Cadlao Resort and Restaurant sits at Caalan, on the quieter side of El Nido, a minute's walk from Bacuit Bay and three minutes from Caalan Beach. Instead of a block of rooms, it offers cottages and rooms set in a garden, with the cottages ranging from a simple standard cottage to seaview and sea-front family cottages. There are two outdoor pools and a children's pool, a restaurant serving international dishes with poolside seating, a bar and lounge, and a free area shuttle, which matters because the resort is out of the town centre. It is a calm place to come back to after a day of island hopping, and it is a good value for couples and families who want space, a garden and the water close by without paying for a private island resort.
Location and getting around
Caalan is on the north-eastern edge of El Nido, with Bacuit Bay at the front. El Nido's main beach and the town square are about a 14-minute walk away, the dock is around five minutes by car, and El Nido's airport is about ten minutes by car.
A free area shuttle helps with the trips into town, and tricycles are cheap and easy to find. The atmosphere is quieter than in the middle of town, which suits light sleepers, though you will rely on rides for dinner and tour departures. Parking is for motorcycles only.
Rooms
The options range from the Deluxe Cadlao Island View room of about 31 square metres with a queen bed to the Seaview Cottage of about 40 square metres with a king bed, and the Sea Front Cottage of around 46 square metres. Families can look at the Seaview Family Cottage, around 55 square metres with two bedrooms, which sleeps four, or the Family Standard Cottage with two queen beds.
Rooms have air conditioning, a ceiling fan, a safe, free bottled water, a shower and a bidet. Sea-front cottages cost more than garden rooms, and the resort has no lift, so ask about steps when booking.
Dining and extras
Cadlao Restaurant serves international cooking at breakfast, lunch and dinner, with seating beside the pool, and there is a bar and lounge. Cooked-to-order breakfast is charged separately, with young children eating free, so check what your rate includes. The resort offers direct beach access, beach towels, a garden and a terrace. Staff can help with tours, tickets and luggage storage, and babysitting is available for a fee. The front desk has limited hours, so tell the resort if you will arrive late in the evening.
Who it suits and good to know: couples, families and small groups who want a comfortable base close to the water, with the boats leaving from the dock nearby. It is not a party area or a private-island hideaway, and the nearest night life is in town. Tours, ferries and flights change with weather, so build slack into the first and last days. The sea is calmest from November to May, and the wet season from June to October brings rain and rough days. Check when you book for current room types and inclusions.
Why stay here
- ✓Cottages and rooms in a garden
- ✓Two outdoor pools and a children's pool
- ✓Direct beach access
- ✓Restaurant with poolside seating
- ✓Bar and lounge
- ✓Free area shuttle
- ✓Beach towels
- ✓Tour and ticket assistance
Good questions
How far is Cadlao Resort from El Nido town?+
About a 14-minute walk to the main beach and town square, and a free area shuttle runs between the two. Tricycles are also easy to find.
Does it have a pool?+
Yes, two outdoor pools and a children's pool.
Is it good for families?+
Yes. There are family cottages that sleep four, a children's pool and babysitting on request, though the resort has no lift.
