Picture this: we arrived at Puerto Princessa in the early morning, just in time to catch the sunrise. We booked a van from the airport to El Nido, which meant a four-hour drive ahead of us. We were hyped up, but also felt like we could sleep for a week. I mean, who wouldn’t be excited about the adventure that was about to start? The drive was both exhilarating and exhausting, and the views were stunning. We were basically half asleep for most of the journey, but the excitement kept us going.
On our long ride to El-Nido, we decided to stop and freshen up at a local restaurant. As soon as we got there, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that they had fresh buko juice! To top it off, we caught an amazing sunrise that left us in awe. It was a fantastic way to kick off our vacation!
The hotel we had initially booked turned out to be a total nightmare. I mean, everything was just wrong, from the staff to the amenities. It was just a total disaster. But we didn’t let that get us down. We decided to explore the city and check out other hotels, and that’s when we stumbled upon the H Hotel.
The H Hotel was the complete opposite of our previous hotel nightmare. It was so cool. The best part? It was just a short walk away from all the good stuff – restaurants, bars, the beach, and coffee shops. We knew instantly that this was the perfect spot for us!
As we patiently waited for our turn at the reception, my cousin and I couldn’t help but notice the stunningly cozy and aesthetic waiting area. It was so inviting that we couldn’t resist taking a few pictures to capture the moment.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get the booking we were hoping for. Instead, we scored an amazing apartment just a five-minute walk from there. It was the perfect alternative. The apartment had a cute little pool surrounded by plants. It was so cozy and secluded that it almost felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.
…fueling our bike at the station before we heading out to explore the island.
…mirror selfies for the win >>>
…exploring the local clothing and jewellery stores…
…taking a quick break on the side of the road to sip on some deliciously refreshing buko (coconut) water, which was the perfect way to cool down from the scorching heat.
One of the highlights of our trip was driving our scooters to Nacpan Beach!! The drive was really scenic, full of lush greenery on both sides of the road. It felt like we were driving through a jungle! It was definitely one of the coolest things we did on our trip.
…at the Nacpan Beach!
Watching the sun go down at the beach during the golden hour is one of my absolute favourite things in the world! It’s just so peaceful and beautiful <3
Oh my gosh, let me tell you about the best meal we had at Gorgonzola Pizza & Pasta! Their Pesto Rosso and Tropicana pizza are absolutely to die for! I couldn’t believe how delicious they were. If you’re looking for a chill spot to grab a tasty meal with your friends, this place is perfect. It’s located right in El Nido town, so you can’t miss it!
Yum! For dessert, we indulged in some delicious ice cream. We couldn’t resist trying the manga, buko-pandan, and double Dutch flavours—they were amazing. While we were walking around, we explored the cutest little town and savoured every bite of our sweet treat.
The next day, we were heading to the vanilla beach when…
one of our bikes broke down… 🙁
…but we didn’t let that get to us! We just started joking around and chatting to pass the time. We took some pics to remember the moment because, you know, no vacay is ever perfect.
We were famished by the time we reached Vanilla Beach. We wandered through a charming strip of restaurants, bars, and gift shops, taking in the delightful ambiance. After scouting around, we decided to dine at this amazing beachfront restaurant named Tanaw. The food looked so delicious that we gave in to the temptation of ordering a variety of dishes to try.
After that, we hit the beach…
….and it was EPIC!! It was worth all the trouble we faced earlier!
As we were floating in the cool water, we watched the sun slowly melt into the sky. It was one of the best things we did on our trip. The sunset was just so freaking beautiful like always. I can still remember how amazing it all felt, and I know I’ll never forget that moment. It was one of those rare moments when everything felt perfect, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful for being alive.
As the sun was setting, we had a special treat booked – a massage at the beach. The soft sound of waves and the vibrant colours of the sunset created an enchanting setting. And as we lay under the starry sky, feeling the tension melt away from our bodies, we knew we were having a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we’d never forget.
We finished off the night with some yummy pizza and then headed over to this super cool rooftop bar. Wanna know what made it even better? We got to relax on a hammock and enjoy the most amazing drinks ever. And guess what? We ended up sharing the hammock with a couple of tourists from London and had such a great time chatting with them. The bar had such a chill vibe. It was simply awesome!
Our faces might look a bit down in this selfie, but it’s only because we didn’t want to say goodbye to paradise just yet. It was tough to leave such a beautiful place behind, but we’re grateful for the memories we made there.
Where to stay: We had the most amazing stay at The Apartments. You’d also enjoy H Hotel, Frendz Hotel (for all you party animals), or this beautiful sea view villa at Nacpan Beach.
Where to eat: we savoured every bite at Big Bad Thai, Shawarma House (for post-midnight munchies), and Gorgonzola Pizza & Pasta. Since Definitely check out this list for the best food in El Nido, we enjoyed a late night massive falafel wrap that was bursting with flavor at Holly Smoke.
Where to get a delicious massage: we treated ourselves to not just one, but two amazing massages at the Organic Spa. It was pure bliss! If you’re looking for a way to unwind and indulge, I highly recommend booking a massage at the Organic Spa.
Where to club/partayyyyy: Amigos, Frendz hotel
Thank you for reading, and feel free to ask any questions! And thank you to El Nido for such a wonderful time. xoxoxoxo