El Nido Palawan, Philippines

El Nido is a protected area located in the northernmost part of Palawan mainland, Western Philippines. Its ecosystem contains 250 million year-old limestone cliffs, 888 species of fish, 447 species of coral, 114 species of bird, 5 species of marine turtle and 2,645 hectares of mangrove forest. It has 3 major archeological excavation sites: Pasimbahan Cave in Bgy. New Ibajay, Sibaltan Open Site in Bgy. Sibaltan, and Ille Rockshelter in Bgy. New Ibajay. The annual excavations led to the discovery of 14,000 year-old human remains, 9,000 year-old cremation sites and 11,000 year-old tiger bones in New Ibajay and a Pre-Hispanic trading community in Sibaltan.

Credit to the original uploader

Before El Nido became a popular tourist destination, fishing and harvesting swift nests "Nido" were the main source of income. Nowadays tourism has become the municipality's main source of revenue; however, the authorities are trying to keep it sustainable and hotel chains are refreshingly absent. Huge tour groups are nowhere to be seen. El Nido is also known for water sports such as diving, snorkeling and kayaking.