El Nido town beach with its dramatic limestone cliff backdrop

If the name Frendz sounds familiar, that is because the same brand runs one of the most popular backpacker hostels in Boracay too, and the El Nido branch carries the same social-first DNA. From the moment you walk in, the layout practically pushes you toward the common areas — communal tables, a bar that doubles as the unofficial trip-planning desk, and staff who seem to know every boat operator and tour guide in town by first name.

This is the kind of place where you can ask “does anyone want to split Tour A tomorrow?” over breakfast and have a full boat group by lunch. Beyond the social scene, the practical side is just as solid: mixed and female-only dorms are both available, the location puts you within easy walking distance of the main strip and the beach, and the staff are genuinely useful when it comes to comparing tour operators rather than just pushing whichever one pays them the highest commission.

Dorm beds typically run ₱550 to ₱850 depending on season and bed type. Meals around El Nido town average ₱150 to ₱350, with carinderia-style rice-and-ulam combos on the cheaper end of that range. Island-hopping Tours A through D, which are the main reason most people come to El Nido in the first place, generally cost ₱1,200 to ₱1,800 per person when booked as part of a group, including a simple boat lunch.

Book at least two to three weeks ahead during the December to May peak season, since Frendz tends to be one of the first hostels in town to fill up — its reputation precedes it. June through October offers noticeably better rates and a calmer pace, though you should expect occasional rain delays on tour days during these months.

El Nido’s town center, where most budget hostels and eateries cluster

Spin Designer Hostel takes a different approach from the typical party-hostel formula — think clean lines, colorful murals, and common spaces that look like they were actually designed rather than thrown together. For travelers who want their accommodation to feel a step above basic without paying resort prices, this is one of the better options in El Nido town, consistently praised for how well-maintained it stays even during busy weeks.

The central location means you are close to the main strip where most tour operators, restaurants, and the town beach are clustered, cutting down on the need for tricycles or habal-habal rides for day-to-day errands. The common lounge area is genuinely comfortable, with the kind of seating that makes it easy to spend an hour chatting with other guests over coffee before heading out for the day’s activities.

Dorm beds here range from ₱550 to ₱900, sitting at the slightly higher end of our budget bracket but justified by the design quality and central location. Food costs in the immediate area mirror the rest of El Nido town, averaging ₱150 to ₱350 per meal, with cheaper carinderia options a short walk away closer to ₱100 to ₱180. Habal-habal (motorbike taxi) rides to nearby beaches like Las Cabanas typically cost ₱50 to ₱100 per person.

First-time visitors to El Nido tend to gravitate toward Spin precisely because it removes a lot of the guesswork — the location is central, the place is clean, and the vibe is welcoming without being overwhelming. June and September through October are good months to target for both lower rates and manageable crowd levels.

Corong-Corong Beach, known for some of the best sunset views near El Nido

A short tricycle ride from El Nido town proper sits Corong-Corong, a quieter stretch of coastline that has become something of an open secret among repeat visitors, and Outpost Beach Hostel is the main reason backpackers make the trip out here. The beachfront location means your morning view is the ocean rather than a wall, and the sunsets from this side of the bay are genuinely some of the best in the area.

The trade-off for that beachfront setting is that you are a bit further from the main town strip, which means slightly more reliance on tricycles for dinner options or nightlife in El Nido proper. Most guests find this is a fair trade — Corong-Corong has its own small selection of restaurants and beach bars, and the relaxed pace here is exactly what a lot of travelers are looking for after a day of island-hopping.

Dorm beds typically fall between ₱650 and ₱950, reflecting the beachfront premium, though this can still sit within budget range during shoulder season. Meals at the on-site or nearby beach restaurants run ₱180 to ₱400, while a tricycle into El Nido town for cheaper eats costs around ₱50 to ₱100 each way. The walk along the beach toward town is also doable in about 20 to 25 minutes if you do not mind the heat.

This is the property to choose if you are prioritizing scenery and a slower pace over proximity to nightlife. Many tour boats also depart from beaches accessible near Corong-Corong, so check with your hostel about pickup points before assuming you need to head into town first. June through October offers the best combination of lower rates and that signature golden-hour glow without peak crowds.

