Why choose a hostel in El Nido?
Few places reward slow travel quite like El Nido. The town sits at the edge of Bacuit Bay, where limestone cliffs rise from clear water and island-hopping tours leave the shore each morning. Nacpan Beach, a long stretch of sand within the municipality, draws travellers who want something quieter than the main strip. With so much to do outdoors, your accommodation budget is better spent on experiences than on a hotel room. Hostels in El Nido make that trade-off easy.
Hostels here suit solo travellers and small groups equally well. Shared dorms keep nightly costs low, freeing up money for tours and food. Private rooms give you more space without the price of a hotel. Both options come with common areas where you can organize island trips with other guests, something hotels and private rentals rarely offer. The social infrastructure alone puts hostels ahead.
How to find the best hostel deals in El Nido
Love how effortless it is to compare flights with us? The same clever search engine can hunt down deals on rooms and hostels too. Give these tips a go to find the best rates fast.
Book in advance
Book early if possible. Organizing things sooner rather than later usually means better prices and a greater range of hostels in El Nido, especially around holidays and school breaks.
…or bag a last-minute El Nido hostel deal.
Booking late can be a bit of a gamble, but it can work in your favor. Some stays lower their rates close to arrival to attract bookings, especially in quieter months.
Flexible on dates? Say hello to better rates
Flexibility can open up more options when searching for cheap hostels. Swap weekends for weekday stays, or travel during the low season instead of busy holiday periods.
Where to base yourself in El Nido
The town centre is where you'll find the best hostels in El Nido, and it puts you within walking distance of the main boat pier. Island-hopping tours leave from here each morning, so staying close saves you time. The main strip has cheap local eateries, seafood grills, and bars that stay lively after dark. Tricycles are easy to flag down if you need to get around. Corong-Corong sits about two kilometres south along the coast. It's quieter, with a long beach and a handful of restaurants facing the bay. Sunsets here draw a crowd each evening. A short tricycle ride gets you back into town when you want to join the nightlife. Where you stay comes down to how much energy you want at your door.
Best hostels in El Nido
Hostel ratings on Skyscanner come from real traveller reviews, covering everything from cleanliness and location to overall experience and value. Whether you're exploring as cheaply as possible or want something a little more comfortable, these scores help you compare your options and find the right fit.
Best all-rounder hostels
For a stay that checks all the boxes, you can't go wrong with Masayana Hotel. It gets great reviews for its cleanliness, rooms and service.
Happiness Hostel El Nido is well worth a mention too. It scores strong ratings for its cleanliness, service and location.
Highest-rated hostels for cleanliness
If staying somewhere clean and comfortable is essential, Masayana Hotel delivers. Guests give it top marks for cleanliness, with amenities like a lounge and luggage storage.
Well-kept rooms and tidy common areas are also part of the package at Happiness Hostel El Nido. Along with solid cleanliness ratings, it includes a pool bar and luggage storage.
Hostels with the best customer service
Good hospitality goes a long way at Masayana Hotel. This hostel in El Nido is highly rated for its customer service and comes with a laundry and an airport shuttle.
Happiness Hostel El Nido also stands out for its customer service, with travellers highlighting the staff for going the extra mile. An airport shuttle and a games room are a couple of the amenities here.
Centrally located hostels
Location is where MAD Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach really lives up to its reputation, according to the guests who've stayed there. You get everything you need, including Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk.
Or start your adventure at Frendz Hostel El Nido. Extras like a pool and a restaurant bring even more value to this well-located base.
