Shaded in high limestone cliffs, El Nido’s town proper is always humming with activity. Motorbikes and tricycles ply tight streets. Vendors and tour-mongers hang around like walking adverts. Restaurants and cafes are abuzz with never-ending orders. Accommodations, cigarettes, drybags, your quick fix for a hungry belly—everything you need is here in the town proper.

Its 600m white cove El Nido Beach curves like a safe harbor for speedboats, pump boats, and barges. This beach, though not suitable for swimming, serves as the starting point to various island hopping tours in the magnificent Bacuit Bay. Along the beach too are some seafood and international restaurants as well as lounges and bars offering sunset happy hours.

Right in front of El Nido Beach is the postcard-perfect Cadlao Island, the largest island in Bacuit Bay. Shaped like a sleeping dinosaur, Cadlao is a fun adventure, reachable by kayak. The island features quiet white-sand beaches, a secret lagoon, and a snorkelling site. Also accessible by kayak are Ipil-Ipil Beach 1 and 2, Seven Commandos Beach, and Papaya Beach.

The town proper itself follows a grid network of streets lined with establishments from budget accommodations and mid-range hotels to restaurants, cafes, and travel and tours offices. Serena and Hama Streets, which run parallel to the main beach, are home to some top-rated restaurants and snack bars. At the end of Serena Street is El Nido Ferry Terminal, where you can get direct boat transfers to Coron and Manila.

One activity that should not be missed in the town proper is climbing Taraw Cliff. The difficult trail to Taraw is regulated, however. This guided tour should be booked beforehand as it starts at 4:30 am for a kickass morning view of the bay. An easier and safer trail is accessible the whole day round via the Ferrata Canopy Walk, which features a giant spiderweb hammock. From the town proper, you can also rent a motorbike or scooter to explore other destinations in El Nido.