Place to eat in Nacpan

Left view

After hours sitting and swimming on the beach we felt that our stomach is complaining. According to some locals in town of El Nido there are place to eat in Nacpan. On our way to the beach we pass through a house that has a big  wooden veranda that has a sign on its side saying FOOD here.

right view with the big FOOD sign

When we arrive 2 group of foreign tourist are eating in the place called by the owner ate Mercy, Kyla Canteen. It has 4 small tables, enough for the days customers. When getting to the canteen, you can not miss because of the big food sign.

The Menu

Ate Mercy started it two years ago when tourist started to flack in Nacpan Beach grown. People usually stock there without food and even drinks. Then idea came out of putting up a canteen that serve sea foods and chicken.  According to ate Mercy, she also pursue her plan to help her husband who is a fisherman. Because of the lowering income now a days in fishing. The veranda is the new dinning place, before it is located at the side of their house with small space for comers to eat. Most of the food serve was a product of the nearby village like crabs, squids,fish and shrimps. Chicken demand is bought from the market in the town. Prices are competitive in the towns cheap place to eat, insuring the customers that you will leave gastronomically full without  putting a whole in your pocket.

The new dinning area of Kyla Canteen

This small place is operated by relatives; From mother, Father, nephew and even Kyla the first daughter of ate Mercy. They use the kitchen of the house to prepare food they serve.

The Old dinning area, now can use as parking area

Vegetable salad 

We ordered crabs,(because in the town it is more expensive,to save little hundreds)adobong squid, the vegetable salad and unlimited rice(i mean unmeasured plate of rice). Crabs were Php 400/ kilo (big ones) squid were cheap, a total of Php 350 with a can of soda.

Chloe praying for the crab.Yummy

After the full gastronomic lunch that we take, we rested for an hour and went back to the town.

If you want to reserve a seat or order in advance you can call ate Mercy at 09461965557

Chloe playing with the window of the house of ate Mercy

P.S. Actually our bill is Php 359, i haggled to pay Php350. It is also a help for your tric driver to have a free meal given by ate Mercy if the driver brought a guess to her canteen.Not bad diba for 2 1/2 pax?

Nacpan Calitang on Focus

fishing village of Calitang

This beach is known for its shinny white sand. And its long sea shore. The beach stretches for 4 kilometers.  One of the best attraction on this place that it is seldom visited by tourist and undeveloped beach. Adventurer who wants a silent place to relax and swim this is the perfect place to go in El Nido.

view facing the two islets

relaxing overlooking Lalutaya island owned by Manny Pacquiao

One local told me that the 14 kilometers shoreline was the witness of mining from the time of memorial.

best place to cool down to beat the heat

The motor cycle that we rented for this journey

Nacpan Beach

Sand Bar that divides Nacpan-calitang beach 

The fishing village of Calitang.  

If you plan to go to this gorgeous beach, please be responsible with your own disposals. This is mostly public   beach, so no body maintain except for some locals.

Locals

The road to the virgin beach of El Nido, Nacpan Calitang

As part of our El Nido adventure I am finding a road trip that could be done by a motorcycle. We stumbled to going to Nacpan-Calitang Beach. This beach is north of El Nido Town. At our speed ranging from 40-60 km/hr, travel time is 1 hour. 

Estimated 10 km is cemented like this

Another is hard core uncemented road.(this in on dry season)

The 1st turn, left going to Pasadena. Right turn goes to New Ibajay

Road and this bridge under construction

One and only metal bridge that I pass in Palawan

Half of the terrain is cemented, half is hard core dust road on dry season and muddy on the wet season. Fortunately when we visit the beach on the third week of November the weather in Palawan is dry. So the road is terribly dusty. Dusty that in some point it is like a mud.

