I cannot count how many people I have told to add this report to their bucket list! Once in a…read moreLifetime experience, literally a hidden gem! Incredible Staff, amazing views, gorgeous resort, perfect pool, and the most delicious all you can eat food. Best trip of my life, for real!!

This place has been featured in AWE channel, travel channel and travel magazine. I'm impressed by…read morethis place especially the staff. You don't have to worry about anything. Make sure you book the whole package including the meals. It is worth it. The staff makes sure it is smooth and safe from the time you check in at the airport, the transfer and all the tours. They accommodate you if they have it. The island hopping is beautiful. I was worried about the water that they serve, I was reluctant, but we are fine. I did not have to buy bottled water. The water here is filtered and safe. Highly recommended. They discourage tipping, but if you insist, they centralize the tipping. They make sure you don't miss your flight back. Awesome!

The Cadlao Resort is an amazing oasis by the ocean, close enough to explore downtown El Nido and…read morebreathtaking views from two oceanside pools situated conveniently in the middle of your villa-esque hotel room. The service was impeccable by the staff and onsite restaurant Jinjer provided amazing food. The free breakfast was a combination of traditional Filipino dishes and western dishes which was tastefully done in both food quality and presentation. They even packed us breakfast for our early flight without any additional expected charge. Perhaps the only recommendation would be to have pool side service of drinks and food but otherwise the bar and Jinjer were close enough to the pools that it wasn't difficult to get anything. Would highly recommend this resort to anyone!

Very helpful service, free tuktuk accommodations to the town, great in resort restaurant…read more Would stay here again if I came to El Nido

El Nido, Is a group of islands that are beautiful and very peaceful and relaxing Sanctuary, a…read moreheaven on earth. You can hike, go stay on a beach, do kayaking, paddleboarding it is all just wonderful. The surrounding area is just also amazing. The Corals are so healthy and the local government enforces an environmental approach to El Nido tourism that will make the beauty of these islands last in years to come. The price to stay at a resort is extravagant for Philippines standards and many activities, like island hopping, and food are not included in the basic room price. But you can still make it here as a backpacker if you want too.

El nido Palawan is fabulous! The water is warm like a bath. The fish are abundant. The town people…read moreare so delightful. The H hotel was the best! I used Kubera travel and tours for our private boat tours. They were excellent!

Sea Cocoon is a great hotel for the price. Yes, other hotels might have more amenities, but they…read morealso cost more. What Sea Cocoon offers is a comfortable, centrally located hotel with friendly staff, helpful recommendations, a great breakfast, and a wonderful view of the bay. Our room was clean, the air conditioning kept the room at a comfortable temperature, the front desk was able to order tricycle rides a bit cheaper than we could find on the street by ourselves, was able to direct us to the locations we wanted to visit, and had several connections within town. Each floor also had a water dispenser so you could fill up your travel bottle with water without having to rely on tap water. Outside of the hotel was a spot with an air compressor so you can remove sand from your shoes and sandals. Each room also has plenty of shelf space and a rack to hang things so you can pull all your clothes and gear out of your luggage and have everything easily accessible. I was in a more upscale hotel in Manila that didn't have all the great organization space Sea Cocoon offered. The facilities did look a little old, but the staff kept them clean. The elevator had a glitch where it didn't stop level at the floor you were exiting, but it was manageable. The sewer system in El Nido does smell, but the sink has a stopper in it; so long as you remember to use the stopper after using the sink, you won't get a smelly bathroom. I would absolutely stay at the Sea Cocoon the next time I visit El Nido.

1.5 stars Pros - Very…read morefriendly and helpful staff - Location is close to El Nido port - Free breakfast that taste decent The staff was so friendly that I feel bad for writing this negative review. However this hotel has a no refund policy, so here's a fair warning to any potential future traveller: Cons - There was a moldy smell during our entire stay. The first day we checked in there was a strong vinegar smell but that dissipated in a day, but the moldy smell persisted. That can't possibly be healthy to breathe in. The room is very humid, even more humid than outside. Mind you there hasn't been any rain in the past week so it wasn't humid because of a recent thunderstorm - The AC unit points down directly at the desk and bed and there was no way to change the direction. Hence the cold air was always blasting on my face when I'm sleeping. I wake up 6 times every day because of that - The sheet felt like a solid layer of humidity. I'm not sure if it's the material or how they wash it, but when I have it on me my skin feels very uncomfortable. That also keeps me up at night because the AC is too cold so I need the sheet on but that makes me feel very humid. I couldn't turn off the AC because then the room gets way too hot and humid - The WiFi is very unstable. Front desk said the typhoon from last December affected the whole island so WiFi is unstable on the entire island, but the WiFi is actually very fast and reliable in the hotel I just checked into - Not so much of a con, but they charge extra for beach towel rentals and there's no drinking water refill except for the first day you check in. I've stayed at many beach/island hotels and all of them had free beach towel rental and free water refill We originally booked 5 nights on Agoda but decided to extend 2 nights prior to check in. They suggested we pay in cash for a discount. We ended up staying only 3 nights because I have been inhaling moldy air and not been able to sleep properly for 3 days straight. I've brought up my concerns with front desk and they told me they have a no refund policy. I've had many bookings in 3 star hotels on tropical islands, so I'm well aware of the limitations of those hotels. However, Sea Cocoon is the only one that I felt like I had to leave because it was affecting my health.

