Explore El Nido by Motorbike (Part II: Where to Go: Nacpan Beach)

June 5, 2011

Explore El Nido by Motorbike
Part II: Where to go: Nacpan Beach

Why go to Nacpan Beach: 
Nacpan Beach is a pristine white sand beach with clear aquamarine waters. Visitors do not frequent this beach so the water remains crystal clear and the beachfront remains clean. They say that what you see at Nacpan beach is what the beach in front of El Nido town used to look like. But with the many resorts built in front of it and the indiscriminate anchoring of bancas in front of the beach, the quality of the beachfront of El Nido town has deteriorated.

Nacpan Beach does not have resorts in front of it except for a large beach house owned by a Swiss national (see below some photos of the beach house). The house of the caretaker is beside the beach house. There are no resorts or other structures around it because the owner of the beach house bought at least 3 hectares of land around it. Anyone can still go there and use the beach because it remains public property. So the beach is still open to the public.

By motorbike, it took us 1 1/2 hours to get there, with motorcycle speed from 30-50kph. We had to make a lot of stops to verify our location and we also couldn't ride fast because majority of the roads going there are unpaved.

The series of photos below will show you why you should visit Nacpan Beach:


CENTER OF THE BEACH



The fine white sand

THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BEACH



THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BEACH


 SOME PHOTOS OF THE BEACH HOUSE AT NACPAN BEACH




Facilities of El Nido (Lio) Airport, Palawan

June 3, 2011

Facilities at El Nido (Lio) Airport, Palawan



Arrival at El Nido Airport
Entering El Nido airport


The Welcoming Committee of El Nido airport


Arrival area of El Nido airport

Waiting for our luggage at the arrival lounge
Baggage claim area

Airport transfers

Airport ground transportation also uses the runway

Departure from El Nido Airport
Airport safety inspection in the middle
Check-in counter at right

Departure Lounge

Free drinks (coffee, iced tea, water) at the departure lounge


TV at departure lounge
Toilets at departure lounge


My experience riding SEAIR's 19-seater LET plane to El Nido, Palawan

June 2, 2011


My experience riding SEAIR's 19-seater LET plane to El Nido, Palawan


Outside the plane

Arrival at El Nido Airport
As you can see, runway is not paved.

 More views of our small plane


Departure from El Nido airport
You can see the walking distance from the departure lounge to the airplane

 Boarding the plane at El Nido airport

Inside the plane
You can see the 1-2 seat configuration of the plane
View of the seats
Pilot and co-pilot are at viewing distance

What's different about riding a 19-seater plane

1. At check-in, you are weighed together with your hand carry luggage. 

2. You cannot choose your seats. 
Your seat assignment depends on the combined weight of yourself and your hand-carry luggage. So the airline personnel do not assign seats until they know your weight. I presume that the purpose is to keep the plane's balance during flight.


As you can see above, the seat assignment is handwritten.
You find out your seat assignment only upon actual boarding of the plan.

3. There is no toilet inside the plane.
You  should visit the airport toilet just before boarding.

This is what should have been the location of a toilet

4. The cabin is not pressurized so at take off and landing the aircon is turned off.

5. The whole flight is very noisy. 
Because the plane is so small, you can hear the engine running all throughout the flight. 



Here  is a video of the SEAIR plane taking off from El Nido airport.


6. You cannot recline your seats.

7. There is no stewardess on board. 
The airline personnel informs you about the safety precaution after your board the plane and prior to take-off. Then he/she leaves the plane before take-off.

8. The plane flies low. 
Because the plane flies low all the time, you have a great view of the islands and buildings you pass during the whole flight.

9. The plane can leave earlier than the indicated departure time if all the passengers have already checked in. 
Our flight from Manila to El Nido had only 12 passengers. Once the 12 passengers had  checked-in and the plane deemed ready for flight, we were called to board the plane 30 minutes earlier than the actual boarding time.


My tip:


1. Make sure to stay within the allowed weight limit of free luggage. 
Even if you're willing to pay for excess baggage, you cannot be sure they will accept your luggage at check-in for safety reasons.


2. Use the airport toilet just before boarding the plane to make sure you won't need to use one during flight. 
The airline personnel are considerate about a slight delay in boarding due to this reason.


3. Do not transfer seats or walk around during the flight. 
Seats were assigned carefully for the purpose of keeping the plane's balance during flight.


4. If you are prone to motion sickness, make sure to drink bonamine at least an hour before the flight (or at most, 24 hours before your arrival at the next destination). 
When a small plane encounters air pockets during flight, the turbulence is more strongly felt . The plane shakes a lot.

Where to get Supplies in El Nido Town

June 1, 2011

El Nido: Where to get Supplies in El Nido Town


Location of Stores





FARMACIA COMPRENDIO

FARMACIA COMPRENDIO
What to buy: groceries, medicines, water, snacks
Location: across El Nido church
Hours: 7am-12midnight
My tip: We preferred this store because it's easiest to find (it's across El Nido Church) and offers the widest variety of goods. We also like that it's open very early and closes late at night.


F.U. GENERAL MERCHANDISE

F.U. GENERAL MERCHANDISE
What to buy: ice cream, hardware supplies
Location: corner of
My tip: We also liked visiting this store because this is one of the few stores where we found ice cream. The other store is Midtown bakery but Midtown bakery closes early

OTHER STORES NEAR MARINA GARDEN RESORT:


VARGAS STORE

STORE BESIDE VARGAS STORE
ISST-INGGO STORE (ACROSS VARGAS STORE)










El Nido Church: St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church

May 31, 2011



El Nido Church: St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church

Mass Schedule

Inside the Church
The Church at Night

How to get there:

Everything in El Nido town is within walking distance of each other. You can easily find the Church by walking around El Nido town. To help you out, below is a map of El Nido town showing the location of the Church.