El Nido was always one of the beaches we wanted to visit. Our dreams finally came true last June 30 as we travelled to El Nido via Puerto Princesa with our Cebu pacific flights.
Our flight was scheduled to depart at 340pm but due to delays we left for Puerto Princesa at 530PM.
| Time | Day 1 Friday | Rate per person |
| 15:00:00 | Check-in NAIA Terminal 3 | |
| 18:30:00 | Arrival at Puerto Princesa City Airport (Batch 2) | |
| Ride tricycle to Bona's Chaolong | 8 | |
| 19:00:00 | Dinner at Bona's (Beef Stew Chao Long, Liter of Pepsi, Cheese and Garlic Bread) | 120 |
| 20:30:00 | Pickup by Van bound for El Nido at Bona's Chaolong | 450 |
| Total Cost | 578 |
Upon arrival at Puerto Princesa Airport a lot of tricycle drivers will offer to bring you to your destination. We walked outside the airport and rode a tricycle to Bona's Chaolong for only P8 per head.
Bona's Chaolong was filled at the time we arrived there as it was already dinner time. We ordered Buto-Buto with Noodles SBS, Beef stew with Noodles, Garlic and Cheese bread and a liter of Pepsi all for P240 only. The price and food serving was reasonable. The taste was similar to Pho Noodles served in Vietnam. They also had their own restroom so it was a plus since this was our final stop before starting our van trip to El Nido.
We were supposed to ride the bus to El Nido but one of our companions was able to haggle a van trip for P450 only. The van was spacious, with TV and has reclining seats so we agreed to take the van.
The travel to El Nido will get you dizzy. It is recommended to bring candies. I also have my neck pillow and balabal (small blanket) so this really helped me have a comfortable travel. Travel time was just 4.5 hours going to El Nido. There were 3 stops if you want to rest your feet or go to the restroom. The van brought us to our accommodation in El Nido (RicGem Resort).
| *Island Hopping Tours includes snorkeling set, life vest, buffet lunch and tour guide | |||
| Time | Day 2 Saturday | Rate per person | Group Rate |
| 0:30:00 | Early Check in RicGem Resort | 192 | 1150/for 6 pax (1 Family room) |
| RicGem Resort Rate for succeeding days (4Days/3nights) | 862.5 | 2300/night for 2 family rooms (8pax) | |
| 8:30:00 | Pay environmental fee and boat fees at Northern Hope | 200 | |
| 9:30:00 | Start Island Hopping Tour B
| 800 | |
| 15:30:00 | Back to El Nido Town proper | ||
| 16:30:00 | Tricycle to Las Cabanas Beach (Max 4 pax per trike) | 75 | 300 |
| Dinner Altrove (Pizza, Pasta & Drinks) | 300 | ||
| Total Cost | 2429.5 |
Our guide from Northern hope (Kuya Lito) came to fetch us at around 8am. Distance of RicGem resort to the port is just a 5minute walk. We went first to Northern hope to pay for the environmental and boat fees.
We waited at the port for 5 others who were joining the tour. We opted to not have an exclusive trip as it costs P1000 per head for 6 pax compared to the rate of P800 which was offered if they will be getting other guests to complete the max 12 guests capacity per boat.
Our first stop is Entalula Island. It was a snorkeling site and part of it is privately owned so we just had to stay at a specific area to snorkel. Not much to see during snorkeling here. Most corals are dead and not much fishes are seen.
Second location is Snake Island. It was already raining hard when we reached here. We were not able to swim that much here as we were more concerned on taking pictures. Lol!
After Snake Island we were off to our next stop were we will be having our lunch. Our third stop is Codugnon Cave. There were no vacant cottages upon reaching the island so the boatmen had to setup their table near the shore. The island has hammocks where you can rest and they offer coconuts for P70. While waiting for the food to be prepared we went to see the cave.
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| Cave Entrance |
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| Cave Interiors |
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| Lunch Buffet |
After our sumptuous lunch, we took some pictures at the Cathedral Cave which was the fourth stop. There was nothing to do here but take a picture with the cathedral-like background.
Kuya Lito gave us a bonus snorkeling site to visit. We went to Cove Tree and saw a number of corals and fishes. I was still not impressed with the fishes seen underwater but the beaches were all great.
Our last stop was Pinagbuyutan Island. The island was a nice spot for our photo ops. This was the island were we spent the most time during the trip.
We reached El Nido port at around 3:30pm so we decided to go to Maremegmeg Beach or poupularly known as Las Cabanas before the sun sets.
Maremegmeg beach is so nice. The path going to the beach is a bit muddy and slippery but the walk was worth it. The beach shore was wide and there were no stones or pebbles that would hurt your feet when swimming. It was a bit cloudy that time so the sunset was not much seen. I would still recommend going here even without seeing the sunset. There are beachfront accommodations available if you choose to live on this area of El Nido.
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| Pathway to Las Cabanas |
Tricycle ride is P300 for round trip transfer for 4 pax. Tell the driver to wait for you as there are no other tricycles passing through the area.
