Chasing Sunshine in El Nido: Typhoons, Turtles, and Hidden Beaches
Chasing Sunshine in El Nido: Typhoons, Turtles, and Hidden Beaches
Our honeymoon adventure continued as we flew to Palawan, with plans to stay in the world-famous paradise of El Nido. But this leg of the trip began with a little uncertainty…. a typhoon was crossing parts of the Philippines, and we weren’t sure if it would reach us. All we could do was hope for good weather.
A Long Journey to Paradise
When we landed at Puerto Princesa Airport, we were greeted with bright sunshine. It felt like a good sign until we remembered we still had a five-hour van ride ahead of us.
With my 180 cm squeezed into a tiny van seat, those hours felt extra long. After around four hours on the road, the weather suddenly shifted. Heavy rain, strong winds, and dark clouds rolled in. By the time we arrived at our hotel in El Nido, we were soaked, cold, and still had to climb a long stairs to reach our room.
We went to sleep hoping the weather would improve.
Stormy Days in El Nido
The next morning… it was worse.
Rain poured nonstop, and the winds kept howling. Still, we decided to go out and make the best of it. We ate at Piece of Sky, a restaurant known for having one of the best views in El Nido. For us, there was no view at all… just gray skies and thick mist.
By late afternoon, the streets were flooded. We started worrying that our stay in El Nido might be a complete disappointment.
Finally — Sun, Sea, and Island Hopping
But then came good news.
Our hotel informed us that the island hopping tours were back on, the weather was clearing, and the typhoon had officially left the area.
At last, it was time to explore the El Nido we had dreamed of.
We booked with El Nido Leatherback Travel and Cruise, starting with Tour A, and it did not disappoint. We visited:
Secret Lagoon
Payong-Payong Beach
Seven Commando Beach
Shimizu Island
Big Lagoon (by kayak!)
The islands were stunning, limestone cliffs, turquoise waters, quiet beaches, and perfect snorkeling spots. We even spotted a sea turtle while diving, which instantly became one of the highlights of our honeymoon.
It was warm, sunny, and incredibly beautiful. After days of rain, we appreciated it even more.
Tour C Adventures
The next day, we hopped on Tour C, visiting:
Talisay Beach
Matinloc Island
Hidden Beach
Secret Beach
Helicopter Island
It was another great day, though if I had to pick, Tour A was definitely our favorite.
We ended the evening walking around town and having a lovely dinner at Scape Skydeck El Nido, with good food and great views to finish off our final night.
Heading Back to General Santos
The next day, we flew back for a few more days in General Santos before the next chapter of our honeymoon.
Before I end this post, here’s an important travel tip:
If you plan to visit El Nido, fly directly to El Nido Airport (Lio Airport) instead of Puerto Princesa. The airport is small, but it saves you five hours of travel time, and your back (and legs!) will thank you.
El Nido challenged us with storms but rewarded us with unforgettable beauty and it became one of the most memorable stops of our honeymoon.
