El Nido’s island hopping is regulated into four standardised routes labelled A, B, C and D, which sounds bureaucratic and is genuinely useful. Every operator sells the same four itineraries at similar prices, so the decision is about which islands you want rather than which agency to trust.
The one thing worth understanding before booking anything: every boat on a given tour follows the same order, which means roughly thirty boats arrive at the Big Lagoon within the same half hour. There is a way around that, and it is at the end of this guide.
The quick answer
Tour A: the lagoons. The famous one and the busiest. Do this if you only do one.
Tour C: Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island. The best all-round day and quieter than A.
Tour B: Snake Island sandbar, caves, Cudugnon. The quietest and the most relaxed.
Tour D: Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Natnat. Nearest to town, shortest boat rides.
Cost: roughly 1,400 to 2,200 pesos per tour including lunch, plus fees.
Best upgrade: a private boat, 6,000 to 12,000 pesos, so you can reverse the route.
The fees, before you compare prices
El Nido eco-tourism development fee: 200 pesos, valid ten days, paid once and checked before every tour. Keep the receipt.
Big Lagoon entrance: charged separately on Tour A at some points, and kayak rental is extra if you want your own rather than a shared one.
Secret Lagoon and other site fees occasionally apply and are usually small.
Ask what is included before paying. Quoted tour prices vary by 300 to 500 pesos largely depending on which fees the operator absorbs.
Tour A: the lagoons
Stops: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commandos Beach.
This is the Palawan of photographs. The Big Lagoon is a wide channel of shallow emerald water between sheer limestone walls, entered by kayak. Motorboats are not permitted inside, and there is a daily cap on entries.
The Small Lagoon is reached through a narrow gap in the rock, sometimes by swimming through it depending on the tide, and it is more enclosed and more dramatic than the Big Lagoon. The Secret Lagoon is entered through a small hole in a rock face.
Seven Commandos Beach at the end has a bar and is a good closing stop.
The catch: Tour A is by a wide margin the busiest, and if you go with a group boat you will be in the Big Lagoon with dozens of other kayaks.
Verdict: do it, because it is the signature landscape. Do it on a private boat in reverse if you possibly can.
Tour B: caves and sandbars
Stops: Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave, Pinagbuyutan Island, Entalula Beach.
Snake Island is not an island with snakes. It is a curving sandbar that appears at low tide connecting two islands, and a short climb gives a good view over it.
Cathedral Cave is seen from the boat rather than entered. Cudugnon Cave is an archaeological site with a low entrance you crawl through.
Pinagbuyutan is a striking single limestone tower with a beach, and Entalula is a quiet cove.
Verdict: the least dramatic on paper and the most relaxed in practice. Good as a second or third tour, or a first if you want to avoid crowds entirely.
Tour C: the best all-rounder
Stops: Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Star Beach, Hidden Beach.
Helicopter Island, named for its profile, has good snorkelling along a drop-off. Hidden Beach is enclosed by rock walls with a narrow entrance. Secret Beach is reached by swimming through a gap in a cliff face into a small enclosed cove, and it is the single most memorable stop on any El Nido tour.
Matinloc Shrine is an abandoned religious complex on a rocky point with a short scramble to a viewpoint over the archipelago, and the view is arguably the best in the area.
Verdict: the best day overall if you are reasonably comfortable swimming. Secret Beach access depends on sea conditions and is sometimes cancelled.
Tour D: nearest and shortest
Stops: Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Natnat Beach, Pasandigan Cove, Bucal Beach.
All on or around Cadlao Island, the large island directly across from El Nido town, which means the shortest boat rides of any tour.
Cadlao Lagoon is quiet and good for swimming, and the beaches are pleasant rather than spectacular.
Verdict: the right choice if you get seasick, are travelling with small children, or want an easier day. Not the one to pick if you only have time for one.
The private boat trick
This is the most useful thing in this guide.
Group tours all depart between roughly 8.30 and 9am and follow the same order. A private boat costs 6,000 to 12,000 pesos depending on size and season, which split between four or five people is not much more than group tickets.
With a private boat you can leave at 7am and you can run the route backwards. Arriving at the Big Lagoon at 7.30am, or reaching Secret Beach after the group boats have moved on, is a completely different experience from the same stop at 10am.
You can also combine stops from different tours, which no group boat will do.
If your budget allows one upgrade in Palawan, make it this.
Practical notes
Book the day before in town rather than in advance online, which is usually cheaper. Tour A occasionally sells out in peak season because of the Big Lagoon cap.
Bring: reef-safe sunscreen, a rash vest, water shoes for rocky entries, a dry bag, and cash for fees.
Reef-safe sunscreen is required at several sites and enforced at some. Standing on coral is the fastest way to lose the boat crew’s goodwill.
Lunch is cooked on the boat or on a beach and is usually grilled fish, chicken, rice and fruit. It is better than it sounds.
Weather. Tours are cancelled when the sea is rough, which happens regularly from June to November. Build a spare day in.
Seasickness. Boat rides between stops run 20 to 45 minutes on open water. Tour D has the shortest.
Do not book a tour for the day you fly out. Boats return late and delays are normal.
Our Palawan travel guide covers El Nido, Coron and Port Barton, the accommodation guide covers where to base yourself, and the month-by-month guide covers sea conditions by season.
Frequently asked questions
Which El Nido tour is the best?
Tour C for the best overall day, covering Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island and the Matinloc Shrine viewpoint. Tour A has the famous Big and Small Lagoons and is the busiest. If you only do one, do A.
How much do El Nido island hopping tours cost?
Roughly 1,400 to 2,200 pesos per tour including lunch, plus the 200 peso eco-tourism fee valid ten days and occasional separate site charges. Private boats run 6,000 to 12,000 pesos.
Is a private boat worth it in El Nido?
Yes, and it is the single best upgrade available. It lets you leave at 7am and run the route in reverse, so you reach the Big Lagoon or Secret Beach before or after the thirty group boats that all follow the same order.
Do I need to book El Nido tours in advance?
Usually not. Booking in town the day before is normal and often cheaper than online. Tour A occasionally sells out in peak season because the Big Lagoon has a daily entry cap.
Which tour is best for children or seasickness?
Tour D, which covers Cadlao Island directly across from town and has the shortest boat rides. Other tours involve 20 to 45 minute crossings on open water between stops.
Can you swim into Secret Beach?
Yes, through a gap in the cliff face, and it is the most memorable stop on any El Nido tour. Access depends on sea conditions and is sometimes cancelled, so it cannot be guaranteed on Tour C.
What should I bring on an island hopping tour?
Reef-safe sunscreen, which is required at several sites, a rash vest, water shoes for rocky entries, a dry bag and cash for fees. Lunch is included and cooked on the boat or a beach.
Can I combine two tours in one day?
Only on a private boat. Group boats follow their fixed itinerary. A private charter can mix stops from different tours and reverse the order, which is why it is worth the extra cost when split between four or five people.
