El Nido Thread 3

[LeStSkY]

sis jen sa sirena st daw...

[bebeloo]

meron po bang houses standing above the sea apart sa mga high end el nido resorts? yung mas mura?

[caryn]

ive been to puerto princesa last year.. el nido naman ang target ko this year and i'd like to go with the whole family.. 8 adults and 2 kids.. do you guys think it's a good vacay location for kids?

[tammy1979]

Share ko lang yung El Nido experience namin last November. Super na-inlove ako sa El Nido, ito na ang favorite ko sa lahat ng napuntahan ko, kung pwede nga lang dun na lang tumira hehe..

   First day: Arrived in Puerto Princesa Airport, had a quick lunch and took a van to El Nido at 11AM, we paid 500 each. We stayed in Ipil Lodge, not a beach-front accommodation, pero ito yung highest establishment sa town at kita sya sa dagat kung galing sa island hopping. OK yung rooms, altho walang TV pero keri lang kasi di naman kami halos nag stay sa room. We paid 2,700 sa room for 3 pax.
 (FYI: brownout sa El Nido from 3AM to 5PM unless may generator sila)

Day 2: Did combined Tours A &B na super sulit at nakakapagod, hehe..3 lang kami so may kasama kaming iba sa boat, bale 4 na foreigners 2 from Norway and 2 from Australia na super babait and friendly. ang sarap ng ni-prepare na lunch ng operator, may meat, crab, fish, veggies at fruits. We paid 1000 yata per pax sa combined tour. Malas lang kasi allergic ang tiyan ko sa seafoods pero matigas ang ulo ko at pinapak ko ang mga sipit ng alimango, ayaw kasi ng mga foreigners na kasama namin so ako ang umubos, ayun super sakit ng tiyan ko aafter ng tour hanggang hatinggabi. Plus nagkasugat-sugat kami sa Big lagoon kasi sobrang mabato dun, nadapa ako at natusok ang leg ko, 1 month yata bago nag heal since umabot yata sa buto. Pero super enjoy talaga lalo na dun sa Shimizu Island, ang tatakaw ng mga isda kasi pati kauri nila kinakain nila hehe.. mga leftover fish kasi ang ipinakain namin.

Day 3: We had the tour C, di namin kinuha ang tour D kasi malayo at puro cave lang naman then nakakatakot ang alon bigla kasi kumulimlim. Same operator pa rin kinuha namin and this time ibang foreigners naman kasama namin, mag-asawang Russian at isang taga England. Na enjoy ko yung sa Hidden Beach kasi ang daming isda kahit ang babaw ng tubig, low tide kasi, hanggang bukong-bukong lang yata, hehe. Madaming Nemo dun na super friendly. Malas lang talaga ako kasi na-disgrasya naman ako sa Secret Beach dahil after ko pumasok dun sa maliit na butas bigla akong hinila ng alon at inihampas pabalik, nag panic pati yung guide kasi kung nagkataon nabagok na ulo ko sa mga bato hehe..Hindi nga ako nabagok pero nabalatan naman ang daliri ko sa paa. So 2 days na tours namin, umuuwi akong duguan at sugatan hehe. Pero kahit nasaktan ako, super enjoy naman kami lalo na sa Matinloc Island. Umakyat ako sa tuktok ng mga bato na na kita ang paligid once nasa taas na, sarap ng feeling. Ingat-ingat lang sa mga bato dun at talagang super talas talaga, one wrong move, patay hehe. Yung last stop namin is swimming sa Helicopter Island, dun kami super nag enjoy kasi ang ganda ng beach. Sobrang fine ng sand at dahil maalon, nakipaglaro lang kami sa waves.

Sobrang nagustuhan namin ang food sa EL Nido. Medyo pricey kasi average price is ranging from 200-300 per order pero super dami ng servings. Even their pancit bihon and carbonarra is like one platter yata na good for 2-3 persons depend sa appetite. Maybe because mostly foreigners ang customers nila so ang dami talaga.

Day 4. Maaga kami umalis sa El Nido para makasakay sa 8AM na Van pabalik ng PPC kasi pupunta pa kami ng Baker's Hill. I think ang gastos lang namin sa whole 4 day vacation namin is mga 8k including food and transpo, pwera pasalubong. That price is more affordable instead of staying in El Nido resorts paying 10k per person per night at wala pang food, hehe..

Sorry sa haba ng kwento ko, na-share ko lang at baka kahit pano makatulong.

