They call it paradise. Or if you ask the creator of “Peanuts,” Charles Schulz might say “happiness is white sand and karst limestones. And oh, turquoise waters.”
El Nido has already been on the path to mainstream popularity before another Palawan attraction six hours away gained worldwide acclaim after being voted as one of the newest 7 Wonders of Nature. El Nido has seen a dramatic increase in its tourist traffic after the inclusion of the Puerto Princesa Underground River to the coveted lineup of natural wonders of the world. When visitors are turned away from the subterranean river because of full booking (visitor entry permits are issued with a daily quota), they head up north and console themselves in the white sand beaches and secret lagoons and teeming underwater world of El Nido.
I have not been to Vietnam yet, but the first time I saw Bacuit Bay, I was taken aback with its likeness to images I’ve seen of Halong Bay (which is also one of the world’s New7Wonders of Nature). Towering karst outcrops carpeted in foliage and veiled in morning mist dot the bay and provide a dramatic introduction – or finale – to Palawan, Philippines’ rising tourist mecca.
I’ve attempted to capture a few of El Nido’s highlights and, like any star-struck first-timer, wished that I could have camped overnight in beaches in between island-hops to really scratch the surface deeper. El Nido is a beauty all its own and deserves to be accorded praise independent of any comparison.
Click here for next article (Palawan series) – How to Get to El Nido from Puerto Princesa >>
Photos by Cherry Vic Patalita
