Hidden Beach
El Nido, Philippines
Reached by swimming between the tall cliffs that shield it from view, Hidden Beach is one of the most popular adventures in El Nido’s Bacuit Archipelago. A strip of pale sand backed by a landscape of tumbled karst, jungle, and palm trees, and framed by soaring cliffs, it’s as beautiful as a movie set.
The basics
Even if you’re staying on Matinloc Island, it’s only possible to reach Hidden Beach by taking a boat, then a swim. Many travelers visit on El Nido’s ever-popular Tour C island-hopping circuit, which takes in other Matinloc Island attractions including Secret Beach and the Matinloc Shrine, as well as Helicopter Island and Miniloc Island’s Secret Lagoon. Some travelers opt to beat the crowds by chartering a private boat and designing a custom itinerary that gets them there early.
Things to know before you go
Hidden Beach is a great choice for beach lovers, social media mavens, and drone photographers.
Entering or exiting through the gap between the cliffs can be difficult when the tide is turning. Consider wearing fins and be sure that kids are wearing life jackets.
Boats cannot enter Hidden Beach, so if you’re bringing photo or video gear, you’ll need waterproof casings. A dry bag will also come in handy if you’d like to bring a towel to the beach.
Visitors need to be competent swimmers to reach Hidden Beach; it is not wheelchair accessible.
How to get there
Hidden Beach lies on the northeast coast of Matinloc Island, about 10 miles (15 kilometers) west of El Nido. Most travelers reach it on an island-hopping tour or private charter out of El Nido—it’s part of the Tour C itinerary, which focuses on hidden and secret beaches.
When to get there
Hidden Beach is open year-round, but island-hopping in El Nido is best during the dry season (roughly mid-November through mid-May). Crowds can be hectic on the weekends, and during the Easter, Christmas/New Year, and Lunar New Year peaks; try to visit midweek and early in the day.
Is Hidden Beach another name for Secret Beach?
Despite their similar names and Matinloc Island locations, Hidden Beach is not the same as Secret Beach, which is also not the same as Secret Lagoon. You swim to Secret Beach through a very low opening in the cliffs that otherwise completely encircle it, but you reach Hidden Beach through a gap between two separate cliffs. Locals call it “Hidden” Beach because you can’t see the shore from the ocean.
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