[matetreyes]

if you are going to underground river, book a flight to puerto princesa because that's the nearest. it'll take about two hours to get to the underground river from puerto princesa. It's almost impossible for you to go there if you are getting coron (busuanga) flights because that's northern palawan. you'll have to take the ferry for toooooooo long from coron to el nido and then land trip from el nido to puerto princesa which is about 6 hours.

the plane to coron is like the ones going to caticlan. the plane to el nido is smaller (the direct flights of ITI). It's a 19-seater plane if I am not mistaken, and costs around 15k

in puerto princesa, you can go to honda bay (island hopping) for maximum beach experience. kasi if sa town, may beachfront resorts dun but the beach is not as beautiful as the ones in honda bay. sayang naman. We prefer to stay at a pension house in puerto princesa, then divert the funds to island hopping tours.

El Nido is the name of the town. There are several resorts there na affordable like Marina Garden Resort. The cheapest way to go there is via Puerto princesa then van to El nido (6 hours). If you are referring to El Nido Resort (Miniloc or Lagen), yun yung expensive, as these are the exclusive resorts in El Nido town. Madami pa magandang palces to visit s El Nido, all of them you have to book island hopping tours.

Between Puerto Princesa and Coron, Coron ako. mas sulit and super dami kang makikita. Ganda ng mga beach! Between Coron and El Nido, I'm guessing mas ok ang El Nido, but that's just my guess. I'll be in El Nido palang this November. I am basing it sa photos na nakikita ko online. =)

[1choi_ko9]

^thank you sis matetreyes for your quick reply.

mga how much po kaya magagastos if ever?

[matetreyes]

if underground river tour, that's usually 1.5k per head. si sis tiara nag-aarrange ng puerto at el nido tours. for coron, try mo si sis leidy or coron wonders.

[huit]

How long from Taytay Port to El Nido?

[ms_ldr]

end of apr pupunta kami ng palawan since 10 days kami dun nagbabalak kami mag el nido.
kaso ang dami namin total 10 pax kami kasama mga inlaws ko. so kung 700 isang tao sa van to el nido. 7k na papunta pa lang, eh pauwi pa. at pagkain pa namin.
can we rent a van on our own? o mas mahal pag ganun?
mga magkano yung mga tirahan dun per night?

[LeStSkY]

celebrating our 9th wedding anniv today.. dito kami el nido...

[huit]

Ano mas okay, Lexus Van or Eulen Joy vans na papunta Taytay Port. Kase pupunta kame sa Apulit El Nido Resorts eh. Nakakainis at ang hirap kausap ng mga taga Lexus, ang gulo kausap sa phone tapos di pa nagrereply. Buti pa sa Eulen Joy maayos kausap eh. pero ang marami reviews is Lexus. May feedback ba sa Eulen Joy Vans here?

[143angel]

^^sis we went to El Nido last April 26-29.. 15 pax kmi so nag rent kmi ng van sa Eulen Joy. After our UR tour, nagpahatid kmi to Salvacion to meet up our driver going to El Nido courtesy of Eulen Joy..Sis rent nyo nlng [textspeak!] van dhail mas makamura kayo..we only paid 5k from Salvacion to El Nido and 6K from El Nido to PP. 

[hot_chili]

Hi mga sis, were planning to go 2nd week of may. Ask ko lang sa mga nakarating na, madali ba maghanap ng atm sa el nido? or nagaaccept ba yung mga establishments ng credit card? we dont want to bring too much cash kasi pero sana kung emergency na kailangan pa ng pera madaling magwidraw or cc. thanks!

[huit]

question po, sino dito ang naka air phil to PPS (going to El Nido)? Delayed ba flighst nila kahit first flight ka in the morning? =/

[pinklilac]

Hi mga sis, were planning to go 2nd week of may. Ask ko lang sa mga nakarating na, madali ba maghanap ng atm sa el nido? or nagaaccept ba yung mga establishments ng credit card? we dont want to bring too much cash kasi pero sana kung emergency na kailangan pa ng pera madaling magwidraw or cc. thanks!

thU
Sis,walang atm sa el nido.

[Tickeled-Pink]

Arts Cafe accepts credit card - yung restaurant and yung grocery sa baba.

[bebeloo]

mga sisses, tama ba ang understanding ko? halos lahat ng tours sa el nido ay per person and not per boat? thanks!

[greyzie07]

Hello guys! Let me share with you 
our itinerary:
 CORON- EL NIDO- PUERTO PRINSESA trip
Were a group of 4 pax.( couples)

Day 1 
may 6 sunday
Mla- busuanga
200 terminal fee

Van to coron 130 per pax care of april +63 917 959 0742 .
I met her when i went to coron last 2007, she works at malcapuya island before now at two seasons hotel, coron. 
She also booked us at eco lodge

Lunch at kawayanan grill
- fish sinigang 
- pitik 300++ 4 pcs

- i liked what we ordered especially the pitik A little pricey. 

