El Nido Lagen Resort Debuts New Eco-Luxury Design

El Nido, Philippines, May 24, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / After a 12-month-long transformation, El Nido Lagen Island Resort has reopened with renovated overwater villas, a reclaimed white sand beachfront, and a new design rooted in Filipino craftsmanship.

While the renovation cuts the key count from 51 to 42 keys, the decision to downsize was a calculated move for a resort that was founded by a group of divers and originally opened in 1998.

“Sometimes, less is more,” said Gustavo Morales, chief operating officer of El Nido’s owning company, Ayala Land Hospitality. “Where we once had beachfront cottages, we now have a broad stretch of sandy shore, and a resort that’s lightened its lay on the land.”

The landmark redesign was brought to life through a multidisciplinary collaboration between WATG, Wimberly Interiors Studio, Henning Larsen, and Ayala Land Hospitality’s Creative Team. Their remit? To reimagine a storied resort on the northern tip of Palawan Island as a showcase for sustainability and a manifestation of indigenous craft.

“From the very beginning, our priority was to establish a strong design narrative, one that evoked a deep sense of place and honored the natural environment of this island,” said Paloma Urquijo Zobel de Ayala, Creative Director of Ayala Land Hospitality. “We wanted to engage a network of local artisans, whose craftsmanship brought the vision to life with authentic Filipino artistry. The result is a harmonious blend of global expertise and local talent; an original creation that feels familiar, innovative, meaningful and deeply relevant.”

That harmony is everywhere apparent in the accommodation. Inspired by indigenous traditional huts, bahay kubo, each of the resort’s eighteen overwater villas now features sunken lounges that afford direct bed-to-bay views. The new palm-fringed roofs, woven panels, and creamy, calming color palette complement the surrounding turquoise waters.

Clay brickmakers drew inspiration from Filipino weaving patterns to create bespoke ceramic beads featured across villa exteriors and artistic screens; wood carvers chiseled vernacular motifs into doors and railings; woven elements throughout the villas, suites, and public spaces pay homage to traditional craftsmanship.

Beyond the overwater villas and new 200-metre beach, 24 forest rooms and suites in two buildings are poised against a backdrop of dramatic limestone cliffs and rehabilitated greenery. Each of the rooms and suites offers sea views to the front and the natural splendor of the Napuro forest to the rear.

Given the glories of Palawan, with its turquoise waters and towering limestone karsts, the hotel sought to minimize the distance between inside and outside.

Environmental Conservation

To leave much of the island untouched, the hotel group took a preservation-first approach while still elevating the guest experience. Continually aligned with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, they explored opportunities to practice conservation at every turn throughout the transformation. Original flooring from first-generation structures was repurposed wherever possible. Demolition was curtailed and restoration maximized. Local materials and techniques supplanted the need for more costly, foreign alternatives.

The hotel’s new pool is cleaned with UV lights, not chemicals. The new low-wattage lighting design minimizes pollution of the night sky and establishes a turtle-friendly dark zone along the beach. To ensure privacy, the hotel did not build privacy barriers; it grew them. Infrastructure enhancements, such as the choice of roofing materials, play a vital role in their commitment to serve as guardians of the island.

In order to double down on its embrace of sustainability and stewardship, Ayala Land Hospitality’s appointed head of sustainability navigates the resort’s ongoing initiatives. A dedicated conservation center–featuring exhibits and programs that highlight the region’s unique wildlife and fragile ecosystems–has also been developed, serving as a gateway to a range of onshore and offshore eco-experiences.

Wellness

With the rebuild came a new pool terrace, and the addition of the Lagen Wellness Sanctuary featuring three treatment rooms, a Pilates studio, fully-equipped Technogym gym, hot and cold plunge pools, a steam room, sauna, a tranquil garden and an elevated flooring design that allows flora to flourish below.

The spa offers therapies anchored in age-old traditions, such as Heritage Healing, a Babaylan therapy that uses the ancient wisdom of Filipino healers, indigenous natural ingredients, and energy alignment.

Western healing approaches, through a partnership with luxury British skincare and wellness brand ESPA, also feature prominently on the extensive menu, with a range of nourishing facials, body treatments and restorative massages.

Restaurants & Bars

The Boat House, the island’s arrival pavilion and welcome lounge, draws architectural inspiration from the design of a traditional Filipino sailboat, a paraw, with a lofty sail-inspired roof and an extended bowsprit reaching towards the sea; a welcoming gesture as guests arrive at the jetty. Here visitors can gather to enjoy craft cocktails and light bites during the daytime.

The newly-built Beach Club is set back from the reclaimed sandy shore offering uninterrupted views of the changing hues as the sun goes down. The dining outlet serves wood-fired pizzas and fresh seafood dishes with a Mediterranean twist. Tropical cocktails offer opportunities for connection with some drinks designed to share. Meals are enjoyed under a sail-like winged roof supported by dramatic timber pillars etched with intricate designs.

The Club House restaurant at the property’s heart is embraced by forest but overlooks the ocean. The design team opened up the space to better channel the flow between indoors and outdoors, and to celebrate the abundant sunlight and ocean breeze. The all-day dining destination introduces elevated Filipino dishes using locally-sourced ingredients, such as a ceviche-style dish Lagen Kinilaw, and Ginataang Alimango, crabs in coconut milk; alongside dishes from southern Europe, such as paella and fresh pasta. The resort offers a full vegetarian menu.

Bespoke dining now forms a core part of Lagen’s culinary offering, with pockets throughout the property designed for gatherings from garden caves to picturesque coves and sandbar picnics.

Weddings & Events

A ceremonial hall, with tiered paneled walls showcasing intricate weaving and a palm-fringed exterior, was added for couples who wish to say “I do” on the tropical island’s dedicated chapel. The addition of two meeting rooms, each with a capacity for 56 guests, enables the Lagen team to cater to all types of social or business-related gatherings.

Diving & Water Activities

As a diving hotspot with more than 20 top-tier sites accessible from the property, the new dedicated marine sports and dive center caters to all levels of ocean enthusiasts from those who wish to complete a PADI-certified scuba dive course to “Bubblemaker” sessions designed for young kids to enjoy the underwater landscape.

For those who prefer to stay on the surface, Schiller Bikes let guests pedal across the sea. Kayaks equipped with underwater lights illuminate the world below at night.

The resort is located on its own private island within the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, famous for its beaches, karsts and waters, as well as unique flora and fauna spread over 36,000 hectares of protected land and 54,000 hectares of marine waters.