Last July, the friends and I were lucky enough to visit one of the most beautiful tourist spots in the Philippines, El Nido. We booked the flight months before the scheduled trip. The weeks went by so quickly and one day, we found ourselves in the airport, then in Puerto Princesa, then, finally, in the municipality of El Nido.

Tay Miloy's Inn

The trip took 2-3 hours from Manila to Puerto Princesa and then 5-6 hours from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. We got there before sun down despite the breaks our van driver kept taking. We then took a tricycle from Eulen Joy Terminal to Tay Miloy's Inn.

Tay Miloy's Inn

Tay Miloy's is a small inn located within the town proper of El Nido. It's a short walk away from the port, restaurants, markets, and shops. The rooms are very small and modest but what it lacks in extravagance, it gains in very good location and accommodating staff. Well, most of them anyway.

The view from outside Tay Miloy's

After freshening up, we head straight to the Seaslug Restaurant for a hearty dinner.

Seaslug Restaurant

Seaslug restaurant

The place was packed with people. We would have liked to be seated in the beachfront but the seats were full so we had to place ourselves inside. 

Right in the middle of the shack

Our orders took a while. Most of us have already done away with the fruit shakes and the food still didn't came. It turns out that they cooked everyone's orders first before serving them all at the same time. No wonder it took so long.

We had some crocodile sisig

Their shrimp gambas is heaven!

Once the food was gone and the bill was paid, we went back to Tay Miloy's to get a good night's rest for the next day's activities.

We woke up at 6 and were at the port around 8:30 in the morning. When our tour guide finally arrived, we were ushered to the boat. We had two other groups with us and the reason we waited for a while was because one of the groups had a late breakfast.

Finally boarding The Fast and Furious

Our boat took off and our guides introduced themselves and discussed a few ground rules. 

Bye for now, town proper!

The friendly boat guides who knows a lot. And jokes a lot too.

We rode to our first destination, the Small Lagoon.

Small Lagoon

The entrance to the lagoon

We rented a kayak but you can opt to just swim around. Just remember to get out of the way because maneuvering the kayak is going to give people arm cramps.

The limestones are crazy pretty

I'm not a fan of kayaking but this is waaay better than swimming/ walking through all those rocks and corals

Mind your head. The entrance looks reeeeally tiny from afar but it turns out it was possible to get through it with a kayak

After drinking in all the beauty of the Small Lagoon, we moved to another lagoon, creatively named the Big Lagoon.

Big Lagoon

I confirm that it is indeed bigger than the Small Lagoon

The boat dropped us by the opening and we all walked towards the Lagoon. The water is really shallow but I would have preferred the water to at least be waist-deep so that I could swim all the way rather than walk because it feels like it took forever to get there.

All them boats are parked by the opening of the lagoon

We-we-welcome to the lagoon!

Time to drag your feet towards the lagoon

Did I mention how pretty the limestones are?

I wish I made a 360 video because the lagoon is really beautiful and our photos don't do it justice

After the Small Lagoon and the Big Lagoon, we headed to another lagoon, the Medium Lagoon!

Nope. That was a bad joke, sorry. The Secret lagoon was where we went next.

Secret Lagoon

It's so secrety

We got down the boat and we had to walk to the small opening to the lagoon

We had to walk over this and it is such a nightmare. It was so slippery and most of us were getting their legs cut open from the rocks slash dead corals.

This is the entrance and exit to the lagoon

The view from the inside

Surrounded by pretty rocks

There wasn't much in the Secret Lagoon so I just took a couple of photos and headed out for some panorama shots at the beach. The panoramas are garbage though so I won't be posting any. Have some other photos instead.

The beach where we had lunch

Our tour guides slash chefs preparing our lunch while we take a bajillion photos

The view behind the beach. We saw a monkey!

The beach

And then, finally, lunch!

And no one went home hungry that day

Also, there are two dogs there that will literally beg for your love. Look at how he is tapping my leg for some sugar

And once the bellies were filled, we rested a bit and headed to the next destination that was a snorkeling spot called Shimizu.

Shimizu

Shimizu

If you've read my post about my Puerto Princesa trip, you would know that I couldn't enjoy the snorkeling at Honda Bay because of the life vest that we were required to wear. In El Nido, however, the life vests weren't mandatory. I could dive deep until the corals were a few feet from my face! 

I've seen healthier and more colorful reefs though

I was going to rest by that rock then I realized it was actually a big coral then I saw some bluish pearls in it and I got really excited about it. I didn't take it though!

The reef was enormous! And so many fishies too!

I dived and dived until my lungs couldn't take it

Look at that brownish, greyish, yellowish corals

The best part of all this is that I could see all the corals and fishes so clearly because I had a good 20/10 vision! Going through a Lasik procedure was one of the best decisions I made in my life.

Snake Island, our next destination, is a sand bar that looks like a snake or an S to be more accurate. 

Snake Island

Snake Island

On our way to the top of the hill to see the snakeyness of the island

Yes, I see it. So snakey indeed.

On the other side of the hill, there is this great view.

We got down and strolled a bit on the sand bar. Which you cannot see in this photo

Next is the Kudugnon Cave. 

Kudugnon Cave

Just a wee bit exploring and fact-learning in a cave that smells strongly of bat crap. Although, there were no bats to be seen.

Making a bee line to the cave

You have to make like an action star and roll to get in

No bats? Yep, no bats.

Our guide was saying something about how people used to live here

The next destination was Seven Commando. 

Seven Commando

Man, did it feel good to laze around at the end of the day. I wish we could've stayed a bit longer. We only stayed a couple of minutes because it was growing late and we need to get to the last destination of the tour package right away.

I... have no photos. Darn.

We then went to another snorkeling spot. I think it's called Pinagbuyutan.

Pinagbuyutan

Snorkeling time once again

That is not a good thing to step on

Look at that fish

I felt like stepping on these things. Good thing I didn't.

And that ends the Island hopping tour of Day 1! We were brought back to the port. We walked back to Tay Miloy's and got ready for dinner. We had dinner at Habibi Restaurant. 

Habibi Restaurant

I am in love with their seafood carbonara. This wasn't my order though.

They've got bottles of wine

Day 1 concluded. On to day two!



El Nido Day 2 : Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Matinloc Cove, Hidden Beach, Star Beach, Kadlao Lagoon, Bucal Beach, Papaya Beach
El Nido Day 3 : Papaya Beach, Twin Beach, Marimeg Beach
El Nido : 5D4N Travel Expenses

Photo credits: Rem Calumba, Joy Sabal, Troy Babaran