Isla - The Island Experience

Darocotan Island El Nido, 5313 El Nido, Philippines – Excellent location – show map

<p><b>Excellent</b> location – rated 9.5/10! <small>(score from <b>476</b> reviews)</small></p> <p>Real guests • Real stays • Real opinions</p>
9.0
Scored 9
Wonderful
Rated wonderful
476 reviews

I like everything about the Isla. It was our best decision to stay here for few days. We spent 11 days in Palawan and the isla experience has been our favorite and the highlight of our trip. If you really want to be away from the hustle and bustle of Elnido, this is the best place to stay and relax. We spent our New year here, and it was the best decision as well. All the staff are very accomodating and entertaining, (shout out to Hennel). They made sure that the night is full of entertainment(dancing and karaoke) during the new year’s eve and surprisingly, the served us LECHON.wow! What a great memory we had!

Catherine Philippines
a young man wearing a snorkel in the water at Isla - The Island Experience in El Nido
an aerial view of a beach with people in the water at Isla - The Island Experience in El Nido
a room with a bed in a straw hut at Isla - The Island Experience in El Nido
a man standing in front of a wooden table with food at Isla - The Island Experience in El Nido
a person swimming in the water in the ocean at Isla - The Island Experience in El Nido
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Isla - The Island Experience

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Isla - The Island Experience provides beachfront accommodations in El Nido. Each accommodation at the 3-star luxury tent has sea views, and guests can enjoy access to a private beach area and a garden. The luxury tent has an outdoor fireplace and a spa facilities. Every room is equipped with a shared bathroom with a shower, while certain rooms come with mountain views. At the luxury tent, every unit is equipped with bed linen and towels. Guests are welcome to eat at the on-site traditional restaurant, which is open for dinner, lunch, brunch, and cocktails. Sightseeing tours are available close to the property. Guests at the luxury tent can enjoy snorkeling and walking tours nearby, or make the most of the sun terrace. The nearest airport is El Nido, 16 miles from Isla - The Island Experience, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.6 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

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Most popular amenities
  • Beachfront
  • Airport shuttle
  • Restaurant
  • Free parking
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Bar
  • Private beach area
  • Breakfast

Property highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.5)

FREE parking!

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Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

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Room Type
Number of guests
 
2 twin beds
and
1 queen bed
2 twin beds
1 full bed
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No credit card needed to book. We'll send you an email confirming your reservation.

Property practices

This property told us they've implemented certain practices across some or all of these categories: waste, water, energy and greenhouse gases, destination and community, and nature.
Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
9.5
Facilities
8.5
Cleanliness
8.6
Comfort
8.5
Value for money
8.6
Location
9.5
High score for El Nido
Select topics to read reviews:

See what guests loved the most:

  • Catherine
    Philippines Philippines
    “I like everything about the Isla. It was our best decision to stay here for few days. We spent 11 days in Palawan and the isla experience has been our favorite and the highlight of our trip. If you really want to be away from the hustle and bustle...”
  • Annalise
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    “Really enjoyed our experience at the Isla. We stayed for two nights on Christmas Eve, the vibes were brilliant and it felt so Christmasy even though we was on an island in the middle of the ocean! On Christmas Day we went to the local village to...”
  • Janessa
    Mexico Mexico
    “This was my favorite place during our stay in El Nido. It was such an amazing experience.”

Host Info

9.5
9.5
Host Review Score
Host Review Score
Get off the tourist trail and head to paradise. Unwind in the beautiful scenery of Darocotan Island. You can look forward to spending your days on our private 200m stretch of beach or exploring the island's tropical reef with the provided masks and snorkels. With regular sightings of turtles, rays, reef sharks, fireflies and plankton, this spot truly is magical and the perfect addition to your trip. Enjoy relaxing in one of our many hammocks, or by having a talented local masseuse give you a relaxing massage. Our island isn’t just beautiful in the day, it also comes alive at night. We provide evening entertainment on the island including beach bonfires, fire shows, karaoke and movies on our open air cinema, a 150-inch projector screen. These activities are on rotation so depending on the length of your stay, you may not get to experience all. We provide set meals offering both Western and Filipino cuisine with our local catering staff able to provide for any dietary requirements. A vegetarian breakfast is included whilst lunch and dinner are available at 250 and 350 peso, respectively. We also have our own bar on the island which serves cold alcoholic and soft drinks.
We are passionate about providing travellers with a truly unique experience by providing comfortable local style accommodation on a pristine island just North of El Nido. We are extremely conscious of preserving the beauty of the island through our philosophy of sustainable, rural development to allow travellers a comfortable stay which is not damaging for the local area or our neighbours. Our Island family consists of local staff, 2 dogs – Bertie and our new puppy Teddy. 2 kittens – Puss and Boots, and 2 pigs – Betty and Wilma. They are all very friendly, especially Wilma, who likes sunsets and romantic strolls down the beach.
Daracotan Island is situated a short ten minute boat journey from Teneguiban which is easily accessible via tricyle, bike or minivan. We have a free boat pick up service from Teneguiban to the Island at 2pm, daily. The island is remote and relatively untouched with incredible marine life and beautiful coral reefs waiting to be explored. Previous guests have found turtles, rays, reef sharks, and plankton. There is a dense population of Clown fish in the area and you are guaranteed to see one during your visit. We have two reefs accessible via a short swim off our beach and a third which is accessible via boat. The island shipwreck is a 40m swim from our beach and is littered with incredible marine life- a must see thing on Daracotan Island. We have two beaches on the land which includes panoramic views of both sunrise and sunset. There is the option to explore the whole island, included a guided tour around the island village by a local and visiting other remote beaches on our Island Beach Hop Boat Trip for an additional fee.
Languages spoken: English,Filipino