Kayangan Lake, one of Coron’s most photographed island-hopping stops

Coron operates at a slightly different pace than El Nido — smaller town, fewer crowds, and a tour scene built heavily around shipwreck diving and lake-hopping rather than lagoon circuits. Hop Hostel fits neatly into that rhythm, offering a clean, central, no-fuss base that puts you close to the pier where most tour boats depart each morning.

What stands out about Hop is how easy it makes the logistics side of a Coron trip. The town itself is compact enough that almost everything — dive shops, restaurants, the market, and tour operators — sits within a ten-minute walk, and the hostel staff are well-connected when it comes to matching solo travelers with existing tour groups headed to Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, or the wreck sites.

Dorm beds here run ₱500 to ₱800, on the more affordable end for Coron. Meals at local eateries near the market average ₱100 to ₱250, with fresh seafood and BBQ stalls offering some of the best value in town. A full-day island-hopping tour covering highlights like Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon typically costs ₱1,100 to ₱2,200 per person depending on group size and which sites are included.

Coron sees slightly less of the extreme peak-season crush compared to El Nido, but December through April still commands premium pricing. May, June, and November tend to offer the best balance of good weather and lower rates. Note that the Kayangan Lake entrance fee is separate from the tour cost and usually needs to be paid in cash at the site.

Twin Lagoon, a must-see stop on most Coron island-hopping itineraries

The Outpost brand has built a reputation across the Philippines for hostels with a rooftop pool, and the Coron location is no exception — it has quickly become one of the most talked-about budget stays in town, mostly because nothing says “tropical vacation” quite like a rooftop dip after a long day of boat tours. The energy here leans social and lively, drawing a younger backpacker crowd that tends to plan group activities together.

Beyond the pool, the hostel benefits from Coron’s compact layout — you are still within easy walking distance of the pier, restaurants, and the small but lively strip of bars that make up Coron’s modest nightlife scene. The rooftop area doubles as a social hub in the evenings, often with games, music, and the kind of casual mingling that makes solo travel feel less solo.

Dorm beds range from ₱500 to ₱850, putting it comfortably within budget despite the rooftop pool amenity. Food costs follow the same pattern as the rest of Coron town, with market meals at ₱100 to ₱200 and restaurant meals at ₱180 to ₱350. Since most of what you need is walkable, daily transport costs tend to stay minimal unless you are heading out for tours.

If a rooftop pool and a livelier social scene appeal to you more than Hop Hostel’s quieter, more practical setup, Outpost Coron is the better fit. May through June and November remain the sweet spot for lower rates, while December through April brings both higher prices and a noticeably busier rooftop.

The Puerto Princesa Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near the city

Puerto Princesa tends to play a supporting role in most Palawan itineraries — either a brief stop on the way to El Nido or Coron, or a base for the Underground River day trip — and Mojo Hostel is well-suited for exactly that kind of short, practical stay. It is not trying to be the centerpiece of your trip, and that is precisely its strength: a clean bed, a convenient location, and none of the fuss.

Proximity to the airport is the biggest selling point here, which matters more than it might seem if you have an early flight or a late arrival and do not want to deal with a long transfer. The hostel also makes a sensible base for arranging the Underground River tour, which is one of Palawan’s most famous attractions and easily doable as a half-day trip from the city.

Dorm beds here are some of the most affordable in this entire guide, typically ranging from ₱450 to ₱700. Meals around the city are noticeably cheaper than in El Nido or Coron, averaging ₱80 to ₱200 at local eateries. The Underground River tour, including the boat ride and entrance permit, generally costs ₱700 to ₱1,400 per person depending on whether it is booked as a shared van tour or independently.

Because most travelers only spend one or two nights here, Mojo rarely has the booking pressure that hostels in El Nido or Coron face during peak season, making it a reasonably safe option to book just a few days ahead even during busier months. If your itinerary has you passing through Puerto Princesa anyway, this is a practical, low-cost place to rest before the longer van ride onward.