El Nido With Kids: Where to Stay, What to Do & Our Top Tips
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- 8 min read
After spending a few nights in El Nido, it quickly became one of our favourite destinations in the Philippines. With dramatic limestone cliffs, turquoise water, island-hopping adventures and a laid-back beach-town atmosphere, it's easy to see why so many travellers fall in love with this corner of Palawan.
El Nido At a Glance
📍 Location: Northern Palawan, Philippines
🗓️ How Long to Stay: 3–5 days
👨👩👧👧 Family Friendly: Yes — one of our favourite destinations in the Philippines
🏨 Best Area to Stay: Corong Corong Beach
🛺 Getting Around: Tuk Tuk
🏝️ Must-Do Activity: Island Hopping Tour A
🌅 Best Sunset Spot: Corong Corong Beach & Las Cabanas Beach
💰 Budget: Budget to luxury accommodation available
⭐ Don't Miss: The multi-day expedition boat between El Nido and Coron
❤️ Our Verdict: Relaxed, beautiful and easy to visit with kids
El Nido With Kids
When planning our Philippines itinerary, we spent ages trying to decide how to split our time between El Nido and Coron.
Our original plan was to spend 3 nights in El Nido and 3 nights in Coron, catching the ferry between the two destinations. Then I discovered the multi-day expedition boats that travel between El Nido and Coron, stopping at remote islands, beaches and snorkelling spots along the way.
The expedition only departed on certain days, so we had to choose between spending more time in El Nido or more time in Coron. In the end, we decided on three nights in El Nido, followed by the expedition and one night in Coron before flying out.
Looking back, we're so glad we made that choice.
We absolutely loved El Nido. The combination of stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, island-hopping adventures and a relaxed atmosphere made it one of our favourite destinations in the Philippines.
Where To Stay In El Nido
One of the first decisions you'll need to make is where to base yourself. While most people simply say they're staying in El Nido, there are actually a few different areas to choose from, each with a very different feel.
El Nido Town
If it's your first visit to El Nido, staying in town puts you right in the middle of the action.
You'll find plenty of restaurants, bars, tour operators, shops and cafes all within walking distance.
Most island-hopping tours also depart from here, making it a convenient base.
The downside is that it can feel busy, particularly in peak season, and it's definitely the liveliest part of El Nido.
Corong Corong Beach
This is where we stayed, and if you're travelling with kids, I'd choose Corong Corong every time.
Located just a short tuk tuk ride from El Nido Town, Corong Corong has a much more relaxed atmosphere while still being close to everything you need.
We loved the beachfront restaurants, incredible sunsets and easy access to cafes and local eateries. Some of our favourite spots included Blend & Grind, Lion's Sunset Lounge. Beach View Lane AKA Pops street has many great eateries and travel agents that will help book island tours.
The main road also has ATMs, pharmacies, convenience stores and local restaurants, making it a very practical place to base yourself.
For us, Corong Corong offered the perfect balance between convenience and a quieter, more family-friendly atmosphere.
Day tours to the islands also depart from here which is really convenient.
Las Cabanas Beach (Vanilla Beach)
If you're looking for somewhere a little more peaceful, Las Cabanas Beach is worth considering.
Located a little further from El Nido town, this area is much quieter and more laid-back. The beach itself is beautiful, with soft sand, calm water.
Even if you don't stay here, I'd highly recommend visiting for a morning swim or sunset drink. It was one of our favourite spots to escape the crowds and simply enjoy the scenery. We loved Happy Birthday Beach. And there's an epic Zip Line (go early to avoid the hour long queue!)
Our Pick: Corong Corong Beach
If we visited El Nido again, we'd happily stay in Corong Corong.
It had everything we needed — beautiful sunsets, beachfront restaurants, great cafes, easy access to El Nido Town and a much more relaxed atmosphere.
For families & any travellers looking for a quieter base, Corong Corong felt like the perfect place.
While El Nido Town can feel busy and hectic at times, Corong Corong gave us all the benefits of being close to town without the noise and crowds.
Budget Accommodation in El Nido
If you're travelling on a budget, don't worry — El Nido & Corong Corong has plenty of affordable accommodation options.
We stayed in a simple budget hotel in Corong Corong and found it perfectly comfortable for our three-night stay. The rooms were basic but clean, the location was excellent and it was only a short walk to restaurants, cafes right on the beach.
For us, location was far more important than having a luxury resort, as we spent most of our time exploring, island hopping and enjoying the sunsets.
👉 Check current El Nido accommodation prices on Booking.com
How To Get Around El Nido
Getting around El Nido is incredibly easy.
The main form of transport is the local tuk tuk/tricycle, and you'll find them everywhere. My girls love getting around in Tuk tuks!
Whether you're heading between El Nido Town, Corong Corong or Vanilla Beach, there are always plenty waiting along the roadside.
Most rides only take a few minutes and are very affordable, making it easy to explore without needing your own vehicle.
Between walking and catching tricycles, we could get everywhere we wanted to go with minimal effort.
If you're staying in Corong Corong, it's only a short tricycle ride into El Nido Town (5-10 mins) while Vanilla Beach is just a little further along the coast (15-20 mins)
El Nido Island Hopping Tours
One of the main reasons people visit El Nido is for the island-hopping tours, and after spending a day exploring the surrounding islands, it's easy to see why.
