Thinking of visiting one of the most beautiful beaches in Asia? This guide will share everything you need to know about Nacpan Beach El Nido. A 4km stretch of golden sand lined by palm trees will greet you at Nacpan Beach, plus the warm crystal water is perfect for swimming. We enjoyed a couple of relaxing hours soaking up the sunshine and eating local delights right in the sand.
With beachfront resorts and glamping on Nacpan Beach, you have the option to spend a week in paradise or just a day trip from El Nido Town. In this blog we uncover everything you need to know before visiting Nacpan Beach, from entrance fees, resorts to stay, activities, restaurants and more.
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Where Is Nacpan Beach In the Philippines and Nacpan Beach Map
Nacpan Beach is located on the north-western coast of the island of Palawan, famous for its pristine blue water and limestone cliffs. North of the main town of El Nido, Nacpan Beach is not far from the stunning Duli Beach.
El Nido is most famous for its world-class island hopping tours. Make sure to not get scammed and book with a reputable company!
How To Get To Nacpan Beach From El Nido?
The best way to get to Nacpan Beach from El Nido is by scooter, a 40 minutes drive will bring you to the famous beach spot. You can hire a scooter for ₽500 a day, don’t forget to wear your helmet we were told in El Nido it is required and you can be fined. The last stretch of the road is unpaved so take it slow or if you don’t drive a scooter you can hire a tricycle or van. We don’t recommend hiring a trike as the beach is far away and it’ll probably end up costing you a fortune, but you can always ask!
The van shuttle service to Nacpan leaves at various times throughout the day and costs ₽600, this is a great option for families or if you don’t want to ride a scooter. You can also book your transfer through Get Your Guide Here!
Checkout this El Nido Nacpan and Duli Beach Tour!
Nacpan Beach To El Nido Town
The way back to El Nido takes 40 minutes, we would also recommend heading further North to visit Duli Beach before heading back to El Nido Town. Duli Beach is known as a local surfing beach, and when we visited was quieter than Nacpan.
Nacpan Beach from Manila
To get to Nacpan Beach From Manila you first need to head to El Nido. This involves taking a flight to Purto Princesa and then a shared van 6 hours North to El Nido.
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Nacpan Beach Description
Glorious sand, azure water and iconic palm trees can all be found at Nacpan Beach. Perfect for swimming and relaxing in the sunshine, it can only be described as paradise.
Nacpan meets Calitang beach (collectively known as the twin beaches) at the southern end of the beach. You can walk past a local fishing village and hike up the hill to get the best view over the beach.
Explore El Nido’s waterfalls, beaches and countryside with a Jeepney Tour. Join other solo travellers, backpackers on this incredible Land Tour.
Nacpan Beach Activities
- This is the perfect beach to fly your drone, snap the picture perfect paradise and marvel at the endless sand from above. We love our Dji Mini 2, check it out here.
- If you’re looking for adventure you can head to Mad Monkey hostel to give parasailing a go.
- Swimming, enjoy the refreshing water after soaking up the tropical sunshine.
- Indulging in the local cuisine in one of the many beach front restaurants
Nacpan Beach Resort And Where To Stay
Mad Monkey Hostel: Mad Monkey Hostels are popular all over the Philippines and Nacpan beach is home to one of them. A great option if you’re on a budget or if you’re a solo traveller.
Glamping: Stay In a yurt on the beach and enjoy waking up to one of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines. Oh and did we mention these tents have air conditioning!
Nacpan Beach Resort: If you’re looking to stay somewhere out of El Nido Town then Nacpan Beach Resort could be perfect. with high ratings and in a more secluded area of Palawan you can wake up to your own slice of paradise each day.
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Nacpan Beach Restaurants
- Nacpan Beach Resort Restaurant – Here you can find local Filipino cuisine as well as international dishes.
- Kawan Restaurant and Bar – Serves great cocktails and has vegan dishes available.
- Sunmai Beach Bar and Restaurant – A popular spot on the beach with great reviews.
- Local Beach Side Restaurants – we opted to eat in a local restaurant on the seafront. We had pancit and adobo which was delicious and budget friendly.
Itineraries, where to stay, top things to do & more for every island we visited in the Philippines
Nacpan Beach Common Questions
How Much Is the Entrance Fee to Nacpan Beach?
We have found different information online however when we visited there was no entrance fee to the beach however there was a small parking fee of ₽20.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Nacpan Beach?
The best time to visit Nacpan Beach is during the Philippines dry season, November to May.
We visited in June which for us was perfect. The shoulder seasons meant there were fewer people at the beaches and we only experienced some showers.
We headed to Nacpan Beach for lunch so we could enjoy the array of beach restaurants but you could also head there for sunset.
How Far Is Nacpan Beach From El Nido?
