Arrival brief · El Nido ENI
ENI Arrival Guide: El Nido Airport (Lio) to Town, Without the Traps
El Nido's little Lio airport is minutes from town — a quick transfer and you're in the island-hopping paradise. The one thing to sort isn't a scam: bring plenty of cash, because El Nido's ATMs are few and often empty.
2026-08-26
What to expect after landing
El Nido’s Lio Airport (ENI) is small and just ~15 minutes from town — a quick transfer and you’re in the island-hopping paradise. Flying into Lio is the quick, pricier option; the cheaper route is Puerto Princesa (PPS) + a long van. The one thing to sort isn’t a scam: bring plenty of cash, because El Nido’s ATMs are few and often empty.
The Philippines uses the peso; bring plenty, many places are cash-only.
Option 1 — Transfer into town
A shuttle, van, or resort transfer covers the short (~15 min) ride from Lio into El Nido town — many resorts arrange pickup; shared vans/tricycles are available. Confirm the fare, and you’re in fast.
Option 2 — Via Puerto Princesa (cheaper)
The budget route is to fly to Puerto Princesa (PPS) and take a long shared van (~5–6 hrs) up to El Nido — pre-book it. Cheaper but a journey.
What it looks like
At ENI arrival is easy — Lio is minutes from town. The only real thing to sort isn’t a scam, it’s cash: El Nido’s ATMs are few, often empty, and many places are cash-only, so bring plenty of pesos from a bigger town. Agree the tricycle fare, book island tours reputably (life vests), and with enough cash in hand, Bacuit Bay’s lagoons are yours.
Do this instead
Take a resort transfer or a van/tricycle for the short ride from Lio into town (or use the cheaper Puerto Princesa + long van route); agree fares; and — most important — arrive with plenty of pesos, because El Nido’s ATMs are few and often empty and many places are cash-only. That’s the whole ENI/El Nido arrival.
Late-night arrivals
AirSWIFT flights into Lio are limited and mostly daytime, so a very late arrival is uncommon; if you arrive later, a resort transfer or van/tricycle handles the short ride into town. El Nido is safe and laid-back; agree fares, and make sure you’ve brought enough cash, since the town’s ATMs can’t be relied on at any hour.
Quick answers
What's the best way from El Nido's Lio airport to town?
El Nido's Lio Airport (ENI, served by AirSWIFT) is small and just a short drive (~15 minutes) from El Nido town, so a shuttle, van, or arranged transfer gets you in quickly — many resorts arrange pickup, and shared vans/tricycles are available. Confirm the fare or your transfer, and you're in the island-hopping paradise fast. Flying into Lio is the quick, convenient (pricier, limited) option; the cheaper alternative most travelers use is to fly to Puerto Princesa (PPS) and take a long shared van (about 5–6 hours) up to El Nido. Either way, agree fares, keep valuables secured, and — crucially — bring plenty of cash (see below).
Do I need to bring cash to El Nido?
Yes — this is the single most important El Nido arrival note, more than any scam. El Nido's ATMs are few, frequently out of cash, and charge high fees, and many restaurants, tours, guesthouses, and shops are cash-only, so bring plenty of pesos with you (withdraw enough in Puerto Princesa, Manila, or a bigger city before you arrive). Running short of cash in El Nido is a common and genuine traveler headache — don't rely on finding a working ATM there. Budget your cash for the whole stay (accommodation, island-hopping tours, meals, tricycles, and fees), bring extra as a buffer, and you'll avoid the main practical problem visitors hit here.
Should I fly into El Nido (Lio) or Puerto Princesa?
It depends on budget and convenience. Flying into Lio (ENI) on AirSWIFT is quick and drops you minutes from El Nido town, but flights are limited and pricier. Flying into Puerto Princesa (PPS) is cheaper and better-connected, but you then face a long shared-van ride of about 5–6 hours on winding roads up to El Nido — a common route, but a journey. Many budget travelers use Puerto Princesa and the van; those prioritizing time and comfort fly into Lio. Either way, pre-book your onward transport (the van especially), agree tricycle fares in town, and bring plenty of cash, since El Nido's ATMs are unreliable regardless of how you arrive.
What if I land at El Nido's Lio airport late, and how do I get around town?
AirSWIFT flights into Lio are limited and mostly daytime, so a very late arrival is uncommon; if you do arrive later, a resort transfer or a van/tricycle handles the short ride into town. Around El Nido, tricycles are the main local transport (agree the fare), the town is small and walkable, and island-hopping tours pick up from the beach/piers. El Nido is safe and laid-back, so getting around is easy and low-stress; just agree fares, book island tours reputably (life vests, eco-fees), and — the recurring theme — make sure you've brought enough cash, as the town's ATMs can't be relied on.