El Nido Cove Resort and Spa is located in El Nido Bay, Palawan, and the second largest province in the Philippines. It is about 420 kilometres southwest of Manila and about 238 kilometres northeast of Puerto Princesa, the Province’s capital.
 
Described as stunning, the province of Palawan, composed of thousands of islands and islets each with its own pristine natural attractions and wildlife, is becoming a number one tourist destination in the Philippines. Old Spanish archival records listed Paragua as the old name of the elongated shape province. It is bounded on the south by Borneo, on the north and west by the China Sea, and on the east by the Sulu Sea. Its waters, like those in El Nido Bay, are the richest fishing grounds in the Philippines.

The town of El Nido, covering a land area of 465.10 square kilometres, is located in the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan. The municipality of El Nido is composed of 45 islands and islets and each has its own unique geological formation. The highest peak is Cadlao Island, towering up to 640 meters above sea level and magnificently dominating the view of the rest of the islands surrounding the bay. The limestone and marble cliffs found here are similar to those found in Vietnam, China, and Thailand. The town’s name came from edible nests of swiflets found in the crevices of its limestone cliffs. The nests called nido, in Spanish, became the main ingredient for the gourmet nido soup. The group of islands facing El Nido Bay remind visitors of the legendary and magical Bali Hai and other islands featured in the movie musical South Pacific.
 
The town of El Nido is a showcase of the diversity of geological and biological features of the Philippines. Because of this unique feature or ecosystem, the entire area of El Nido was declared a turtle sanctuary in 1984, then as a marine reserve park in 1991. In 1998, the growing concern concerning over development of the area resulted to its declaration as a managed resource protected area, officially known as El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, the largest marine sanctuary in the whole Philippines. The conservation of the area consisting of 903.21 square kilometres, 40% of which are terrestrial and 60% are marine, is guaranteed by Philippine laws. El Nido is a key attraction in Palawan, not only because of its black marble caves, limestone cliffs, home of swiflets, tabletop corals, fantastic marine life and immaculate 50 white sand beaches.
 
Other features of its ecosystem are five types of forests such as the lowland evergreen rainforest in the mainland and islands like Miniloc, Lagen and Pangulasian; semi-deciduous forests; forests over limestone; beach forests; and, the mangrove forests found mostly around major rivers and creeks in the mainland.
 
In addition, the Philippine government officially identified its unique flora and fauna: three major marine habitats; 16 endemic and 10 threatened species of birds (including the Palawan Hornbill, the Palawan Shama, the Palawan tit, Palawan Sops Owl, and the Palawan Peacock Pheasant); 6 species of marine mammals endemic to Palawan like dolphins and its native dugong; 4 species of endangered marine turtles – hawksbill, olive ridley, leatherback and green sea turtles; 100 species of corals, 45 of which belongs to the genera of hard corals; and 813 species of fish. Finally, add to the above are the Palawan Tree Shrew, the Palawan Stink Badger, the Palawan Spiny Rat, the Palawan Anteater, and the Northern Palawan Tree Squirrel.
 
The development of El Nido bay as major tourist attraction started in 1983 when a dive station was established in Miniloc Island and an airstrip at Villa Libertad on the mainland, followed. Another resort was opened on Pangulasian Island, and soon after, the third and the largest, Ten Knots Resort, opened in Lagen Island.
 
The attraction of the area as major eco-tourism destinations attracted other tourism enterprises establishing resorts and other attractions catering to both, foreign and local tourists. In a short period of time, many of these establishments are attracting their own clientele from far-away places like the United States, Europe, Russia and Australia.
 
One such establishment is the El Nido Cove Resort & Spa, with the old Lamoro Beach as its major attraction. The resort is own by a Filipino-Australian, Sydney-based businessman Boy Table. The holiday spot is located in El Nido Bay, 10 kms from the town of El Nido, and 4 kms from the El Nido Airport. It is a beach front luxury resort, developed as a perfect hideaway from urban living. Its rooms have their own individual loft, and both furnished with queen-size beds. All rooms, which are facing the bay, are air-conditioned, with private toilets, hot and cold running water and cable TV. There is a bar facing the beach and stocked with a variety of liquor and spirits available for watching the beautiful and romantic sunset which do not fail to mesmerise the guests.
 