The drive from El Nido to Nacpan Beach takes 40 minutes.
Is Nacpan Beach Worth Visiting?
Yes! You can’t miss the 4km of golden sand stretching before you. You can find a secluded area on the beach and spend the whole time relaxing here. You can also visit the nearby Duli beach, which is famous for surfing.
Read more about Duli Beach
Can You Swim at Nacpan Beach?
Nacpan beach is the perfect place to cool off and swim to get relief from the burning sun. The water is tranquil and the waves small making it perfect for families as well.
What is Nacpan Beach Known For & Why is Nacpan Beach So Famous?
Nacpan is half of the famous twin beaches, Calitang Beach being the other. Nacpan Beach is often referred to as one of the best beaches in Asia and even in the world!
Nacpan Beach vs Las Cabanas Beach
We’ve visited both beaches and love both! Las Cabanas is known as the sunset spot and is perfect if you want a beach close to El Nido Town. Las Cabanas is more built up and has the shopping village Vanilla Beach behind it. Nacpan Beach is more rural but still set up for tourism. If you have time we recommend visiting both beaches as part of your El Nido Itinerary, perhaps Nacpan for lunch and Las Cabanas sunset.
Top Places To Stay In El Nido
El Nido has lots of areas for you to stay in. You could stay in the centre of the town, everything like tours, bars and restaurants will be a walk away as your based in the hub. The town is quiet in the day but comes alive at night. If you don’t want to stay in the town or are on a budget look at other areas such as Corong Corong.
Best Places To Stay In El Nido
$ Budget
Forest Camp
Perched high on the cliff side you can find forest camp. A basic but budget hostel that offers amazing views and breakfast included! Stay in traditional Nipa huts overlooking the famous limestone cliffs.
$$ Mid-Range
Frendz Hostel
Located in El Nido Town you will be able to walk to tours, restaurants and bars. The town is quiet in the day but alive at night. This is a great option if you’re a solo traveller, plus there’s a huge swimming pool.
$$$ High-End
Mua Tala Hotel
A luxury choice, Mua Tala features and outdoor pool, garden, terrace and bar and restaurant. At the base is Marimegmeg Beach plus it’s close to other popular attractions.
Spacing
Top El Nido Attractions
Famous for its stunning stretches of white sand, El Nido has some of the best beaches in Palawan, vibrant coral reefs and crystal clear water surrounded by limestone cliffs, it has become a tourist hot spot in recent years. There is definitely no shortage of things to see and do in and around this beautiful town, below we share our favourite attractions in El Nido.
Top Pick: El Nido Boat Tour
This is a must in El Nido! We went on Tour A during off-season and were told it gets extremely busy so maybe try out one of the other Tours on offer if you are visiting at peak season.
Best Beaches: Napcan and Duli Beach
Duli Beach is a locals surfing beach with azure water, palm trees and white sand. Although a little drive away, we think it’s worth it.
Off The Beaten Track: Head To Port Barton
A 3 hour drive from El Nido, Port Barton is a small fishing village which is less developed but still set up for tourism. We loved it here and the Boat Tour is amazing.
Best Place To Eat: Fuego El Nido Proper Burgers
El Nido is packed full with Western restaurants but we were disappointed with nearly all our meals. So take our advice, spend a bit more and go get yourself an amazing burger.
Other Things To Do In El Nido
Once you’re done in El Nido, head over to Coron!
Best El Nido Tours
Top Tips For Travelling To El Nido
Below we share our favourite tips for travelling El Nido:
- Plan your transport: Getting to El Nido takes around 6 hours from Puerto Princesa, book your transport in advance here!
- Be prepared for the boat tours to be busy. Boat Tour A is the most popular and therefore the busiest so perhaps try Boat Tour C or D.
- Eat Local, we found it challenging to find authentic local food in El Nido, but the Western food options were mediocre.
- Rent a scooter to explore the natural attractions. There are so many beautiful beaches in El Nido and waterfalls to explore nearby, just make sure you wear a helmet as it’s compulsory in El Nido Town.
- Use our full El Nido Itinerary to help you plan your trip.
Final Thoughts on Nacpan Beach El Nido
We can see why Nacpan Beach was rated the top beach in Asia, the powdery sand and lapping waves transport you to the island paradise of your dreams. On top of this when we visited Nacpan was far from busy and we got to enjoy the beach all to ourselves. There are also lots of restaurants, bars and accommodation nearby making this a perfect place to add to your itinerary.
We opted for a day trip from El Nido which was the perfect amount of time for us and we even managed to visit Duli Beach on the same day, it’s just a short drive further north and has a more local feel about the place.
All in all, Nacpan Beach is a great addition to your El Nido stay.
Read more about The Best Beaches in El Nido
