Packing for El Nido requires thinking differently to most beach destinations. You’re heading to a remote island town at the tip of Palawan — with limited resupply options, hours from the nearest major city. Miss something important (reef-safe sunscreen, motion sickness tablets, a dry bag) and you’ll either go without or pay a significant premium for a poor-quality substitute. This complete packing checklist covers everything you need for an El Nido trip in 2026, organised by category with specific notes on what to bring versus what to buy locally.
Table of Contents
Bring from Home vs Buy in El Nido
| Item | Bring or Buy? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+ | 🏠 Bring — essential | Very hard to find in El Nido; expensive when available |
| Insect repellent (DEET) | 🏠 Bring (or buy in Manila) | Available locally but limited brands/strength |
| Dry bag | 🏠 Bring | Limited selection in El Nido; much better from home or Manila |
| Snorkel mask | 🏠 Bring for best fit | Rental available but quality/seal poor; own mask transforms experience |
| Waterproof phone case | 🏠 Bring | Not reliably available in El Nido town |
| Motion sickness tablets | 🏠 Bring | Available at pharmacies but limited brands |
| Prescription medications | 🏠 Bring — extra supply | No pharmacy resupply possible; bring 3+ extra days |
| Standard sunscreen (non-reef-safe) | ✅ Buy locally | Available throughout El Nido town at normal prices |
| Insect repellent (basic) | ✅ Buy locally | Off! and local brands widely available |
| Bottled water | ✅ Buy or refill locally | Refill stations at ₱5–10/litre throughout town |
| Swimwear / beachwear | ✅ Can buy locally | Good selection at Real Street boutiques ₱300–2,500 |
| Philippine pesos (PHP) | 🏠 Bring from Manila | ATMs limited; bring sufficient cash |
Complete El Nido Packing Checklist
☀️ Sun & Sea Protection
- ☐ Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+ (minimum 250ml — reapply constantly on boat days)
- ☐ Rash guard / sun shirt (long-sleeve; the single most effective sun protection on tours)
- ☐ Wide-brim hat (for boat days and beach time)
- ☐ UV-protective sunglasses (reflected glare from calm January–April seas is intense)
- ☐ Reef-safe lip balm with SPF
- ☐ Aloe vera gel (for after-sun if you get burned)
🏊 Water & Beach Essentials
- ☐ Dry bag (10L–20L) — non-negotiable for boat tours; protects phone, camera, documents, cash
- ☐ Snorkel mask (own mask = comfortable seal, no fogging, transforms snorkeling quality)
- ☐ Snorkel tube (rental available but bring own if you have one)
- ☐ Fins (optional; rental available; own fins add power for reef exploration)
- ☐ Water shoes / reef shoes (for rocky beach entries, sea urchin protection)
- ☐ Waterproof phone case or waterproof pouch
- ☐ GoPro / action camera + mount (January–April visibility makes underwater photography exceptional)
- ☐ Quick-dry towel (microfibre; much more practical than cotton on boat days)
- ☐ 2–3 swimsuits / boardshorts (rotate so one is always dry)
🦟 Health & Medical
- ☐ DEET insect repellent 30–50% (dengue mosquitoes bite day and night)
- ☐ Oral rehydration salts (ORS sachets — essential for heat exhaustion and diarrhoea)
- ☐ Antidiarrhoeal (loperamide)
- ☐ Antihistamine (cetirizine / loratadine) (jellyfish stings, insect bites, allergic reactions)
- ☐ Paracetamol + ibuprofen
- ☐ Antiseptic cream or spray (Betadine)
- ☐ Plasters / wound dressings (sterile)
- ☐ Hydrocortisone 1% cream (fire coral burns, insect inflammation)
- ☐ Motion sickness tablets (cinnarizine; for Tour C/D open-water legs)
- ☐ Malaria prophylaxis (if prescribed by your travel doctor — start before arrival)
- ☐ Travel insurance documents (print policy + emergency phone number; store separately from phone)
- ☐ Personal prescription medications (3+ extra days beyond planned trip)
👕 Clothing
- ☐ Light, breathable daywear (linen or moisture-wicking; 3–4 outfits)
- ☐ Light long-sleeved layer (for cool boat trips with amihan breeze; evenings November–February)
