El Nido

The striking and dramatic seascape of El Nido in north Palawan is a paradise. El Nido means nest in Spanish, named after the swiftlet nests found in the karst cliffs everywhere here. A Chinese delicacy in birds nest soup and harvested here for centuries.

We had heard stories of sublime azure seas, coral reefs and powdery white sand beaches. The town itself is a boom town, where tourism has transformed local life, and continues to warp it. That was a disappointment, paradise lost. But there is still no denying the stunning beauty of this area and the beguiling Bacuit Archipelago just offshore.