My boyfriend and I were doing research before our trip to El Nido debating where we should stay for…read morea week. My BF found the Nest from Trip Advisor, did more research about the place. We ended up staying here for the entire trip - the location was perfect. The only negative part is that you have to pass by the cemetery every time (haha). The Nest is a new resort in Palawan - I think they just opened last November, so at the time, their website was still down. My BF contacted them via Facebook and they were very organized, clear and easy to contact. We booked our room through them on FB - the days we were staying made us stay in two different rooms, luckily they had the villa (room 1) open for our last few days in EL Nido. The staff here were professional, attentive, welcoming and friendly. The room came with complimentary breakfast. We pretty much had breakfast and dinner at The Nest the entire time we were in El Nido. We also did the couples massage, which is right above their bar/restaurant. The view was fantastic!! I mean, every morning and watching the sunset was just amazing - you get the view of the Helicopter island. Since they are new, their bar and pool wasn't ready during our stay - the location of where they plan to have the pool is so perfect! - Can't wait to go back to this resort! I would definitely recommend the Nest. We left early for our early flight back to Manila so we didn't have time to have one last breakfast, but when we checked out, they had to-go breakfast ready for us. (WOW!) We also met the owner and the owner's son, very friendly/down to earth people. They also have complimentary tricycles, we were able to get picked up/dropped off at the Airswift airport and got dropped off at the Canopy Walk. One other downfall is that the location is right on the beach, but it's not in the nice part of the beach. Too many rocks - you can't really swim either. But even that doesn't discourage me from wanting to come back to this resort....

I have to give this place a 5star! First the place has…read morebeautiful sunrise morning and sunset is definitely amazing. I think for the money is worth the penny! I want to put in one negative feedback with the rooms situation ...read the descriptions of what you're buying ...we bought seaside view queen and we got room 4 which has no view of the sea or ocean except when we are on the patio! But I still would give this place a 5 star because the staff has been exceptional with their service and we have been eating breakfast buffet and dinner menu the last 3 days when have been here. The staff in the restaurant are definitely exceptional! To name a few ...Abe...Gerald Reycael Luisa Rian Jambo ...he makes the best chicken adobo white meat ever for my dinner the last 3nights lol. Front desk were awesome as well Jeyson n Rocel! And also sharvin! Can't remember everyone but staff deserve recognition ...we had the best driver as well to welcome us on our first day on Sunday...both the van and tuk tuk driver ..maybe one of them is named Archie jade! Thanks for a very nice accommodation guys and we will be back soon! I'm glad we choose this place to stay

My favorite hotel in Palawan. Great location, super nice service, good food and stunning views…read more You feel the filipino flavor on your vacation. If the rooms were a little better then they are I would give 5stars. Great job, El Nido resort team!!!

Outstanding service, but check your room category for the best views…read more I was staying at the Lagun Hotel and wanted to share my experience. First, the staff here is exceptional. Every team member I've encountered has been professional, warm, and attentive. Their genuine care for guests is the standout feature of this property. Regarding the rooms, I've experienced two very different views. My first room featured a breathtaking look at the limestone cliffs, which was a highlight of my trip. Other days in another room, however, overlooks a residential area with visible, modest living conditions. The contrast between these two experiences was significant. While I understand the hotel cannot control its surroundings, providing more transparency about room types during the booking process--or when arranging a room change--would greatly help manage guest expectations. A quick tip for future travelers: The local wildlife is very active! I highly recommend bringing earplugs or noise-canceling headphones, as the neighborhood roosters begin crowing around 1:00 am. Additionally, I noticed some stained/mold issues in my current and previous bathroom that may need attention. I'm sharing this feedback constructively, as the service here truly deserves to shine.