 

Slippery dusty road on dry season

Another turn left going to Calitang elementary school

You can miss this turn because of the improvise road sign to Nacpan

To keep on a low budget we rented a motorcycle for the whole day trip. Usually rentals of motor cycle in the town is ranging from Php 800 to Php1200. But for us I found Php 500 for the whole day and replace the fuel that you used during your trip. It is customary in El Nido when you hire a motorcycle that it has a full tank and when you return it also with a full tank of gas. For a longer rent of the bike you might get lower fee. But always remember that you haggle every time you pay.

dusty road

You will pass a big farm of cashew again and again

protected from dust by headware

bumpy road on dry season, muddy road on wet season

Navigating towards it is not that difficult. Improvised road signs and willing locals will help you reach the 14 kilometers stretch of Nacpan Beach. This beach is popular because it is more silent, less tourist are coming and secluded from civilization. This place of El Nido does not have electricity except to the that locals that has a generator sets for their basic needs.

rap road will welcome you when you reach in Brgy. Calitang

dusty on dry season

muddy on wet season

When you see this waiting shed on the right. You turn right

Waiting shed that needs to turn right

Essentials to make you prepared for this adventure is sunblock to keep you protected to the burning heat of the sun; camera to capture and document the nice view; shoul/blanket to be use while loitering on the long stretch of the beach; clothes for swimming in the crystal clear water ; a lot of food and water if you want to stay longer. But if you don’t want to mind bringing food for the day there are small eateries in the area. To be exact four that serve lunch. And one house near the French own mansion sells drinks in can and bottle water. 

The french mansion and the hows of the caretaker that sells drinks

on Nacpan beach facing Lalutaya Island that is own by Manny Pacquiao

SCAPED IN PALAWAN

In a few days, i will describe and illustrate the activities that we have went through. And will give suggestion and tips to make the holiday happy.

Getting lost,means getting to best places

When travelling, going to undiscovered path is euphoric; but for a full heated traveler its like getting to cloud 9,,, 

Being IDLE

Taken in lake Seloton at the break of dawn.........

Going to Isla Reta Beach Resort On a Budget

Isla Reta On HDR

Isla Reta to me in Talicud  Samal is almost a decade. I first set foot on this resort on 2002 with friends. Nothing major change happen true out the years, aside now a days they have many staff. The cleaning is continues this day.

Concrete Cottage at Night

I keep coming back to this place because of its cost and virgin(in the sense of nature).  I can not replace this place to  Boracay, where awarded as the best beach in the Philippines. It may have good stores, place to party and world class hotel. 

In this year of constantly coming back, me i suggest this to keep travelers budget tight.

  

Picnic Hut

First up, going to Isla Reta has an option on taking the boat from Sta Ana Wharf to Sta Cruz for Php 60 each way per pax. IF you opted to take Isla Reta, it is 20 pesos more pricey.It has four trips to chose from:

Sta Ana Wharf to Sta Cruz

• Isla Reta 9am
• Pacific 10 am
• Jessa 1230 pm
• Sherly 2 pm
• Hof Gorei

Sta Cruz to Sta Ana Wharf

• Sherly 615 am
• Jessa 630 am
• Hof Gorei 8 am
• Pacific3 pm
• Isla Reta 3 pm

Isla Reta Boat on Dock 

Second, when on a budget you can bring a tent and pay Php 100 for each tent. Or rent a picnic hut for Php 150, take their native hut for Php 700 good for 3 but you need to use the common shower room and toilet, or their concrete room for Php 800 good for two person only that has its own toilet and bath. For a a group of 22 i suggest to get the dormitory type for Php6500 but you need to use the public bath and toilet.

Davao City, Isla reta View

Isla Reta shore line at night

Third, when you have time to cook, buy a freshly cough fish in the market or a whole seller of fish in the area near the gate of the resort.You can grill it on different area on the resort. or sent it to their kitchen that charge you  for Php 30 per kilo for rice and Php 75 of meat for viands. Cooking your food or buying it may save a lot for a longer stay in the resort.

Isla Reta shore line day time

For years in going to Isla Reta we usually buy an instant noodle that you just pour hot water that is free from the kitchen (if you request) in the morning. Or in some time of my visit I discovered this coffee stand near the market that serve puto maya(made of steaky rice) and native coffee(freshly brewed) in Starbucks of Nong Enting. It is open in the morning as breakfast and in the afternoon for snack.

Nong Enting Kapehan at Puto Maya

If you plan to visit this place it is nice to contact them at 09282141487 specially on peak season and look for Joan.