The Never-to-be-Forgotten El Nido

I was asked by Patrick which beach I want to spend my summer at - Palawan or Boracay. I would love to see Bora, but he had been there last 2013. I always want to visit a place where my companion and I are clueless about it. It would make the escape more exciting. Hence, I opted for Palawan.

The original plan was a 3-day stay at El Nido and only a day at Puerto Princesa. We encountered a few problems that we unfortunately had 2 flights separately booked. We asked various agencies and hotels to arrange our itinerary, but we weren't so lucky. We ended up sojourning at El Nido for 4 days.

From Manila, we landed at Puerto Princesa Airport on April 8. The weather was fine.  A van bound for El Nido welcomed us. We got on it right away. Pat and I slept, ate, and chitchatted the whole insipid trip. After 6 hours, we finally reached Four Seasons Hotel which we booked through Agoda. The hotel looked good, but we expected more from it. However, our beach-front room compensated for it. Fair enough.

We had dinner at Art café. Their food was a bit peculiar yet savory. They also had country band playing at one corner.

 

Second day was used up for island hopping. The sun was beautifully glowing. We hopped on and hopped off at 3 islands. Each island has its own beauty to offer. I was amazed how caves formed in limestone mountains. Beautiful, indeed! Coconut Island is my favorite among the islands you would see in there. I will not go into detail. Simply, I said yes.

We initially had no idea what we would do on our 3rd day in this paradise, until a tricycle driver suggested the twin beach and Bulalacao waterfalls. (Local government protects the business of local trike drivers.) Among the spots, Bulalacao waterfalls stood out. We needed to pass the mega dusty road and walk for 15 minutes so as to reach the falls. It was worth it! The water form is surrounded by several tall trees where the beams of sunlight shine through. Perfect way to dip without getting tanned. And hey! I am so proud to say that we had a 25-ft waterfall jump. Yup, I conquered acrophobia at one point in my life. Here, check on the video:

When the sun set, Patrick surprised me with a dinner by the beach. It was the most romantic moment I've had. Nuff with the cheesiness. Haha!

We headed back to Puerto Princess on the fourth day. Another 6-hour trip took place, of course. We flew back to manila afterwards.

I love El Nido. I love its natural beauty and its people's hospitality. It's just the inevitable abundance of sunlight and hot weather lessened my amusement. (No blame intended for it. It's just me.) On the other hand, I hope the local government formulates a plan to fix the roads, so other tourist spots would be accessible for all tourists. It sure would be of help to keep its tourism sustainable and even better.

Lastly, I thank Patrick for this wonderful and unforgettable escape.