El Nido and Tour C (Philippines)

After days at the sand flea beach Nacpan, we returned to El Nido via bumpy roads in a van. Thank God, not again with the tricycle.

This time we stayed at La Salangane, a tip from the Lonely Planet. The price is quite similar to Forever Blessed, location directly on the beach - the rooms are very quaint (picture will follow, it is on my loved one's computer due to water damage to my camera).

We spent the day hanging out in the village, enjoyed pancakes and realized how little the Nest has to offer if you are not lying on the beach.

The Pancake Shop and behind it Forever Blessed (our first hostel)... the second floor is under construction

On the following day (we wasted the evening at Art Café) we set off on Tour C. This tour was even more crowded than Tour A and in some cases really questionable how many tourists were allowed in caves, lagoons, or on the viewpoint at the shrine. The Philippine Tourism Authority has to come up with something, especially the viewpoint with its steep and dangerous ascent (if you fall, you land on rocky spikes and are probably dead) needs to be secured. It is assumed that more and more tourists will come to the area in the coming years.

Attached are some impressions of the lagoons, beaches, and also the viewpoint. The discouraging example at the beginning shows non-swimmers with vests being pulled to a hidden beach (entrance/exit see little hole on the left edge of the picture).

In total, we visited Helicopter Island (looks like a helicopter) with great snorkeling opportunities and a beautiful beach.

Afterwards, we visited the aforementioned Secret Beach, our Lunch Beach, and the Shrine. The Shrine itself was not impressive, but the view was even more beautiful.

2 pictures below, Helicopter Island Beach

we are in the middle, on the right the helicopter

Lunch Beach

Secret Beach

it is also possible without crowds - you just have to endure

Lagoon - crowds of people (mostly non-swimmers) - all have to go through this small hole at the top (see picture 1)

bizarre beauty

The view from the Shrine, whoever falls here has lost. Note the boats, quite a few tourists up here

the Shrine from below, the church and annex building are already abandoned and desecrated - not worth taking photos - the view makes up for it

Our conclusion about Tour C: The beauty is even more wild, it is even more difficult to get to the places and sights. We enjoyed Tour A more, probably because we didn't want to swim with the masses. However, if you have enough time in El Nido, you should still book and enjoy both tours.