Aussie tourists shocked as taxi driver takes shortcut along beach in El Nido

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A group of Aussie tourists were left in shock when their taxi driver bypassed the road to take a shortcut along a beach in Palawan.

Ryan Costigan and his parents were heading to their hotel in El Nido, Palawan, when their driver took an unexpected detour. Instead of sticking to the tarmac, the driver manoeuvred the vehicle directly onto the shoreline to reach their accommodation.

Footage shows the holidaymakers watching as the vehicle cruises just inches from the water’s edge on January 5.

Gentle ripples from the sea can be seen washing over the sand and onto the makeshift motorway as the driver navigates the coast.

Ryan’s mother, sitting in the back alongside his father, can be seen pulling a face of mock-terror while giggling at the situation.

As the tide rolls in, ripples from the sea wash over the unconventional pathway.

The driver then navigated an elevated concrete ramp at the end of the shore, waiting for a tricycle to clear the path before ascending back onto the bumpy road.

Ryan said: ‘My favourite part of travel comes from the unexpected, and we definitely didn’t expect access to our accommodation to be dependent on the tides. I personally loved the added thrill, though I don’t know if I can say the same for my mum.’

In certain parts of El Nido, the shoreline is often used as an alternative road because many boutique resorts and “hidden gem” accommodations are located at the base of steep cliffs where traditional concrete roads are impossible to build.

As a result, access to these remote spots is entirely dependent on the tides. When the water retreats, the firm sand becomes a temporary motorway for local taxis and tricycles looking for the quickest route to the hotel gates.

El Nido is one of the Philippines’ premier tourism gateways, famed for its breathtaking landscape of 45 islands and towering limestone formations.

Visitors flock to the region to explore the iconic Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon, as well as the winding caves of Snake Island, the tucked-away shores of Hidden Beach, and the emerald waters of Cadlao Lagoon.

— ViralPress via Reuters Connect