Is it worth renting one?
Yes, if you have ridden before. Every beach on the El Nido mainland sits along one main road, and tricycle fares add up quickly. A return tricycle to Nacpan Beach costs more than a full day with your own scooter.
El Nido is not the place to learn. The road north has gravel, sand and dogs, and the nearest hospital with real facilities is hours away. Good shops will not rent to a first-time rider.
How much it costs
These are 2026 day rates from Coyote Way in El Nido town, the rental shop listed on Islafy:
- 110-115cc automatic: P600 per day. Enough for town and the nearer beaches.
- 125cc automatic: P700 per day. The sensible choice for two people going to Nacpan.
- 160cc scooter: P1,200-1,500 per day. More comfortable on longer rides.
- Trail and enduro bikes: P1,350-1,800 per day. Manual clutch, made for unsealed roads.
- Maxi-scooter and touring bikes: P2,200-2,500 per day. For riding between towns.
A helmet comes free with every rental. A rain coat rents for P200 and gloves for P100.
Fuel costs P70-80 per litre. A day trip to Nacpan and back uses about P200-250 of fuel.
Licence and the law
- You need a valid driving licence that covers motorcycles. A foreign licence can be used in the Philippines for 90 days after you arrive. Carry an International Driving Permit with it if your licence is not in English.
- Helmets are required by law for the rider and the passenger.
- Police set up checkpoints on the highway from time to time. They ask for your licence and check for helmets.
- Check your travel insurance before you rent. Most policies do not pay for an accident if you were riding without the right licence.
Before you ride away
- Test both brakes, the lights and the horn.
- Look at the tyres. Bald tyres on sand are how most tourists fall.
- Take photos or a video of every scratch, with the shop staff watching.
- Note the fuel level, and ask whether to return it full.
- Save the shop's phone or WhatsApp number, and ask what happens if the bike breaks down.
- Never leave your passport as a deposit. Offer a photocopy or a cash deposit.
Where to ride
Las Cabanas and Maremegmeg (south, 10-15 minutes)
The easiest ride and the classic sunset spot. Park by the road and walk down to the beach.
Lio Beach (north, about 20 minutes)
A long, tidy beach beside the airport, with restaurants and shade. The road is paved all the way.
Nacpan Beach (north, about 45 minutes)
Four kilometres of sand and the reason most people rent a scooter. The highway is paved, but the last stretch off it is unpaved and sandy. Take it slowly, especially after rain.
Duli Beach (about 30 minutes beyond the Nacpan turn)
A surf beach with very few people on it. The track at the end is rough, so a bike with some ground clearance helps.
Nagkalit-kalit Falls (on the way to Nacpan)
Park at the trailhead on the highway and walk in through several river crossings. Wear sandals you can get wet.
Road tips from people who ride here
- Fill the tank in town before you go north. Past town, fuel is sold in bottles at roadside stalls and costs more.
- Ride in daylight. There are no street lights outside town, and dogs, carabao and unlit tricycles share the road.
- Slow down for sand and gravel on corners. Brake before the corner, not in it.
- Traffic keeps to the right. Tricycles stop without warning, so leave them space.
- After heavy rain, wait an hour. The unpaved sections dry fast.
Scooter or tricycle?
Take a tricycle if you have never ridden, if you plan to drink at sunset, or if you only want one trip to Las Cabanas, which costs about P150. Rent a scooter if you want Nacpan, Duli and Lio at your own pace, or if you are staying three days or more.