Las Cabañas Beach — Attraction in El Nido

Powder white clean sand. Turquoise water. Wonderful setting. New American style Mall under construction nearby though - including a McD to ruin it in a few years time and hugely inflate prices. The tricycle boys have already set up a mafia there to exploit people going home at a non negotiable 3 times the rate as it is to get there. Lots of beach bars competing for the sun and bodyworshippers through acoustic noise. After finally finding a place to sit down, the choice of food and drink was very limited due to shortages of stock. It was annoying as well to keep reminding the waiters for your change who claimed everyone was giving them large currency. So my suggestion would be to walk past the tripwire along the beach and on the corner turn discover a beautiful rustic restaurant/bar to sit in or on the beach. In the evening they put up little flares all around and you see the hundreds of small fishing boats light up for night fishing.. It is not listed on Google maps yet. There are a couple of poor families selling coconuts for just 50pesos (rum optional extra at one of these) along route in small wooden shacks. Well worth it...

I’d give this a 3-star rating. It’s good, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations based on how others described it as a 'must-visit' beach. We rented a tricycle for a day tour (around 1.5k php) and visited three beaches: Nacpan, Lio, and Las Cabañas. This one was definitely the least impressive of the three. It was the only beach with a lot of seaweed along the shoreline. While this may be for a reason, the other two beaches had people cleaning the shore (and by the way, all three beaches have free entrance).

It’s about a 10-minute ride from the town proper to McDonalds, and from there, you walk about 3 minutes to reach the beachfront. We went in the afternoon which most of the stalls were closed. I’m assuming they open later in the evening, but our experience wasn't impressive.

On a positive note, there is a zipline activity available here. The zipline pass over the beach and land on Depeldet Island (i think its what they call it?). To get back, you can walk along a sandbar, which is nice. Locals around the beach actively promote this activity and can help you book it...

"Las Cabañas Beach sunset is a mesmerizing spectacle, casting a warm golden glow over the pristine shores of Palawan. As the sun descends behind the horizon, the sky transforms into a canvas of vibrant hues, painting a breathtaking panorama. Silhouetted against the fiery sky, the iconic limestone cliffs create a dramatic backdrop. The tranquil waves of the South China Sea gently kiss the sandy shore, enhancing the serenity of the moment. This idyllic setting at Las Cabañas Beach invites visitors to unwind, capturing the essence of paradise. Whether strolling along the shoreline or savoring the view from beachfront establishments, the sunset at Las Cabañas is an immersive and unforgettable experience, etching memories that linger long after the sun dips below...