Caalan Beach Resort
Barangay Masagana, Taiyo Village, El Nido, Palawan Island 198273 Philippines
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#2 of 51 cottages in Palawan Island
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Caalan Beach Resort is a small, family-run resort right on the ocean, with a great view of downtown El Nido, Cadlao Island and Caalan Beach. We're located a 10-15 minute walk from downtown El Nido, away from the noise and bustle of town. We have our own boats so we can arrange island-hopping tours for our guests. All of our rooms come with free continental breakfast, free wifi, air conditioning, private bathrooms and hot showers. We have 12 rooms, and have been open since 2006.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Free breakfast
Beach
Snorkelling
Kids pool
Shuttle bus service
Laundry service
Wifi
Adult pool
Outdoor pool
Restaurant
Breakfast available
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Room features
Air conditioning
Private balcony
Refrigerator
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Ocean View
Languages Spoken
Filipino
Location
55Somewhat walkable
Grade: 55 out of 100
12Restaurantswithin 1 km
0Attractionswithin 1 km
Barangay Masagana, Taiyo Village, El Nido, Palawan Island 198273 Philippines
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The resort is located about 25 minutes from the town by trike. The resort has their own trikes that will take you to and from the town at no additional cost but they will only drop you off and pick you up from the gym. This resort has a lot of possibilities but also a lot of room for improvement. Here are the pros and cons. Pros: -Friendly owner and staff -Views from the resort of the island and sunset -Breakfast at the restaurant -Resort operated trikes -Resort operated boats for island tours Cons: -Rooms have thin walls, you can easily hear conversations in the next room -Rooms need to be renovated, painted -Bathrooms are very basic and are in desperate need of renovations - Hot water becomes an issue when multiple rooms are using the showers at the same time -Resort location is far from town and the limited time for the trikes reduces how long you spend in town at night Overall the resort was OK but based on the location and condition if the rooms it resort is overpriced. While I did enjoy my stay it takes time to adjust to the location and rooms. If I return to El Nido I will try a different hotel.…
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We had to postpone our trip to Palawan and we are in the process of organising refunds from 5 different accommodations in Palawan. Everyone has been great except Caalan Beach Resorts. After 3 messages and 3 weeks, we have not heard from them. This is very concerning
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Date of stay: May 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We stayed at Caalan Beach Resort for 3 nights at the beginning of March. The views and tranquility can’t be beat. We’re so glad we didn’t stay in town. We had an amazing time, the staff are excellent, a real family run vibe. They were so helpful, and to reiterate again, the view is something else. We read reviews about distance to town but it’s really very close - the free tricycle is a fun short ride which takes about 10 minutes but we just walked along the beach to town which only took under 15 minutes. The best part is that the tours leave right from the hotel - John helped us coordinate everything before we got to El Nido. When you see how hectic the harbour is for tour pick-ups in town (big queues, looks chaotic) you’ll really appreciate having it right outside your door. They also give you snorkels and fins to use free of charge. We did Tour A and Tour C, both were amazing and our guide Albert was fantastic. The room was clean and air conditioned, it’s basic but has everything you need. We stayed in Seaside 2 which had an amazing view outside our door. To top it off, we had to leave early to catch our flight and they arranged a little take out breakfast for us to take with us. Overall so happy with our stay and can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking for value, views, tranquility and great hospitality - hope we can come back!…
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Room: Our room was clean and comfy and offered a great view of the ocean. It was quiet at night and the large balcony was great for reading. Food: We were blown away by the deluxe meals offered on the island hopping tours. Holy wow - take a look at the pics! They provided the freshest and most delicious island eats that worked well for the meat and non-meat eaters in our group. The daily breakfasts were also tasty and a great way to start our day. Tricycle Shuttle to/from town center: What's great about the resort is that offers the best of El Nido -- stunning and peaceful beach front paradise right on the water combined with easy access to/from El Nido town's restaurants and bars. The friendly tricycle drivers who shuttle guests back and forth throughout the day was a big convenience. I'd rather stay off the main town and in a quieter beach front that's a 10-minute ride away to the bustling and crowded town center. Customer service: John, the host, knows his stuff and provided all that we asked for. He took care of island hopping tours, transportation reservations from El Nido to Coron, guidance on where to ride for our scooter adventures, and restaurant/coffee recommendations. Solid customer service. Overall, we couldn't have been happier with our experience. We lucked out by choosing Caalan over one of the hotels in the town, which would not have offered the serene and stunning beachfront experience. …
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Date of stay: December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Our family of 5 stayed at Caalan Beach Resort for almost 2 weeks. Staying here was the best part of our Philipines vacation. Staff was super friendly, the owners John and Bee were really accomodating and helpful and the view is fantastic. Bee also helped us with organizing several activities with the kids that proved to be really fun for our whole family. We especially appreciated the great location of this place because it was not right in the hussle and bustle of the town. The view of the beach and an island across was spectacular. They have a free transportation from the center of the town to the resort (8-10 minute ride with trikes), any time of the day, as many time as you need to go to town. You can also walk to town in about same time. We did island hoping with them (really affordable for families at only $25 per person) and that was a truly Instagram type of experience - good boats, good food, nice staff, well organized and worth doing at least a couple of these tours. The accomodations itself are nice and clean but somewhat basic. However, when you are in paradise, there is no need for fancy. Our kids spent hours in the pool and we loved the lounging around, enjoying the view, especially at sunsets since the resort is facing west. Breakfast was provided and there were always two versions of it (western and Filipino) and the food was good. They have hundreds of kids' books that we great to have for longer stay. El Nido is developing rapidly and although it might not yet meet every westerner's 'fanciness meter', it has many charms. Since we were there longer than a typical tourist stay, we sincerely appreciated our luck for picking Caalan Beach Resort as our destination of choice. After 10+ days, we could see all the advantages of being at Caalan vs. any other place we saw in town.…
