El Nido Bacuit | |
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| Municipality of El Nido | |
 View of El Nido | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Map of Palawan with El Nido highlighted | |
OpenStreetMap  | |
.svg)  El Nido Location within thePhilippines | |
| Coordinates:11°11′N119°23′E / 11.18°N 119.39°E /11.18; 119.39 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Mimaropa |
| Province | Palawan |
| District | 1st district |
| Founded | 1916 |
| Renamed | June 17, 1954 |
| Barangays | 18 (seeBarangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Edna G. Lim |
| • Vice Mayor | Joel T. Rosento |
| • Representative | Rosalie A. Salvame |
| • Municipal Council | Members
|
| • Electorate | 35,137 voters (2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 923.26 km2 (356.47 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 35 m (115 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 596 m (1,955 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[3] | |
• Total | 51,367 |
| • Density | 55.637/km2 (144.10/sq mi) |
| • Households | 12,632 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 1st municipal income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 15.35 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 582.1 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 1,737 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 378.8 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 529.2 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 5313 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)48 |
| Native languages | Palawano Tagalog |
| Website | www |
El Nido, officially theMunicipality of El Nido (Cuyonon:Banwa i'ang El Nido,Tagalog:Bayan ng El Nido), is amunicipality in theprovince ofPalawan,Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 51,367 people.[5]
Amanaged resource protected area,[6] it is known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and limestone cliffs, as well as for being the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago.
According to folktale, a group of Spaniards arrived and asked for the name of the place. It was said that during the time, the inhabitants of the area were Tagalogs. Without understanding the Spaniards, the Tagalogs replied "bakit?". The Spaniards thinking that that word was the answer to their question, named the place "Bacuit".[7]
El Nido, also known as Bacuit, has been inhabited by humans since at least 2680 BC, possibly as early as 22,000 years ago.[8] This was confirmed by fossils and burial sites dating back to theLate Neolithic Age that can be found in many caves and excavation sites surrounding the municipality, particularly inDewil Valley's Ille Cave in New Ibajay.
Chinese traders regularly visited the area of Palawan for itsedible birds' nests during theSong dynasty (960–1279). The island was mentioned in Chinese records of 1225.Zhao Rukuo, a trade commissioner of theport of Quanzhou, wrote about the island,Palaoyu orLand of Beautiful Harbors, in his bookZhu Fan Zhi.[9]
The town traces its roots from a smallTagbanwa village calledTalindak. Sometime in the 16th century, waves of migrants fromCuyo Islands settled in the area. In the 1800s, theSpaniards arrived, and they moved to the area where the present-day Población and Mabini are located.[9] The first Spanish families were the Canovas, Vázquez, Ríos, and Rey. In 1882, Talindak became a barrio of Taytay, which was the capital of the formerProvince of Calamianes from 1818, and theProvince of Castilla, the area of what is now known as northern Palawan, from 1858.[7]
In 1890, the Spaniards renamed itBacuit. At the time, the center of the town was Cabigsing, then known as Inventario.Chinese families moved into the area about the same period, first settling in Langeblangeban. The first Chinese settlers were named Lim, Chin, Liao, Edsan, Ambao, Que-Ke, Lim Piao, Yu His, Pe Phan, and Pe Khen.[9]
It remained part of Taytay until 1916, when it formally became an independent municipality.[9] The new municipality was then known as Bacuit.
On June 17, 1954, Republic Act No. 1140[10] was approved, changing the name of the town from Bacuit to its present name, El Nido, after theedible nests ofswiftlets (collocalia fuciphaga) found in the crevices of itslimestonecliffs. These nests,nido inSpanish, the main ingredient for the gourmet nido soup, are being sold at approximatelyUS$ 3,000 per kilogram.[6]
In 1957, the following barrios were created:
El Nido is situated in Bacuit Bay and covers a land area of 465.1 square kilometres (179.6 sq mi).[6][13] It is in the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan and is bordered by theLinapacan Strait to the north, theSulu Sea to the east, and theSouth China Sea to the west. El Nido includes 45 islands and islets,[9] each with their own unique geological formations. The highest peak is at Cadlao Island, towering up to 640 metres (2,100 ft) above sea level.[14]
Together withSulu Archipelago,Sabah, and theSouth China Sea, El Nido, being part of Palawan, is located in the tectonically active and seismically activeSunda Plate,[15] a plate that is entirely separate from thePhilippine Mobile Belt to which the rest of the Philippines belongs. ThePermian toPaleogene rocks and limestone cliffs of El Nido are similar to those that can be found inHa Long Bay inVietnam,Guilin inChina, as well asKrabi inThailand, all of which are part of theSunda Plate.[15][16]
El Nido is about 420 kilometres (260 mi) south-west ofManila,[9] and 269 kilometres (167 mi) north-east ofPuerto Princesa, capital of Palawan.[6]
El Nido is politically subdivided into eighteenbarangays. Each barangay consists ofpuroks and some havesitios.
