Tapiutan Island, El Nido, Palawan

Tapiutan Island is the neighbouring island of the famous Matinloc Island. Tapiutan is mostly consists of limestone cliffs and dense vegetation. There is also a white sand beach in the island and it is called the Star Beach. Just like most of the islands in El Nido, it is an inhabited island. There’s no resort, source of fresh water and electricity in Tapiutan Island.

How to get there:

From Manila, ride a plane to El Nido Airport. From El Nido Airport, you can rent a van or a tricycle to El Nido town proper and then from there you’ll need to rent a boat to reach Tapiutan Island. You can also rent a boat from El Nido Airport to Tapiutan Island.

From Manila, you can also ride a plane bound for Puerto Princesa City. From Puerto Princesa Airport, ride a tricycle to San Jose Terminal. From San Jose Terminal, you can ride a van, a mini bus or an airconditioned bus bound for El Nido town proper. From the town proper, rent a boat to Tapiutan Island.

Travel time:

Manila to El Nido Airport – 1 hour

El Nido Airport to El Nido town proper – 20 to 30 minutes

El Nido town proper to Tapiutan Island – 30 minutes to 1 hour

Manila to Puerto Princesa – 1 hour

Puerto Princesa Airport to San Jose Terminal – 15 to 20 minutes

San Jose Terminal to El Nido town proper – 5 to 6 hours

Shimizu Island, El Nido, Palawan

Shimizu Island is also known as Zimizu Island. It is an island located off the coast of El Nido. The island boasts a cream-colored sand beach. Shimizu is an inhabited island. There’s no resort in the island and there’s no source of electricity and fresh water.

How to get there:

From Manila, ride a plane to El Nido Airport. From El Nido Airport, you can rent a van or a tricycle to El Nido town proper and then from there you’ll need to rent a boat to reach Shimizu Island. You can also rent a boat from El Nido Airport to Shimizu Island.

From Manila, you can also ride a plane bound for Puerto Princesa City. From Puerto Princesa Airport, ride a tricycle to San Jose Terminal. From San Jose Terminal, you can ride a van, a mini bus or an airconditioned bus bound for El Nido town proper. From the town proper, rent a boat to Shimizu Island.

Travel time:

Manila to El Nido Airport – 1 hour

El Nido Airport to El Nido town proper – 20 to 30 minutes

El Nido town proper to Shimizu Island – 30 minutes to 1 hour

Manila to Puerto Princesa – 1 hour

Puerto Princesa Airport to San Jose Terminal – 15 to 20 minutes

San Jose Terminal to El Nido town proper – 5 to 6 hours

Miniloc Island, El Nido, Palawan

Miniloc is one of the famous islands in El Nido. It is a favorite stop for island hopping because of the existence of beautiful lagoons and beaches. There are several coves in the island and these coves have white sand beaches.  The Miniloc Island Resort, which is owned by El Nido Resorts, is located in this island. There are no community in the island. There’s no source of electricity in the island except for the electric generator owned by Miniloc Island Resort. Some of the favorite spots in the island are the Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon and the Secret Lagoon.

Big Lagoon

The beach near the Secret Lagoon

Entrance to the Big Lagoon

The beach near the Secret Lagoon

How to get there:

From Manila, ride a plane to El Nido Airport. From El Nido Airport, you can rent a van or a tricycle to El Nido town proper and then from there you’ll need to rent a boat to reach  Miniloc Island. You can also rent a boat from El Nido Airport to Miniloc Island.

From Manila, you can also ride a plane bound for Puerto Princesa City. From Puerto Princesa Airport, ride a tricycle to San Jose Terminal. From San Jose Terminal, you can ride a van, a mini bus or an airconditioned bus bound for El Nido town proper. From the town proper, rent a boat to Miniloc Island.

Travel time:

Manila to El Nido Airport – 1 hour

El Nido Airport to El Nido town proper – 20 to 30 minutes

El Nido town proper to Miniloc Island – 30 minutes to 45 minutes

Manila to Puerto Princesa – 1 hour

Puerto Princesa Airport to San Jose Terminal – 15 to 20 minutes

San Jose Terminal to El Nido town proper – 5 to 6 hours

Matinloc Island, El Nido, Palawan

Matinloc Island is the longest slim island in El Nido town. The island’s terrain is mostly high limestone cliffs and dense vegetation. There's no resort or electricity in the island. However, there is an abandoned building and a museum in the island. A shrine is also located in Matinloc. There are several pockets of white sand beaches in Matinloc. The famous spots in island are the Talisay Beach, Hidden Beach, Secret Beach and Matinloc Shrine.

