EL NIDO Thread 5

[aicute12]

Hi sis! Kami kasi pinuntahan namin lahat yun nga lang mabibitin talaga kayo. Pero for me these are the best a and b!

Small lagoon
Big lagoon
snake island
secret lagoon
Pinagbuyutan island

Yan!!

[Maein]

Airport na mga sis, sad to say back to reality na naman tom. Sarap lang magbakasyon talaga.. Hehe And I'm glad check na sa bucket list ko ang el nido. Been to coron years ago, parang gusto ko naman sya balikan. Hehe

Sis nag tour A kami kahapon: Big lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Entalula Island, Small Lagoon, 7 Commandos.

Personally nagustuhan namin small lagoon kasi nakapag snorkeling and kayak kami, Entalula island maliit lang siya where we had our lunch, solo namin wala na ibang boat na nagdock.. Fine ang sand and sarap lang mag picture taking while playing with the waves. 7 commandos parang resort sya  pwede lang mag chill, where you can buy drinks - shake, buko juice, beer (medyo pricey shake cost 150-200. Hehe). Last stop namin to mga 1 hour din kami dito.

[NightShadow05]

Three days to go!!! Thanks sa lahat ng nabasa ko dito sa thread. Super helpful. 3d/2n lang kami, sobrang bitin 😳  Package kasi siyang nakuha. Anyways, update ko kayo pagbalik ko 😊

[Maein]

^Enjoy sis.. i can feel your excitement.  Will share my travel too pag medyo free na (kahit papano baka makatulong din sa iba) hehe, tambak lang kasi sa ofis works ngayon kaya di pa ako makapag story telling hehe
Btw, Thank you sa mga sissies natin dito na nagshare ng kanilang mga travel experiences and mga tips. sobrang helpful talaga sa planning stage ng trip. 

[simang]

Enjoy El Nido guys!! <3

^ako din sobrang long overdue na ang El Nido entry ko on my blog have to finish it na talaga. After ng kwento ko ng Day1 di ko na nasundan haha!

[Maein]

Sharing my El Nido Travel mga sis, pasensya na kung medyo mahaba: 
Part 1

---
Day 1 (Thurs, Apr 2)
6:45AM – 8:05AM Manila to PP via PAL (P7,933.00 / 2644.33 each)
10:30AM – 3:55PM PP to El Nido via Fort Wally Transport (P1650.00 / 550 each)
3:55PM – 4:00PM Terminal to Hotel (P60 for 3 pax)
4:00PM – Check in Aqua Travel Lodge (P8,700 3Nights / 2900 per night)
5-6:30PM – Tricycle to Beach Shack, Marimegmeg Beach (P300 / 150 per way)
7:30PM – Dinner at Art Café (Just beside our hotel)
_____
Day 2 (Fri, Apr 3)
7:30AM – Hotel Breakfast
9:00AM – 4:30PM – Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Talisay Beach (Lunch), Matinloc Shrine, Helicopter Island (P3600 / 1200 each) Tip 300 (3 boatmen), Environmental fee valid for 10days (200 each)
7:30PM – Dinner Seaslugs
_____
Day 3 (Sat, Apr 4)
7:30 AM – Hotel Breakfast
10:00AM – 5:30PM – Tour A: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Entalula Island (Lunch), Small Lagoon, 7 Commando (P3000 / 1000 each) Tip 300 (3 boatmen), GoPro Hero 4 (rent - 1k), kayak at small Lagn (rent - 500)
7:30PM – Dinner Trattoria Altrove
___

Day 4 (Sun, Apr 5)
7:00AM – Hotel Breakfast
8:20AM – Check out
8:25AM -  Trike to Terminal (P50 for 3 pax)
9:30AM – 3:00PM – El Nido to PP via Daytripper (P2550 / 850 each)
5:35PM – 6:50PM – PP to Manila via Cebu Pac (P8777.64 / P2,925.88 each)

[Maein]