This hotel is a complete nightmare! We had a terrible experience there and will never stay there…read moreagain. The hotel itself is in a terrible state compared to 5 years ago. First of all, they robbed us of a night's stay for a two-room reservation. When we call to complain, they tell us to wait for a supervisor and to call back later. We call back, but there is never a supervisor in sight. We called ahead to let them know our flight would be arriving a day later. They said that if they could book our room for that night, we wouldn't have to pay. We arrived early in the morning, and they said they had booked our room. So, we spent the entire morning waiting in the lobby, exhausted but were ok since we weren't paying for the night. When checking out, they gave us the checkout receipt that I requested, which showed the nights we had stayed there for proof. It's been an exhausting four months trying to get our money back from this hotel. They're total liars!

My dear friend Guy Mazzoni has created an amazing foundation in Palawan (…read morewww.guymazzoni-foundation.org ) to help support the impoverished local community of fishermen and their families. In 2014 Guy built Terra Nova a private retreat on a 16 hectares (40 acres) secluded peninsula, 30-45 min by boat south of El Nido village. This incredible property started this year to host paying guests who contribute to the foundation via the proceeds of the rental and all-inclusive upscale stays. The foundation supports education, healthcare programs, as well as sustainable farming and aquaculture, to provide for the freshest produces to Terra Nova's guests, a solid education and an additional income for the local communities. I myself and other renowned coaches, as well as yoga and meditation practitioners, regularly lead exclusive coaching retreats there with selected entrepreneurs, CEOs and top executives looking for a total mind and body reset, enhanced vision clarity, or better integrated leadership skills. The property can be rented to 4-5 guests (2 couples and 1-2 kids or 4 adults) - all inclusive stays (full board accommodation, farm to table food, beverages, island hopping with the GM foundation own boats, various activities, airport transfer) - minimum 4 nights https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/10048675

Myself and two friends stayed at Terra Nova in July 2016 for 4 nights. It was one of the most…read moreincredible holiday experiences we have had, which happened mainly by coincidence. Looking for accommodation in El Nido, we debated pretty dingy options in El Nido town and very pricey isolated options on some of the small islands in the bay. Unsure of what do to, by chance, we stumbled upon Terra Nova on AirBNB without much knowledge about Guy Mazzoni or the foundation. Luckily for us, it turned out during our stay Guy was actually at Terra Nova, and we had the pleasure of getting to know him and hear his fascinating stories and vision for Terra Nova and the foundation. The foundation goal is to help and enrich the lives of the local fishing communities dotted along the Bay of Cataban which have largely been overlooked from the tourism and development of El Nido about a 45 minute boat ride away. Life in Limiangcong is tough, without many basic resources or opportunities, and Guy and the foundation have been involved in many facets of daily life from providing basic medical care facilities to employment opportunities and career training at the foundation. Seeing this and getting to immerse ourselves and interact with the local community made for a trip much more impact-full than just enjoying the beautiful scenery surrounding us at a beach resort. During the days, we took the boat to go to the village of Liamiangcong, a small fishing village about 15 minutes away. We walked around the town and visited the schools and markets as the only tourists there and got a feel for a real, functioning local village. Many of the Terra Nova staff are from there and poking around the side streets we bumped into some of their parents, siblings and former staff. Other days we took to boat to other small remote villages in the area to explore, to different beaches in the area to swim and have a picnic lunch, or snorkelled at the new land Guy has bought for the foundation. Boating back we tucked into little bays and inlets along the way, taking in the view and scenery of Palawan. Once we stopped at a small island where we bought a basket of coconuts and drank from them on the boat, while in the evening back at Terra Nova the chef made a nice desert with the meat from the coconuts. Relaxing in the late afternoons back at the villa, we would swim or kayak in the afternoon waves nearby. The villa at Terra Nova is beautiful, done to a very high standard, split into two well appointed rooms with a lot of attention to detail in the decor and cleanliness. We spent most of our time on the large patio right outside the room where we ate our meals at the dining table and relaxed in the recliners with a cold beer watching the heavy afternoon storms roll by. The staff are absolutely fantastic, with the chef preparing fresh local fish and adobo dishes each meal. Jhove was excellent at coordinating our stay and planning our arrival and departure, which we changed several times during our stay. The rest of the crew were very nice and proud to show us Terra Nova and the surrounding area. As one of the first guests of the foundation, we really enjoyed our stay and found it a much more enriching experience to connect with the local people. At the pricey resorts around Palawan, you can certainly enjoy the beauty of the island but you will miss the connection to the land and people creating a lasting memory. It was great to learn that the cost of our stay is treated as a donation to the foundation and used to further Guy's programs. It definitely turned out to be a special, unique experience and we hope to stay in touch with Guy and remain active in the foundation. My friends and I are already discussing some potential dates to visit again and see the progress Guy has made at Terra Nova and the foundation.

