Families visiting El Nido, Palawan often discover that island hopping, while beautiful, is not always ideal for younger travellers. That is why we created a structured inland cultural day in El Nido designed to be suitable for families looking for safe, engaging activities on land.. Bring the whole family for an immersive cultural tour in El Nido. From tree climbing and Filipino games to cooking the National dish, this is the perfect day out for kids and adults aged 5 to 75.
What to Do in El Nido with Kids
Simple, join The Philippine Experience! We are a perfect fit, our experience combines traditional Filipino games, beginner-friendly cultural dances, and hands-on cooking in a supervised environment. Children stay active and involved, while parents participate alongside them.:
Child-friendly
Interactive
Experience hands-on cooking, climbing, dancing, art and more
Safe, fun, and educational activities for all ages
Unlike island hopping, our inland activities avoid long boat rides, sea sickness, and heavy sun exposure. This makes it one of the most comfortable things to do in El Nido besides island hopping for families.
Family Bonding Like Never Before
Instead of simply observing local culture, families take part in it together. This shared participation is what makes our cultural day one of the most memorable family activities in El Nido. Enjoy quality time together in El Nido with activities that create lasting memories. This family-friendly experience is unique to the region and a trip highlight for visitors.
Check us out on TripAdvisor
Incredible day! - Wow, what an experience! Shen and the team were exceptional. They were so organised and knowledgable. The whole day was packed with activities, once in a lifetime things to do... read more eg. climb a palm tree?!
We had a lovely video to remember our special day also.
I highly recommend this experience!
10/10
ep4755532 May 11, 2026
Fantastic experience and insights into Philippine culture. Lots of laughs and anectodes from our tourguide and owner shen. - We highly recommend this experience, if you want to learn more about the Philippine traditions, games, cooking, weaving, plants, dance, and so much more. Shen, with her great sense of... read more humour, and her (family-)team are simply the best. Its well worth the pesos, and one surprize followed the previous one! Never tasted coconut oil as fresh and sweet, like the one they produced on site and gave us as giveaways. Would book the same tour anytime again!!!
Cruiser13593829455 April 15, 2026
A Heartfelt Masterclass in Filipino Culture and A Must-Do in El Nido! - If you are looking for the "soul" of Palawan beyond the lagoons and beaches, The Philippines Experience is an absolute must. While the island hopping in El Nido is world-class,... read more this cultural immersion was another major highlight of our trip.
From start to finish, the day was packed with great knowledge and deep history. We didn't just see the Philippines; we felt it. We learned about ancient traditions, local flora, and the fascinating stories that have shaped this beautiful nation. It is rare to find a tour that balances education with such genuine fun. We made crafts, cracked coconuts, cooked and played Filipino games.
The food was simply delicious, it was authentic, fresh, and some of the best we had in the Philippines. We could taste the care that went into every dish.
However, what truly makes this experience "unforgettable" is the people. Shen is such a lovely, caring, warm, and welcoming person. She has a way of making you feel like family from the moment you arrive. Her passion for her heritage is infectious, and she went above and beyond to ensure everyone felt included and looked after.
If you want to leave the Philippines with a real connection to its people and history, do not miss this.
Serena A April 1, 2026
Philippines Experience - The Philippines is genuinely a wonderful place with kind, happy and joyful people. I'm glad I participated in the Philippine Experience. Philippine Experience where we learned about important Filipino... read more culture and delicious home made food! Shenny was our guide for this and you can tell she loves to share her heritage with people who are interested in learning. My favorite part was learning about local plant life and how can be used to save lives! I also enjoyed learning how to carve coconuts , where they used the meat in our meal and have us a bottle oil! 10/10!
Explore752963 March 17, 2026
Philippines West. 10/10 - I had an incredible time on the Philippines West Tour. The tour is really well put together and gives you the chance to see some of the most beautiful places... read more in Palawan while also meeting an amazing group of people. One of the best things with the tour is how everything is planned and organized so we don’t have to worry about logistics. From transport, accomodations and activites. The itinerary is great because it is a really great blend of exploring nature, going on cool adventures, and of course some downtime to do whatever we please. Our tour guide Sherry played a really important role during our trip. Whether it was helping people with anything they need (even things unrelated to the trip itself) or bringing good vibes to the group, she was always there for us. Because of her, the trip wasn’t just about island-hopping and seeing beautiful places (even if that’s very important too!) but it was also about the people and the memories we will have with eachother for the rest of our lives.
