Las Cabanas Beach, El Nido: Guide 2024 (Marimegmeg or Vanilla Beach)
Let’s get the confusion out of the way first of all, Las Cabanas and Marimegmeg Beaches are basically the same beach, and Vanilla Beach is the name of the new mall behind the beaches which is why there are confusingly three names for the exact same area.
Las Cabanas is what the beach is commonly known as by the tourists that visit El Nido Town, perfect for grabbing a drink and watching one of the world-class sunsets the Philippines has to offer. Marimegmeg is just the locals name for Las Cabanas, and Vanilla Beach is the fairly new set of shops just behind the beach which has great parking. Don’t let any of the locals confuse you, we’ve heard stories of people being brought on different days to the ‘different’ beaches.
So let’s dive deeper into Las Cabanas Beach and everything it has to offer.
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Where Is Las Cabanas Beach El Nido?
You can find Las Cabanas Beach just south of El Nido Main Town, located on the picturesque island of Palawan, famous for its white sand beaches, world-class sunsets and limestone cliffs.
How To Get To Las Cabanas Beach?
The cheapest and most convenient way to reach Las Cabanas Beach is by scooter, you will find many for rent available in the town and your accommodation will most likely help with organising one. The beach is located only a few minutes drive out of town so it's really quick and easy to reach, and the best place we found to park was by the big Vanilla Beach sign, in the entrance to the new mall. It’s then a 5 minute walk through the Vanilla Beach mall to Las Cabanas.
Alternatively, if you want a day trip from El Nido to only Las Cabanas we recommend going by tricycle. When you’re in the main town you’ll see loads of trikes around, just call one over and make sure to agree on a price before getting in. The short drive from the town to Vanilla Beach should only be ₽100-250.
For a more adventurous day out from El Nido you’ll most likely want to see more than just Las Cabanas Beach and if you’re not comfortable riding a scooter or have a family with you, hiring a driver will be your best bet. This land tour of El Nido has great reviews and will bring you around all of the top spots! We recommend spending the day exploring the island and heading back to Las Cabanas for sunset drinks.
Las Cabanas Beach Description
Known as one of the best beaches in El Nido, Las Cabanas is a beautiful stretch of beach with white sand backing on to lush palm trees and beach bars. Along with Napcan and Duli Beaches, Las Cabanas is commonly listed in the best beaches around El Nido, however due to the fact that it’s only a 5 minute drive from the town centre, it is much easier to reach. In our experience Las Cabanas was quite a lot busier all throughout the day compared to other beaches on the island, if you prefer peace and quiet you’ll likely need to walk further down the beach around the corner past the zip line.
Don't miss this El Nido Island Hopping Tour, we chose Tour A. Also checkout this El Nido Napcan and Duli Beach Tour!
Las Cabanas Beach Zipline (Zipline Between Two Islands)
If you’re an adventure seeker who gets bored easily from just relaxing on the beach, Las Cabanas has got a 750 meter long Zipline to offer! Take in the breath-taking views of the limestone rocks and beach from up above, a thrilling adventure for anyone not afraid of heights. Being one of the longest over-water zip lines in the world over to Depeldet Island, it can get busy midday, so we recommend getting a morning or evening ticket.
The zipline connects two islands, you may have even heard about the famous zipline that spans two islands in The Philippines, well this is it! You can pay for a one way or two way ticket. If you only zip one way then you’ll have to walk back 15 minutes across from the island. If it’s high tide the water may be thigh high as you wade back.
Floating over the vibrant blue water and looking down onto the coral reefs below, the Zipline offers a unique way to experience Las Cabanas, if you’re lucky you might even spot a turtle swimming by!
Zipline Prices
One Way (Sitting) ₽500
One Way (Superman) ₽700
Two Way (Sitting) ₽900
Two Way (Superman) ₽1100
Two Way (Combination) ₽1000
Zipline Opening Times
The zipline is open 9am- 5:30pm.
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Las Cabanas Beach Water Activities
After experiencing the adrenaline rush of the zipline why not try some water sports? As you walk along the beach you will see shops with kayaks and paddle boards for rent, the bay offers perfect calm water that you can enjoy paddling through.
Las Cabanas Beach Sunset
No trip to El Nido is truly complete without experiencing sunset at Las Cabanas, people gather here and you can feel a sense of community. If you’re a solo traveller this is a great spot to meet like-minded people.
Las Cabanas Beach Resort
Las Cabanas Beach Common Questions
How Much Is The Entrance Fee?
Free! A rare free sight in the Philippines, enjoy the Vanilla Beach Shopping Mall, Marimegmeg Beach and Las Cabanas all for free.
Is There Parking At Las Cabanas Beach?