Part 2

1. Our flight from MNL – PP via PAL is scheduled 5:20AM, we arrived airport around 2AM only to find out that our 5:20am flight has a 10% “overbooked” passengers and has to be moved to 10:30AM flight. Just imagine na pumunta kami ng airport ganun ka aga ni halos walang tulog tapos ayaw kami e check in dahil overbooked daw. We were offered free RT ticket na pwede gamitin within one year plus P1000 if pumayag kami na ilipat sa 10:30AM flight. We asked panong nagkaron ng overbooking, ang sabi sa amin may nacancel daw na flight night before and was carried over sa schedule namin. Ni wala man lang silang prior notice and all, di namin tinaggap ang offer nila coz everything is set na, nagpareserve na kami ng van from PP – El Nido and balak pa namin mag Nacpan sana kung darating kami ng mga 2pm sa El Nido.  In short, masisira ang itinerary namin at malamang gabi na kami darating ng El Nido if we accepted the offer. Nakaka highblood lang ang first day because of this, last minute saka kami binigyan ng boarding pass.. siguro inantay lang nila na mag no show ang ibang passengers nila. Di naman ata tama na dahil may nacancel na flight, they will just merge it sa sked namin and just tell us na “overbooked” daw and kelangan magmove ng passengers. Our tickets were booked way back Oct 2014 pa.  Naka alis kami ng mga 6:45am na, delay din flight. When we arrive PP mga 8:05am, naka alis na yung van namin and has to wait for another van at 10:30am. Buti nalang at hindi nag require sa amin ng full payment to reserve kasi malamang sa delay ng flight  baka ma forfeit lang yung payment.

Kaya mga sis, lalo sa mga papunta you should consider yung delay ng mga airline. Hindi reliable talaga yung oras nila. Pano kung magbook kayo  ng van na strict ang policy at need mag full payment tapos delay ang dating nyo. Definitely di sila mag aantay kasi magagalit yung ibang passengers at mafoforfeit pa yung payment nyo. Anyways, madaming mga van sa labas ng airport, you can always get one.

2. As for our hotel, Aqua Travel Lodge.. so far happy naman kami. Its not beachfront. Nasa 4th floor kami with balcony and its overlooking bacuit bay. Room has safety deposit box.. Di ganon kalaki ang room but just enough for the 3 of us.  Walang problema sa aircon, split type. Ang CR nya malaki, wala naman naging problem sa water (hot and cold) kahit na sa top floor kami. May balcony, kung saan namin  sinasampay yung wet clothes after island hopping, the next AM dry na agad. Don’t expect too much sa breakfast, typical rice, hotdog or cornbeef, bacon, and egg plus tea or coffee - your choice. . pwede na rin. On our first day dun kami kumain sa terrace ng Nido Bay Inn, sister hotel nila which is beachfront and just infront of our hotel. Nice view in the morning. Friendly staff and okay ang wifi considering na sa pinaka top floor na kami. Location-wise, I can say na okay talaga.. very accessible sa kainan and souvenir shops. Halos magkakatabi lang -  Art Café, A Place to Remember Hotel, La Salangane, Nido Bay Inn to name a few. After dinner pwede mag lakad-lakad at mag souvenir hunting.

3. Sa mga natry namin na kainan, Art Café, Seaslugs, Altrove – Di na ako nagulat na medyo pricey ang food. Sa Art Café, madaming tao majority foreigners, may live band that night.. sa food nabitin kami.. parang konti lang ng serving.. kaya napa order pa kami ulit. Hmm, to be honest – so, so lang ang food for me. Masarap lang yung  stuffed squid nila. Seaslugs, nag lobster kami 2500 ang kilo, masarap naman. We also ordered Squidcmedyo matigas ang luto. Sa Altrove, wait to be seated. Puno din, madami kumakain kaya dapat agahan nyo dito kung may balak kayo kumain. Iniiwan ang tsinelas sa baba. Nasarapan kami sa Quattro Stagione Pizza (bestseller) nila and Seafood Gamberi Pasta.
 

>>cont...

[Maein]

part 3

4. Since medyo late na kami nakarating ng El Nido at nagpahinga muna saglit, we decided na mag Sunset watching nalang sa Marimegmeg. Too bad di na namin na push ang Nacpan.. haay. Nag merienda muna kami sa Beach Shack habang nag aantay ng sunset. Maganda din ang seaview along highway. Nung pabalik na kami bumaba kami ng tricycle para lang kumuha ng pics.

5. Tours – Tour C: Nalilito na tuloy ako, may secret na may hidden beach pa. Pinaka gusto ko sa lahat yung sa matinloc shrine, yung view pag akyat ng karst cliff. Medyo nakakatakot lang sa pag-akyat kaya ingat lang at pila-pila bago makakuha ng picture. Super worth it ang view. Ganda. Tour A: Small lagoon, enjoy ang kayak and snorkeling. Kudos to our boatmen para sa masarap na lunch and sa pagiging photographers, cook, at sa pag aasist nila sa amin during the tours. It will help them na kahit papano may maiaabot tayo na tip sa kanila. Sa mga naging boatmen namin, pinaka gusto ko si 2lits. Masayahin at magaling kumanta.  We availed island hopping tours through our hotel  kaya may discount.

6. GoPro – We were able to find and rent a GoPro Hero4 through our hotel. May kakilala sila na nagpaparent (1k / day) and sila na mismo kumontact and pumunta sa hotel. Good thing may dala akong USB at dun tinansfer ang mga pics.