12 noon
We bought our food at the market
1500 for 2 days for 4 pax

1:30 pm- Coron tour- initially i contacted elmer (0919) 441 7721
Since his boat is not available he gave us  
kuya melchor, +63 926 105 8156 Our boatman, and ate
Weng (who cooked our yummy food),  and 2 assitants, who  took care of our 3 days 2 nights island trip  
(supposedly 4 days 3 nights.. At 10500 php)
( we decided not to stay overnight at north cay because our plans changed
When we chose to go to el nido Instead so we, re route our flight and our exit is puerto prinsesa. We paid still the php 10500 package even if the
Trip was changed, its because of the nice service they gave us. We still gave them tip. We love how they treat us. Mang melchor even gave us 2pcs birdnest for soup :-)

Kuya elmer also helped us to buy our food and drinks and all that we need.

kayangan lake 200 entrance
- trek of  30 mins i think
- its my first time here because i wasnt able visit last 2007 When i went to coron.
- its nice but i dont know why i dont find it appealing anymore. The water is not that clear. Just my observation. :-)

- twin lagoon 100 entrance

For me, water is no longer that clear also, alot of tourists that time. i saw this last 2007, it made me say "wow". 

- shipwreck 100 entrance

Overnight banana island 700 each

We arrived at 6pm, room is basic.
We had dinner on top of their kubo
Owner is not accomodating. I asked for a cup of hot water but she told
Me to get it from our boatman. 

We chose to stay here because reviews says its best for snorkling. But my husband dont like the way we were treated  so we left right away after breakfast.

Sand - not so white and fine
Cottages are located at the far end of the island where theres alot of stones/pebbles

Day 2 may 7 monday

Visited cheron island
Ditaytayan- this is one of the nicest island, i visited this last 2007 and sand are much whiter!  Now, it changed. Maybe because of the season.
Malaroyroy( two seasons now) beach front is not good for swimming. :-)

Overnight malcapuya 700 each
This is my favorite island in coron when i visited last 2007,  still this island has charm for its wide stretch beach. But its low tide at 5pm. 

Again, maybe because of the season. Also, sir ed (owner of malcapuya) said due to waves, Sands change. Its not that fine anymore. Off white sand. We actually use this sand as body scrubs. :-) sir ed, ask the helper to get one at the far end of the island where sand is fine.

Malcapuya island will be malcapuya regency this year or early next year. The boracay regency group
Will start the construction by
October as per sir ed advise. 

Good thing, we were able to visit the island again, before it became the next boracay. For me, its more appealing that way, less exploited :-)

Mang ute, one of the caretakers showed us the corals, fish feeding also! Last 2007, very few corals now, they are rich with marine life.:-)

Day 3 
may 8 tuesday

Drop by at culion,  only ate weng bought the food, we just stayed at the boat then we visited pass island where we had lunch,  200 entrance, but sir ed gave us at 150 (same owner of malcapuya! Super nice island. White sand. We should have stayed here overnight than 
banana :-)

Water is very clear, just that it made my skin itchy, my friend says, it might be because of small jelly fish. This is my favorite island now. :-)

north cay, south cay, dibutunay , ( all sight seeing) we opt not to stay so will have more time for black island. 
Black island, nice view, with small cave with water like pool . 

Back to coron town. Overnight at eco lodge (1600 per night) new and very clean :-)

Dinner bistro coron- pizza, fish in lemon butter, chicken curry( super spicy)

Day 4
May 9

7-am bought seafoods from market, paluto near coron bistro, sorry i forgot the name of the resto)

12 noon travel to  el nido via fastcraft-montenegro lines 
4 hrs travel ticket 1760

El nido:

Tricycle fare is 10 each

5pm check in rosannas cottages 09206054631
1500 per night aircon room,non beach front but very near to beach,   free continental breakfast ( bread, butter, jam and coffee)

Merienda sea slugs - seafood pasta
Burger and buco shake near ogs pension

Day 5 
May 10

Breakfast at marbers

Bratwurst 250 small serving
Tapa 150-yummy!


Tour c 800 per head with food ( crabs- we requested this, squid and liempo. )

75 snorkle rental per head
kuya harvey boat owner +63 926 304 9680
Boatman melchor and jomar
- nice service also! Ask them to fish! Were able to catch 2 big tuna and 3 mackarel :-) we grilled them. :-)

Secret lagoon- good for swimming, nice view!!
Matinloc shrine- very solemn place. Picture perfect view! Theres a couple having their pre-nup that time. 

