Sometimes, it pays to (politely) barge into a conversation to ask questions. I found the cheapest accommodation in El Nido this way. A couple of young women who were ahead of the queue for a lunch stop at Roxas happened to be living in El Nido and one of them knew where I could stay for the night (three nights actually). She brought me to a nondescript seaside cottage a stone’s throw from the bus terminal which also happened to be the local wet market.
Cheapest Accommodation in El Nido
Magos Cottage was first established in 1994 before El Nido became famous for its majestic limestone karst formations rising out of cerulean waters. The cottage is owned and operated by Victor Magos and is right within his home property. The structure is rather aged and could use some facelift, but it was sufficient for my need.
Upon hearing that the room rate is only P200 (US$5) a day, I did not think twice and paid for my entire stay right away (if you hear of anything cheaper, please let us know in the comments!). The no-fan but well-ventilated room was actually big enough to accommodate two people in bed and another two on the (bamboo) floor. Had I shared the room with one other person, I would have only paid P100 a night! Not bad in a place where basic accommodation for two runs at P500 during peak season (P300 during off-peak).
At this (really cheap) rate, I was willing to embrace all the “discomforts” that came with it. And there were a few (which I was quite used to). What was important to me at the time was that the cottage looked safe enough for a few nights’ stay.
Magos Cottage veranda
The view from the veranda
Magos Cottage room
Power outages are scheduled in El Nido
- First, you will have to walk-in for reservation. The owner did not have his cellphone number at the time of my inquiry nor does he maintain a website. He is rather well-known in the area so just ask for the direction of Magos Cottages upon arrival at the bus terminal located in the vicinity of the ‘Pamilihang Bayan ng El Nido” (El Nido Public Market). Or, you can walk back from the bus terminal past an air-conditioned accommodation (you don’t have to cross the street), turn right at the first small junction you see from the terminal and walk to the direction of the bay until you reach the last structure on the right. The signage has faded but if you see a cottage covered in foliage, you have arrived.
- There was no electricity on the first night of my stay. Electricity in El Nido runs from 2PM until 6AM (unlike the Underground River area which did not have electricity altogether, just generator power). Because of the unexpected surge in tourist traffic since the Underground River gained worldwide fame and the consequent growth of businesses that catered to vacationers, power supply on this side of the province has since been “rationed”: one part of the town would have to be outaged so another could have electricity for the day. Thankfully, there was power on the second and final day of my stay in Corong-Corong (although the weather was less cooperative than I would have wanted).
- The town in El Nido has slow Internet connection though fast enough for e-mail and simple uploads. In Corong-Corong (a baranggay or smallest political unit just outside of El Nido Town), there was Internet connection with speed sufficient for e-mails.
- The toilet and bath was shared by four rooms and there was no running water. But the owner was diligent in refilling the water containers so there was no need to draw water from the ground well after someone else has used it up. The flush-type T&B was considerably clean but could use some upgrades.
- The cottage foundation is raised from the ground so the entire structure shakes if someone heavy moves. A big-framed Middle Eastern guest occupied another room, and he quite made his presence felt every time he came and went.
- The cottage is also near the bay where a fishing community lives, so a cacophony of sounds may be heard well into the night and at dawn. The owner of the cottage is also open to his neighbors, so expect to share the ground well with people from the fishing village. The cramped space near the veranda is also used as a sort of garage for motorcycles, so people come and go to leave and retrieve their vehicles. Children also come in unbidden, so you might find yourself in their company when you least expect it.
Magos Cottage A Fair Bargain During Peak Season
The karst massif that spans El Nido Town and Corong Corong Beach
Despite these less-than-ideal circumstances, Magos Cottage is right on Corong-Corong Beach which is away from the tourist crowds that throng El Nido Town. The two rooms on one side face the imposing karst monolith that spans El Nido Town and Corong-Corong and offer a glimpse of Bacuit Bay. Even the veranda faces the bay if not for the foliage that block the view.
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Photos by Cherry Vic Patalita
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Article by Chris
Chris had a passion to contribute to society especially to fellow travelers like himself. He also had a passion for Southeast Asia and frequently visited. While brainstorming ideas, he decided that a travel blog dedicated to his favorite countries, Thailand and Singapore, could be more beneficial than any guidebook. Only one year later did the blog’s success bring in more writers, more countries, and more readers.
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