There are four main tours to choose from — Tours A, B, C and D — each visiting different lagoons, beaches and snorkelling spots.
Tour A
If you're only planning to do one tour in El Nido, I'd choose Tour A.
This is the tour we did and it ended up being one of the highlights of our time in the Philippines.
The day included kayaking through stunning lagoons, snorkelling in crystal-clear water, relaxing on white-sand beaches and exploring some of El Nido's most famous scenery.
It's popular for a reason and offers a great introduction to what makes El Nido so special.
Tour B
Tour B focuses more on caves, sandbars and quieter islands. It's generally considered a little less crowded than Tour A and offers a different perspective of Bacuit Bay.
Tour C
Tour C is another popular option and is known for its beautiful beaches, snorkelling opportunities and dramatic limestone scenery. Many travellers choose Tour C as a second tour after completing Tour A.
Tour D
Tour D visits some of the less-visited beaches and lagoons around El Nido. It's often recommended for travellers looking to escape the crowds and experience a quieter side of the area.
Which Tour Should You Choose?
If you only have time for one island-hopping trip, I'd recommend Tour A.
However, if you're staying for four or five days, many travellers combine Tours A and C to experience even more of El Nido's famous islands, lagoons and beaches.
If we had one more day, I would have loved to do Tour D.
Is El Nido Worth Visiting With Kids?
Absolutely!!
In fact, El Nido ended up being one of our favourite family destinations.
Before arriving, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. El Nido is often shown as a backpacker destination filled with island-hopping tours and adventure activities, but we found it incredibly family-friendly.
Getting around was easy. The beaches were perfect for swimming, the island-hopping tours were a huge hit with the girls and there was always something to do, whether that was exploring, kayaking, snorkelling or simply watching the sunset.
Eating out is great! There were plenty of cafes and restaurants serving smoothie bowls, fresh fruit, pizzas, burgers, pasta and other familiar family favourites as well as local filapino dishes.
For families with older children, the island-hopping tours are an absolute highlight. Kayaking through lagoons, snorkelling over coral reefs and discovering hidden beaches, my girls loved it.
If you're travelling through the Philippines with kids, I wouldn't hesitate to include El Nido on your itinerary. The combination of stunning scenery, outdoor adventures, family-friendly restaurants and laid-back atmosphere makes it a destination that both parents and kids can genuinely enjoy.
Travelling El Nido As a Solo Parent
One of the things that stood out most about El Nido was how easy it was to travel independently with my daughters.
Getting around was simple, the locals were so friendly, and we always felt comfortable exploring on our own. The tricycles were super easy to use & tour operators were always helpful.
The girls quickly settled into the relaxed beach-town atmosphere and loved the mix of island adventures, beach time and exploring the local cafes and restaurants.
As always, it's important to take the usual precautions you would anywhere in the world, but throughout our stay I felt safe and completely comfortable travelling with my girls.
If you're considering El Nido as a solo parent, I would recommend it.
How Many Days Do You Need In El Nido?
If you're short on time, you can see the highlights of El Nido in just a couple of days. However, if you're trying to decide how long to stay, I'd recommend allowing at least three nights.
2 Days
Two days is enough to get a taste of El Nido.
You'll have time for one island-hopping tour, explore El Nido Town, enjoy a few good meals and catch a sunset or two before moving on.
3 Days
This is what we did, and for us it felt just right.
Three days gave us time for an island-hopping tour, a relaxing beach day, plenty of cafe hopping and enough downtime to simply enjoy the atmosphere without feeling rushed.
If you're trying to fit El Nido into a larger Philippines itinerary, three nights is a great balance.
4–5 Days
If you have the time, staying a little longer would be even better. Especially if you are not planning the 3 day boat expedition.
Many travellers choose to do multiple island-hopping day tours, spend more time at beaches like Corong Corong and Vanilla Beach, or simply slow down and enjoy the laid-back vibe that makes El Nido so special.
El Nido or Coron?
Before this trip, I spent far too much time trying to decide whether to spend more time in El Nido or Coron.
While we only had one night in Coron, El Nido completely won us over. We loved the relaxed beach-town atmosphere, the cafes and restaurants, the beautiful beaches and the easy access to island-hopping tours.
From my research, Coron is particularly popular with divers and travellers looking for adventure-focused day trips, while El Nido offers a great mix of island adventures and a destination that's enjoyable to explore in its own right.
If you have the time, I'd visit both. But if you're trying to decide where to spend a few extra days, I'd happily choose El Nido again.
Our Top Tips For Visiting El Nido
Before you go, here are a few things we learnt during our time in El Nido:
Stay in Corong Corong if you're travelling with kids or prefer a quieter base.
Book at least one island-hopping tour — Tour A was one of the highlights of our trip.
Bring reef-safe sunscreen to help protect the coral reefs and marine life.
Carry some cash, as not every restaurant, tour operator or shop accepts cards.
Make time to visit Las Cabanas Beach (& Happy Birthday Beach)
Allow at least three nights if your itinerary permits. We stayed three nights and could easily have stayed longer.
If you're travelling between El Nido and Coron, consider taking the multi-day expedition boat rather than the ferry. It ended up being one of the most memorable experiences of our Philippines trip.
Don't overplan every day. Some of our favourite moments were simply enjoying the cafes, beaches, night markets and laid-back atmosphere around town.
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