7. Daytripper – comfortable ride going back Puerto Princesa enough legroom, may headrest and hindi siksikan. Free water and snack. Yung nga lang, limited sked. Lunch stopover at Non La Aromasit – Vitenamese Restaurant, at Roxas halfway going back to PP. Surprisingly sarap ng food, di ganon kadami serving pero kahit papano mura sya. We ordered adobong squid, spring roll, beef kangkong. . Sarap. Pahabol kami ng seafood salad, naloka ako sa anghang nya pero masarap.

Naku nobela, pasensya na mga sis.. part 1-3 talaga ang kwento  HTH kahit pano sa mga pupunta. 

[Pretty Gorgeous]

i stayed at EL Nido for 8days via direct flight manila to ElNido. it is Amazing!

the popular boat tours island hopping is Tour A and Tour C lunch snorkelling gears included my good friend hosted me there he basically arranged my boat tour and rented Vespa motorcycle for exploring the town of El Nido. he owns a island hopping tours and you can rent his Vespa #@helloelnido.com. PM me if you need his contact number or website so i can refer you.

[belle_v2g]

Please recommend el nido tour package without airfare or any agency na ok.

[aicute12]

Sis kahit dun ka na kumuha on the spot. Makakatipid ka pa!

[smile22]

^sis boatyard travel and tours last year, 7350 each kami (7pax) 4d3n. included lahat. 2 days island hopping A and C. 3rd day underground river tour and ugong rock cave sidetrip... 4th day freeday. included lahat ng land transfers, overnight stays, breakfasts, lunch

[simang]

Please recommend el nido tour package without airfare or any agency na ok.

Sis belle, for honeymoon ba to? San nyo plan magstay? May naresearch ka na? Wala akong masyadong alam na agency since most of my travels are DIY, but i suggest kung ayaw mo mahassle with planning, you can search for your preferred hotel muna. And then communicate ka na lang sa kanila with their packages, tours and all. For sure meron yan

maraming mga hotels na suggested dito, pero syempre try mo pa din sa el nido resorts kung keri ng budget nyo.

[meimei]

just came back from El Nido. here's my travel report:

Airport transfers by Lexus: 2 months prior, i reserved their 18-seater Joylong van as a private hire for 14pax para MALUWAG kami. aba! pagdating namin ng Puerto, sabi sakin "maam may problema. sira yung Joylong, ilang araw na naghihintay ng piyesa". tapos gusto kami ipagsiksikan sa Grandia. NO WAY! sabi ko dapat sinabi sakin as soon as malaman nilang sira so i could've considered my options. hindi yung bibiglain nila ko pagdating na ipagsisiksikan nila kami. ayun nagdagdag sila ng van for no extra cost.

Ugong Rock: i'm not so impressed. hindi purely natural formation ang aakyatin mo... naglagay sila ng hagdan in some places... i'm more into hiking unspoiled places eh, hindi yung aakyat ka lang ng hagdan. lol! medyo disappointing din ang zipline. i did the superman position, masyadong mabagal because of the chute. naexcite pa naman sana ko kasi sabi "fastest zipline" daw, eh nabagalan ako.

Accommodation at El Nido Overlooking Resort: OMG!! i super loooooove it!!!! as in! the view is just spectacular! the design of the villa is insanely beautiful. 14pax kami so we just rented the entire place so that includes the Deluxe Villa which has a PRIVATE infinity pool. LUPET!!

Nacpan & Calitang: pagod na pagod na mga kasama ko from the 6-hr trip from Puerto. ako may energy pa so gora pa rin ako sa Nacpan, haha! nabasa ko na super dali lang akyatin to see the view kaya i just wore dress sandals. and true, super duper dali lang nung regular trail! HOWEVER, meron palang higher peak (not the regular trail), sayang di ko na-achieve kasi hindi kinaya ng dress sandals. lol! sayang sana nakapagdala ko ng trekking sandals. pero grabe ang ganda ganda ng view from the top! suuuuuper!!!! sulit ang biyahe.
 
Snorkeling in El Nido: ang daming patay na corals sa El Nido. nakakalungkot. napabayaan ng gobyerno. not well-regulated ang tourism. dagdagan pa ng walang disiplinang turista. hay.

Tour D: ito na yata ang may pinaka-matino na snorkeling out of all the tours... kaso walang-wala pa rin sa underwater life ng Coron... pinakamagandang part is when we swam from Paradise Beach to Nat-Nat Beach because we snorkeled in between those beaches. maraming corals especially in Nat-Nat.

