El Nido: Sunset at Corong-Corong beach

While island-hopping is *the* thing to do in El Nido, Palawan, it isn’t the only thing to do.

Taking a break between island-hopping days (because, you know, it’s such a tough job!), Marlon and I hired a tricycle to explore El Nido by land. Tricycles in El Nido are serious, hefty, all-terrain metal workhorses, and it’s easy to get one in town. Prices vary depending on your chosen destination; we managed to negotiate a full-day road trip to two beaches for Php 1,300.

Most island-hopping tours depart from the main waterfront of El Nido, but ours took off from Corong-Corong beach, a few kilometers south of town proper.

When we returned to Corong-Corong at the end of the tour, this brief glimpse of the beach at sundown made me curious about coming back for another look.

With a determined grumble, our diesel-powered chariot charged up the steep, winding road from El Nido town towards Corong-Corong beach.

At the top of the hill, this view opened up and a tiny squeal of delight escaped me, prompting our driver to pull over to the side of the road. “Picture muna, ma’am?” he said with a chuckle.

He pointed out our destination: Las Cabanas, a secluded resort at the southernmost tip of Corong-Corong beach.

From the road, we followed an up-and-down muddy dirt path about 100m toward the general direction of the beach, confident that good things awaited at the end.

And indeed, they did: a stretch of golden sand, with only a few day-trippers…

and the whitewashed lodge and nipa huts of Las Cabanas.

The rustic charm of Las Cabanas seem to be a good middle ground between the five-star luxury and backpacker options. If I ever returned to El Nido with Tala, I’d opt for a more laid-back vacation away from town, and stay here instead.

This end of Corong-Corong beach is a great place to enjoy the last few hours of the day, walking along the shore…

sinking down into one of these white loungers…

and savoring a frozen margarita for two as the sun sets. (Yes, this is where my New Year’s toast was from.)

Remote, relaxed and absolutely gorgeous. (A drink always helps, too. Don’t quote me on that.) Not a bad way to unwind from the rigors of island-hopping at all!