By continuing to read this article, you agree to double check with the authorities or other concerned entities for the latest updates.

El Nido, apparently, has many secrets.

We thought the Secret Beach of Matinloc Island (Tour C) was the only concealed beach that we were gonna set foot on in this trip. But Miniloc Island has a secret, too. After exploring the Big and Small Lagoons, and having lunch at Payong-Payong Beach, Tour A continued and led us to a paradise made of limestone. It was a surreal experience approaching this hard, spiky karst world. It was like we entered another world — a world where “ugly” is either banned or non-existent.

To our right were magnificent cliffs that, as we passed by, slowly revealed a white, sparkling beach that harbors coconut trees. The cliffs were like open arms, inviting us to come nearer and see what the island had to offer.

The beach beside the Secret Lagoon hiding behind the karst fences
Coconut trees dot the beach beside the Secret Lagoon

When our boat finally docked, our attention was drawn to a little opening in one of the cliffs to our left. It was a huge wall with a tiny hole. And that hole, my friends, was the entrance to the Secret Lagoon, also known as Hidden Lagoon, of Miniloc Island. All along, we thought the Secret Lagoon was the beach behind the giant rocks to our right. Apparently, there’s another world behind the karst rocks on the other side, so hidden that I had to twist my body like a pretzel to get there.

Fortunately, the opening was above the water so we didn’t have to swim through it. We just had to crawl into the Secret Lagoon. Note also that the water leading to the lagoon was shallow so you need to be extra careful with the rocks and corals.

Penetrating the hole! Mwahaha
This is what’s in store for you when you look up!
This is the entrance to the Secret Lagoon
My friends having a mini-pictorial at the Lagoon

The Secret Lagoon was much smaller than the Secret Beach. The temperature inside was much cooler because it is constantly in the shadows of the limestone cliffs enclosing it.

Although the water inside looked shallow, our boatmen warned us that it gets deeper as you go farther so we did not dare.

Rene and Kate, Danish tourists whom we shared the boat with

Our Danish friends Rene and Kate were having a blast camwhoring. They kept on raving about the beauty of the Philippines and how they wish to be back and how we were so lucky to be living in a country that is overflowing with wonders.

We stayed at the Secret Lagoon for over 30 minutes before we called it quits and moved on to our next destination, ready as ever for more secrets.

Posted: 2012 • 3 • 12


Top Budget Hotels and Resorts in El Nido

As scored by Agoda customers.

Search for more Palawan Resorts!

Klook TPT2024
Klook THEPOORTRAVELER

More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️


Is this post helpful to you?

Tip Us
Visit Terms page for reminders
Yosh Dimen
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

57 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Charles E. Terry Sr.

lord i wished i had the money to go on one of those cruises. i will just pray about it.

David N Bhel Alonzo

We’ve been there! too bad it was overcast and rainy when we went to the lagoons!

LyNn SaLvacion

been there too! =) i saw a clown fish and very territorial hehehe

Cristopher M. Gregorio

me too, fresh from el nido yesterday! amazing creation of God!!!

Sky Mc

My next trip. Saving for paradise el nido’s Philippines

Nerissa Linsangan

I’d love to go there..i heard it’s an amazing pläce,a paradise like i imagined:]

Grace Dela Cruz Zagler

Yehey malapit na kita makita Miniloc … See you in May !!

Czha Zamora

beautiful place ..mapapasyalan din kita

Joyce Marie Estrada

I’ve been there and wish I was back rather than deal with Chicago’s crazy weather

Emelina Lontoc

MY FAMILY VISITED THE PLACE LAST 2004, IT’S REALLY WONDERFUL! MY FAMILY HAD SO MUCH FUN. SINCE THEN KUYA GODEN VISIT PALAWAN EVERYTIME WE VISIT PHILS. BUT DIFFERENT ISLANDS.. STILL HAVE TO VISIT OTHER ISLAND. SO MUCH TO SEE …

carl paul

iam gonna visit this place this dec 2012… i love it, it’s an awesome get-away with my love & our kids …. wow i cant wait to get there… thank god my baby is from Philippines :) :)

anya

Hi! May I ask if it’s okay just to arrange our island hopping when we’re there already? We will be traveling in a group of 10. Is it cheaper to deal directly with the boatmen rather than have a pre-arranged tour? thanx!

