TL;DR: El Nido is a municipality in northern Palawan with 18 barangays, a land area of about 923 km² and a 2020 census population of 50,494; its airport, Lio, uses the IATA code ENI, and the town sits roughly 240 km by road from Puerto Princesa.
Most travellers know El Nido as a picture of limestone cliffs and turquoise lagoons, but far fewer know what the name actually covers on a map. “El Nido, Palawan” is not just a beach town: it is a whole municipality stretching across much of northern Palawan. This guide focuses on the hard facts and figures specifically for travellers and planners who want to understand El Nido’s size, layout and logistics before booking. It complements our where is El Nido guide with a numbers-first reference you can scan in a minute.
The unique angle: every figure below is chosen because it changes a practical decision, such as where to stay, how long transfers take or how many islands you can realistically see.
El Nido at a Glance
| Fact | Figure | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative status | Municipality of Palawan province (MIMAROPA region) | “El Nido” means the whole municipality, not just the town proper |
| Barangays | 18 | Beaches like Nacpan and Sibaltan are in different barangays, far from town |
| Land area | About 923 km² | Roughly 6% of Palawan’s land area; distances inside El Nido are real |
| Population (2020 census) | 50,494 | A small population hosting large visitor numbers in peak season |
| Airport | Lio Airport, IATA code ENI | Direct flights from Manila save the long van ride |
| Road distance from Puerto Princesa | Roughly 240 km, about 5–6 hours by van | Plan a full travel day or an overnight stop |
| Islands in Bacuit Bay | Commonly cited as about 45 islands and islets | The basis of the lettered island hopping tours |
Population and land area figures are from the 2020 Census of Population and Housing published by the Philippine Statistics Authority, as compiled by PhilAtlas.
The 18 Barangays of El Nido
El Nido is divided into 18 barangays, the smallest unit of local government in the Philippines. Four are classed as poblacion (town proper) barangays, which together form the busy tourist centre most visitors think of as “El Nido town.”
- Poblacion barangays: Buena Suerte, Corong-Corong, Maligaya and Masagana.
- Other barangays: Aberawan, Bagong Bayan, Barotuan, Bebeladan, Bucana, Mabini, Manlag, New Ibajay, Pasadeña, San Fernando, Sibaltan, Teneguiban, Villa Libertad and Villa Paz.
In the 2020 census, Bucana — home to much of the area around Nacpan Beach — was among the most populous barangays with over 5,700 residents, while the poblacion barangays are smaller but far more built up. Our where to stay by barangay guide turns this map into accommodation advice, and our Bucana village guide covers the Nacpan side in detail.
Size and Distances Inside El Nido
With around 923 km² of land, El Nido is larger than many visitors expect. A tricycle ride from the town proper to Corong-Corong takes only minutes, but reaching Nacpan Beach typically takes 40 minutes or more by tricycle or scooter, and Sibaltan on the eastern coast is roughly an hour or more away depending on road conditions. Lio Airport sits a short drive north of town.
This matters when you book a hotel. A resort listed as “El Nido” could be in the heart of town, on a private island in Bacuit Bay, or on a remote eastern beach. Always check the barangay and the transfer time before you book. As a rule of thumb: stay in the poblacion barangays or Corong-Corong if you want walkable restaurants and the shortest trip to the island hopping pier; choose Bucana for Nacpan’s long beach and a slower pace; and consider Sibaltan or other eastern barangays only if you want a quiet, village-style stay and do not mind longer transfers for the main Bacuit Bay tours. Most lettered island hopping tours depart from the town beach area, so every extra kilometre from town adds to your daily commute.
Population and Visitor Pressure
To put the figures in context, El Nido’s 50,494 residents represent a little over 5% of Palawan’s provincial population, yet the municipality is one of the province’s best-known tourism names alongside Coron and Puerto Princesa. Growth has been uneven: between the 2015 and 2020 censuses, several outlying barangays such as Bucana, Corong-Corong and Manlag grew noticeably, while some of the older poblacion barangays recorded slight declines as land in the centre shifted from homes to guesthouses, shops and restaurants.