Hidden Beach

the view from Matinloc Shrine

Talisay Beach

Matinloc Shrine

How to get there:

From Manila, ride a plane to El Nido Airport. From El Nido Airport, you can rent a van or a tricycle to El Nido town proper and then from there you’ll need to rent a boat to reach  Matinloc Island. You can also rent a boat from El Nido Airport to Matinloc Island.

From Manila, you can also ride a plane bound for Puerto Princesa City. From Puerto Princesa Airport, ride a tricycle to San Jose Terminal. From San Jose Terminal, you can ride a van, a mini bus or an airconditioned bus bound for El Nido town proper. From the town proper, rent a boat to Matinloc Island.

Travel time:

Manila to El Nido Airport – 1 hour

El Nido Airport to El Nido town proper – 20 to 30 minutes

El Nido town proper to Matinloc Island – 30 minutes to 1 hour

Manila to Puerto Princesa – 1 hour

Puerto Princesa Airport to San Jose Terminal – 15 to 20 minutes

San Jose Terminal to El Nido town proper – 5 to 6 hours

Helicopter Island, El Nido, Palawan

This island is called as Helicopter Island due to its helicopter-like shape when viewed from afar. The island is also called as Dilumacad Island. This island doesn’t have a resort or an electricity. It also doesn’t have a community. The island has lush vegetation and a beige to golden sand colored beach. It is also a favorite stop for island hopping and snorkelling in El Nido.

How to get there:

From Manila, ride a plane to El Nido Airport. From El Nido Airport, you can rent a van or a tricycle to El Nido town proper and then from there you’ll need to rent a boat to reach Helicopter Island. You can also rent a boat from El Nido Airport to Helicopter Island.

From Manila, you can also ride a plane bound for Puerto Princesa City. From Puerto Princesa Airport, ride a tricycle to San Jose Terminal. From San Jose Terminal, you can ride a van, a mini bus or an airconditioned bus bound for El Nido town proper. From the town proper, rent a boat to Helicopter Island.

Travel time:

Manila to El Nido Airport – 1 hour

El Nido Airport to El Nido town proper – 20 to 30 minutes

El Nido town proper to Helicopter Island – 30 to 45 minutes

Manila to Puerto Princesa – 1 hour

Puerto Princesa Airport to San Jose Terminal – 15 to 20 minutes

San Jose Terminal to El Nido town proper – 5 to 6 hours

Cadlao Island, El Nido, Palawan

Cadlao Island is the largest island in El Nido. The island can be seen from the town proper of El Nido and it is the nearest island from the town proper. The highest peak among the islands in El Nido is also located in this island. Cadlao also boasts white sand beaches and beautiful lagoons. There are no resorts or electricity in the island. Most of the island terrain is covered with thick vegetation.

the towering peak of Cadlao island

Paradise Beach, Cadlao island

google map

How to get there:

From Manila, ride a plane to El Nido Airport. From El Nido Airport, you can rent a van or a tricycle to El Nido town proper and then from there you’ll need to rent a boat to reach Cadlao Island. You can also rent a boat from El Nido Airport to Cadlao Island.

From Manila, you can also ride a plane bound for Puerto Princesa City. From Puerto Princesa Airport, ride a tricycle to San Jose Terminal. From San Jose Terminal, you can ride a van, a mini bus or an airconditioned bus bound for El Nido town proper. From the town proper, rent a boat to Cadlao Island.

Travel time:

Manila to El Nido Airport – 1 hour

El Nido Airport to El Nido town proper – 20 to 30 minutes

El Nido town proper to Cadlao Island – 10 to 20 minutes

Manila to Puerto Princesa – 1 hour

Puerto Princesa Airport to San Jose Terminal – 15 to 20 minutes

San Jose Terminal to El Nido town proper – 5 to 6 hours