El Nido Private Tour A: Best Island Hopping

The best part of this El Nido day is the variety. You get the grand cliffs and calm water of Big Lagoon, a tucked-away swim at Secret Lagoon, coral gardens at Shimizu Island, and two very different beaches. I especially like the private boat setup and the included lunch, since both make an eight-hour outing easier and more relaxed.

I also like that the route can change to avoid crowds, and that Carlo is named as one of the guides, with a cheerful manner and a notably generous lunch praised in the booking feedback. The main drawback is the extra cash you need for the environmental fee, lagoon charge, and optional gear. The advertised price is not the full cost for three people.

Key points at a glance

• Five major stops in one day: Big Lagoon, Payong-Payong Beach, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and Seven Commandos Beach.
• Private group for up to three: You avoid sharing the boat with a large group and can enjoy a more personal outing.
• Big Lagoon costs extra: Bring 200 PHP per person for the lagoon fee, plus the 400 PHP environmental fee per person.
• Snorkeling is optional: Gear costs 100 PHP to rent, while a two-person kayak costs 300 PHP.
• Lunch is included: A packed midday meal is served around noon, with drinks not included.
• Timing can shift: The boat leaves around 9:30 a.m. and returns between 4 and 5 p.m., but the stop order may change to avoid crowds.

Why Tour A works so well for a first day in El Nido

El Nido is famous for Bacuit Bay, where pale limestone cliffs rise from clear water and small beaches appear between rock walls. Tour A gives you a broad taste of that setting in one full day. You are not spending the whole outing in one cove or on one beach. Instead, the route keeps changing, so the day has a good rhythm.

The private format matters. The price is $324 for a group of up to three, not per person. For a full boat shared by only your party, that can be good value if you are traveling as a couple, a family, or a small group of friends. You also get a guide, boat, life vests, and lunch without arranging each part separately.

I would not call this a quiet, remote-island experience from start to finish. Tour A visits El Nido’s best-known stops, so popular places can feel busy. The operator may reverse the order to help with crowds, which is useful, but it cannot guarantee solitude at famous lagoons and beaches.

Pickup is limited to El Nido town. Give the provider your exact pickup and drop-off location in advance, since accommodation outside town is not listed as included. The usual meeting time is 9 a.m., followed by boat departure at about 9:30.

Big Lagoon, where the cliffs do most of the talking

Big Lagoon is the visual star of the morning. You enter a broad stretch of turquoise water enclosed by high limestone formations. The walls rise directly from the bay, creating the feeling of a natural theater with water at its center.

Plan on about an hour here for swimming. Kayaking is also available for 300 PHP per kayak, good for two people. That option is worth considering if you want to move slowly through the lagoon rather than remain near the boat. Bring cash for the 200 PHP per person Big or Small Lagoon fee, which is separate from the tour price.

The water and cliffs are the main attraction, not a long list of activities. You may want to spend part of the hour simply looking around and taking photographs, then use the remaining time to swim or paddle. A hat, sunscreen, and water are important because the boat and lagoon stops offer limited shade.

Big Lagoon is also the stop most likely to shape your impression of the day. If you want the classic El Nido scene of steep rock walls and clear water, this is where it happens. If you prefer places with fewer people, ask your guide about the planned order and be ready for the route to change.

Payong-Payong Beach, a useful pause between water stops

Payong-Payong Beach adds a slower beach break to a morning built around lagoons. The sand is described as powdery, with palms along the shore, making it a good place to sit, swim, and let the pace drop for a while.

The itinerary allows about an hour for free time and swimming. That is enough for a quick shoreline rest, but not so long that the beach becomes the entire day. You can use this stop to dry off, take a few photos, or simply enjoy a break from boarding and leaving the boat.

Bring your own towel. Towels are not included, and the supplied packing list also recommends swimwear, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent, and drinking water. Drinks are not included either, so keep some cash available and bring water with you.

This stop may appeal most to anyone who wants a mixed day. You get the dramatic setting of the lagoons, but you also get time when no special activity is required. Sit on the sand, swim, or do very little. That balance is one of Tour A’s strengths.

Lunch around noon, with a practical warning about extras

Lunch is served at about noon, after the earlier lagoon and beach visits. A packed lunch is included, which saves you from arranging food while moving between islands. One piece of feedback singled out the meal as especially generous, so you should not assume this is just a token snack.

Drinks are not included. Bring water, and carry cash if you want to buy additional refreshments. The trip description also advises insect repellent, which is sensible for beach stops and time around vegetation.

The environmental fee is 400 PHP per person, payable in cash. It remains valid for all tours taken within five days, so keep the receipt if you are planning more than one island-hopping day. This fee is separate from the 200 PHP per person lagoon charge.

For three people, these required fees add 1,800 PHP in total before optional rentals, assuming everyone needs to pay both charges. That is why I would compare the full outlay, not just the $324 headline price. The private boat and included lunch still give the package solid value for a small group, but you should budget properly.

Secret Lagoon, reached through a narrow rock opening

Secret Lagoon provides a different kind of setting from Big Lagoon. Rather than opening broadly in front of you, it is reached through a narrow mouth in the rock. Once inside, you find a small enclosed area suited to swimming and a short exploration.

The stop is scheduled for about an hour. Access can involve moving through a tight opening, so you should be comfortable with a more confined entrance than the open water at Big Lagoon. The supplied information does not specify the exact access method or water conditions on the day, so follow your guide’s instructions.

This is a good example of why the route works as a package. Big Lagoon gives you wide views and towering rock walls. Secret Lagoon gives you a more enclosed, tucked-away setting. The two stops may be close on a map, but they offer different moods.

