The twin beaches Nacpan and Calitang are a rising star in El Nido. If you prefer remote destinations, where you can relax and enjoy the views without being disturbed by music or tourists, you will absolutely love the Twin Beach.
It is actually a stretch of sand ending with a hill covered by palm trees. It’s the place where Nacpan Beach meets with Calitang Beach, one of the most secluded and pristine places in El Nido.
If you’re planning to visit the Twin Beach, read all the information below.
1. How to get to the Twin Beach
The Twin Beach is situated quite far from El Nido town, at about 20 kilometers away. The road is mostly good but the last 3 kilometers are quite bad since the road is not paved so make sure to be extra careful.
Below are the transport options to the Twin Beach, El Nido.
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Take a guided tour
Both Nacpan and Calitang Beach can be visited as part of the inland tour E. The tour also includes some waterfalls and it costs around 800 pesos.
Rent a motorbike
The easiest way to get around El Nido is by motorbike. You can rent a motorbike from your hotel’s reception or from El Nido town. Renting a motorbike costs around 600 pesos and the advantage is that you are the master of your schedule. I would also recommend visiting Las Cabanas Beach and Corong Corong Beach.
Take a tricycle
Taking a tricycle from El Nido town will cost you around 600 pesos one way (don’t forget to negotiate). If you are a group of 2 or more people, you can split the costs. Tricycles can accommodate up to 4 people.
2. Know before you go
There are a few things you should take into consideration before visiting the El Nido Twin Beach. As this is a remote place, there is no internet (no WiFi, no sim card internet). Make sure to download an offline map when visiting. Also, there are no ATMs at or near the Twin Beach. The closest ATMs are near the El Nido town. Bring all the cash you need with you.
I recommend visiting the Twin Beach as a half day trip from El Nido. It is situated quite far from the city and it might take more than 40 minutes to get to the beach.
There are a few restaurants and bars right on both Nacpan and Calitang Beach so you won’t have to worry about getting hungry. The prices are decent but pay extra attention to the final bill. We were asked to pay more than what we actually ordered.
There are no toilets or changing rooms on the beach but you can use the restaurants’ toilets.
3. About the Twin Beach, El Nido
These two beautiful beaches are two of the off-the-beaten-path attractions that El Nido has to offer. Isolated and far from the hustle and bustle of El Nido town, the Twin Beach feels like a breath of fresh air.
Don’t expect posh resorts or fancy restaurants. The Twin Beach is a place where you can reconnect with nature and relax. Calitang Beach and Nacpan Beach are quite different from one another. Below are a few more details about each of them.
-> Planning to go island hopping in El Nid? Read more about it here.
Calitang Beach
This stretch of sand is only about 300 meters long but it has some incredible views. You can see the limestone mountains on the horizon and on the right side of the beach, there is a small hill with some beautiful palm trees.
There are a few restaurants right on the beach where you can eat or buy some refreshments and the prices are really accessible. You can also buy water from the local village.
Out of the two twin beaches, Calitang Beach is the least popular one but I’m going to tell you a secret. Sunsets at Calitang Beach are out of this world! During sunset, the sky turns orange and pink and it reflects beautifully into the water. Truly a unique experience!
To read about other incredible locations to watch the sunset in El Nido, click here.
Nacpan Beach
Nacpan Beach is probably the longest beach I’ve ever seen. Being about 4 kilometers long, it can be tiring to walk from one end to the other. If you want to have a few restaurants nearby, I recommend going towards the end, near Calitang Beach. If you want to be a bit isolated, away from everyone, you should go towards the other end of the beach.
The crystal clear water of Nacpan Beach is perfect for swimming so don’t forget your swimming suit home!
Along the seashore, you will see some small wood houses belonging to the local fishermen. Fishing in El Nido is an important source of income for the local people. If you visit Nacpan Beach early in the morning, you’ll even see the local fishermen getting ready for work.
4. Other things to do in El Nido
You can’t leave El Nido without taking an island hopping tour. There are four standard tours but the most popular ones are tour A (read my full review here) and tour C. We chose tour A and loved it! It was hands-down one of our favorite activities in the Philippines.
To secure your spot, you can book these tours online.
- Book Tour A – The most popular and includes the best attractions but it can get crowded. It includes Small Lagoon or Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, 7 Commando Beach.
- Book Tour B – More relaxed but with awesome attractions. It includes Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Entalula Beach, Cudugnon Cave, Snorkeling.
- Book Tour C – Second most popular, with some of the best beaches. It includes Helicopter Island, Mantiloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Star Beach, Hidden Beach.
- Book Tour D – Short tour and less crowded. It includes Ipil Beach, Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan Beach, Natnat Beach, Bukal Beach.
5. Where to stay in El Nido
I’ve been searching for the best hotels to stay at in El Nido, for every budget. Below are my recommendations:
- Budget – Carandang Inn – close to city center, clean rooms, friendly owners
- Mid Budget – La Colonial – good location, beautiful pool, clean & spacious rooms, friendly staff
- Luxury – Frangipani – modern & clean rooms, beautiful design & view, breakfast included, good location
I hope you’ve found my guide about the Twin Beach in El Nido useful. This hidden paradise is perfect to escape the chaos of El Nido town and relax. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask me in the comments section below.
May the travel bug bite you!
Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!
This beach is such a dream! Can’t wait to visit El Nido in just a few days. Thanks for all these detailed tips & tricks. Love reading your blog!
Thank you so much! There are so many beautiful places in El Nido. Make sure to also check out Corong Corong Beach, Las Cabanas Beach and the 7 Commando Beach. They are incredible! Happy travels!