Welcome to El Nido

The ordinariness (and some might say the ugliness) of El Nido only heightens the contrast between the mundane and the sublime. Spanish for ‘the nest’, El Nido is the gateway to the fabulous Bacuit Archipelago. The town, sandwiched between towering limestone karst cliffs and Bacuit Bay, is cluttered with buildings that creep onto the beach and businesses that cater to tourists. Centre stage is the looming Cadlao... Read More

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The best beaches of the Philippines

The Philippines is generating a buzz as a less-discovered alternative to Southeast Asian beach hotspots like Bali and southern Thailand. It's not hard to see why. The country has more than 7000 islands, most boasting at least an idyllic beach or two. With such a wealth of coastal pleasures on offer, it can be tricky to pick your spot. Here are a few areas to home in on.

The dramatic limestone formations of the Bacuit Archipelago  keep the postcard vendors in business, but unless you're a serious rock climber you'll spend more time on the beaches around this laid-back northern Palawan town. The islands of the archipelago are blessed with dozens of beaches, the best of which are visited on island-hopping excursions out of El Nido. Alas, these do get crowded and cost a bit of money to get to.
Greg Bloom
Lonely Planet Writer

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