EL NIDO, PHILIPPINES — ENCHANTING. Or maybe PRISTINE. Rather PERFECT. Is there really any better way to describe this tourist magnet?
Maybe none. So we understand if you find yourself searching for the words the moment you see this paradise. Being amazed by its limestone cliffs, crystal-clear waters, pristine lagoons, and scenic islands isn’t just natural here — it’s inevitable. El Nido didn’t make the world’s best-islands lists for nothing.
We’ve missed returning to this paradise since 2014, the year this writer’s dad passed away. El Nido was, and still is, the perfect place to be — just two hours from Taytay, our hometown, where our parents used to live.
For an island boy, appreciating El Nido’s beauty wasn’t something we noticed at first — it was just the norm, until we moved to Manila in 2009. Nine years later, seeing places like El Nido has become something closer to a moving experience. Since it’ll be a few more months, maybe years, before we visit again — we’re busy ticking off new places on our bucket list — we decided to take an Instagram tour instead, to see what other people love about El Nido.
FIRST THE BEACHES. Its white-sand beaches are scattered all throughout the islands that make up the town. They speak of beauty and joy at once, and of how fantastic it is to live on a planet where 75 percent is covered by water.
We are with you in wishing you are one of those who are walking by this beautiful beach right now. Photo taken by @ic.theworld
Captured and posted by @thefreedomcomplex, this is the side of the island you would want to wake up to every morning.
Well, aside from the beautiful beaches are the beautiful people that are touring El Nido such as this hunk. Nice capture, @sarajanebray!
Just when you think the younger years are over, @rahmicekmen let his inner child in him do the wonders. What a perfect place to be enjoying being a kid again, right?
Ohh! That clear waters and this kind local who posted for the photo taken by @travelstoriesphilippines. We just don’t think there’s really ‘dry times’ in El Nido except this paddle boat locals use for transportation, and yes, touring the nearby islands at times. We call it “sibid” or “seabed.”
Well, aside from the fact that @a_thlang had her feet covered by the sands while taking this photo, we envy her for having a really nice shot at Entulula island, one of the featured islands when island hopping El Nido.
We couldn’t believe there’s a nicer back drop when posting on a bikini than @manninglee1 had for this photo.
The town proper is best viewed atop Mount Taraw, the best mountain peak to be at while in this side of the Earth. Hiking the mountain is a must-do when visiting this island town. Local tour guides will be more than willing to bring you up there without much expense.
This may not be a perfect shot but we believe @dsilva9999 were in the perfect spot for this photo. A lovely one indeed.
If you were wondering how it is to be atop Taraw, this is it. We could only thank @quirkyphotographs for this aerial shot of the town proper.
SUNSETS. Who wouldn’t love them? In El Nido, sunsets speak of a beautiful day well spent and promise a wonderful night ahead. If you choose to spend the night at the town proper, make sure to grab a drink or two or dine by the main beach. There’s a lot of stories to weave while waiting for the sun to be eaten by the mountains and the seas.
Just after another day of touring the tourists around, this boatman parks his boat to take a night rest. Tomorrow is indeed another day. Posted by @wheninelnido.
This is simply gorg, @gregorsnell. It was great seeing this serene state of El Nido just before nighttime.
Sunsets are reminders that we can have some rest from time to time, and El Nido sunset are pure beauty. Let this awesome shot of @ic.theworld do the talking.
If you haven’t been to El Nido yet, make time for it. Swim in its clean waters, hike up Taraw and its beautiful mountains, and let its limestone cliffs backdrop your next Instagram posts. We’ll be sharing more personal posts about El Nido soon enough — it’s close to our hearts. We’ll let you know the moment we plan an impromptu visit. Till our next post. Carpe diem!