Various products of the sea abound and every day wonderful meals and fresh seafood courses are prepared for the delight of the guests, all throughout their stay. One major attraction is the one day island-hopping which could accommodate six to eight guests, plus the crew who attend to the food and other water gadgets. The whole day event which starts before 9am include snorkelling, kayaking in two major clear water inlets (small and big lagoon), lunch at an exclusive island with food prepared on the spot. Refreshments, including fresh young coconut (buko) juice and others are also available while waiting for the food to be served on a well organised table setting on the white sand of one of the little islands.
 
As the boat carrying the guests criss-crossed the bay going from one island to the other, the splendid sceneries of a number of islands of limestone and marble cliffs guarding the bay reminds one of the many South seas scenes we only see in postcards and movies or documentary films. As the guests approach the resort, one is confronted by a magnificent rustic view of an isolated wooded resort, with a long stretch of beach fronting it and nestling on an the elevated part of the beach is the colour green roof coated building, and nearby the round bar roof-thatched hut welcoming the guests for a drink or two, really a good idea for a day’s memorable activities.
 
Later, the guests were treated to a nature show featuring the slowly disappearing sun, creating a coloured red view of the sunset, then the silhouette or contours of the islands of Bukal, Cadlao, Miti, and Malbinunga facing the beach resort slowly forming in their very eyes. Guests were delighted and watch the unfolding beautiful scene with sparkling wine in the hands. Meanwhile, staff are busy preparing a sumptuous set-down buffet dinner of seafood, beef, pork, vegetables and a number of fruits in season at the well-placed part of the beach resort facing the sea an the only sound one could hear is the constant very slow movement of waves washing the sandy beach and white suds appeared. The colourful lights coming from the torches located strategically along the beach where the tables were placed added to the romantic aura of the night – what a way to end a hectic day in a paradise.
 
There is no wasted time for every type of visitor to the resort, whether you want to climb cliffs or enjoy the sunset by the beach, island hopping, visiting caves, fishing, snorkelling, kayaking, scuba diving or bush walking, just tell your host.
 
It is no wonder that many unscheduled guests who entered the unpretentious wooden gate to the resort and ventured into the inner sanctum of the resort unannounced, are surprised to see and experience the main natural attraction of the place. Many of them would admit that they found their piece of ‘paradise’ at the El Nido Cove Resort & Spa. And many of them, like the current guests during our visit promised to come back and enjoy more of the verdant hideout.
 
As a young tourist resort establishment competing with big and already established many El Nido resort operators, the El Nido Cove Resort & Spa give you the best value for your money because of the friendly staff, not to mention the satisfaction derived from spending valuable period of relaxation in well furnished accommodation facing one of the most beautiful beaches in the Pacific. It is a unique experience of your life. Honeymoon dinners, Spa services, corporate mini meetings, and other activities are some other major attraction of the resort. Expansion is on its way. Soon, the construction of additional four well-appointed rooms to cater to the growing back-packers whose interests are bush walking and cliff climbing, will be completed and will attract this type of tourists to the site.
 
For interested visitors, ring the Cove’s Australian Office (612) 982645, Mob. (61) 409 202 645 or visit their website: www.elnidocove.com  One can also contact direct the El Nido Office, 73 Real Street, El Nido Palawan, Mob. (63) 918 908 1204; (63) 917 822 2645 or email: info@elnidocove.com and for Manila inquiry, please contact Unit 23, CF, Burgundy Westbay Tower, 820 Pablo Ocampo Sr. Street, Malate, Manila with Tel.: (632) 986 3766 to 67 or Mob. 0917 865 9339. Hint: Click at any image above to display it in its full size. Hover your mouse pointer over the full-size image and then click at any side arrow that appears or rotate your mousewheel to scroll to the next full-size image.

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