Nacpan Beach

If El Nido town's small beach disappoints you, Nacpan is the answer. A 45-minute tricycle ride north of town brings you to a 4-kilometer expanse of white sand — wide, mostly empty, lined with palm trees and a handful of beachfront huts.

Unlike White Beach in Boracay, Nacpan is barely developed. There are 6-8 beach huts serving food and drinks, a few small resorts, and nothing else. You can walk for kilometers without seeing another person.

The water has a small undertow in some sections (signs warn where), so it's better for wading and exploring than swimming long distances. Sunsets here are legendary — the beach faces directly west and the entire 4km lights up at golden hour.

Several tours combine Nacpan with the Twin Beach viewpoint nearby. Going independently lets you stay later for sunset, which the tours never do.