Four of these barangays are situated in thePoblación (town proper) and are also known by their respective zones.
| Climate data for El Nido, Palawan | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27 (81) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 32 (90) | 32 (90) | 31 (88) | 25 (77) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 28 (82) | 30 (86) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 20 (68) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (74) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 6 (0.2) | 0 (0) | 12 (0.5) | 39 (1.5) | 117 (4.6) | 351 (13.8) | 435 (17.1) | 375 (14.8) | 159 (6.3) | 159 (6.3) | 45 (1.8) | 12 (0.5) | 1,710 (67.4) |
| Average rainy days | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 154 |
| Source: World Weather Online(modelled/calculated data, not measured locally)[17] | |||||||||||||
The climate in El Nido is distinguished by two seasons: dry, from December to May, and wet, from June to November. April and May are typically the driest, while the heaviest rainfall occurs around August. The northeast wind blows from December to March, occasionally interchanging with the north wind from December to February. The southwest wind is felt from June to October while the east wind, the mildest of all winds, blows during April and May.[18]
The average temperature ranges from a low of 22 °C (72 °F) to a high of 33 °C (91 °F). The coolest temperatures are usually experienced during January, while the hottest temperatures are felt in April and May.[18]
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| Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[19][20][21][22][23] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the 2020 census, the population of El Nido was 50,494 people,[24] with a density of 55 inhabitants per square kilometre or 140 inhabitants per square mile.
The first town census of 1918 showed El Nido as having a population of 1,789. In the period between 1980 and 1990, the population grew to 18,832.[9][25] Based on the 2000 census, the annual growth rate is 3.58%.[26] This is higher than the average annual population growth rate for the whole country for the periods 1990 to 2000 and 2000 to 2007, which were only 2.34% and 2.04% respectively.[27]
According to the 2007 census, El Nido has a population of 30,249 people in 6,311 households in its eighteenbarangays. Eighty-five percent of the population are living in rural barangays, while only fifteen percent of them are in thePoblación area.[28]
The original settlers of El Nido were theTagbanwas andCuyunons. Throughout the centuries, there has been a constant migration ofTagalogs,Hiligaynon,Bicolanos,Ilocanos,Chinese andSpaniards. There are also a small number ofJapanese andKoreans. Intermarriage between ethnic and linguistic groups is not uncommon in El Nido.
The main language isFilipino (Tagalog). In addition, many people are very proficient inEnglish,Hiligaynon, otherVisayan languages, andBicolano. A small but significant percentage[specify] of the population speaks or comprehendsCuyonon, the native language of the Cuyo Islands and most parts of Palawan.
Poverty incidence of El Nido
Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]
The main industries of El Nido arefishing,agriculture andtourism, being a populardiving location.Edible nest-gathering[37] is also an economic activity, although it is seasonal.Coconut,palay,cashew,banana, andmango are its major products.[13]
As a tourist destination, El Nido has been included inCondé Nast Traveler's list of "20 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World,"[38] andCNNgo has called it the best beach and island destination in the Philippines[39][40] for its "extraordinary natural splendor and ecosystem."[41]
El Nido is governed by a mayor and a vice mayor, who are elected to three-year terms. Themayor is the executive head and leads the municipality's departments to execute the municipal ordinances and improve public services. Thevice mayor heads the legislative council consisting of eight councilors, more commonly known asSangguniang Bayan members. Themunicipal council is in charge of creating the municipality's policies in the form ofordinances andresolutions.
The municipality seal shows a silhouette of the territory of El Nido inside an armor-shaped picture. The famous marble and limestone cliffs represent the nesting grounds of theswiftlets. Behind it is the oil rig, representing the areas within its administrative boundaries that are found to be rich inoil andnatural gas such as theMalampaya Sound, which is 50 kilometers[42] within its borders, and the Cadlao Oilfield in Bacuit Bay area.[43] At the bottom of the picture is the rice field, with the carabao head superimposed at the center, and on the other side, the sea, with the fish and the squid situated in the middle, representingfarming andfishing, the two main industries of its people.
