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Lio Beach (El Nido): Complete Guide 2019

This guide will give you a realistic review of Nacpan beach.

No BS, no overly descriptive writing, no pictures of us in bikinis. Just good honest review of Nacpan beach with real photos.

Use the filters below to find the exact information that you need.

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Overview

Most beaches in El Nido are beautiful. Nacpan beach is no different.

The beach stretches out for 3km and is made of soft yellow sand.  Lush green palm trees line the beach and lush green islands surround the beach landscape.

The most famous part of the beach is on the far southern tip.  This is where Nacpan meets neighbouring Calitang beach. This is also where most visitors take their Instagram pictures.

The south part of the beach is the busiest with a handful of shacks (bars) playing random styles of music. If you are a backpacker spending the day drinking in the sun head to Mad Monkey Hostel which is the liveliest spot

If you are looking for a beach to sunbathe, eat, sleep and relax the north of Nacpan beach is quieter. You might also prefer to visit Lio beach which is quieter than Nacpan.  It is also closer to El Nido, has better food options and it is equally as beautiful.

RATINGS

Liveliness:  2 out of 5 stars
Hassle on the beach:  1 out of 5 stars
Instagramable:  4 out of 5 stars
Ease of beach access:  2 out of 5 stars
Wifi signal: 1 out of 5 stars
Water visibility:  4 out of 5 stars

Traveller type: Backpackers, couples
 

FACTS

  • Length of the beach: 3km
  • Closest town: 20km from El Nido (4km non-paved road)
  • Awards: Rated 8th in Trip Advisors Travellers Choice ‘Best Beaches in Asia’

 

Getting there

Most visitors to Nacpan start from El Nido centre. From here the most popular transport options include

  • Tricycle (takes 1 1/2 hour).  It takes a little longer to get to Nacpan by tricycle due to the 4km of dirt road leading up to Nacpan beach.  If it has been raining the night before you will likely get stuck once or twice in a muddy ditch.  With a little bartering, the cost will be 1,100 – 1500 pesos.
  • Moped Hire. (takes 45min – 1hour). There are plenty of places to rent a moped in El Nido and fill up with gas along your journey. The average price for a moped is 600 pesos a day.
  • Tour E (half day tour). You can book ‘Tour E’ from any one of the many tour operators in El Nido town.  All operators sell standardised tours including Tour A, B, B, D, and E.  During Tour E you will visit various destinations including Nacpan beach.
  • Shuttle Bus (takes 1 1/2 hour). Aircon shuttle buses offer hotel pick up from El Nido and drop off services to Nacpan beach for around 600 pesos.

 

The trip from El Nido to Nacpan beach is pleasant.  You’ll see mountains and rice paddocks along the way along with a few grazing cows.  Most of the roads are ok although you will find potholes along the way.  When you reach the sign for Nacpan the roads become dusty and bumpy.

Images of roads and scenery from El Nido to Nacpan beach 

The first 20km of the road going from El Nido to Nacpan beach are mostly smooth with pleasant mountain views.

You can easily pick up gasoline from various shops along the way.

Some parts of the road have loose gravel, potholes and roadworks that you need to look out for.

Look out for this sign around 20km along your journey.  Turn left when you see it which will take you to Nacpan beach.  From this point, the roads become dusty and bumpy.

This is the first obstacle that you will have to navigate once you turn down into the final 4km of your journey to Nacpan

Most of the road leading up to Nacpan beach are bumpy and dusty.

 

ACCOMMODATION

The following accommodation are the closest to the beach.

 

 

THINGS TO DO

  • Massage: There were 2-3 massage beds set up in the middle of the beach offering messages for 500 pesos per hour.
  • Hike: You can do a mini hike on the hill next to the twin beach.
  • Kayak: There is a shack close to the middle of the beach offering kayaks for 250 pesos per hour.
  • Paddleboarding: There is a shack close to the middle of the beach offering paddleboards for 250 pesos per hour but the water is choppy so it isn’t the best beach for paddleboarding.
  • Beach volleyball: There is a volleyball net at Mad Monkeys Hostel.  If you are staying or drinking there you can join in a communal game.
  • Eat & Drink: Small shacks lined along the beach offer seafood and local food.  They also offer cocktails, beers and daily happy hours.

 

FACILITIES

  • Toilets: toilets are poor by western standards.  The best toilets are at Mad Monkeys but they are still not great.
  • Sunbeds: There are 20 or so sunbeds available in the middle of the beach which you can rent.
  • Bars and restaurants: Shacks are scattered along the beach.
  • Watersports rentals: There is a shack in the middle of the beach offering rental of paddleboards and kayaks.
  • Wifi: like most beaches in El Nido wifi is not good.

 

Images of Nacpan beach and its facilities

This picture is pointing towards the southern side of the beach.

This picture is pointing towards the southern side of the beach.

Sunbeds are available in the centre of the beach.

Bars and restaurants (shacks) are scattered along the beach.  You will find most of them towards the middle of the beach.

Walking south along Nacpan you will find Mad Monkey Hostel. This is a picture of a typical scene around 4pm.  There are lots of young travellers drinking on the beach with a lively atmosphere.

Beach volleyball outside Mad Monkeys Hostel.

As you walk to the far southern tip you will find twin beach where Nacpan meets Calitang where it becomes alot quieter.  You will find a few fishermen huts, boats and crabbing nets scattered around.

Here are a few pictures of the twin beach where Nacpan meets Calitang.

 

 

SUBMIT YOUR EDIT?

Do you know something about Nacpan Beach that we have not included?

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No problem, submit your edit here and we will review it.

If it looks like a good inclusion we will add it and credit you with a link.

 

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You have full permission to use our images, we only ask for attribution if you do:)

 

THANKS TO?

The following contributors made this resource possible

Eric the Lizard
Yes that's right... I'm a lizard with a lot of love for all things Hawaiian. On a mission to bring a little colour into your life. Catch my tweets @EricLizard1.

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