El Nido is a municipality located at the northwestern tip of the province of Palawan in the Philippines. It is about 430 kilometers southwest of Manila, and about 238 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s capital. El Nido is bordered by the Linapacan Strait in the north, the Sulu Sea in the east, and the South China Sea in the west. The Municipality of El Nido is composed of 18 barangays (villages) covering a total land area of 50,000 hectares. Its population of 27,000 people, is a mix of native Palaweños, with a heavy presence of migrants from other parts of the Philippines.
El Nido is named after the edible nests of Swiftlets (Collocalia Fuciphaga) found in the crevices of its limestone cliffs. These nests, “nido” in Spanish, are the main ingredient for the gourmet nido soup.El Nido is considered as a showcase of Palawan’s geology and diverse wildlife. Its majestic limestone cliffs stand guard over clear waters, with hundreds of species of tropical fishes and corals, and three species of endangered sea turtles. El Nido’s forests are host to more than 100 species of birds, a large number of which are endemic to Palawan
The most striking feature of El Nido is its scenic landscape - massive limestone islands of varying shapes and sizes scattered about the sparkling sea.
The limestone cliffs of El Nido were naturally carved out of extensive and thick layers of coralline deposits. They formed 250 million years ago in the shallow sea covering the area that North Vietnam and South China now occupy. These layers slowly rose from the sea as a result of the collision of India and mainland China about 60 million years ago.
Like the rest of Palawan, El Nido is part of the Eurasian Plate, an entirely separate plate from the Philippine Mobile Belt to which the rest of the country belongs. A proof of this fact is that Palawan has no active volcanoes, unlike the rest of the Philippine archipelago. Another is that limestone cliffs similar to those in Palawan can be found in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and Guilin in China, countries which are part of the Eurasian Plate. It is believed that Palawan was detached from mainland China some 40 million years ago. Palawan drifted southward and linked up with the rest of the Philippines around 15 million years ago.
LAGEN ISLAND RESORT
Lagen Island Resort is set in a cove, fringed by a thick primary forest. The sprawling grounds cover more than four hectares. Lagen Island is a showcase of El Nido’s flora and fauna, where trees provide various niches for a diverse variety of birds and mammals, providing a wealth of opportunities and experiences for wildlife observation and sightings. At the back of the resort is a trail that passes through a forest and ends in a private cove. The Lagen trail is one of the best sites for birdwatching, more rewarding during the early morning or towards late afternoon. Lagen Island hosts a high diversity of birds including almost all of the species endemic to Palawan.
At Lagen Island’s Clubhouse is the air-conditioned main dining area. Buffet and a la carte meals are served here. On the lower level are the boutique, game area, library, clinic, and conference room that can accommodate up to 70 persons theater-style and 60 persons classroom-style. The 12 x 25 meter swimming pool, designed with an even depth of 4 feet so as not to touch the roots of trees that lie underneath, is located in front of the clubhouse. Nearby is the poolside bar.
The resort has a marine sports center with a complete line of diving and snorkeling equipment as well as kayaks, windsurfs, and hobie cat. Lagen Island Resort provides fast and convenient access to the different islands within El Nido. Among the activities available at Lagen Island Resort are hiking, lagoon tours, cave tours, mangrove river tours, bottom fishing, bird watching, hat making, picnic lunches, sunset cruising, kayaking, windsurfing, hobiecat sailing, snorkeling, diving, and with prior arrangement, dive courses.
PANGULASIAN ISLAND
With its many attractions, it is possible to spend the entire day at Pangulasian Island. The long stretch of white sand beach is perfect for sunbathing and offers the best view of the sunset. In the waters fronting the beach are clusters of coral reefs that make Pangulasian a good snorkeling and diving site. A trail located in the middle of the island is a good place for birdwatching, especially during early mornings and late afternoons. The trail ends at the peak of the island and provides and excellent view of the bay and nearby islands.
ENTALULA ISLAND :
Entalula Island, with its fine white sand beach lined by coconut trees, is a perfect example of a tropical island. The beach in Entalula Island is a favorite place for picnic lunch. Right off the beach is a good swimming site, especially for beginners. Just recently, this island has been transformed into a rock climbing and team building venue.
VIGAN ISLAND:
Located near Pangulasian Island, it is also referred to as, "Snake Island," because of the fine natural sandspit (s-shaped sandbar) that "snakes" off it shores. The sandspit is clearly visible only when the tide is low. On both sides of the sandspit are shallow swimming areas.
PINASIL ISLAND :
Pinasil Island has a cathedral-like cavern accessible by dinghy or kayak. Its cool interior is lit at certain times of the day by sunlight coming through an opening at its peak.
MATINLOC ISLAND :
In Matinloc Island, Kalmung Point and Kulasa Beach are among the places to visit for swimming or snorkeling. Another famous attraction in this island is Secret Beach, a sinkhole which is accessed by snorkeling into a small opening through a limestone wall. At the corner of the sinkhole is a pocket white sand beach - hence the name, "Secret Beach."
CADLAO ISLAND :
Of all the islands in El Nido, Cadlao has the highest peak at 609 meters above sea level. It is the largest island, with a land area of 1,006 hectares. Cadlao Island is known for its white sand beaches, hidden lagoons, and its lush forest cover.
PINAGBUYUTAN ISLAND :
Pinagbuyutan Island is one of the most striking islands in El Nido because of its shape and sheer limestone walls. It is possible to have a picnic lunch at the beach area on the southeastern side of the island.
7COMANDOS ISLAND:
Along Palawan mainland, the best beach areas to visit are Ipil, 7 Commandos Point and Lapus-Lapus Beach. On the eastern side of the bay are several mangrove river areas. Aberawan River is the recommended site for a mangrove tour. The highlight of the tour is seeing egrets roosting in the mangrove trees at the mouth of the river. Another attraction found in Palawan mainland is Cudugnon Cave which archeologists believe was a burial site during the Neolithic period. Also in the mainland are several coastal villages, the largest and most populated of which is El Nido Town.