Area info

Restaurants
1 Restaurant On Site

  • Restaurant #1
    • Cuisine
      British • Local • International
    • Open for
      Breakfast • Brunch • Lunch • Dinner • High tea • Cocktail hour
    • Ambience
      Traditional
    • Dietary options
      Vegetarian • Vegan • Gluten-free • Dairy-free

Amenities of Isla - The Island Experience
Great facilities! Review score, 8.5

Most popular amenities
  • Beachfront
  • Airport shuttle
  • Restaurant
  • Free parking
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Bar
  • Private beach area
  • Breakfast
Bathroom
  • Towels
  • Shared bathroom
  • Shower
Bedroom
  • Linens
View
  • Sea view
  • View
Outdoors
  • Outdoor fireplace
  • Picnic area
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Beachfront
  • Sun deck
  • Private beach area
  • Garden
Room Amenities
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Clothes rack
Pets
Pets are allowed on request. No extra charges.
Activities
  • Live music/Performance
  • Cooking class
    Additional charge
  • Tour or class about local culture
    Additional charge
  • Happy hour
    Additional charge
  • Walking tours
  • Beach
  • Evening entertainment
  • Entertainment staff
  • Snorkeling
  • Canoeing
    Additional charge
  • Karaoke
Food & Drink
  • Fruit
    Additional charge
  • Wine/Champagne
    Additional charge
  • Special diet meals (on request)
  • Snack bar
  • Bar
  • Restaurant
Internet
No internet access available.
Parking
Free public parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is needed).
  • Street parking
  • Accessible parking
Front Desk Services
  • Invoice provided
  • Private check-in/out
  • Baggage storage
  • Tour desk
  • Express check-in/out
Entertainment & Family Services
  • Board games/Puzzles
Cleaning Services
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Laundry
Safety & security
  • Fire extinguishers
  • 24-hour security
General
  • Shuttle service
    Additional charge
  • Adults only
  • Designated smoking area
  • Mosquito net
  • Airport shuttle
    Additional charge
  • Non-smoking rooms
Spa
  • Fitness
  • Massage chair
  • Full-body massage
  • Hand massage
  • Head massage
  • Couples' massage
  • Foot massage
  • Neck massage
  • Back massage
  • Spa facilities
  • Beach umbrellas
  • Beach chairs/Loungers
  • Massage
Languages Spoken
  • English
  • Filipino

House rules

Isla - The Island Experience takes special requests – add in the next step!

Check-in

From 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Check-out

Until 12:00 PM

 

Cancellation/
prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children not allowed.

Crib and extra bed policies

Cribs and extra beds aren't available at this property.

Age restriction

The minimum age for check-in is 18

Cash only

This property only accepts cash payments.

Pets

Free! Pets are allowed on request. No extra charges.

The fine print
Must-know information for guests at this property

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property.

FAQs about Isla - The Island Experience

  • Check-in at Isla - The Island Experience is from 12:00 PM, and check-out is until 12:00 PM.

  • Isla - The Island Experience offers the following activities/services (charges may apply):

    • Massage
    • Snorkeling
    • Canoeing
    • Karaoke
    • Beachfront
    • Evening entertainment
    • Spa facilities
    • Live music/Performance
    • Head massage
    • Tour or class about local culture
    • Foot massage
    • Beach
    • Entertainment staff
    • Walking tours
    • Back massage
    • Cooking class
    • Full-body massage
    • Happy hour
    • Couples' massage
    • Fitness
    • Private beach area
    • Hand massage
    • Neck massage
    • Massage chair

  • The prices at Isla - The Island Experience may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

  • Isla - The Island Experience has 1 restaurant:

    • Restaurant #1

  • Isla - The Island Experience is 15.5 miles from the center of El Nido. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.