- ☐ Light rain jacket (compact; for monsoon season visits or unexpected showers)
- ☐ Comfortable walking sandals / flip-flops
- ☐ 1 evening outfit (El Nido dining is casual but having one non-beach option is nice)
- ☐ Underwear × 5–6 (quick-dry synthetic preferred)
📱 Electronics & Power
- ☐ Smartphone
- ☐ Philippine power adapter (Type A/B — same as USA; most universal adapters work)
- ☐ Portable power bank (essential — no charging on boats during 8-hour tours)
- ☐ Camera + extra batteries + memory cards (camera shops in El Nido are non-existent)
- ☐ USB charging cables × 2 (one always goes missing)
- ☐ Laptop / tablet (optional; internet is workable in El Nido town)
- ☐ Waterproof case for electronics on boat tours
💰 Money & Documents
- ☐ Philippine pesos (sufficient cash) — withdraw in Manila, not El Nido. See our Money Guide
- ☐ International credit/debit card (Visa/Mastercard; notify bank of travel)
- ☐ Passport (valid for 6+ months beyond return date)
- ☐ Printed copies of all bookings (accommodation, flights, tours)
- ☐ Travel insurance certificate (print emergency number separately)
- ☐ Emergency contact list (written, not just in phone)
- ☐ International driving permit (if renting a motorbike for Nacpan/Duli)
🎒 Bag & Organisation
- ☐ Main bag / backpack (max 15kg if flying Air Swift to Lio Airport — strictly enforced)
- ☐ Day bag / small backpack (for tours and day trips)
- ☐ Dry bag (see water section above)
- ☐ Packing cubes (helpful for keeping damp beach gear separate)
- ☐ Reusable water bottle (refill at ₱5–10/litre stations; reduces plastic waste)
- ☐ Reusable bag / tote (El Nido is reducing single-use plastic)
- ☐ Small padlock (for hostel lockers)
🧴 Toiletries
- ☐ All regular toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body wash — basic brands available locally but bring preferred)
- ☐ Toothbrush + toothpaste
- ☐ Deodorant (available locally; bring preferred brand)
- ☐ Feminine hygiene products (limited selection in El Nido; bring what you need)
- ☐ Razor
- ☐ Hand sanitiser (essential on boats where hand-washing is impossible)
- ☐ Anti-fog spray or toothpaste (for snorkel mask inside)
What NOT to Pack for El Nido
- ❌ Formal clothing — El Nido has no dress code venues; resort wear is the maximum formality needed
- ❌ Heavy books — download to Kindle/phone
- ❌ Full-size hair dryer — most guesthouses provide or the heat dries hair naturally
- ❌ Excessive shoes — flip-flops + water shoes + one pair of comfortable sandals is enough
- ❌ Standard (non-reef-safe) chemical sunscreen — it damages the reefs you’ve come to see; switch to mineral SPF 50+
- ❌ Oversized suitcase — if flying Air Swift (15kg limit); hard to manage on tricycles and in narrow guesthouse corridors
Packing by Season
| Season | Extra Items to Add | What You Can Leave Out |
|---|---|---|
| Dry season (Nov–Apr) | Polarising filter for camera; SPF reapplication reminder | Rain jacket (optional but takes little space) |
| Wet season (May–Oct) | Light rain jacket (essential); extra dry bags; mosquito net (if fan room) | Formal camera gear (rain risk on boats) |
| Surf trip (Jun–Oct) | Own surfboard bag + fins (or budget for rentals at Duli) | Snorkel fins (less needed when surfing focus) |
| Families with kids | Baby/kid sunscreen, child-sized snorkel mask, rehydration sachets, nappies (bring ALL from Manila) | — |
El Nido Pre-Departure Checklist
- ☐ Notify bank of travel to Philippines
- ☐ Withdraw sufficient PHP in Manila
- ☐ Download offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me — El Nido area)
- ☐ Purchase travel insurance with emergency evacuation cover
- ☐ Book accommodation (2–3 months ahead for peak season)
- ☐ Reconfirm Air Swift flight 24 hours before departure
- ☐ Get Philippine SIM card on arrival (Globe/Smart; ₱150–300 for 30 days data)
- ☐ Book Puerto Princesa Underground River if transiting PPS
- ☐ Vaccinations up to date (Hep A, Typhoid minimum — see Health Guide)
