SMALL-TOWN GIRLS, MIDNIGHT TRAINS

— travel inspiration for small budgets and big dreams —

travel inspiration for small budgets and big dreams

SGMT | Sunset at Marimegmeg Beach — 
Do yourself a favor. If you’re going to El Nido, set aside at least one day for beach bumming. Spend a lazy afternoon at Marimegmeg Beach and stick around for the sunset. You won’t regret it.
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El Nido Marimegmeg Beach Las Cabanas 04

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It was more bed weather than beach weather, the day we arrived in El Nido, but we didn’t want to waste the chance to spend the afternoon at Marimegmeg Beach. Never mind that the sun wasn’t likely to put in an appearance that gloomy day. Never mind that we weren’t likely to witness one of Marimegmeg’s spectacular sunsets. Plans are not plans which alter when they alteration find, as they say, and a little drizzle wouldn’t hurt us.

How we got to Marimegmeg Beach

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We found a tricycle driver — or rather he found us, standing outside the office of El Nido Paradise. Tricycle drivers have to hustle a bit in low season and Jack at first approached us with an offer to take us to Nacpan Beach for ₱1500 ($32). When we didn’t bite, he mentioned Las Cabanas — the other name for Marimegmeg Beach — and this time we eagerly agreed.

We paid the standard rate for a trip to Marimegmeg and back to the bayan — ₱300 ($6.40) for the whole tricycle, which can accommodate up to 4 people. I suspect we could have haggled it down but, hey, might as well support the local economy. The tricycle couldn’t take us all the way to the beach — the last few meters were just a narrow dirt road — but it was a short distance from the roadside to the beachfront and the walk didn’t take more than 5 minutes.

Beach bumming

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No doubt Marimegmeg would have been splendid in the sunshine but the cloudy skies didn’t stop anyone from enjoying the beach anyway. This was taken right in front of the Beach Shack…

El Nido Marimegmeg Beach Las Cabanas 00

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…which was where we hung out for most of the afternoon. Their carrot-pineapple cake was awful but it was a small price to pay for being able to overstay in their beachfront lounge chairs. And their shakes were good.

On the other end of the beach was Las Cabanas Resort, one of the first to set up shop in Marimegmeg, which is why the latter is sometimes called Las Cabanas beach. It’s pricier than the average El Nido accommodation so there weren’t too many people there.

El Nido Marimegmeg Beach Las Cabanas 08

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They had some of the most beautiful views though.

El Nido Marimegmeg Beach Las Cabanas 06

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El Nido Marimegmeg Beach Las Cabanas 05

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Las Cabanas isn’t the only resort there now; several more are being built. Sustainability is a constant struggle in El Nido, and although they’ve hopefully learned some of the lessons of Boracay, it takes a lot of political and social will to say no to easy money. Either way, Marimegmeg is unlikely to stay unspoiled so go there while you can still enjoy it like this.

 

Sunset at Marimegmeg Beach

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As expected, there wasn’t much of a sunset that time we were there but it was still a peaceful, wonderful place to end the day in…

El Nido Marimegmeg Beach Las Cabanas 01

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El Nido Marimegmeg Beach Las Cabanas 03

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El Nido Marimegmeg Beach Las Cabanas 07

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…and even without color, beautiful.

El Nido Marimegmeg Beach Las Cabanas 02

 

 




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Sunset at Marimegmeg Beach | Posterity
© Small-Town Girls, Midnight Trains. All rights reserved. Contents verified as of 06 July 2016.

 

 


 

9 Responses

  1. Will follow your El Nido notes to the letter when my family visits next year! Thank you and bless you for writing

    1. Yay! I’m always happy when someone’s able to use the info/advice I post here, so thank you! I hope you and your family have a great time. 🙂

  2. That last photo almost looked like it was in color to me (Did you see that thingy-experiment online last year that shows you how you can stare at a black and white photo and think it is in color?). You’re right it is just as beautiful.
    Looks so tranquil. What flavor shake you did get? =)

    1. Coffee! 😀 😀 😀 Because I was feeling a bit sluggish from the 6-hour van ride.

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