It’s called El Nido and travel bloggers and Tripadvisor reviewers are often like “it’s already ruined” “too touristy”

“The beach and bay are totally polluted by all the boats”

Ridiculous. El Nido is a heaven on earth. I think some people, many travel bloggers included, equate a certain level of comfort with a lack of authenticity. The same people are quick to declare any destination ruined if disaster strikes and anybody else goes there but them. In my opinion, a place’s popularity is one useful measure of it’s value. I also think all experiences are authentic, and that the arrival of hot showers and other people to a location does not mark it’s ruination.

It’s so pretty in El Nido. Here are some pictures from the beach just a little out of the main drag. You could walk waaayy out on the sandbar.

 

 

 

 

The jungle on the walk back:

 

Here’s a picture of the big lagoon on Tour A. Tour C is also supposed to be amazing but the weather wasn’t calm enough for it to be offered while we were there.

 

Heather and I rented a kayak and made our way across the bay to the nearest island and found more gorgeous beaches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s great in El Nido. I really wish I got some pictures from Los Cabanos beach which was also so great. There are blogs that are like “Which is better, El Nido, or Coron to the North?” if you read a blog like that you should lose all respect for their authors. El Nido is amazing, the beach right in town is beautiful, the beach you can kayak to (paradise beach named because you can see both sunrise and sunset from it) is beautiful. Los Cabanos beach (beautiful) where you can walk to a different island at low tide is a $3 ride away. The Island hopping tours are a fun bonus to the place. Compare that to Coron which has no beach closer than a 2 hour drive away so if you’re looking to visit all those beautiful places you see on travel blogs you’re also looking to pay for an island hopping tour each time you want to see them, and always be on the boat’s schedule. Coron is great if you like being close to things you like, while having them remain totally inaccessible to you. Like if you enjoy knowing the ocean is nearby, but having it obscured completely by 3 blocks of stilt houses built into the mud. More complaining about Coron in my next post.

Go to El Nido. It’s nice