Umair A March 9, 2026
Authentic Philippine Experience - Learnt so much about Philippine culture through a range of interesting and fun activities. Guide Shen is lively and knowledgeable. We did a basic cooking class and ate a delicious... read more lunch. Highly recommend this tour.
Trish B March 6, 2026
A must do - Its a must for anyone visiting ! Brings the culture and tradition in one place. I am so pleased we had the opportunity to learn more about philipines, the history... read more and people.
jautis February 23, 2026
Great experience with Shen and her friends - Shen was an amazing hostess and explained everything really well and with a lot of patience. We had a fun day, did lots of activities and came home with souvenirs... read more and a new appreciation of the Filipino culture.
Nomad65743992002 February 22, 2026
Real and charming - Great guide and a lot of fun activities. We felt very welcome and well taken care off. Would definitely recommend this experience
Reuben M February 17, 2026
Great experience - Really fun day doing something different with the philipino folk! Great cooking lesson and good history briefing ! The coconut cooking was Intresting! And the food provided was brilliant
Malcolm G January 26, 2026
About The Philippine Experience
The Philippine Experience is a cultural day tour located in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines. Our inland tour includes Filipino cooking, traditional games, Stick fighting, climbing a coconut tree, our National cultural dance and other engaging activities in a single day designed for groups and international visitors.
Plan Your Trip
Advance booking is required, so please check our menu for scheduled dates and Book Now to make your El Nido trip unforgettable!
The Philippine Experience is a fun cultural day in El Nido with AMAZING reviews, that guests call a must do and a trip highlight, yet still an authentic ‘hidden gem’ with great food and friendly vibes!
Join us for an unforgettable insight into Filipino culture and traditions, the perfect addition to your El Nido itinerary!
You will experience:
A mini flora / fauna trek
Arnis (traditional Filipino stick fighting)
A mini cooking class using traditional methods to make the national dish of The Philippines
A coconut milk / oil making demonstration
Coconut tree climbing (with a safety harness, rope and helmet)
A coconut leaf weaving class
A chance to learn and try our national dance, tinikling
A fun traditional street game
The day runs from 9am-2:30 / 3pm. Advance booking is required as only certain dates are available/scheduled.
What Is Included In Your Experience:
Authentic Local Lunch
Refreshments: Coconut water, chilled purified water and a refreshing filipino desert.
Souvenirs so you can take a tangible piece of the Philippines home with you.
Photo and video links capturing your day’s best moments
Please note: To allow guests maximum flexibility with their morning schedules and onward travel plans, transportation is not included.
Pro Tip: Guests planning their day can extend their experience beyond our tour, as we are close to Vanilla Beach and the El Nido zipline — perfect for swimming, ziplining, or catching the sunset after our activity ends at 2:30.
Reviews
We’ve been running trips for over 10 years, and have over 650 guest reviews! We’re very thankful that All Are Five Stars, except for just two Four Stars!
Are we an El Nido Must Do? Are we a Philippines Trip Highlight? Should we be on your El Nido Itinerary?
See what our previous guests thought!
Incredible day! - Wow, what an experience! Shen and the team were exceptional. They were so organised and knowledgable. The whole day was packed with activities, once in a lifetime things to do... read more eg. climb a palm tree?!
We had a lovely video to remember our special day also.
I highly recommend this experience!
10/10
ep4755532 May 11, 2026
Fantastic experience and insights into Philippine culture. Lots of laughs and anectodes from our tourguide and owner shen. - We highly recommend this experience, if you want to learn more about the Philippine traditions, games, cooking, weaving, plants, dance, and so much more. Shen, with her great sense of... read more humour, and her (family-)team are simply the best. Its well worth the pesos, and one surprize followed the previous one! Never tasted coconut oil as fresh and sweet, like the one they produced on site and gave us as giveaways. Would book the same tour anytime again!!!
Cruiser13593829455 April 15, 2026
A Heartfelt Masterclass in Filipino Culture and A Must-Do in El Nido! - If you are looking for the "soul" of Palawan beyond the lagoons and beaches, The Philippines Experience is an absolute must. While the island hopping in El Nido is world-class,... read more this cultural immersion was another major highlight of our trip.
