycle and are expensive, so in this case are not recommended: from El Nido it will cost between 1000 and 1500 PHP to hire one that will take us directly, wait for us, and bring us return. If the driver does not want to wait, or we do not want him to wait, we can change tricycle at the intersection. It takes approximately 40 minutes one way to the beach.

EAT AND SLEEP

Given its remoteness to El Nido Town, restaurants and accommodations have proliferated to a greater extent than in Marimegmeg. At least there are 15 restaurants, most of them are also hotels, but the entire northern half of the beach is free of establishments.

THE BEACH

Although much longer, its layout is similar to Las Cabañas, starting at the north with a crescent shape towards the west, where a tongue of land connects it with an islet, leaving in this case two symmetrical zones that give it its characteristic appearance, and continues to the south; In total it measures about 4 km long. It is also of fine white sand, shallow and you can see a sunset similar to the previous beach. The viewpoint with the best views is a mound near the twin beaches, but it is now privately owned.

Unfortunately I can not upload my own photos because the day we had saved to go was the one I was sick, and still limping, a second day off we preferred to return to Marimegmeg for being very close to our accommodation instead of moving to Nacpan. So I asked my traveling friend Mireia for photos, who I think is the only one I know who has been in El Nido, and what was my surprise when she told me she did not go because after Port Barton and several beaches in Bacuit Archipelago she felt lazy about going so far. Both opinions speak for themselves: few people go all the way there; those who make the effort to go, will have their reward.

So, these three pictures belong to TripAdvisor and were uploaded by users:

 

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MORE ON EL NIDO:

<TOUR “D”: CADLAO LAGOON AND PARADISE, IPIL, PASANDIGAN, NATNAT AND BUKAL BEACHES

TOUR “A”: SMALL, BIG AND SECRET LAGOONS, SHIMIZU ISLAND AND SEVEN COMMANDO BEACH>

∇ Destinations / ∇ Philippines / ∇ Palawan / ∇ El Nido