El Nido’s limestone islands and lagoons on Bacuit Bay
Published on 09/10/2026 at 06:37 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
El Nido on Palawan in the Philippines is a coastal municipality where a compact town fronts a wide bay filled with limestone islands and sheltered lagoons. Set on the northern tip of mainland Palawan, it faces Bacuit Bay and forms part of a protected seascape that has become one of the best-known island groups in the country.
Limestone cliffs rising from the sea
El Nido occupies the northern extremity of mainland Palawan, with its territory bordered by the South China Sea to the west and the Sulu Sea to the east. The municipal area covers around 465 sq km (180 sq mi) of land and includes offshore islands scattered across Bacuit Bay, many formed from ancient limestone that rises steeply from the water in towers and ridges.covers around 465 square kilometres These islands frame narrow channels and enclosed basins where the sea takes on a protected, lagoon-like character.
The limestone landscape is especially concentrated around Cadlao Island, which forms the highest point of the municipality at about 640 m (2,100 ft) above sea level.Cadlao island has the highest peak From the water, the cliffs show bands and ledges, with patches of vegetation gripping the rock and small sandy coves appearing at the foot of many outcrops. Away from the bay, inland hills of similar limestone continue across the mainland, giving El Nido a coherence between its coastal and interior terrain.
Bacuit Bay and its islands
Bacuit Bay is the main body of water in front of El Nido town, opening towards the Linapacan Strait in the north and dotted with islands and smaller islets. The municipality contains 45 islands and islets, each with distinct shapes and shorelines.surrounded by 45 islands and islets Many of these islands have beaches set in small coves, as well as indentations where seawater forms enclosed lagoons behind walls of rock. The bay’s clear water reveals coral reefs and shallow sandbars around several of the islands.
The area around Bacuit Bay forms part of the El Nido–Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, a designation that covers coastal waters, islands and sections of the mainland.El Nido–Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area Within this protected area, the islands include well-known stops such as Snake Island, with its sandbar, and lagoons on islands like Miniloc, alongside smaller beaches and rock formations. From many vantage points on the water, the view takes in multiple layers of limestone silhouettes receding into the distance.
From Bacuit to El Nido: a coastal town and marine reserve
El Nido’s modern name dates from the mid-twentieth century. For much of the Spanish colonial period the settlement and municipality were known as Bacuit, a name formalised when Bacuit became a municipality on 16 March 1916.Bacuit finally became a municipality in 1916 On 17 June 1954, Republic Act 1140 changed the town’s name to El Nido, derived from the Spanish term for “the nest” in reference to swiftlet nests found in caves within the limestone cliffs.Republic Act 1140 in 1954 gave the present name
The municipality covers inland barangays as well as the coastal town itself, which sits on the shore of Bacuit Bay backed by hills and facing the island group offshore.El Nido is a coastal municipality In 1991, the waters of Bacuit Bay were declared a marine reserve, later incorporated into the wider protected area that links El Nido with parts of Taytay.Bacuit Bay became a marine reserve in 1991 The town acts as the main access point for travel on the bay, while also retaining its role as a local centre for nearby rural communities.
Visiting El Nido: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- El Nido lies on the northern tip of Palawan Island in the Philippines, facing Bacuit Bay and reached overland from Puerto Princesa City or by flights to El Nido’s airport.
- Much of the terrain involves boat travel on open water and walking on beaches and rocky shorelines; approaches to viewpoints and lagoons can include steps, uneven rock and short climbs.
- El Nido’s municipal area borders the Linapacan Strait to the north, the South China Sea to the west and the Sulu Sea to the east, so wind, waves and exposure at sea can vary with direction.
- The official language of the country is Filipino and English is widely used; the currency is the Philippine peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for El Nido on social platforms
These links open searches for El Nido on each platform.Frequently asked questions about El Nido
Where is El Nido?
El Nido is a coastal municipality on the northern tip of Palawan Island in the Philippines, bordered by the South China Sea, the Sulu Sea and the Linapacan Strait.
What should visitors expect on a trip to El Nido?
Visitors encounter a small town by Bacuit Bay with access to limestone islands, beaches and lagoons, alongside rural barangays on the mainland and protected marine areas.
What makes El Nido distinctive among island destinations?
El Nido combines steep limestone cliffs, enclosed sea lagoons and a protected marine reserve with a mainland town and countryside, giving both island seascapes and inland terrain in one municipality.
