Lio Estate Growing Greener in Palawan

When we first featured Lio Estate in 2018, it felt like meeting someone at the start of their journey—hopeful, ambitious, and full of promise. Ayala Land’s vision was daring: to create an eco-estate in El Nido where nature and development could walk side by side. Back then, Lio was more of a dream than a destination, a blueprint waiting to come alive.

In our magazine’s own journey, Lio stands out—a destination once brought to life by Priscilla Meirelles and Anechka Estrada, whose presence reflected the place’s blend of grace and natural allure.

Today, that promise has flourished. Lio has become one of El Nido’s defining eco-destinations, drawing travelers who seek comfort without compromise. It proves that mindful development is not only possible, but magnetic.

What Lio Has Become

Anchored by its golden shoreline, Lio hums with an energy that feels both lively and unhurried. Resorts and boutique stays blend with the landscape, while family-run cafés, local restaurants, and craft shops line the beachfront. It doesn’t feel built—it feels grown.

Nearly half of the 325-hectare estate remains undeveloped, preserving mangroves, forests, and wetlands that sustain El Nido’s delicate ecosystem. Solar panels now power a significant share of daytime energy use across several resorts, while waste management and conservation programs are part of daily operations. These efforts have positioned Lio as a model for sustainable tourism—where environmental responsibility guides every step of growth.

Equally meaningful is its human story. The estate has opened doors for local employment in hospitality, retail, and ecotourism, allowing communities to share in El Nido’s progress. Visitors, meanwhile, experience a place shaped by genuine care—for land, people, and purpose.

We haven’t returned since that first feature, but even from afar, Lio’s journey continues to inspire. Like people, places evolve. And Lio’s evolution reminds us why we write—to celebrate progress, preserve memory, and share how travel continues to shape the Philippines.