El Nido has dozens of beaches spread across Bacuit Bay’s 50+ islands. Some require a full-day boat tour to reach. Others are a short tricycle ride from town. Here is an honest guide to the best ones in 2026 — including which are genuinely worth the effort and which are overrated.
Quick Answer
The best beaches in El Nido are Seven Commandos Beach (Tour A), Secret Beach (Tour C), Nacpan Beach (by land), and Las Cabanas Beach (by tricycle from town). Seven Commandos is the most famous. Nacpan is the most uncrowded. Las Cabanas has the best sunset view.
Beaches Accessible by Island Hopping Tour
Seven Commandos Beach — Tour A ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The most photographed beach in El Nido. A long crescent of white sand with turquoise water backed by towering limestone cliffs. Coconut palm shade is available, the water is calm and crystal clear, and the setting is as beautiful as any beach in Southeast Asia. It does get busy — Tour A brings most of El Nido’s visitors here. Go early in the tour to beat the other boats.
Secret Beach — Tour C ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accessible only by swimming through a narrow gap in the limestone rock. On the other side is a completely enclosed white sand beach surrounded by sheer cliffs on all sides — you cannot see it from the water and no one would know it existed without being shown. The “secret” element is genuinely spectacular. The beach itself is small but the experience is unforgettable.
Hidden Beach — Tour C ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Similar concept to Secret Beach but entered differently — your boat maneuvers through a cave opening to reveal a protected beach on the other side. Less crowded than Seven Commandos because it is only on Tour C and fewer people do Tour C. Beautiful and worth the trip.
Helicopter Island (Dilumacad) — Tour C ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shaped like a helicopter from above, this island has a long white sand beach with good snorkeling off the shore. One of El Nido’s better snorkeling beaches with healthier coral than many of the more visited stops. Excellent for swimming when the sea is calm.
Snake Island — Tour B ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A sandbar that extends from the island in an S-curve visible at low tide. Walk to the end and you are surrounded by water on both sides. The sandbar disappears at high tide — confirm with your boat crew that your visit timing coincides with low tide. One of the best photos you will take in Palawan.
Beaches Accessible by Land
Nacpan Beach ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A 4 km stretch of white sand 45 minutes north of El Nido town by motorbike or tricycle. Consistently one of the least crowded beaches in El Nido despite being one of the most beautiful. The road to get there is partially rough but manageable. A few small restaurants and cottages operate on the beach. Arrive before 10 AM for the best experience before day-trippers arrive from town.
How to get there: Rent a motorbike (₱500–700/day) or hire a tricycle (₱800–1,000 return).
Las Cabanas Beach ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The most accessible quality beach from El Nido town — 15 minutes by tricycle (₱50–80). A long curved beach with calm water, a zipline connecting it to a nearby island, and an excellent view of the sunset over Bacuit Bay. Best visited in the late afternoon when the sun drops behind the limestone cliffs. Several beach bars line the shore serving cold drinks.
Corong Corong Beach ⭐⭐⭐
The beach that stretches south of El Nido town. Calmer and less crowded than the main town beach. Many guesthouses are located here and the sunset from the southern end of Corong Corong is outstanding. Good for swimming in calm conditions.
Most Overrated Beaches in El Nido
El Nido town beach is popular by default but is not particularly clean or beautiful compared to the beaches reached by tour. If you have limited time, skip the town beach and go to Las Cabanas or Nacpan instead.
Getting to El Nido
All of these beaches start with getting to El Nido first. The standard route is a van transfer from Puerto Princesa — 264 km, 5 to 6 hours, through Palawan’s scenic national highway. Book your Puerto Princesa to El Nido van transfer here — shared vans from ₱750 per person, private vans from ₱7,500.
