Daily Archives: 6 December, 2015

Nacpan Beach (El Nido, Palawan)

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Pristine Nacpan Beach

Pristine Nacpan Beach

Back at our van from Bulalacao Falls, we proceeded on the last part and main feature of our inland tour (often referred  to as “Tour E”) – lunch at pristine Nacpan Beach.. Located 17 kms. north of El Nido town, in Sitio Calitang, Nacpan Beach, together with its smaller twin Calitang Beach (on the southwest tip of Nacpan), are prime attractions of the town.

View of the cove

View of the cove

View of an island across the beach

View of an island across the beach

The nearly 4-km. long, bare and unspoiled Nacpan Beach, said to be the “Boracay of El Nido,”  has fine, cream colored sand (almost like Boracay’s) fringed by coconut trees and warm, crystal blue waters. It usually doesn’t have the usual crowds that the other islands of the town have.

Eateries and picnic sheds along the palm-fringed beach

Eateries and picnic sheds along the palm-fringed beach

There is no high-end resort along this beach, just 4 or 5 open-air bamboo eateries serving local food (grilled squid, adobo, etc.), snacks (bananacue, etc.), bear, bottled water, sandwiches, French fries, noodles, burgers and fresh fruit shakes, There are also stores, picnic huts and cottages where you can stay overnight.

Lunch at a picnic shed along the beach

Lunch at a picnic shed along the beach

The place offers serenity and an amazing view of the nearby islands, islets and the sunset plus a 360° wholistic view of what you see when you’re just in front of the beach. After lunch, we had fun swim there as the water is not completely calm. Great for skimming. It also  makes you want to do cartwheels out of joy. Highly recommended, we didn’t regret visiting this place.

Frolicking with the waves

Jump shot along the beach

Jump shot along the beach

How to Get There: From El Nido town, there’s a once daily public jeepney that leaves for the beach at 12 noon and returns the morning of the next day.  The trip takes about 40 mins..  The last 20 minute stretch is along an unfinished, rough, bumpy and extremely dusty road. For those not joining a tour, you can rent a tricycle (PhP700-1,000) that can accommodate up to 4 people. For a big group you can rent a van for PhP2,000-2,500, goo for 10-12 people.

The Resort Bayview Hotel El Nido: Sitio Marimegmeg, Brgy. Corong-Corong, El Nido, 5313, Palawan.  Tel: + 66(0) 76 281 406. Fax: + 66(0) 76 384 369. Mobile numbers: (0915) 250-7368 (Globe) and (0920) 975-8690. E-mail: theresortelnido@gmail.com. Website: www.elnidobayview.com.

Bulalacao Falls – Small Falls (El Nido, Palawan)

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B.E.A.T. Familiarization Tour to Bulalacao Falls

B.E.A.T. Familiarization Tour to Bulalacao Falls

On our third day in El Nido, after breakfast at The Resort Bayview Hotel El Nido, members of B.E.A.T. (Business Executives Alliance in Tourism) again boarded their van for another round of resort-sponsored familiarization tours of the town.  Our first destination was to be Bulalacao Waterfalls, one of the most beautiful falls in the town.  It is actually a series of waterfalls aptly named Big Falls and Small Falls.

The start of the trail

The start of the trail

The 70-ft. high Big Falls is a 2-part trek that first requires you take a 45-min. tricycle ride to Brgy. Pasadeña and, upon arrival, make a grueling 1.5 to 2-hour hike (not to be undertaken without a guide and must not be attempted during the August to October rainy season) down a heavily-vegetated trail that courses through rice paddies and a thicket of towering ipil, balete and kamagong trees.

The well-marked trail

The well-marked trail

We were to visit the easier and more accessible Small Falls (also called Naganlec Falls). Upon arrival at the start of the trail, we first paid the PhP25/pax entrance fee (payment for the family that keeps the trail clean). The trail to the falls was well shaded by trees and marked. The hike through the forest took all of 20 mins. and we had to make 5 boulder-strewn river crossings, its cool waters a refreshing break for us as it was quite humid that day.

One of five river crossings

One of five river crossings

As we got closer to the falls, we again had to pay a PhP50/pax entrance fee, this time for the family that keeps the area around the falls clean. This place was a really nice and there were two huts with picnic tables. The Small Falls, with 4 accessible levels, was calm and inviting. The first and lowest has a large pool that people can jump into from the cliff above as it has a 3 m. depth.  A number of foreigners tried it.

The lower level

The lower level

A foreigner takes the plunge

A foreigner takes the plunge

View of the lower level's pool from the escond level

View of the lower level’s pool from the escond level

However, most of us tried out the easy-to-reach second level which has a beautiful low cascade and a shallow, swimmable pool that everyone enjoyed. It was a nice, cool and refreshing break from the heat of the morning sun. It may not be a large fall but it has a great little swimming area. 

The second level

The second level

Frolicking at the second level pool

Frolicking at the second level pool

Bulalacao Falls: Sitio Naganlec, Brgy. Pasadena, El Nido, Palawan.

The Resort Bayview Hotel El Nido: Sitio Marimegmeg, Brgy. Corong-Corong, El Nido, 5313, Palawan.  Tel: + 66(0) 76 281 406. Fax: + 66(0) 76 384 369. Mobile numbers: (0915) 250-7368 (Globe) and (0920) 975-8690. E-mail: theresortelnido@gmail.com. Website: www.elnidobayview.com.