Buzz
El Nido Chronicles: Embracing Freedom
El Nido Unveiled: A Story Beyond Words
Discovering El Nido: Paradise Found
El Nido Escapades: A Memoir of Adventure
Puerto Princesa Airport: Gateway to El Nido
Getting here was quite an adventure! We endured two flights from HCM to Manila and then from Manila to Puerto Princesa. After that, we hopped onto a van for a scenic 5-hour drive. The winding mountain roads were surprisingly smooth, and our driver navigated them with impressive speed. We felt like two dry leaves dancing in the breeze, a bit dazed from the overnight flight and lack of sleep.
The view from the plane as we descended into Puerto Princesa was breathtaking. The crystal-clear waters revealed coral reefs in a kaleidoscope of colors.
Arriving here was no easy feat. We braved two flights from HCM to Manila and then Manila to Puerto Princesa. From there, it was a bumpy 5-hour van ride. The mountainous terrain made for a thrilling journey, but our skilled driver ensured a smooth ride. We were like two peas in a pod, swaying to the rhythm of the road, feeling the effects of a sleepless night.
The Klook shuttle service between El Nido and Puerto Princesa was a lifesaver. It made traversing the cities hassle-free and comfortable.
On the van ride to El Nido, we marveled at the straight, asphalt roads flanked by lush greenery. It was a refreshing sight after hours of travel.
Traversing El Nido and Puerto Princesa is made effortless with the convenience of Klook's shuttle service. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenic journey between these two beautiful cities.
El Nido isn't just famous for its beaches! It's impossible to fully describe the beauty of the sea and coral reefs here! The water is so clear you can see right to the bottom, with fish swimming playfully around. There's every variety and color imaginable, and I even spotted a few blue tangs, along with some other fish I couldn't name—reminded me of the big fish eating the little ones in that game where you play as a fish. It's incredibly exciting, like just reaching out and touching it brings luck.
The coral reefs here come in all colors and varieties.
I booked the two most outstanding tours in El Nido, Tour A and Tour C, through Klook. Thanks to Klook, I didn't have to wander around searching for tours and bargaining like before. Just checked the information online and booked straight away. When the day came, I was all set to go.
Tour A took me to various lagoons, from large to small islands, lush green forests, and pristine white sand beaches. It felt like stepping into Robinson Crusoe's island adventure.
Klook offers the perfect tour A exploration of El Nido island.
This one was nerve-wracking, swinging from high tree branches and almost having an accident.
First time kayaking and it was a blast! The only downside of Tour A was that we only got to kayak once in a small lagoon, missing out on the larger one due to cost constraints. Later on, we regretted it as each place had its own charm. There was a moment when we paddled into a tiny gate to enter a secluded area, but somehow managed to bump into the mountain.
One place that left a strong impression was the 'Secret Lagoon', hidden behind a small gate that only one person could pass through at a time. When the tour boats arrived, we had to line up patiently, waiting for our turn to squeeze through. While outside, everyone wanted to get in, but once inside, they were eager to leave because there wasn't much to see. The seawater resembled rainwater collected in a bay, murky and somewhat eerie.
Finally squeezed through the tiny gate, what a relief!
Queuing up to enter the Secret Lagoon.
Tour C featured a bay that my partner keeps raving about, wishing we could stay there forever—it's called the 'Hidden Beach'. Tucked away behind numerous peaks, it's incredibly serene, with pristine white sand and lush greenery. We even spotted a few small monkeys. This bay isn't inhabited and there are no businesses operating, so it remains untouched and wild. The sea is so clear you can see right to the bottom, without a single ripple.
Klook offers the perfect tour C exploration of El Nido island.
Feeling like Robinson Crusoe on the island.
Oh, there's another bay hidden behind a mountain, but to get there, you have to swim through what my partner calls... the dog hole, it's deep and eerie down there. It's a bit creepy diving through, sometimes you see small marine creatures shimmering below the surface.
Just discovered beach shoes, and I must say I've been missing out. These black stretchy fabric shoes with a protective layer underneath are perfect for walking on sand, rocks, and avoiding cutting your feet on coral. Wearing them makes me feel bold and adventurous.
Check out these beach shoes!!