The Poor Traveler

Hi! I don’t know if that’s advisable during peak season but that’s exactly what we did — we just arranged our island hopping tours when we arrived in El Nido. We went there last late November.

As for the boatmen, I think it’s cheaper to deal directly with the boatmen. However, I think you will still score some good deals with a travel agency coz you’re a big group. :)

Johanna Chavez Peña

I want to go to this heavenly place :-D

The Poor Traveler

Go, go, go! You’ll be blown away. :)

Palawan resorts

Hi Poor Traveler! Found your post from Twitter; we reposted and shared this to our network. Hope you can add more blogs like this one. It’s very helpful and descriptive :D

Serrano Gian Carlo

not secret anymore hehe.. nice place though

Kimberly Brina

Wonderful (y)

William DeCoty

It’s not a secret if you tell everyone…hehehe!

Kheem Dyiewhel Capuchino Montoya

nakapunta ka na??

Rose Cmon

Need to know the package of this tour?

Jorge Moreira

It’s a paradise :-)))

Susan Richardson

Super ganda! Sulit ang byahe!

Cheryl Yap Lumayog

We’ve been here last June,,,Excellent Adventure so far!󾮗󾌧,,,isa pa!󾍇

Mark Daguinod

A must see place in the Philippines.

Helen Sheen Rivero

i was there last january,the place was really nice and amazing…indeed God made all things beautiful and unique.

Amor Chavez Ibanez

I miss el nido. . .

Richmond Blaine Go Ombion

Been here a week ago… What a wonderful place… :)

Rea Villavecencio Onera

good to know how much the package for 2person for 3D & 2N TENKS PM ME

Nina Andrea P. Lualhati

went there last year it is beautiful :) HIGHLY recommend this one!

Vinko Gulin

I Love El Nido I back son !

Jojie Villocino

this is a new no. 1 perfect island around world rank 1…

Alex Laing

Awesome

Rose Cmon

I’m planning to visit here this coming February, pwede pa share the agent or tour guide that’s good Pra sulit nmn visit me jan with my husband.

Jimmy Page

one of the most beautiful places on the planet

Dave Mason

top of the list :)

Aras Alcantara Calalang

Next next year hehehe ;))

Maricor Alpuerto

been there and its really nice place..

Paz Palao

can’t forget the place

Rowena Montemayor

we’ve been there last week..

Issa Farparan

how much is this tour, 3 days 2 nights?

Josette Morales

Paradise

Lafayette Harris

Good choice may be there in april

Rebecca Elcano Pacifico

So excited will be there on the 28-31 this month!

Melyanne Bueno

been there just recently and the place is so beautiful!!!

Marlon Bonina

nice one……

Edgar Berber

Been there and truly one of the best place in the world you must see before you die…

Jan Brynjar Andersen

det ser vakkert ut

Aisha Abdulla

happy that those secrets aren’t secrets to me anymore :D

Jeff Logan

Sooo beautiful I definitely will visit Philippines some day!!

Cynthia Arzaga Tucay

maam rose, you may get services of the tour or travel agency of the hotel or lodging inn where you will stay. That is for safety reasons.

Darzel Marcelo

Paradise

Pier Desmit

Philippines,my awesome home,my paradise.

Noemi Cruz

Been there for so many times, like paradise amazing beaches:-)

King Canete Quicoy

with the school of fish,,

trackback

[…] More about Secret Lagoon here: El Nido, Palawan: Secret Lagoon of Miniloc Island […]

Rei Garcia

hope to be there…it’s a very wow place to spend your holiday vacation with a family.