El Nido’s population grew from tens of thousands a generation ago to 50,494 in the 2020 census, driven largely by tourism-related jobs. In peak months, visitor numbers can rival or exceed the resident population of the town proper on any given day. That imbalance explains several local rules visitors encounter, from environmental fees to daily caps at sensitive sites such as the lagoons. Our environmental fee guide explains what you pay and why. For visitors, the practical lesson is simple: book popular tours and accommodation early in peak months, expect busy beaches in the town proper around midday, and consider the quieter barangays if crowds matter to you. Supporting locally owned guesthouses, restaurants and guides also keeps more of your spending within the community.
Islands, Lagoons and Protected Areas
Bacuit Bay, west of the town, is commonly described as holding about 45 islands and islets, many of them sheer limestone karst formations. Much of El Nido’s land and sea falls within the El Nido–Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, established in the late 1990s under the Philippines’ protected areas system and managed with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. These protections are why lagoon entries are regulated and why some sites limit visitors per day. The bay and surrounding waters support coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves, and the karst islands host caves, hidden beaches and enclosed lagoons. For travellers, the numbers translate into choice: you could join a different tour every day for a week and still not visit every island, which is why many visitors combine the lettered tours with a private boat day to reach quieter spots.
For a tour-by-tour breakdown of which islands you can see, read our Bacuit Archipelago islands guide and compare Tour A vs Tour B.
Climate and Seasons in Numbers
El Nido has a tropical climate with two broad seasons shaped by the monsoons. The drier northeast monsoon (amihan) generally runs from about November or December to May, and the wetter southwest monsoon (habagat) from about June to October, according to PAGASA. Daytime highs typically sit around 30–33 °C most of the year, with sea temperatures warm enough for comfortable swimming year-round.
- Peak dry months: roughly January to May, with March to May the hottest and calmest for boat tours.
- Wet months: roughly June to October, when showers are frequent and some tours may be cancelled for rough seas.
- Shoulder months: November and early December, when rain eases and prices are often lower than peak.
Weather drives logistics: when the coast guard suspends sea travel due to wind or a tropical cyclone signal, island hopping and ferries stop, so build at least one buffer day into any itinerary. Our monsoon explainer breaks down what each season means for tours.
Name, History and Airport Code
The municipality was historically known as Bacuit and was renamed El Nido in the mid-20th century. The new name — Spanish for “the nest” — refers to the edible-nest swiftlets (locally called balinsasayaw) whose nests are found in the limestone cliffs. You can dig deeper into the past in our El Nido history guide.
For flights, El Nido’s gateway is Lio Airport, which uses the IATA code ENI. Puerto Princesa International Airport uses PPS, and Busuanga (Coron) uses USU. Lio Airport is small and served mainly by a limited number of daily flights from Manila, so fares can be higher than flying into Puerto Princesa and transferring by road. Many travellers fly into PPS and take the van north, or fly into USU and take a ferry from Coron. Our Palawan airport codes guide explains which code to search for depending on your route.
Key Takeaways
- El Nido is a municipality of 18 barangays, not a single beach town.
- The four poblacion barangays (Buena Suerte, Corong-Corong, Maligaya, Masagana) form the tourist centre.
- About 923 km² of land means transfers to Nacpan or Sibaltan take 40–60+ minutes.
- The 2020 census population was 50,494.
- Lio Airport (IATA: ENI) is the fastest way in; Puerto Princesa (PPS) is roughly 240 km by road.
- Bacuit Bay has about 45 islands and islets, much of it within a protected area.
FAQ
What is the IATA code for El Nido?
El Nido’s Lio Airport uses the IATA code ENI. Puerto Princesa’s airport is PPS and Busuanga (Coron) is USU.
How many barangays are in El Nido, Palawan?
El Nido has 18 barangays, including four poblacion (town proper) barangays: Buena Suerte, Corong-Corong, Maligaya and Masagana.
What is the population of El Nido?
The 2020 Census of Population and Housing recorded 50,494 residents in the municipality of El Nido.
How big is El Nido?
El Nido has a land area of about 923 square kilometres, roughly 6% of Palawan province’s total land area.
How far is El Nido from Puerto Princesa?
Roughly 240 km by road, which usually takes about five to six hours by van including stops.
How many islands are in El Nido?
Bacuit Bay is commonly described as having about 45 islands and islets, which form the basis of El Nido’s island hopping tours.
About the Author
This guide was compiled by the El Nido Hotels Ranking editorial team, with input from local operators and ongoing on-the-ground updates.
