El Nido - Tropical Nature at its Finest

Big Lagoon, El Nido, Philippines

Hard as it may be to believe, these photos have not been Photoshopped.

This is how Bacuit Bay, El Nido really looks.

Huge karst cliffs, fringed with deep green foliage, rise from the most turquoise sea. Powdery white sand beaches often cling to the base of these stunning rocky outcrops. Within the cliffs, like something from a fantasy movie, are hidden lagoons and beaches. Wherever you turn, the view is otherworldly and almost beyond belief.

It's very hard for photos to do it justice.

A tour by traditional Filipino bangka is a terrific treat, especially as, on one of those myriad islands, you will be treated to a picnic lunch of freshly caught barbecued fish, chicken, pork and tropical fruit, along with the ubiquitous rice.

It's not the easiest place on the planet to reach, unless you are rich and can afford the over-priced flight direct to El Nido airport from Cebu or Manila. However, this is a simply astonishing place that rewards the intrepid and adventurous more than they could imagine.

Matinloc Island, El Nido, Philippines

How to get there

Neither El Nido nor the Palawan island capital, Puerto Princesa, are international airports. However, they both have direct connections to both Manila and Cebu.

From Scotland, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines all offer one-stop flights to both Manila and Cebu.

From Manchester, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines also offer similar routes.

From London, there are many more airlines offering flights to both cities.

Air Swift offers flights from Manila or Cebu direct to El Nido, but are very expensive.

Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines offer direct flights from both Manila and Cebu to Puerto Princesa. From there, there are vans approximately hourly that will take you the 5-hour journey across the tropical, mountainous interior to El Nido. It might sound like a long drive, but the scenery is definitely worth it.

Miniloc Island, El Nido, Philippines

How we did it

Flights: We've flown to the Philippines with Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines. We start tracking flights around 11 months before our travel dates using Kayak, Skyscanner or Google Flights and then book them when the price drops to around £750-£850 per person for the long haul portion.

Our preferred airline for travel in the Philippines is Cebu Pacific as they are usually the cheapest.

Transport: Van from Puerto Princesa.

Hotels: Hotels in the islands of El Nido are generally very expensive; those on the mainland are a lot cheaper.

Tours: It isn't hard to find a local tour provider in El Nido - there are many of them and they can be found at the beach each morning. We did Tours A and C.

Location: https://w3w.co/darlings.impetuous.heaven

Our Top Tips

• Avoid Manila - Cebu is a much smaller and friendlier airport. Don't take chances after a long flight: take the airport bus into the city and spend at least one night at a hotel. We recommend the Bayfront Hotel North Reclamation if you are on a budget, or, if you're feeling a little richer, Bai Hotel Cebu.

• Palawan is not usually visited by typhoons. January-April is the calmer season; September to December is the stormier season.

• Be prepared to sample local cuisine. Like most Filipino resorts, restaurants in El Nido largely sell local food. Trust us, though, that is not a problem!