El Nido (Palawan)

El Nido needs 4 days, almost entirely dedicated to boat tours around Bacuit Bay, with its limestone formations and hidden lagoons. November-May is the dry season, avoiding the monsoon. It's more expensive than other parts of the Philippines due to limited access logistics. It's the gateway to one of Southeast Asia's most spectacular limestone island landscapes, with turquoise lagoons hidden among cliffs that can only be seen from the sea, far less developed compared to similar destinations in Thailand.