Combined Tour A & B: ayoko ng Amazing Race ang peg so 2 sites lang ang ni-retain ko for Tour B (Snake Island and Cove Three), the rest ay Tour A. fave ko sa Tour B ay Snake Island kasi ang ganda ng sandbar. fave ko sa Tour A ay Small Lagoon kasi ang saya mag-kayak at sumuot-suot sa maliliit na lagoons while kayaking!!

Tour C: may low pressure area so nakakaloka sa lakas ng waves!! we didn't go to Secret Beach kasi delikado raw. nakapag-snorkel kami sa Helicopter, may ilang corals naman... ang fave part ko ay Talisay Beach kasi ang ganda ng island! very narrow lang ng beach niya pero ang ganda kasi ng limestone formations niya!

Baker's Hill: pauwi nakadaan kami sa Baker's Hill. grabe ang sarap ng pork buns!!!! super duper love!!! sayang wala nito sa Maynila, hehe.

[lizzietseng]

Subscribing mga sis!  I'm planning to go there with my sis next year pa and I'm preparing for our IT to PPS & EL NIDO.  Am thinking of allotting 5 days to see the following places: Underground river, Tour A and C in El Nido.  Can you guys recommend a decent local travel agency?  TIA!

[NightShadow05]

Here's how it went for us

5pm - Depart Manila
6pm - Arrived in PP
7pm - Depart PP
9:30pm - 1st Stopover, Fort Wally
10pm - Depart Fort Wally
11:30pm - 2nd Stopover
11:40pm - Depart Stopover
12:45am - Arrived in El Nido

Originally, our flight was scheduled at 5am, however, due to some issues with the booking in Air Asia, na-move siya in the afternoon. So sira na lahat ng afternoon plans namin. Anyways, the trip from PP to El Nido was a very long one, smooth drive siya though there were rough roads. And sobrang dilim ng kalsada. Kung me biyahilo kayo, try to drink bonamine kasi para siyang baguio trip na waaay longer. LOL. Better eat before your El Nido trip kasi so-so ang food sa stopover. Pagtiya-tiyagaan mo talaga if gutom ka. In El Nido, the only mode of transpo going to your hotel is a trike.

Marian Grace Inn:

The caretaker was accommodating. Small ang rooms and walang cabinet, pero malinis. Aircon was ok but walang hot water. Water pressure in the higher floors was not that strong.

We had our breakfast in the 3rd floor, overlooking the beautiful Bacuit Bay. The view was amazing but the breakfast was not The inn was a 10 minute walk to the area where we boarded our boat for the tour.

Island Hopping at 9am: Tour A

Big Lagoon - this was the best, for me. Sobrang perfect. Crystal clear waters surrounded by limestone cliffs (if I'm not mistaken)

Small Lagoon - we didn't go to the lagoon kasi tinamad kami mag kayak. LOL. Pero sobrang ganda daw. Sayang. Pero nag enjoy kami mag swim sa area na 'to.

Shimizu Island - loved this place also though mej crowded nung dumating  kami kasi eto ang lunch area of most tours. Me cliff and rock formation plus super fine white sand and clear waters.

Secret Lagoon - dito nag snorkel ang group namin. Di ako fan ng snorkeling so dito ako nagrelax and siesta. Very peaceful yung lagoon.

Seven Commando Beach - our last destination and the most tourist friendly stop ng Tour A. Me beach huts na pwedeng irent for free. Meron ding store for food and drinks. Sobrang chillax lang.

Finished the tour at 4pm. Then had our merienda at Sea Slugs. The seafood pizza was good but service was slow. This is a beachfront resto where you can have drinks in the evening.

Since this was just a 3d/2n trip, we decided to go back to PP after the tour so we can do the Honda Bay tour the following day. Been to PP na before so di na ako masyadong excited. And after seeing El Nido, you'll know what I mean

Super loved this bitin El Nido trip. Will definitely go back and try the other tours. Sobrang ganda talaga ng Pilipinas. Sorry, napahaba ang post. Hope this helps

[lizzietseng]

sis nightshadow05, where did you book your PPS - EL NIDO - PPS transfer and tour?

[jenger109]

i stayed at EL Nido for 8days via direct flight manila to ElNido. it is Amazing!

sis hm ang direct flight from manila to el nido?

[NightShadow05]

sis nightshadow05, where did you book your PPS - EL NIDO - PPS transfer and tour?

Nako sis, sorry di kasi ako ang nag book kaya dedma ako. Hahaha. But I won't recommend them kasi the van for the transfer from PP to El Nido and vice versa e hindi masyadong bago and yung lunch nung island hopping hindi masyadong masarap and konti ang choices.

[lizzietseng]

ok, tks sis nightshadow05