Ultimate Guide To Visiting Nacpan Beach In El Nido

Why visit Nacpan Beach

Why not is the real question! But if you’re wondering why Nacpan beach should make it on your El Nido itinerary, then let me give you a few reasons…

• The water is perfect for swimming, or simply sitting in, and by that I mean, relaxing, I spent a lot of time just lying submerged in the water on the beach because it was so nice! 
• It’s a really romantic spot, for if you’re travelling as a couple and looking for a romantic place to visit in El Nido then you’ve found it!
• You can find a stretch of beach all to yourself. Brad and I walked hand in hand down the beach with no one in sight, which also meant we got some epic drone footage. 
• There are some really cool glamping opportunities that I will discuss a little later…
  

Are you sold? Okay great! Let’s continue. 

How to get to Nacpan Beach

So the main area that all the visitors tend to visit in El Nido is known as “El Nido Town” and it’s packed with accommodation options, quirky restaurants, bars to party and transport options. 

When visiting from El Nido town, the distance to Nacpan beach is around 45 minutes drive on a moped. You can stop at some waterfalls on the way if you wish, but that brings me to my first option to get to Nacpan beach from El Nido town…

• ‍Moped: One of the great ways to get around any Philippines island is renting a moped and driving to your spots. Renting a moped in El Nido is very easy and there are a number of different providers you can find in El Nido town. We rented a moped for half a day to get to Nacpan beach and we negotiated a half day price. It’s around 500 pesos for a day, but we got half a day for 250 with 2 helmets (don’t forget your helmets!) ‍
• Shuttle Service: There are a number of shuttle services that run from El Nido town centre to Nacpan beach. They leave at a variety of times throughout the day and it typically costs around 600 pesos return. You can also get picked up and dropped off at your hotel in El Nido. If you don’t plan on stopping on any other El Nido attractions on your way to Nacpan beach, then this is a good option. You can check details and times out here. 
• Tuk tuk: I’m pretty sure if you really wanted to you could negotiate a price for a tuk-tuk to take you to Nacpan beach. However, it would be slower and probably more expensive. But it’s a novelty thing too! 

When is the best time to visit Nacpan Beach?

The best time to visit Nacpan beach will coincide with the best time to visit Palawan in general. This is between November and May. We visited in May and the weather was amazing. I don’t think we experienced any rain. You can visit outside these months, but just be careful of the monsoon weather that the Philippines is prone too. 

With regards to the time of day when visiting Nacpan beach, I think you should visit about 2 hours before sunset. This will give you time to enjoy the water, swim, sunbathe on the beach, then enjoy the stunning sunset with a drink in hand at one of the bars along the beachfront. You could also stay for dinner too! 

Things to do at Nacpan Beach

When you visit Nacpan beach you’ll be greeted with miles of stunning coastline lined with beautiful palm trees. This makes for a beautiful backdrop for photos and drone footage (p.s. check out the best travel drones here). You’ll be amazed at the beauty on offer, but to help you make the most of your time at Nacpan beach, I’ve made a little list of the best things to do there. 

• Get your photo at the “Nacpan Beach Sign” (it’s a cheesey, but essential thing to do! :P) 
• Have sunset drinks at one of the bars 
• Enjoy dinner on the beach- in the evenings, some restaurants set up tables/chairs on the beach so you can enjoy a beautiful dinner under the stars. 
• Swim in the water, it’s warm, it’s clean...it’s beautiful! 
• Go for a stroll. With 4 km of beach you can easily wander for a while
• You can go Parasailing! Mad Monkey Hostel offers it for 600 peso for one hour and you get 2 free local beers. 
  

When we visited there were a lot of empty spaces along the beach that you can easily tell they are going to be transformed into bars/restaurants and hostels. So my best travel tip would be to visit whilst it’s still quiet. You can still walk along the beach and have no one near you, other than the odd doggy, but that will change. 

Where to stay at Nacpan Beach

You’ll be happy to hear there are actually quite a few options when it comes to staying in Nacpan beach and I’ll start with the most unique…

• ‍Glamping at Nacpan beach: Yes, you can “glamp” under the stars on a secluded beach. I don’t think it gets more magical than that...just check it out here and you’ll see what I mean. I tried to book this actually, but it was totally sold out when I visited, so book ahead if you want to experience this! EPIC!
• ‍Hostel life: If you love hostels and the chance to party, then Nacpan beach also delivers. Try to stay at the Mad Monkey Hostel. ‍
• Beautiful Accommodation: If you don’t want a hostel vibe but simply beautiful accommodation right on the beach, then this is the perfect choice for you. Check out Jack’s Place. 

Read Also: The Best Places To Stay In El Nido

So there you have it! My ultimate guide to visiting Nacpan Beach in El Nido.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and I hope it’s made you excited to visit Nacpan Beach. For more information on what you should pack, check out our beach vacation packing list...

If you’ve got any more questions then simply drop a comment below!

For help planning the rest of your adventure in El Nido, check out ...

• What To Do- The Best Things To Do In El Nido
• Itinerary - The Perfect El Nido Itinerary
• Island Hopping - Our Review of El Nido Tour Aundefined