For a first trip to El Nido, stay in El Nido Town if you want to walk everywhere and book tours at the last minute, in Corong-Corong for calmer evenings and sunsets at a fair price, at Marimegmeg (Las Cabanas) for the best sunset views, or at Lio Beach if you want a clean swimming beach, a pool and quiet nights. The four areas sit within a few kilometres of each other, but each one shapes your days in a different way.
Island-hopping boats leave from the town beach, the best sunsets are a short ride south, and the easiest swimming is up north near the airport. Where you sleep decides how much of your trip is spent in a tricycle, how loud your nights are and how much you pay for a room.
Below is what each area is like day to day, what rooms cost in 2026, places to start your search and a simple way to split your nights. Rates rise sharply from December to May and in holiday weeks, so treat every figure here as a range and check the current price when you book.
The Four Main Areas at a Glance
Most first-timers stay in El Nido Town or Corong-Corong for value, then add a night or two at Lio for comfort.
Best for first-timers
El Nido Town
Barangay Buena Suerte, a small cove where the tour boats load. Busy, social and walkable, with the cheapest rooms.
Best for a quieter base
Corong-Corong
About 1.5 to 2 km south of town, along a long beach with local eateries, small resorts and strong sunsets.
Best for sunsets
Marimegmeg (Las Cabanas)
A west-facing beach just past Corong-Corong, with boutique stays and a short climb to a viewpoint.
Best for families
Lio Beach
A planned tourism estate 3 to 4 km north of town, with a wide swimming beach, resorts and its own restaurants.
El Nido Town: Best for First-Timers and Nightlife
This is where the island-hopping boats load each morning, so staying here means rolling out of bed and walking to your tour. Tour desks, markets, bakeries, pharmacies and restaurants are all within a few minutes on foot. The trade-off is that the town beach is not for swimming, since boats are pulled up on it all day, and the streets get loud at night, especially around Serena Street.
El Nido Town at a glance
- Good for: walking everywhere, last-minute tour bookings, meeting other travellers
- Watch out for: noise late into the night and compact rooms
- Dorm beds: about ₱600 to ₱1,200
- Private rooms: ₱800 to ₱1,500 with a fan; ₱1,500 to ₱3,000 with aircon in low season, rising to about ₱2,500 to ₱5,000 from December to May
- Our Melting Pot HostelA long-running backpacker favourite in town with a social rooftop.
- Frendz Hostel El NidoA newer boutique hostel with aircon dorms and private rooms.
- S Resort El Nido and The Nest El NidoBoutique hillside stays with views over the bay, around ₱4,500 to ₱9,000. Good for couples who want town access without the street noise.
Corong-Corong: Best for Sunsets and a Quieter Base
Corong-Corong is a barangay south of town along a beach of about three kilometres. The water is shallow at low tide, so it is not ideal for a morning swim, but the late-afternoon light is some of the best in El Nido. Evenings are slower, with local eateries, small resorts and fewer bars. Vans from Puerto Princesa also arrive at the Corong-Corong terminal, so it is a convenient first stop after the long ride north.
Corong-Corong at a glance
- Getting to town: 5 to 10 minutes by tricycle, around ₱50 to ₱100, or a 15 to 20 minute walk along the road
- Good for: mid-range travellers who want calm without paying resort prices
- Mid-range rooms: about ₱1,500 to ₱6,000 in low season, ₱3,000 to ₱8,000 in high season
- Outpost Beach HostelA beachfront hostel popular with solo travellers. Social, but quieter than the hostels in town.
- Lime Resort El NidoAround 200 metres from the beach, with a pool and restaurant. Family-friendly.
- Buena Vida Resort and Buko Beach ResortBoutique beachfront stays with strong sunset views, around ₱5,500 to ₱12,000. Buko Beach is adults only.
Marimegmeg (Las Cabanas): Best for Sunset Views
Marimegmeg Beach, which most people still call Las Cabanas, is El Nido's postcard sunset spot. It faces west, the sand is soft, and a viewpoint at the southern end takes about ten minutes to climb. There are a few bars and resorts, but it is far less built up than Lio. Swimming is better than at Corong-Corong, though small waves can roll in during the afternoon.
Town is 10 to 15 minutes away by tricycle, and Corong-Corong is a short walk. Stay here if sunset is the priority and you want something between Corong-Corong's simple guesthouses and Lio's full resorts.
- Las Cabanas Beach ResortRight on the sand, known for its sunset views.
- Mua Tala Hotel El NidoA luxury boutique hotel on the hillside above Marimegmeg, with sea views.
- The Birdhouse El NidoGlamping in suite tents on the slope above the beach, looking out over Bacuit Bay.
- Maremegmeg Beach ClubDirectly on the beach, with sea views from the rooms.
Lio Beach: Best for Families and Comfort
Lio Beach is in Barangay Villa Libertad, inside the Lio Tourism Estate, a master-planned eco-destination 3 to 4 kilometres north of town. The beach is wide, cleaned daily and good for swimming most of the day, and a beachfront strip of restaurants and shops means you rarely need to go into town to eat. It is also next to El Nido's Lio Airport, which makes it an easy last night before a flight out.
Lio Beach at a glance
- Good for: families with young children, easy swimming, quiet nights and resort facilities
- Watch out for: distance from town life and higher prices; you need a tricycle or shuttle to reach the tour pier
- Getting to town: tricycle around ₱150 to ₱300
- Rooms: roughly ₱6,000 to ₱35,000 a night, with the flagship resorts mostly between ₱8,000 and ₱18,000
- Seda LioA five-star beachfront hotel with an outdoor pool and a free shuttle from the airport. A strong pick for families.
- Huni Lio and Lio Beach ResortThe estate's own resorts, with comfortable rooms and direct beach access.
- El Nido Cove ResortA mid-range option for families in the Lio area, quieter than the big resorts.
What a Day in El Nido Costs
These are typical daily ranges per person in 2026, including your room, meals and a share of one island tour spread over three days. High season runs from December to May, and low season from June to November.
Practical Tips for Choosing
Before you book
- Tours start in townAll the lettered island-hopping tours leave from the town beach. If you stay in Corong-Corong, Marimegmeg or Lio, book ahead and most operators will send a tricycle. Confirm the pickup time the night before.
- Ask about powerTown gets the occasional brownout in peak season. Lio resorts have generators, and many Corong-Corong guesthouses have backup too, but ask before you book.
- Budget for tricyclesRides within town, Corong-Corong and Marimegmeg run about ₱50 to ₱150. Lio costs more, around ₱150 to ₱300.
- Plan the van rideVans to and from Puerto Princesa take about five to six hours. Our guide to the Puerto Princesa to El Nido van covers fares and departure times.
Once your room is sorted, choose your boat days early in high season, since the best-known tours fill first. If you are flying in, our Palawan flights guide explains when Lio Airport makes sense and when Puerto Princesa is the better entry point.
A Simple First-Timer Plan
- 3 nightsTown, then Lio
Two nights in El Nido Town or Corong-Corong for tours and evenings out, then one night at Lio for a beach day and an easy morning before your flight.
- 4 nightsAdd a sunset night
Follow the three-night plan and add a night at Marimegmeg for the sunset.
- With kidsLio the whole way
For children under ten, stay at Lio for the whole trip and go into town only for your tours.
- Travelling soloTown first
Start in town to meet people on tours and in hostels, then move to Corong-Corong when you want quieter nights.
In El Nido, the perfect hotel matters less than the right beach. Pick the area that matches how you want your days to feel, and dinner will never be more than a short walk or tricycle ride away.
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