El Nido: Island Hopping Tour A

El Nido Tour A puts the area’s famous limestone islands and clear-water lagoons into one full day on Bacuit Bay. You’ll visit Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island, with time for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and lunch by the sea.

I like the simple value here: for $34, you get a boat, guide, lunch, and pickup from hotels in El Nido Town. I also like the mix of grand scenery and easy water time, from the wide entrance to Big Lagoon to the smaller, more enclosed Secret Lagoon.

The catch is that these are El Nido’s best-known stops, so they can feel busy, especially at popular times. You’ll also pay extra for the environmental fee, lagoon fees, and mask and snorkel rental if you need equipment.

Key points to know before you book

• Four signature stops: Tour A visits Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island.
• Eight hours on the water: Expect a full-day outing rather than a quick sightseeing trip.
• Water activities included in the plan: You can swim, snorkel, and kayak in Bacuit Bay, but a mask and snorkel are not included.
• Good basic value: The $34 price includes the boat, lunch, English-speaking guide, and pickup from El Nido Town hotels.
• Extra fees apply: Budget for the 400.00 environmental fee and 200.00 lagoon fees, in addition to personal costs.
• Confirm the meeting point: Pickup is arranged through WhatsApp, and the nearest hotel may be used as the meeting place.

Why Tour A is El Nido’s classic first day

El Nido’s island tours are arranged around different groups of places, and Tour A is the most lagoon-focused option. It is the choice for you if your mental picture of El Nido includes pale beaches, steep limestone walls, narrow entrances, and water so clear you can see why people come here.

The route is not built around one single attraction. Instead, it gives you several different settings across one day. Big Lagoon feels open and grand. Small Lagoon is tighter and more enclosed. Secret Lagoon adds a short-access, hidden-feeling stop. Shimizu Island provides a more traditional beach and snorkeling break.

That variety matters. If you spent the day only at one lagoon, the scenery could begin to blur together. Tour A keeps changing the scale and mood, so you get dramatic rock walls, calmer swimming areas, and time on a beach.

The tour lasts about eight hours. That is enough time for a proper outing, but it also means you should prepare for a long day in sun, salt water, and a shared boat. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for water activities, and bring spare clothes for the ride back.

Big Lagoon, where the scenery takes over

Big Lagoon is the stop most closely tied to El Nido’s postcard image. You enter a broad, clear-water area framed by towering limestone formations. The scale is the main attraction. Instead of feeling like a small swimming cove, Big Lagoon gives you a wide view of Bacuit Bay’s dramatic rock formations.

You can take in the view from the boat and spend time in the water. Kayaking is part of the activity plan, and this is the kind of setting where a kayak can give you a closer look at the lagoon’s edges and narrow passages.

The clear water makes Big Lagoon attractive even if you are not a confident swimmer. You can still enjoy the cliffs and water from the boat, though the tour is not designed for people who want to remain completely dry. Bring a camera, but protect it carefully around the water.

Big Lagoon is also one of the places where timing matters. Since it is a signature stop, you might find other boats sharing the area. The tour information is direct about this possibility: the popular locations can be crowded. I would book Tour A for the scenery, not for the promise of having the lagoon to yourself.

Small Lagoon and a closer look at Bacuit Bay

Small Lagoon offers a different feel from its larger neighbor. The name gives you a useful clue: the space is more enclosed, with rock walls creating a tighter setting. This makes the stop feel more intimate, although it can also make a busy visit feel more noticeable.

You can swim and kayak here, depending on the conditions and the day’s arrangements. Kayaking is especially appealing because it lets you move at your own pace through the clear water rather than simply looking at the lagoon from the boat.

For you, the practical question is comfort. Small Lagoon is best enjoyed by people who are happy getting into the water and handling basic water activity. Non-swimmers are specifically advised not to book this tour, and the experience is not suitable for pregnant women or people with back problems.

That does not mean you need to be an expert swimmer. It does mean you should be comfortable around water and prepared to follow the guide’s instructions. Do not touch marine life or plants, even when the water makes them easy to see.