Yes, head to Vanilla Beach Sign (confusing right), park up with the rest of the bikes past security and walk through the mall for 5 minutes until you come out to Marimegmeg Beach.
Is There Any Swimming At Las Cabanas Beach?
It’s possible to swim at Marimegmeg beach but not amazing due to it being quite shallow and rocky in parts, make sure you wear your water shoes. You’ll have to walk down the beach away from the Vanilla Mall to the corner where it’s easier to enter, there are also many trees so you can find a spot to chill in the shade.
Don't miss this El Nido Island Hopping Tour, we chose Tour A. Also checkout this El Nido Napcan and Duli Beach Tour!
Best Places To Stay In El Nido
El Nido has lots of areas for you to stay in. You could stay in the centre of the town, everything like tours, bars and restaurants will be a walk away as your based in the hub. The town is quiet in the day but comes alive at night. If you don't want to stay in the town or are on a budget look at other areas such as Corong Corong.
We use Booking.com and HostelWorld for all of our stays around the world!
Below is a list of top accommodations we recommend for El Nido, Palawan:
Top Things To Do In El Nido
Famous for its white sand beaches, vibrant coral reefs and crystal clear water surrounded by limestone cliffs, El Nido has become a tourist hot spot in recent years. There is definitely no shortage of things to see and do in and around this beautiful town, below we share our favourite attractions so you don't miss out.
Top Pick: El Nido Boat Tour
This is a must in El Nido! We went on Tour A during off-season and were told it gets extremely busy so maybe try out one of the other Tours on offer if you are visiting at peak season.
Best Beaches: Napcan and Duli Beach
Duli Beach is a locals surfing beach with azure water, palm trees and white sand. Although a little drive away, we think it’s worth it.
Off The Beaten Track: Head To Port Barton
A 3 hour drive from El Nido, Port Barton is a small fishing village which is less developed but still set up for tourism. We loved it here and the Boat Tour is amazing.
Best Place To Eat: Fuego El Nido Proper Burgers
El Nido is packed full with Western restaurants but we were disappointed with nearly all our meals. So take our advice, spend a bit more and go get yourself an amazing burger.
Other Things To Do In El Nido
Once you're done in El Nido head over to Coron!
Essential Travel Items You Need
 | Lifestraw - Filtered Water Bottle Allowing you to fill up water whenever and wherever with peace of mind plus you’re helping the environment! |
 | Jungle Formula - High Deet Mosquito Spray The weak sprays will not work! Make sure to bring a high deet percentage spray made for the tropics. We also use Mosquito Wipes. |
 | Water Shoes - Lightweight with Protection Stay protected from Sea Urchins with these, also useful for snorkelling, waterfall hikes and more. We also love our Microfibre Towels and Dry Bag. |
 | Universal Travel Adaptor With Multiple USBs Life while travelling will never be the same again! Charge multiple devices all at once in any country... game changer. |
Top Tips For Travelling The Philippines
If you’re visiting the Philippines here are our top travel tips:
Book flights in advance - they can become expensive if you leave it last minute… oh and check your luggage allowance to skip expensive check in fees at the airport. Don't forget your Apple Airtags to track your bags
Agree on taxi prices upfront - when getting into a tuk-tuk, tricycle or taxi, make sure you agree on a price or they have a meter, so many tourists get ripped off with a huge price tag at the end of the ride.
Take it slow - don't feel the need to see all the islands, we recommend picking a few and doing them properly. See the island in full, find some locals and sing Karaoke..
Embrace the chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!
For a checklist of what's needed to pack for your trip, read: How to Pack for Backpacking to South East Asia: Backpacking Essentials and Accessories
We love our DJI Mini for all of our drone shots!
Final Thoughts on Las Cabanas Beach El Nido
Las Cabanas has become more and more popular in recent years and we can see why! Whether you’re experiencing the adrenaline rush from the 750 meter zipline over the azure water to another island or relaxing on the powdery white sand with your kids, this place is amazing. Lined with picture perfect coconut trees and an abundance of bars & restaurants you’ll also be spoiled for choice on where to eat or drink. Enjoy dinner or grab a sunset drink, while the sky lights up all shades of orange and purple, the world-class sunsets over the limestone cliffs really are the highlight.
There is also the Vanilla Beach Mall which introduced many local shops as well as Cafes for digital nomads, a barbershop, gym and McDonalds. Overall we highly recommend visiting Las Cabanas during your visit to El Nido, especially to witness some of the best sunsets in the world.
Travel Tools To Help You Plan
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Thank you for reading and enjoy your Philippine adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
For our Filipino friends: Maraming salamat sa pag babasa, hangang sa susunod nating pag kikita, mamimiss namin kayo, mabuhay ang pilipinas! Salamat
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