We went back to RicGem resort around 630pm to change and have dinner.
| Time | Day 3 Sunday | Rate per person | Group Rate |
| 9:00:00 | Start Island Hopping Tour A
| 800 | |
| 17:00:00 | Back to El Nido Town proper | ||
| 19:00:00 | Dinner (Bought cup noodles, ate leftovers) | 50 |
Since all 8 of us are present on Day 3, we decided the most popular tour in El Nido which is Tour A.
We went to the port at 9am and was joined by 4 other guests. We rented 2 kayaks for the group as this would be useful on this specific tour.
Our first stop is the big lagoon. We were not allowed to swim inside the lagoon as sharks were said to be nesting here. The water here was very serene.
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| Entrance to the Big Lagoon |
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| Inside the Big Lagoon |
After our pictorial, we went ahead to our second destination - Shimizu Island for much snorkeling. This is also were we had our lunch. I couldn't help but compare the fishes in Bohol, Coron and other places to the sites in El Nido. The corals were we swam were mostly dead. Fishes were very minimal and not that colorful. Maybe I expected too much from El Nido but nevertheless the beaches still amazed me.
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| Shimizu Beach |
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| Swimming with the fishes |
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| Our Lunch! |
After having lunch, we went back to Big Lagoon to do snorkeling near the entrance of the Lagoon. This is were I finally saw a Nemo in El Nido.
Our third stop is the small lagoon. This is were we used the kayaks we rented. The water was clear and the water was also great for swimming. It could be tiring to swim the whole lagoon so it is recommended to rent a kayak prior to doing this tour.
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| Entrance to the Small Lagoon |
Our fourth and last stop is 7 commando. The rain poured when we reached the island but it did not stop us from enjoying the place. The waves were huge since it was raining hard. The place offers drinks for tourists going to the place but we were still full from our lunch so we did not inquire on the rates.
| Time | Day 4 Monday | Rate per person |
| 9:00:00 | Start Island Hopping Tour C
| 800 |
| 17:00:00 | Back to El Nido Town proper | |
| Buy Bread at Midtown Bakery | 20 | |
| 20:00:00 | Dinner at Squidos Hilltop (250 buffet dinner plus 30 drinks) | 280 |
| Tricycle ride back to RicGem | 15 | |
| Total Cost | 1115 |
El Nido coastguards have cancelled Tour C for the past 2 days that we were in El Nido because of the weather. Lucky for us, it was permitted on the last full day we have in El Nido. Yey!
Our first stop is hidden beach. I regret not wearing my aqua shoes this day. The boat was too big to enter so we needed to swim or walk going inside. Walking was not very much advised as there were stones and corals that you might step on.
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| Entrance to Hidden Beach |
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| Inside Hidden Beach |
Our second stop is Star Island were we had our lunch. The island was very picturesque.Its a nice spot to swim. One of my favorite islands in El Nido so far.
After lunch we went to Matinloc Shrine. This island is very historic for the people in El Nido. The view once you reach the top of this island is amazing. We were lucky that we were the first group in the island as only 8-10 people can go up at the same time.
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| View from the top of Matinloc Shrine |
Our last stop for the tour is Helicopter Island. The island literally looked like a helicopter from afar thus the name. I was so tired of swimming for 3 days so I just rested on this island.
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| Helicopter Island |
| Time | Day 5 Tuesday | Rate per person |
| 11:00:00 | Buy Pasalubong | |
| 12:00:00 | Lunch at IBR Eatery (Chicken Curry with Rice) | 150 |
| 13:00:00 | Van pickup to Puerto Princesa Airport | 400 |
| 19:00:00 | Arrival at Airport | |
| Pay Terminal Fee | 150 | |
| Total Cost | 700 |
For our fifth day, we were supposed to rent a van off to Nacpan and Calitang beach at 6am. Unfortunately, the winds and rain did not permit us. We then decided to rest as it was our last day in El Nido. We checked-out at 12 pm to have a quick lunch at IBR Canteen. Serving size per viand which costs P120-180 is for 2 pax (rice not included).
Our van for Puerto Princesa fetched us at RicGem around 1pm.
It is advisable to get a budget-friendly place in El Nido. You won't be staying long in your accommodation since you will be on tour most of the day.
Electricity in El Nido is only from 2pm-6am.
Feedback On RicGem Resort:
Family Room Rates is only P1150 per night for an Aircon Room for 4 pax
PROs
- They offer WIFI which is available 24/7
- They have a common area were you can eat, watch TV and chat with the group
- Kuya Richard targets to include a TV on all rooms
- They offer free coffee and tea in the morning
- Drinking water is provided
- They have a generator so you can ask Kuya Richard to charge your gadgets in the morning if you forgot to charge the night before
- They do not offer food so you need to go out to eat
- We stayed there for 4 days but no one offered to clean the rooms while we were out.
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| Reception area with Kuya Richard's grandchild |
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| Reception and Dining area |
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| Family Room |
Total Cost for the stay for 5days 4nights (excluding airfare/ Group of 8pax): P5797.50/ head
Airfare (via Cebu Pacific seat sale): P1100
Contact Numbers:
Van to El Nido: 09066484602
Northern hope Tours: 09277353221
Hi. Do you have a contact of the van service? Its cheap, its usually 700. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteNo. We just haggled before riding the van..
ReplyDeleteHi. Would like to know where did you get the island hopping tour package for 800 pesos per pax.
ReplyDelete