Sometimes, you just have to go for the impulsive ones  – 08.31.15

It was my last day in the island and there was a floating plan in my head to visit the other known beach in El Nido called NACPAN. Not a solid plan as I thought I did not have enough time but thanks to the tricycle I flagged, its drivers convincing skills and that photo of the view of that beach and its twin, I went to see and well, it was worth it.

I deliberately woke up so I could spend more time to walk around town in the morning. I was meaning to look for other potential beachfront accommodation (as I thought I could be more an informative blogger but yep, that did not work out so well as I still like to ramble more than inform 😀 ). I also wanted to grab some breakfast and for some reason I ended up in a “tapsilog” (breakfast meal in the Philippines composed of “tapa”/dried meat, “sinangag“/fried rice and “itlog“/egg) place but ended up buying spaghetti with chicken – which in the Philippines is a staple for’ that that meal is for birthday parties. Yes, I was acting kind of weird that morning.

Some final walk around the shore before going home

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Controversial resort apparently this was as there was some bombing in front of this a few years back

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Passed by again my hostel on day 1. 

On that bench was where I waited the day before. 

I was not in the mood for bread but according to some online articles, they sell good bread here. Well, those customers were some kind of proof

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Aha. Some breakfast place

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And this dog was the cutest. I gave him my leftover chicken then

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On my way back, I gave up the idea of doing the side trip to Nacpan, convincing myself that I could not swim there anyway. As told by a friend, they no longer allow swimming in the beach since someone drowned there and went missing recently.

I was then all set to go the van terminal, fate must have intervened.

Driver of tricycle I got in on the way to terminal offered to tour me to Nacpan for a few hours. I told him about the limited time I have and I was assured that we would have enough time. We talked about cost and I seriously have no idea whether it is within the range, but since I think it is reasonable, I said yes – out of impulse or probably because I really did not want to leave just yet.

 

Passed by this on our way to Nacpan and Calitang beaches

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So it is true that it is one of the more popular beaches but it was crowdless when we arrived which was perfect. I expected more calm in the water though but I did manage to swim with my unwilling help from a pair of stranger (I usually try to swim not too far away from others as you know, just in case). Waves, unpredictable seabed and the story about the drowned person must have scared me still though that I spent relatively limited time in the water and decided instead to lounge with a San Mig Light – as that was the only beer they had in there.

 

Whoa. I just love the uncrowd.

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View of entire shoreline

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Small, medium, large

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According to our guide, that island is owned by Manny Pacquiao

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My travel buddy

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Look at those clouds

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View on that sticker is what I was about to see

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Rough road and “probinsya feels” on the way to Nacpan

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Can’t decide whether it’s the sand, sky or sea that’s beautiful. Errr…

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Another sweetheart

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More photos to give you an idea how this beach looks like

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Oh this needs rotating but yep, what I was seeing while being all lazy

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Now gone lazy

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Sunny cloudy day (if there is such a thing)

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While on water

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My bum seat 

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After about an hour, it was time for us to go up the hill to catch a glimpse of the twin beaches, as in the picture I saw in his tricycle. Too bad though that due to a typhoon which recently hit the place, the other side of the beach called CALITANG was left dirty. Sad how such a beauty could be left like that.

Snapshot from side where the hill was

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On our way to the hill now

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Glad I came to see you, Nacpan! 

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This just made me sad

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Seat to rest up the hill

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The contrast 😦 

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Interesting burst of wave there. 

According to our guide, some people actually swim in that ‘pool’ created by the rock bed

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On our way down

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Twin beaches of Nacpan and Calitang. Sad though how Calitang is left dirty

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Snake-like

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That hill was where we were

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No longer as deserted when we came back from the hill

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Oh goodbye El Nido! 

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A nice way to end the trip I must say! And I shall be back I suppose for all other tours. Until next time, El Nido.

Practical Details : 

Visit to Nacpan Beach also included in one of the tours but chances are you would need more than time.

If you’re flying back to Manila from Puerto Princesa, there are vans at the terminal. As I wanted to be sure, I booked via a restaurant in town on my first day to make sure I have a seat.