El Nido Resorts spans Miniloc and Lagen Islands, with Miniloc being the older property. Starting life as the humblest of dive camps in 1985, Miniloc Island Resort retains its rustic, paradise-in-the-middle-of-nowhere feel even after expanding into a 43-room property. With Water Cottages built on stilts, Seaview Rooms with an awe-inspiring view of the bay, Garden Rooms surrounded by tropical plants, Beachside Rooms built right on the beach, and Cliff Cottages nestled in the limestone cliffs, there’s something for everyone’s inner Robinson Crusoe. Snorkelling can be done right off the pier, landing the snorkeller right in the middle of schools of colorful reef fish. Based on a fish identification survey done by Drs. Gerry Allen and Mark Erdmann early this year, El Nido boasts of 694 confirmed species of fish, with 6 potential new species. In fact, the Miniloc house reef is one of the few places in the Indo-Pacific where you’re guaranteed to see several grown giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis), a fish prized by sport fishers for its fighting ability. For guests staying in Miniloc, the famous Big and Small Lagoons are just around the corner via kayak. Just be prepared for the serious paddling involved, as touring the Big Lagoon via kayak takes about an hour.
For those who just can’t leave life’s luxuries behind or are craving for a quieter atmosphere, Lagen Island Resort fulfills that need. Set inside a forested cove, guests in Lagen wake up to the loud calls of the endemic Palawan hornbill (Anthracoceros marchei). Lagen showcases Water Cottages built on the water, Forest Rooms and Forest Suites that border a lowland evergreen forest, and Beachfront Rooms that open to the white sand beach. Lagen’s additional features include a swimming pool with an amazing view of the sunset, a library with WiFi access, and a small Catholic chapel.
The all-inclusive packages offered by El Nido Resorts includes 19 activities, ranging from island hopping and a tour of the Lagoons to windsurfing, Hobie cat sailing, and an introductory dive for non-divers. For someone staying the standard length of 3 days/2 nights, there’s so much to do with not enough time to do it in. Planning your day-to-day itinerary is the task of your Guest Activity Coordinator. All guests on activities are accompanied by a Marine Sports Guide. These guys are trained in the use of the equipment, first aid, and nature interpretation.
