5D4N El Nido Itinerary [2023 Travel Guide]

Go all-in with your Palawan vacation with this 5 days and 4 nights El Nido itinerary. If you have this much time, you can join all four major tours. The only catch is you must arrive early in the morning or leave late in the afternoon or in the evening on your last day.

Check out our detailed El Nido Travel Guide to learn more about El Nido – how to get there, where to stay, where to eat, and more!

So here’s our 5D4N El Nido Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in El Nido

You have two options in going to El Nido: Take a morning flight from Manila direct to El Nido via Airswift or you can take an early morning flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa and take a van or bus to El Nido. The travel time is around 5-6 hours so be prepared. There is a lunch and pee break along the way so you do not need to worry about it.

• 1:00 PM: Arrival in El Nido
• 2:00 PM: Hotel Check-in
• 3:00 PM: Go to Nacpan Beach – chill and wait for the sunset. There are restaurants along the beach area so you can enjoy a meal or grab a drink.
• 6:30 PM: Go back to the hotel
• 7:30 PM: Dinner at Art Cafe
• Optional: Night out

Day 2: Island Hopping – Tour C

Joiner tour at only Php1,175 – BOOK NOW

If the weather is good we highly suggest taking Tour C first because it’s the tour that easily gets canceled because of bad weather. So, take it first by all means. When I first visited El Nido, I took Tour A first only to find that Tour C would be canceled the next day.

• 7:30 AM: Breakfast at the hotel
• 8:45 AM: Proceed to the island hopping jump-off point
• 9:00 AM: Start of Island Hopping Adventure
• 3:00 PM: End of Island Hopping
• 4:00 PM: Go back to the hotel, freshen up
• 5:00 PM: Proceed to Maregmeg Beach for sunset. You still have a lot of energy by now so go explore!
• 7:00 PM: Dinner in Maregmeg and night out Dinner

For Tour C, you will visit Helicopter Island, Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Talisay Beach, and Matinloc Shrine.

Day 3: Island Hopping Tour A

Joiner tour at only Php1,050 – BOOK NOW

Optional activity for Day 3: Taraw Cliff hiking

• 7:30 AM: Breakfast at the hotel
• 8:45 AM: Proceed to the island hopping jump-off point
• 9:00 AM: Start of Island Hopping Adventure
• 3:00 PM: End of Island Hopping
• 4:00 PM: Go back to the hotel, freshen up
• 5:30 PM: Happy hour at Frendz Hostel’s Sky Bar. You can also catch the sunset at their sky pool area.
• 7:00 PM: Dinner at Frendz

For Tour A, you will visit 7 Commandos Beach, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Payong Payong Beach.

Day 4: Island Hopping Tour B

Joiner tour at only Php1,100 – BOOK NOW

• 7:30 AM: Breakfast at the hotel
• 8:45 AM: Proceed to the island hopping jump-off point
• 9:00 AM: Start of Island Hopping Adventure
• 3:00 PM: End of Island Hopping
• 4:00 PM: Go back to the hotel, you’re probably exhausted by now so just relax at the hotel
• 7:00 PM: Dinner by the beach. There are a number of restaurants along the beach in the town center. You can also find small bars in the area for a glass of your favorite cocktail.

For El Nido Tour B, you will visit Entalula Island, Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave, and Pinagbuyutan Island.

Day 5: Island Hopping Tour D or Chill out

You have two options on your last day in El Nido, you can take the Tour D if you leave after 5 PM or just chill and buy pasalubong if you are leaving early.

If you avail of Tour D, you will visit Cadlao Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Bukal Beach, Natnat Beach, and Paradise Beach.

So that’s it, I hope you’ll enjoy El Nido as much as I did. If you have less time to spend in El Nido, you can also check out our 3D2N itinerary or our 4D3N El Nido itinerary.

Budget and Possible Expenses

• Van transfer Puerto Princesa to El Nido and return: Php1400
• Van rental from El Nido to Nacpan: Php3,700 or around Php1,000 if you choose a tricycle
• Accommodation: Ranging from 800 per night to Php5,000 depending on your choice of hotel/hostel
• Island Hopping Tours: Php3,325 for Tours A, B, and C. Add Php,1200 to avail Tour D.
• Meals: Avail of free breakfast at your hotel/hostel, lunch is covered in the tours so you will only spend around Php200-500 for dinner.

If you are a budget traveler you can enjoy El Nido for 5 days 4 nights for around Php11,000 plus the airfare. Check out our list of the best hostels in El Nido ideal for backpackers and budget travelers.

Glen Nomad

Glen Nomad is a travel blogger and the founder of Escape Manila, one of the top travel blogs in the Philippines. He has visited all 82 provinces in the Philippines and has explored 53 countries across Asia, North & South America, East Africa, Europe, and Australia. Follow him on IG at @escapemanila