Do you know what was the one thing that everyone told me I must do in the Philippines? It was island hopping. Every single person and every blog I read said that I need to add it to my itinerary. And originally we included it in our plans. But when we finally got to El Nido, we kept saying “maybe tomorrow.” And as you might deduct already, the island hopping never came. Instead, we kept wondering, what are the best El Nido beaches by land.

One of the reasons this worked so well for us is that we were driving the whole time in Palawan. Having our own wheels gave us complete freedom to change plans, stop when something caught our eye, and explore places that don’t show up on island-hopping itineraries at all. We drove everywhere by car, and having that flexibility completely shaped how we experienced El Nido and its beaches. Renting a car in Palawan was a game changer for us.

If you’re skipping island hopping, whether by choice, budget, weather, or whatever other reason, these are the best beaches around El Nido you can reach by scooter, car, or tricycle.

Visiting El nido beaches by land: a great alternative to island hopping

El Nido is famous for its lagoons, limestone cliffs, and perfectly framed island-hopping photos. It’s the version of Palawan most people come for, and the one most people leave thinking they’ve “done” El Nido. I was not surprised that everyone told me to do island hopping.

But what often gets overlooked is that El Nido is just as rewarding when explored slowly, by land. No schedules, no boats, no life jackets. Just a scooter humming along coastal roads, sudden viewpoints, and beaches where you might share the sand with a handful of locals instead of a flotilla of tour boats.

Why Explore El Nido by Land?

Island hopping in El Nido is spectacular, but it’s also structured, busy, and repetitive. By land, the experience feels more personal. And that’s exactly what we wanted. I guess we were too tired of work schedules and responsibilities to add more on our holidays. We wanted to wake up every morning and feel free to decide what we’re going to do.

We could choose when to stop, how long to stay, and which places feel worth lingering in. Passing roadside fruit stalls, kids waving as we were driving by, and the full freedom was exactly what we wanted at that time.

There was another factor that did not temp us to do island hopping: it was the fact that we would have to walk neck deep in the water to  get to the boat. We knew that getting wet was not optional, but I never expect that it was to that extent. Our hotel room was overlooking the bay in El Nido and every morning we saw tourists walking to the boats with their wet back carried above their heads. And if that wasn’t bad enough, we learned that El Nido beach (the one in town) was closed due to E.coli in the water. That very quickly put us off and we stopped overthinking and regretting not to do the bucket list experience.

Best el nido beaches by land

I am only including the beaches that we actually liked and did go to multiple times (or would have returned if we had more time). I’ve seen on various lists other beaches, like Las Cabanas, for example, but we didn’t really like it. What’s the point of making a long list of places that you might regret wasting your time for.

Lio Beach

Lio beach was my favourite.  Not because it was breathtakingly beautiful.  There are prettiest beaches, but because of the vibe that is hard for me to explain.  We liked it so much there, that we returned at least three times. My absolute favourite? Watch the planes land and takes of.

Lio Beach is what happens when accessibility and good planning coexist peacefully with nature. It’s part of a managed estate just north of El Nido town, but it doesn’t feel overdeveloped. It is perfect for walking with soft sand and having lunch or dinner in a nice place. It is filled with cool coffee places and beach restaurants that actually serve good food. It is a good beach for families and  non-swimmers.

Duli Beach

Good for surfing and long walks. It has a coffee place with limited options, but apart from that it feels like a secluded place. The road there is rough, muddy after rain, and not always kind to scooters, but once you arrive, the effort makes sense. We had a standard car (as you can see on photos) and it was completely fine, in case if you’re wondering whether you need to have something more special. However, if it rains a lot, you might get stuck. We had some showers and it was totally fine.

Duli is one of the most beautiful land-accessible beaches near El Nido. Long, wild, and often nearly empty, Duli is known for its surf during certain seasons and its untouched feel year-round. There’s no loud music, no jet skis, no rush to leave. You’ll find a few simple eateries and plenty of shade, but this is a beach best enjoyed slowly: with a book, a towel, and no real plan.

Nacpan Beach

Nacpan Beach is El Nido’s most famous land beach, and unlike many popular places, it actually lives up to the hype. Even though it was not my favourite beach, I must admit that it probably was the most beautiful. It is incredible for long walks and jogging. If not the sand flies that really destroyed my day, I would say that it’s the top beach in El Nido, joining everyone else praising this beach.

Four kilometers long, framed by coconut palms and gentle hills, Nacpan feels expansive in a way that few beaches do. Even on busier days, it’s easy to find space. The water is warm, the sand is soft, and the scale of the place makes everything feel quieter.

The road has improved significantly in recent years (as we were told), making Nacpan accessible by scooter or car without too much stress. If you only choose one beach to visit by land, this is the one.

Calitang Beach

Just across the headland from Nacpan lies Calitang Beach, often overlooked, often quieter, and equally beautiful. Calitang feels more local. The waves can be stronger, the wind more noticeable, and the atmosphere less curated. It’s a good contrast to Nacpan, and worth walking or riding over to see both sides of the peninsula in one visit. Together, Nacpan and Calitang show just how diverse El Nido’s coastline really is.

Practical Tips for Exploring El Nido by Land

Scooters are the most flexible option, but only if you’re comfortable with uneven roads, gravel, and occasional mud. If not, hiring a tricycle for the day is a perfectly reasonable alternative, especially for closer beaches like Corong Corong and Las Cabañas (but since they were not my favourite, I didn’t even added them to the list).

Start early when possible. The light is better, the roads are quieter, and you’ll avoid the worst of the midday heat. Bring water, sunscreen, and cash, many beaches have limited facilities, and ATMs outside town are rare.

My top tip: I just cannot finish this post without mentioning sand flies. The worst beach for me when it comes to sand flies was Nacpan. I got eaten alive despite having repellent on. The bites are extremely itchy, got swollen and filled with liquid. I could not sleep the first night. So make sure you spray yourself with good repellent and cover up towards the sunset. It’s been 5 weeks already after the bites, and I still have itchy bumps.

See also:

• Don’t Go to the Palawan’s Puerto Princesa Underground River Without Reading This First!
• Renting a Car and Driving in Palawan, Philippines. All I Wish I Knew Before My Trip.
• Guide to South Korea for first timers: 10 days itinerary in spring (would also be great in autumn)

Please note that this post included affiliate links, when you decide to purchase anything through these links I get a small commission at NO extra cost to you, it helps me to keep running this blog! I only promote products and services I use or would use myself. All images are the property of Postcards from the World and cannot be used without permission.

Use my favourite travel resources to plan your dream trips

• Booking.com for searching best prices on accommodation.
• AirHelp helps to get compensation for cancelled or delayed flights.
• Travel Payouts is my favourite platform for monetizing the blog.
• Discover Cars is a great website as they search both local and international car hire services, so you can choose the best deal for yourself. Make sure though, that the company has a good reputation and reviews.
• Get Your Guide is my place to go for searching and booking tours and excursions, especially when I travel solo.
• World Nomads and EKTA travel insurance. I like them because they have quite extensive coverage of different activities.
• WeGoTrip sends you audio guides to your mobile, so you can visit places while learning history and interesting facts easily and for little money.
• Go City is a perfect site for booking bucket list experiences and attractions all in one to avoid paying for multiple tickets. Easy and saves money. You can even save 50%.
• Trip Advisor– amazing for good quality recommendations.
• Skyscanner is a perfect website for searching flight routes and comparing prices.
• Airalo is my eSim choice for alternative data abroad.

Did you like the post? Pin it for later: