Pangulasian Island El Nido, Philippines
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Resort Design LuxeOutside the door
The house
El Nido ResortsIsland canopy villas
Barefoot days unfold across private sands and coral waters, centered around outrigger journeys and quiet island trails.
“Canopy villas are nested above the treetops on stilts, where resident long-tailed macaques greet you in the morning.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
House-reef snorkeling alongside blacktip sharks and outrigger boat excursions across Bacuit Bay.
Notable
Stilted canopy villas set fifty feet above the forest floor with cogon-thatched roofs.
Notable
Private speedboat airport transfers meet dedicated guides for marine excursions across the bay.
What they say
One Michelin Key
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
Scarcely less impressive than the natural setting are the villas themselves. Some hug the beach, others climb the hillside above the jungle canopy; all come with plentiful indoor-outdoor space.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Bacuit Bay surrounds the island, offering outrigger boat access to dozens of uninhabited islets, hidden coves, and reefs.
The rooms
Canopy villas stand fifty feet high on stilts in the treetops, while beachfront villas open onto the sand.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A beachfront infinity pool overlooks Bacuit Bay, and select villas add private plunge pools facing the sea.
The spa
Treatments draw on traditional Filipino hilot bodywork, using local botanical oils and warm river stones.
The gym
Cardio machines sit under a vaulted thatched roof in the open fitness pavilion, surrounded by tropical greenery.
At the table
Amianan serves line-caught seafood on an open-air terrace overlooking the bay, and dinners are set along the sand.
The problem with Pangulasian—dubbed the Island of the Sun, thanks to its surreal sunrise and sunset views—is its excess of good choices.
How it began
The resort group started in the late 1970s after a typhoon shipwrecked Japanese divers in Bacuit Bay.
Good to know
Stay here
Pangulasian
Choose your dates to see every room and rate, and book in a few steps.
Add dates to see the price for your stay.
Or book with
Booking.com ExpediaWe may earn a commission when you book through Booking.com or Expedia. It never decides which hotels we include or how we rate them.
El Nido
More like this
Lagen, El Nido
“Limestone cove hideaway”
Miniloc, El Nido
“Thatched overwater village”
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.