El Nido, by Island Resort
Seven days between Manila and the limestone lagoons of northern Palawan
The Bacuit Archipelago, off El Nido in northern Palawan, is a cluster of limestone islands with hidden lagoons and white beaches. The island resorts there are reached by boat and have their own coves and reefs. This itinerary spends two nights in Manila at the start, to recover from the journey, and four at an island resort in El Nido, with a private boat day to explore the lagoons beyond it. Flights between Manila and El Nido run on a limited schedule, so the dates on both sides are built around them.
This is a starting-point itinerary — we adapt every detail to your travel dates, interests, pace, and group. Speak to our concierge to begin.
Indicative price
from €300 per person per day
For 2 travellers sharing a room, from published entry-level hotel rates and ground costs read on 10 October 2026. How we calculate it
Request this itineraryIncluded
- 6 nights' accommodation in the hotels named
- Return flights between Manila and El Nido
- One private speedboat day
- A named Excurze concierge before and during the trip
Each stage has two or three hotels we know well. We propose the one that fits your dates and budget, and swap it if you prefer another.
Manila2 nights
Luxury
The Peninsula Manila
Makati
A long-established luxury hotel in the Makati business district.
Luxury
Makati Shangri-La, Manila
Makati
A large luxury hotel in the same district.
El Nido4 nights
Luxury
El Nido Resorts Lagen Island
Lagen Island, Bacuit Archipelago
An island resort with cottages among limestone cliffs, reached by boat from the Lio airport.
Luxury
El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island
Pangulasian Island
A resort on its own island, with villas on a long beach.
Manila
Arrive in Manila
Private transfer to the hotel
Rest, or dinner in Makati
Sleep: Manila (2 nights)
Manila
Manila, at its own pace
Intramuros, the old walled city, with a guide in the morning
Free afternoon
Sleep: Manila
Manila, El Nido
Fly to El Nido
Morning flight to El Nido's Lio airport
Boat to the resort
Afternoon on the beach
Sleep: El Nido (4 nights)
El Nido
The lagoons by private boat
A full day with a private boat and crew through the lagoons, with snorkelling and a beach lunch
Return to the resort for sunset
Sleep: El Nido
El Nido
A day at the resort
Kayaking, snorkelling from the beach or the spa
Dinner at the resort
Sleep: El Nido
El Nido
Last day in the archipelago
Free day: paddleboarding, a short boat trip or rest
Farewell dinner
Sleep: El Nido
El Nido, Manila
Departure
Boat to the airport and flight to Manila, then your onward flight
Add Coron
A second island group in northern Palawan, for wreck diving and Kayangan Lake.
Underground River at Puerto Princesa
A day trip to the UNESCO-listed cave river, from the south of the island.
Add Cebu and Bohol
A few days in the central islands, with the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers.
Diving
Courses and guided dives from the resort, with a certified operator.
Best time to go
December to May
The dry season, with calm seas and clear water. March to May is the hottest period and also the best for visibility. Flights can be delayed or cancelled by weather at any time of year.
Less suited: July to October, the typhoon and monsoon season, when boat trips and flights are often cancelled
from €300 per person per day
This is an indication, not a quote. It adds up the lowest published entry-level rates we found for the hotel we priced at each stage, plus the cost of a private guide and car, divides by 2 travellers and 7 days, and rounds up to the next €50. Peak-season rates, larger rooms and the other hotels named above will change it. Your quote will be built on your dates.
| Item | Rate | In euros |
|---|---|---|
Manila, 2 nights at The Peninsula Manila (from) KAYAK, The Peninsula Manila | 116 USD × 2 | €207 |
El Nido, 4 nights at El Nido Resorts Lagen Island (from) momondo, El Nido Resorts Lagen Island | 656 USD × 4 | €2,342 |
Flights Manila to El Nido and back, per person, per flight (top of the typical range) KAYAK, Manila to El Nido flights | 199 USD × 4 | €710 |
Private speedboat island-hopping day with lunch, per adult Tripadvisor, El Nido private tours | 387 USD × 2 | €691 |
| Total for 2 travellers | €3,950 | |
| Per person per day (€3,950 ÷ 2 ÷ 7), rounded up to €50 | €300 | |
The figure covers
- 2 nights at The Peninsula Manila and 4 nights at Lagen Island at the lowest published rates; Pangulasian Island Resort costs more (from about US$970 a night)
- Return flights between Manila and El Nido
- One private speedboat day
Not included
- International flights and the airport transfers
- Resort fees and deposits, meals not included in the rate and the environmental fee
- The optional modules and tips
Converted at the European Central Bank reference rates of 9 October 2026. Hotel rates come from third-party booking and guide sites and change with dates and availability; each line links to the page we read.
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