After our boat trip between Coron and El Nido, we decided to treat ourselves to a few more comfortable days in El Nido. We took a nice hotel by the sea, a little away from the center (5–7 minutes by scooter), which allowed us to enjoy a quieter setting while remaining close to the action. The scooter was also perfect for exploring the surrounding beaches.
One of the most striking things in El Nido is also all the reunions. Throughout the stay, we meet people we met during the cruise, which creates real continuity in the trip. And among these moments, there was a particularly memorable evening with a large part of the group: completely improvised karaoke, dancing, and above all many (too many) drinks. A simple, spontaneous atmosphere, where everyone was just happy to get together one last time.
In terms of activities, we had two experiences: the El Nido zipline and island hopping in a private version.
The zipline is between two islands, above the water, with an incredible view of the bay. Once the descent is complete, you have to return to the starting point and cross the water on foot to reach the main beach, which makes the end of the experience quite unique and fun.
Island hopping, we did with two Dutch women we met during the expedition. We left early, before the classic boats, with the clear idea of avoiding the crowds and the usual tourist circuits like tours A, B, C or D.
We started with Big Lagoon, then we moved on to several other emblematic spots. And at several points, we were almost alone, or even completely alone in certain places, which made the experience even more impressive. Leaving early and going outside of traditional times allowed us to enjoy each location in incredible conditions.
And then there were the sunsets. In El Nido, we had one of those sunsets that we thought was ordinary at first, without great expectations... and which turned into one of the most beautiful we have ever seen. The sky completely changed in just a few minutes, making for a truly magical end to the day.
Finally, a small mishap of the stay: the drone ended up in the water during a sunset, in a moment of inattention. Frustrating at the time, but quite representative of the trip too: perfect moments... and others a little less controlled, but which are part of the experience.