From start to finish, the day was packed with great knowledge and deep history. We didn't just see the Philippines; we felt it. We learned about ancient traditions, local flora, and the fascinating stories that have shaped this beautiful nation. It is rare to find a tour that balances education with such genuine fun. We made crafts, cracked coconuts, cooked and played Filipino games.
The food was simply delicious, it was authentic, fresh, and some of the best we had in the Philippines. We could taste the care that went into every dish.
However, what truly makes this experience "unforgettable" is the people. Shen is such a lovely, caring, warm, and welcoming person. She has a way of making you feel like family from the moment you arrive. Her passion for her heritage is infectious, and she went above and beyond to ensure everyone felt included and looked after.
If you want to leave the Philippines with a real connection to its people and history, do not miss this.
Serena A April 1, 2026
Philippines Experience - The Philippines is genuinely a wonderful place with kind, happy and joyful people. I'm glad I participated in the Philippine Experience. Philippine Experience where we learned about important Filipino... read more culture and delicious home made food! Shenny was our guide for this and you can tell she loves to share her heritage with people who are interested in learning. My favorite part was learning about local plant life and how can be used to save lives! I also enjoyed learning how to carve coconuts , where they used the meat in our meal and have us a bottle oil! 10/10!
Explore752963 March 17, 2026
Philippines West. 10/10 - I had an incredible time on the Philippines West Tour. The tour is really well put together and gives you the chance to see some of the most beautiful places... read more in Palawan while also meeting an amazing group of people. One of the best things with the tour is how everything is planned and organized so we don’t have to worry about logistics. From transport, accomodations and activites. The itinerary is great because it is a really great blend of exploring nature, going on cool adventures, and of course some downtime to do whatever we please. Our tour guide Sherry played a really important role during our trip. Whether it was helping people with anything they need (even things unrelated to the trip itself) or bringing good vibes to the group, she was always there for us. Because of her, the trip wasn’t just about island-hopping and seeing beautiful places (even if that’s very important too!) but it was also about the people and the memories we will have with eachother for the rest of our lives.
Umair A March 9, 2026
Authentic Philippine Experience - Learnt so much about Philippine culture through a range of interesting and fun activities. Guide Shen is lively and knowledgeable. We did a basic cooking class and ate a delicious... read more lunch. Highly recommend this tour.
Trish B March 6, 2026
A must do - Its a must for anyone visiting ! Brings the culture and tradition in one place. I am so pleased we had the opportunity to learn more about philipines, the history... read more and people.
jautis February 23, 2026
Great experience with Shen and her friends - Shen was an amazing hostess and explained everything really well and with a lot of patience. We had a fun day, did lots of activities and came home with souvenirs... read more and a new appreciation of the Filipino culture.
Nomad65743992002 February 22, 2026
Real and charming - Great guide and a lot of fun activities. We felt very welcome and well taken care off. Would definitely recommend this experience
Reuben M February 17, 2026
Great experience - Really fun day doing something different with the philipino folk! Great cooking lesson and good history briefing ! The coconut cooking was Intresting! And the food provided was brilliant
Malcolm G January 26, 2026
EXCELLENT
Based on 404 reviews
Posted on
Hugo Mayo
16 May 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Fun experience to learn more about the Philippines. This experience has loads of stuff involved, honestly great value for money. Adobo cooking class, flora/fauna walking tour, fighting, dancing, climbing s a coconut tree and arts and crafts. The guide was also very funny and had great stories :)
Owner's reply Thank you Hugo for an amazing 5 star review. Really appreciate how you enjoyed all of the activity include climbing the coconut tree even tho it was so hot on that day 😊 Shen 🙂
Posted on
Yotam Friedberg
14 May 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Had an amazing time, big thanks to Shen and the team.
Owner's reply Thank you so much Yotam for such an amazing review ❤️
Posted on
Jason Cordi
11 May 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Maraming salamat po! It was so nice to learn so many interesting things about our culture - many things that I haven’t been able to learn growing up in Australia. 😀🙏
Owner's reply Maraming Salamat Jason for a heart warming review. Glad you learnt so much of our Filipino culture and and enjoyed the most of it. Cheers, Shen ❤️
Posted on
Helena Kidd
11 May 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Thank you Shen, family and team. We had lots of fun while learning your culture. And snippets of your past. The food was plenty and so so delicious and healthy. Seeing and learning how coconut 🥥 oil is made from our own individual coconuts was educational and its final stage crunchy coconut used in our coconut milk desert. ❤️❤️❤️
Owner's reply Thanks Helena for a great review. Glad you enjoyed our delicious filipino food and learnt how we made our special virgin coconut oil. And loving our Halo halo desert again, maraming salamat po 🙂❤️ Shen ❤️
Posted on
Timo
8 May 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Very fun experience we’ve learned a lot and it’s a nice change after all the island hopping. I would highly recommend!