Over here, they're pretty good about environmental conservation. Every island tour includes a fee for marine conservation efforts, collected once per visitor. The guides always remind guests not to take anything from the Philippine sea (corals, rocks, shells, etc.) and not to leave any belongings on the islands.
Experience riding a Tricycle:
In El Nido, tricycles function like taxis or ride-shares, where passengers negotiate prices with the driver. Typically, for short distances around 3km, it's about 5k per person for a ride. The tricycle itself looks like a strange iron turtle robot, consisting of a motorcycle with a sidecar attached, complete with a roof like a car. Depending on the driver's taste, the tricycle may be decorated differently. The sidecar seats two adults comfortably, with an additional seat opposite for one more person. Although a tricycle can accommodate three people, it's not uncommon to see up to five squeezed onto one. My first experience with it was at night, traveling about 8km from the center back to the hotel. The road was winding and dark due to the lack of streetlights, and the driver was quite aggressive. Every turn or incline made the tricycle sweat, and I feared tipping over. It felt similar to riding a Tuk Tuk in Thailand, a mix of nervousness and excitement. I paid around 70k for this trip, feeling sorry for the driver, while my partner kept saying that a taxi here would cost 100k, so we tipped the driver a little extra.
A close-up of this beauty!
In El Nido, there are restaurants set up along the coastline. In the evening, after returning from a boat tour, my partner and I wandered around, looking for a place with good vibes and good food.
We chose a restaurant offering a set meal for two, including grilled fish, grilled meat, shrimp cooked in coconut milk, served with rice and garlic butter clams. The seafood here was more for the experience than the taste. I remember the grilled fish being burnt on the outside, requiring scraping off the charred layer before eating. The fish meat wasn't sweet but rather bland, wishing for some salt and pepper to season it. The grilled meat was also overcooked, seems like they prefer it that way here. The shrimp smelled fragrant with butter but lacked flavor. However, the beer was excellent! Maybe it was due to thirst from swimming in the sea or something, but I ordered a bottle of apple-flavored beer, enjoying it during the beautiful sunset. Although I couldn't see the sun setting due to the mountains blocking the view, I could admire the distant mountains illuminated by the sunlight, resembling scenes from the movie King Kong (I swear!)
Philippine-style burnt fish
The food here is cooked in a similar style to Vietnamese braised dishes, but the rice is extremely dry, like broken rice but dull in color, and feels gritty when chewed. I couldn't get used to it during my stay here, and when I returned to Vietnam, just looking at rice made me lose my appetite.
They seem to enjoy sour food here, every dish comes with two pieces of tamarind. Even the soy sauce is as tangy as vinegar. Oh, and there's this liquid that looks like fish sauce but doesn't smell and is incredibly salty, probably... saltwater.
Burnt meat and rice with a special tamarind sauce.
Pork noodles & tamarind.
The El Nido pedestrian street runs parallel to the coastline. There are few souvenir shops, and not many options. I picked up something as a fridge magnet. What's reassuring here is that everything is priced the same everywhere! I used to go to multiple places to haggle for a waterproof beach bag (which everyone seems to have), and the price was always the same. Finally, I managed to negotiate a slightly lower price for a bulk purchase, but the seller warned not to tell anyone because all sellers here are registered (with a sales permit) and must sell at the set price. The three ice cream shops I visited all had the same price. Even the restaurants have the same happy hour beer price. It's interesting because when I went to a different area and asked about the bag, the price was the same. Fantastic!
In the Philippines, they prioritize the sale and use of Filipino products first. In supermarkets, Filipino-made consumer goods are always displayed in priority positions, from cosmetics, clothes, to household goods, and food. Restaurants also use Filipino condiments like chili sauce or soy sauce. I even visited an Italian restaurant to eat pizza, and they brought out Filipino vinegar (similar to Tabasco) first, and then Tabasco. Even the ordinary fried banana in the supermarket has its own lively advertisement jingle, I think it's called Ta-roon or Tu-roon, something like that, but I can't remember exactly, I just remember the bananas were extremely sweet. Later, when I googled it, it's called Turon. Overall, the Filipino people's consciousness of prioritizing the use of Filipino-made products is admirable.
This article is getting long, so I'll stop here. Wishing you all exciting and unique experiences on your travels.
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