In 1984, the then Ministry of Natural Resources issued Administrative Order No. 518, establishing a 360 square kilometres (140 sq mi) maritime area in El Nido as a turtle sanctuary. In 1991, the rest of Bacuit Bay, including its island and islets, was proclaimed by the Philippine government as a marine reserve. A year later, by Administrative Order No. 14 Series of 1992 of theDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources, this area was expanded even further. In 1998, its status was elevated to that of a protected area, including theterrestrial ecosystem of El Nido and portions ofTaytay.[44]
TheEl Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area is the largest marine sanctuary in the Philippines.[45] Itsprotected area status accords the areas of El Nido and portions of its neighboring town ofTaytay[44] a place among the eight priority sites[14][46] in the country in need ofconservation. The protected area covers a total of 903.21 square kilometers,[47] of which 40% are terrestrial and 60% marine.[48]
The provincial government has mobilized its citizenry to actively participate in various environmental conservation and protection programs, such as the "Bantay Gubat" for forest protection, and the "Bantay Dagat" for marine life preservation.[42] Patrolling within the protected areas, especially in the marine zones is regularly conducted with the help of theWorld Wildlife Fund - Philippines that allocates funds to support said activity. Another logistic support is by the concerned municipal governments. The Palawan Council for Sustainable Management (PCSD) provides legal assistance during the litigation of cases filed by the Protected Area Office (PAO).[47]
As a protected area, the Philippine government spends approximatelyUS$ 180,000 annually to protect and manage its natural resources.[14][48] Tourists are encouraged to payUS$ 0.50 per day as a conservation fee for the duration of their visit to the Municipal Tourism Office or the Office of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), which are housed in the Municipal Building in Calle Real.[48] This was embodied in the PAMB Resolution No. 08 series 2000 from the National Integrated Protected Area Program (NIPAP) of theDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).[42]
El Nido, one of the country's most diverse ecosystems, is protected for its unique flora, fauna, and pristine geologic formations. These include:
El Nido Airport, also known as Lio Airport, is the primary and sole airport serving the town of El Nido.[50]
The main roads of El Nido are organized around a set of radial and circumferential roads that radiate and circle in and around the town proper and its rural barangays. Its interconnected roads are connected to the major highway that leads toPuerto Princesa, Palawan's capital. Daily buses and jeepneys depart at San Jose Terminal in Puerto Princesa for El Nido.Tricycles are used for short-distance trips around town proper.
The 60 kilometres (37 mi) national road between Taytay and El Nido was rehabilitated, and this has helped boost tourism and business activity in the area.[51]
The main port in El Nido, which is under the jurisdiction of thePhilippine Ports Authority (PPA), is located inBuena Suerte (Zone II), although several small and accessible wharves, such as the San Fernando pier, are being used in other rural barangays. Several ferries and other sea vessels owned by Atienza Shipping Lines and San Nicholas Shipping Lines have regular trips from Manila to El Nido.
ThePoblación area is part of the service areas of electric utility, Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO), a division of theNational Power Corporation operating with 0.423megawatts of electricity.[52] Other barangays usesolar panels and electric generators. The island resorts generate their own electricity. Water services are accessible in protected water tables and facilities. Ten percent of the population can avail of the 'Level II Water System', or communal faucet,[52] by the municipal government, while the majority of them are still dependent on deep wells and natural springs. Internet services are available in a few establishments with wirelessbroadband access.[53]
There are two schools district offices which govern all educational institutions within the municipality. They oversee the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.[54] These are the El Nido del Sur Schools District, and El Nido del Norte Schools District.
El Nido has more than ten public elementary and secondary schools located in most of its barangays. El Nido Central School and El Nido National High School, which are both located at thePoblacion, have the largest facilities and number of students, among these schools. Recently, thePalawan State University opened its El Nido campus in New Ibajay, offering extramural programs and studies. Some of the lower-grade schools are located in Calitang, such as Calitang Elementary School, Pasadeña Elementary School, Barutoan Elementary School, Bucana Elementary School, and Lamoro Elementary School.
Media from Commons
Travel information from WikivoyagePlaces adjacent to El Nido, Palawan | |
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 Province ofPalawan | |
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Puerto Princesa (capital and largest city) | |
| Municipalities | |
| Highly urbanized city |
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| Cultural |
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| Natural | ||