Owner's reply Thanks Timo for the review. Appreciated that u learnt a lot about our filipino culture. Cheers, Shen 🙂
Posted on
Steve Hahesy
23 April 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
This was a great look into the culture activities of the Palawan people. Sheny was a great host, her energy and love of her culture shine through in her presentation.
We started with a short walk and talk and then moved into the activity based presentations which included…
Stick fighting, palm tree climbing, cracking coconuts and scraping out the flesh, cooking chicken adobo, traditional stick dancing, palm leaf weaving and a game played by the local children.
We were part of all of it which made it one of the most immersive cultural experiences we have been a part of.
Owner's reply Thanks for the indepth review, steve! We're so happy you enjoyed our immersuve cultural experience here in El Nido!
Posted on
Emanuele Sciacca
17 April 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Perfect experience !
Owner's reply Thank Emanuele for a 5 star review 🙏
Posted on
Gabriel D
16 April 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Had a lovely time with Shen, Julien and the team. It was a perfect day filled with unique cultural experiences. Food class, weaving, dance, martial arts and much more truly a great immersive experience and really introduced us to the real Philippines. The team were super friendly and helpful and the food was great. Would definitely recommend to any family or friend. Especially to start their trip, close to Vanilla Beach and Zipwire makes it a prime day trip.
Owner's reply Thanks Gab for your awesome review. Glad you enjoyed our unique cultural experience ❤️🙏
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When & Where is the meet up point?
When: 9:00am. We leave at 9:10 sharp.
IMPORTANT: There’s no mobile signal at meeting point. Please be on time as we cannot wait.
Where: At the bottom of the hill where tricycles drop off guests going to the Vanilla Beach zipline.
These details will be provided also when you make a booking
How Much Is It To Join The Philippine Experience?
2000 peso per guest
(1800 peso if aged under 12*)
Includes a traditional lunch, refreshments, souvenirs, and photo/video links. (Note: Transport is not included, offering you total flexibility).
*Not generally suitable for children under 5, please ask.
How To Book / Contact Us
Check our trip dates below. If there’s availability for your chosen date, please contact us by 7 pm at the very latest the day before you wish to join with: -the date of interest -number of guests -any dietaries/food allergies The earlier you get in touch, the better, and we’ll try our best to book you on. It’s 2000p per person, cash on the day. Thanks!
Upcoming Trips:
ANY DATE - If you are a group of 10 guests or more, get in touch, and we will try and schedule an additional date. Give us as much notice as possible. Thanks!
Please see our scheduled dates below.
Numbers are subject to change / updated as more bookings come in. We have a minimum group size of 10 and maximum of around 26
Closed JUNE 11th-SEPTEMBER 12th for Rainy Season
September - December dates coming soon... Until we finalise and publish these, feel free to inquire!
The Philippine Experience is also the perfect complimentary activity for travelers on multi-day expeditions between El Nido and Coron such as Tao Philippines, Buhay Isla, Keelooma, Big Dream Boat Man and others. Guests heading from El Nido to Coron can enjoy our immersive day tour before embarking on the sea adventure, while those returning from Coron to El Nido can recharge with fun Filipino cultural activities, cooking, traditional games, and dancing after days at sea.
Join The Philippine Experience for a unique cultural day. Filled with adventure, learning, and fun, you will explore the Philippines' rich traditions and natural resources. From coconut tree climbing to a traditional cooking class, this experience is perfect for anyone looking to delve into the heart of Filipino culture.
There's more to El Nido than just island hopping and cocktails! Include us in your El Nido itinerary for the perfect activity to do before or after an el nido to coron expedition or a coron to el nido expedition !
Incredible day! - Wow, what an experience! Shen and the team were exceptional. They were so organised and knowledgable. The whole day was packed with activities, once in a lifetime things to do... read more 
ep4755532