The first time I saw a picture of El Nido, Pawalan was when I was a kid and I remember thinking,…read more"What a magical place." Definitely lived up to my hopes and expectations. Exceeded it tremendously. El Nido is a sleepy town in Palawan. El Nido Resorts is a company that owns 4 islands - Lagen, Miniloc, Pangulasian and Apulit - off the coast. Filipino designs with a modern twist resorts, wonderful people, and just beautiful, beautiful surroundings. There are several flights going in and out of El Nido from Manila. Then you have a 30 - 45 min travel by speedboat to the islands. You are greeted and handed leis and refreshing drinks after disembarking. Then they give an orientation to make sure the guests are aware of the do's and dont's when out and about since there are several parts of the island and surrounding area that are under marine life protection. There are a lot of animals you'll encounter on the island - monkeys, monitor lizards, etc - that guests are not allowed to feed so as not to disrupt their natural diet. Accommodations The island we stayed in is Pangulasian. It has a total of 40 villas. * Beach villa where your door leads straight to the beach * Canopy villa, where you have the gorgeous view of the ocean over the treetops * Pool villa; you have a pool outside your door, right before the beach Activities * The resort offers a lot of activities for free - snorkeling, kayaking, guided tours and hikes. * Dives are PHP6000 per person which is around $120 right now. * Gym is overlooking the beautiful canopy. But seriously, who works out whileon vacation? -crickets- I guess I'm the only one who doesn't. * Massages and spa services are available with a 24 hour request notification Food * Breakfast is from 6 AM - 9 AM; buffet style and mostly filipino dishes. Hint: you'll never go wrong with garlic rice, eggs, and tocino. So yums. * The pool bar offers more Western food if traditional Filipino dishes aren't your thing. Service * Zero complaints. Special shoutout to Martin who was so helpful. Also to Pau, Garcia, Glen (dive guide) and Eugene (dive guide). The pictures don't give this place justice. It's just a place you need to see for yourself. Perfect for wedding destinations, honeymoons, babymoons, whatever excuse you want to use just to see this slice of paradise.

El Nido resorts is a representation of all that is good about the Philippines and Filipinos. When…read morewe say 'It's more fun in the Philippines,' this is exactly what we mean. Our collective imagination is a reality here. Pristine, isolated beaches, teeming protected wildlife, smiling people. In short--Paradise. In all my years of growing up in the heart of Manila, I never knew these places really existed. We stayed at Miniloc Island, in an overwater bungalow. We had a two story hut for a family of 4. Our two girls stayed upstairs in twin beds, and we had a comfortable king sized bed downstairs. We were welcomed by song and dance. Activities were planned, no fuss and relaxed. We were taken to all the different sights, island resorts during our 3 night stay. Food was buffet style for breakfast, lunch, dinner. They made sure you ate like a royal even while you were in their other islands. I could not believe that they served us an entire buffet lunch in one of the little islands, even if there was just 10 of us total. We also had a private dinner at one of the lagoons, to celebrate my daughter's birthday. Overall, this experience was what my youngest termed 'legendary.' One I will dream of coming back to, until my return.

Had to stay here 2 nights, the aircon works…read more.. Otherwise, if you're OK with the staff keying into your room while you are there...for no real reason, then stay here. Internet is off/on, beach is OK (much better near by), restaurant is forgettable.

Doublegem Beach Resort is a new hotel situated on Corong Corong Beach just a few minutes outside of…read moreEl Nido town. The setting is spectacular, right on the bay with views of the Bacuit islands and sunsets every night. There is a beautiful infinity pool and super comfortable double sized loungers facing the water. It's not cheap...US $150/night, including breakfast. The rooms are comfortable, but pretty basic, and lack conveniences like bedside lamps and a safe. There is an electric hot water kettle and coffee cups, but no instant coffee or tea is provided. They seem to still be putting the final touches on the property​ (exposed wires hanging from the ceiling, etc) the staff is not well trained, and the WiFi sucks. This place may truly be a gem in the future, but it still needs some work.