El Nido

Is El Nido safe?

Yes, for most visitors. El Nido is a small town at the northern tip of Palawan, and crime against tourists there is low. What makes it riskier than it looks is distance: you reach it after a long road or boat trip, spend your days on small boats in open water, and the nearest well-equipped hospital is hours away.

This page covers El Nido town, the beaches at Corong-Corong, Las Cabañas and Nacpan, and the islands of Bacuit Bay where the day tours go. We score it 65 out of 100, just below Boracay (66) and above Cebu (60). Confidence is low because no local crime, road or health figures are published.

Island-hopping boats

Almost every visitor spends at least one day on a banca, the outrigger boats that run the lettered tours to the lagoons and beaches of Bacuit Bay. Most trips are routine. But the boats are small, and the sea can change within an hour.

The record shows what can go wrong. In April 2018 a boat carrying 10 foreign tourists sank off Hidden Beach on Matinloc Island after strong waves broke its anchor line; everyone swam ashore. The Coast Guard said it can only suspend island-hopping once PAGASA raises Signal No. 1, and none had been raised. In December 2023 a tour boat from Corong-Corong capsized in strong wind and rough seas, and 20 people were rescued. On 28 December 2025 a tour boat lost all power off Big Lagoon after a gear failure; the Coast Guard reached it about an hour after the distress call and found its 6 tourists and 3 crew unhurt.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says the Philippine boat network has a poor safety record and boats sometimes lack lifesaving equipment. Before you board:

• Check that there is a life jacket for everyone, and wear it on open crossings.
• Book through your hotel or an accredited operator rather than a street seller.
• If the sea looks rough, postpone, even if the tour is still running.
• For diving, confirm the boat carries oxygen and ask how they would reach a recompression chamber.

Getting there and getting around

Most visitors fly to Puerto Princesa and take a van north along the national highway, a ride of several hours with fast overtaking on bends. Smaller flights land at El Nido's own airport, and ferries run from Coron. WHO estimatesWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary 8.3 road deaths per 100,000 people in the Philippines in 2023, and Canada advises against driving outside towns after dark.

In and around town, tricycles are the main transport. Canada says they are relatively safe because they are slow, but fares should be agreed before you set off. Many visitors rent scooters to reach Nacpan or Duli beach; the roads are partly unlit and have loose gravel, and Canada says fatal scooter crashes involving tourists are common. Wear a helmet and do not ride after drinking.

Crime and nights out

El Nido publishes no crime figures, and the Philippines' national homicide rateHomicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary, 4.35 per 100,000 in 2023 according to UNODC, mostly reflects the big cities and the conflict areas of the south. The most serious recent case involving tourists dates from March 2018, when two Slovak women reported that a boatman raped one of them and tried to rape the other on Cadlao island. He was arrested, and Palawan's governor publicly backed the women's case.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary reports rapes and sexual assaults in backpacker destinations such as Coron and Siargao. El Nido's bars are small and busy, but the beach roads out of town are dark. Gallup's 2025 report finds 64% of Filipinos feel safe walking alone at night. Walk with others late at night, take a tricycle home, and watch your drink.

Theft is mostly opportunistic: phones and cash taken from beaches and rooms. Overcharging by boat crews and drivers is more common than theft.

Health and weather

El Nido has only basic clinics. Serious illness or injury usually means a transfer to Puerto Princesa or Manila, so buy insurance that covers medical evacuation. CDC lists Palawan province as a malaria transmission area; talk to a travel clinic about tablets, and use repellent day and night against malaria and dengue. Drink bottled or filtered water.

The weather sets the rhythm. Seas are calmest from about November to May. The wet season brings the southwest monsoon, rough water and typhoons, and tours are often cancelled. Late storms still come: Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed about 150 people in Cebu, crossed El Nido's waters early on 5 November 2025. If a storm signal is raised, boats stop and you may be stuck for days, so keep slack in your plans.

How we scored it

Health and environment (50) is El Nido's weakest factor, for malaria in Palawan and the long way to a good hospital, followed by traffic (54) and natural hazards (56), which include rough seas on tour boats. Violent crime (77) and theft and scams (68) score better because crime against visitors is low.