Lunch at Talisay beach infront tapiutan beach
I also love this place, lots of fishes so we enjoyed feeding them!
Cadlao lagoon- super nice lagoon also! Great for swimming, very clear water. 
Helicopter island- we just took some photos and we leave right away because its raining 

Dinner at squidos
Seafood piza -170 each

Day 6
May 11

 Breakfast at rosannas, we bought maling and rice and ask the staff to cook- we ate at their beach bed, beach front

Tour a- 500 with food , crabs, chicken and fish,  its 600 but Kuya harvey gave discount since im her guest last year march 2011. 
Boatman melchor and jomar

Secret beach- were not able to visit this on tour c because of big waves, so we ask kuya harvey to add on tour a. but there are still big waves, we tried to get through but when were able to make it, nothing special Inside, a little sand bar. Hehe

Lunch Hidden beach - this is my favorite spot! Boatman says, its where bourne legacy was shoot.

Simizu island- fish feeding, too bad it rained all throughout the day. Were not able to stay long.

Entalula island- we were on the other side because entalula is for private bookings only. My super favorite! Little boracay where sand is white and super fine! Finally i was able to find this throughout our palawan trip

Big lagoon- great view! Even if its raining.
Small lagoon

Dinner and beer at lonesome carabao
Pork roulade with mustard sauce and mashed potatoes 200
Redhorse 35 per bottle happy hour til 7pm

Beer again at sea slugs san mig light 50 each
Grilled porkchop 280(hubbys favorite)

Day 7
May 12

7am el nido market ( corong corong)

Bought 1 kilo pusit 120
1 kilo Pork for sinigang 170
Other vegies 50
Tricycle fare 10 each

I cooked these at rosannas kitchen. 
Overall charge for cooking and rice and the maling that we bought, 350.

Laundry service at rosannas -70 per kilo. 

Day 7 
May 12

1pm Van to puerto princesa
500 each via eulen joy van.

3pm Stopover fortwally in roxas


PUERTO PRINSESA;

6pm check in lola itang's  pension, 0916 1500 aircon room 
With ref, with filipino breakfast.( this is our 2nd time. Very near to church and market) 

Dinner at kinabuch

Lechon kawali
Pinakbet
Beer
Watermelon shake

All yummy and worth for its price :-) big servings also.

Day 8
May 13

Breakfast at lola itangs
Dangit, rice and egg
Coffee

9am 
Mass at immaculate concepcion( plaza quartel)

12 noon van pick up care of kuya danny for city tour. 09106661767
1500 airport transfers included.  

Bakers hill- yummy pastries!! Affordable also. 
- they have lunch buffet at 399
Reservation required

Mitras ranch

Crocodile farm 40 entrance
Try crocodile sisig 160  taste good!

Itoys coffee shop
Carrot cake 85- yummy and not too sweet 
Chocolate cake- 100 not too sweet also
Zuniga coffee- 100 best seller
Hot choco 65

Dinner at badjao seafront
Reservation required

Comida letter c 950 php good for 4 pax

Kare kare
Crispy pata
Fish spring roll
Bagoong rice
Fruit plater

Extras: caesar salad 140
Frozen iced tea

I like their food, some reviews says food are so-so especially seafood, so we ordered meat instead,  hehe since we ate too much seafood during the entire palawan trip. 

Venus spa near kinabuch, 850 couples massage- my husband liked it, but i dont. 

Tip:
Book  ka lui resto at least 1 week or 2 before your flight. (they are always fully book) were not able to visit this place, its our 2nd time to puerto advance reservation is a must.

Book underground river 1-2 months in advance. There's alot of tourist visiting puerto and only 1000 pax allowed at underground river( base on our tour guide)

Day 9 
May 14

Breakfast at lola itangs, bacon, bread butter and jam with coffee. 

Van pick up to airport care of kuya danny
10 am puerto prinsesa to manila
Terminal fee 40

Hope this helps! Enjoy your palawan trip :-)

If you have concerns just email me greyzie25@yahoo.com

[luscious27]

hey! san kaya pinaka-ok magstay:

marina garden
ipil lodge
el nido garden beach resort
el nido beach hotel
the entalula

tips please. thanks!

[hot_chili]

^ Sa ipil lodge kami nagchek in nun sis... for me okay sya malinis and maganda. Walang tv pero may wi-fi... malapit lang sya sa port/beach kaya madami kang choices ng bars and resto.