Supporting the diverse wildlife of El Nido are the forests, particularly the lowland evergreen rainforests found in the mainland and islands such as Miniloc, Lagen and Pangulasian. Other major types of natural forests in El Nido are semi-deciduous forests, forests over limestone, and beach forests. In addition, there are the mangrove forests found mostly around major rivers and creeks in the mainland.

El Nido still boasts of thick forests with trees of majestic height and whose roots are often taller than a full-grown man. The rich tropical forest is also a source of local materials, like a palm leaf called “nipa”, which is used as roofing for houses, and the roots of trees, sometimes used as rudders for the local outrigger boat, or “banca”.