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This place has an awesome view of Cadlao island and helicopter island. But the place is dated. Needs a lot of fixing. Bathrooms are filthy. You can smell the stank of the drainage when you are using the lavatory. Me and my wife had nightmares staying this place. Oddly that we had the same experience when we slept on the same side of the bed facing a mirror. Owner John is helpful and also the staff. Their boat tours are nice and convenient.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
This is the second time I've stayed at Caalan Beach Resort. They now have an outdoor pool which is a brilliant addition. Relaxing in the pool during the evenings under the stars, hearing the palm trees sway with the wind and being surrounded decorative lights around the pool was truly relaxing experience after a long day of being out & about. The resort owner is an absolute champion and is very accomodating and attentive to guests needs, staff are great and the scenery is very relaxing. I chatted with many guests about places to visit and highlights of their time in El Nido, which just adds to the experience when holidaying.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: The garden cottage 2 room located at the entrance resort was very spacious, easily accessible to...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Very run down resort, especially by western standards. There is no official road to get to the hotel, you have to share the lumpiest and bumpiest gravel road with trikes, motorbikes and walkers. They have a bucket in the bathroom just in case the toilet doesn’t work, which it didn’t on the first night. Breakfast is quite bland, choice of Western or Filipino, we were given scrambled egg with meat patties and fresh fruit. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any value for money and found out later there is better options around.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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+1
The view of the resort is really nice, especiallyp when having your breakfast. They serve an okay breakfast with fruits and you can even ask them for a brewed coffee. They provide their own tours which is good if you want to feel like having a private tour because there's only a few of you even if the boat is big enough for more. The pool is nice although its behind the office instead of having the view of cadlao island while swimming. The plus point of this hotel is the owner who is super helpful. And the staffs are super nice as well. It's a bit far from el nido town. Though they provide a free trike ride. We didn't mind walking but at night it could be difficult because it's dark and you need to pass by the cemetery. If you want a quiet place, this is perfect for you. The downside of this resort are the rooms. We stayed in the ocean view and courtyard. Both are old and need some renovation. The beds and furnitures are old. Sheets are super thin. The bathrooms not only need some good cleaning but an overhaul. The whole place seems dated. Ants are present in the breakfast area and rooms. For the price, we kind of expect a more presentable accommodation even if it's not modern. …
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Date of stay: February 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
I’ll start with the good: The owner John was the most responsive host when I was emailing from home trying to plan the trip. He is knowledgeable, thorough and competent. In my opinion he would be great also managing a 4 or 5 star hotel. I would say he would be warmer in terms of his approach however. The staff generally are helpful and accommodating. They have WiFi but it seems iPhones don’t works as well generally in this area. The rooms have AC and there are no issues with electricity or water. Unlimited distilled water is provided to all guests which is wonderful and considerate. Ok now the bad: The Caalan location which is located adjacent to El Nido is not good. There are other resorts in this area so this is a critique of the general location. Though walkable, its not convenient and taking a trike even though free is like taking Mr Toad’s Wild Ride seriously, I had to video it otherwise no one would believe me! So if you had a choice book in downtown El Nido. It’ll be easier to wander around down and also dine. Also the beach in this area -though it faces a beautiful scene is a low quality beach, mostly filled to rocks and debris. I don’t recommend this area. As for the unit, unfortunately the condition of the courtyard unit I stayed in was well below average- sorely outdated decor, garish bathroom tiles, harsh fluorescent lights made it an unpleasant visual experiences. In summary, competent and responsive host, helpful staff but location and condition of the premises are well below par. The pictures on the internet show the property in the best light but not an accurate reflection of the actual situation. Although I would like to give this place 4-5 stars, it’s really overall more like 2-3.the conditions of the premises are like 1-2 stars.…
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
LOCATION
PhilippinesMimaropaPalawan ProvincePalawan IslandEl Nido
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
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Frequently Asked Questions about Caalan Beach Resort
What are some of the property amenities at Caalan Beach Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool.
What food & drink options are available at Caalan Beach Resort?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast and an on-site restaurant during their stay.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Caalan Beach Resort?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Caalan Beach Resort have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Caalan Beach Resort offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Caalan Beach Resort have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.