As with the other water stops, bring only what you need. A secure, water-friendly bag is useful, although one is not listed as included. The tour supplies life vests, but not towels.

Shimizu Island, the main snorkeling stop

Shimizu Island is the designated snorkeling stop, with clear, warm water and coral areas beneath the surface. About an hour is set aside here. You can rent snorkeling gear for 100 PHP, or bring your own if you already have equipment.

The tour includes life vests, but snorkeling equipment is an extra charge. That small cost is easy to overlook, so include it in your cash budget. If you would rather not snorkel, you can float, swim, or enjoy the island from the boat and shore.

The quality of visibility depends on weather and sea conditions. The description promises clear water, but no snorkeling trip can guarantee the same view every day. In poor weather, the Philippine Coast Guard may cancel island-hopping trips altogether. That rule is outside the guide’s control and is an important reason to avoid scheduling this as your only possible El Nido activity.

Shimizu Island suits people who want a little more than scenery. You get a chance to see marine life and coral areas, but the activity remains optional. That makes the stop manageable for a mixed group where one person wants to snorkel and another prefers to swim.

Seven Commandos Beach, the easy finish

The final major stop is Seven Commandos Beach, where you have about an hour for free time and swimming. Its appeal is less about a single dramatic feature and more about the easy beach atmosphere, with sunbathing, optional snorkeling, and a beach bar.

After a day of moving between lagoons and islands, this is a pleasant place to slow down. You can swim, stretch out on the sand, or enjoy a drink if one is available for purchase. Since drinks are not included, plan to pay separately.

Seven Commandos is also one of the more social stops on the route. The beach bar setting gives it a livelier feel than Payong-Payong. If you want total quiet, this may not be your favorite stop. If you like ending a day with a relaxed drink and a bit of beach energy, it makes sense as the last stop.

The boat normally leaves this area for El Nido between 4 and 5 p.m. Return time depends on weather, sea conditions, and the day’s pacing, so do not schedule a tight evening transfer immediately afterward.

The private boat and guide make the difference

This is a private group experience for up to three people, with an English-speaking guide. That format gives you a more personal day than a standard shared excursion. You still follow the main Tour A route, but you are not adjusting every stop to a large group of strangers.

A good guide matters here because the day includes several transitions: beach to boat, boat to lagoon, snorkeling, lunch, and a return crossing. Carlo is one guide associated with the experience, and his cheerful service is specifically noted. That personal touch can make the difference when you need help with timing, equipment, or getting settled at each stop.

The boat, guide, life vest, and packed lunch are included. Snorkeling gear, kayak rental, drinks, towels, the environmental fee, and the lagoon fee are not. The division is fairly clear, but cash is essential because the listed fees are payable in cash only.

I like that the order may change to avoid crowds. It shows some practical planning rather than a rigid schedule. Still, the tour cannot promise empty beaches or private access to popular lagoons. The private booking applies to your group and boat, not to the entire bay.

What to bring and how to budget

Pack lightly, since you will be moving between boat, beach, and water. Your core list should include:

• Swimwear and a towel
• Sun hat and sunscreen
• Drinking water
• Insect repellent
• Cash for fees, gear, and drinks

The environmental fee is 400 PHP per person. It is valid for tours occurring within five days, so keep the receipt with you if you return to the water during that period. The Big or Small Lagoon fee is 200 PHP per person.

Optional snorkeling gear costs 100 PHP. A kayak costs 300 PHP for two people. These are modest charges, but they add up alongside drinks and the required fees.

You should also keep your expectations practical. The activity lasts eight hours, and the water, sun, and boat crossings can make the day tiring. The best approach is to treat it as an active beach day with breaks, not as a restful resort outing.

Who should book El Nido Tour A?

I would recommend this tour to first-time visitors who want the main El Nido sights in one day. It also suits returning visitors who missed these particular lagoons or want the convenience of a private boat.

Couples and small groups of three get the clearest value from the price. Families may like the choice between swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, and resting, though everyone should be comfortable with a full day around open water and changing boats.

This is less suited to you if you want a very quiet, remote experience or dislike popular sightseeing stops. It is also not ideal if you have a strict evening schedule, since the return is listed between 4 and 5 p.m. and all times are approximate.

The free cancellation window is up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Weather remains the key uncertainty, since the Coast Guard can cancel island-hopping for safety reasons.

Should you book this private island-hopping day?

Book it if you want the classic El Nido route, prefer a private group, and value having the boat, guide, lunch, and life vests arranged for you. The combination of Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach, and Seven Commandos Beach gives you a full picture of Bacuit Bay in one day.

Before paying, check your group size and add the required cash fees to your budget. Bring your own towel and water, and decide in advance if you want snorkeling gear or a kayak. If those details suit you, this is a strong, well-rounded choice for a first El Nido island day, with enough beach time to keep the schedule from feeling like a nonstop race.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Private Tour A last?

The tour lasts about eight hours. Pickup is around 9 a.m., boat departure is approximately 9:30 a.m., and return to El Nido is expected between 4 and 5 p.m. Times are approximate.

Which places are included in the route?

The route visits Big Lagoon, Payong-Payong Beach, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and Seven Commandos Beach. The order may change to help avoid crowds.

Is the tour private?

Yes. It is a private group experience for up to three people.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Snorkeling gear can be rented for 100 PHP. Life vests are included.

What fees are paid separately?

The environmental fee is 400 PHP per person and is payable in cash. The Big or Small Lagoon fee is 200 PHP per person, also payable in cash. Drinks, towels, snorkeling gear, and kayak rental are not included.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup and drop-off are included only within El Nido town. You should provide the exact location in advance.