Secret Lagoon, a compact stop with a different mood

Secret Lagoon adds a smaller-scale experience to the day. Rather than presenting a huge open view, it gives you a more enclosed place to explore and swim. This change of pace helps the itinerary feel less repetitive.

The name suggests privacy, but you should keep your expectations realistic. This is one of the advertised stops on a popular route, not a guaranteed private cove. You might find other groups there, especially during busy periods.

Still, Secret Lagoon is useful for the variety it brings. Big Lagoon gives you the broad view, while Secret Lagoon offers a more contained setting. I would think of it as a short, memorable stop within the larger day rather than a place where you spend hours.

Good footwear matters here. The tour advises comfortable clothes and shoes for water activities, and extra clothing is strongly practical. You may be wet for much of the day, and a dry change of clothes makes the trip home more comfortable.

Shimizu Island adds beach time and snorkeling

Shimizu Island rounds out Tour A with a more traditional island stop. Here you can relax on the shore, swim, and snorkel in the surrounding water. This is a good counterpoint to the lagoons because you get time to slow down rather than moving from one enclosed waterway to another.

Lunch is included, and Shimizu Island is the natural point in the day for a meal and a break. The exact lunch setup is not specified, so do not expect a particular menu. What you can count on is that food is part of the package, which saves you from arranging a separate meal during an eight-hour excursion.

Snorkeling equipment is not included. You need to bring your own mask and snorkel or arrange them separately. The tour description also points to marine life in Bacuit Bay, but you should treat the water experience as sightseeing and recreation, not as a guaranteed wildlife encounter.

Sunscreen, water, snacks, a hat, and a camera all belong in your day bag. The supplied information specifically recommends each of these. Choose reef-safe habits where possible, and remember that touching marine life and plants is not allowed.

What the $34 price really covers

At $34 per person, Tour A is priced as a budget-friendly full-day boat outing. You receive a professional guide, an English-speaking tour, boat transport, lunch, and hotel pickup if you stay in El Nido Town.

That package is useful because the boat and lunch alone can make independent planning more complicated. You also get a planned route through four major sites rather than needing to negotiate separate boat arrangements.

The headline price is not the final cost, though. You need to add a 400.00 environmental fee and 200.00 lagoon fees. The currency is not specified in the supplied details, so confirm the amount and payment method before departure. Personal expenses are also your responsibility, and a mask and snorkel are not included.

Pickup applies to hotels in El Nido Town. If you stay farther away, a tricycle fare may be charged to your personal account. The meeting arrangement is made through WhatsApp, with the nearest hotel used as the meeting point.

This last detail deserves attention. Make sure you confirm the pickup location before the morning of the tour. The listed meeting point may not always be the correct physical location. A verified booking experience included an incorrect meeting point in the app and weak follow-up communication, so a quick WhatsApp check can prevent a needless start-of-day scramble.

The boat day, from pickup to return

You should be ready 15 minutes before the pickup time. Since hotel pickup is limited to El Nido Town, check that your accommodation qualifies and ask which nearby hotel will serve as the exact meeting point.

Once aboard, the day follows the island-hopping pattern: travel between stops, short periods of swimming or sightseeing, and time for lunch. The itinerary is listed as eight hours, so plan for a complete day rather than a flexible half-day activity.

The English-speaking guide and boat crew are central to the experience. You can expect guidance through the stops and help with the basic flow of the day. One especially positive point is the crew’s friendly and attentive manner, which can make a shared boat outing feel easier and more welcoming.

Communication before pickup appears to be the weaker point. That does not necessarily affect the time on the water, but it is a reason to confirm details yourself. Ask for the exact meeting hotel, pickup time, and any instructions about the extra fees.

The activity is advertised as skip-the-ticket-line, but that does not mean the sites will be empty. You may spend less time handling ticket arrangements, while still sharing the main locations with other boats.

Crowds, comfort, and who should choose this tour

Tour A suits you best if you want El Nido’s famous sights in one organized day and do not mind sharing them. It is a strong choice for first-time visitors who want the classic lagoons, a beach stop, lunch, and water activities without arranging a private boat.

It also works well for couples, friends, and active families whose members are comfortable swimming and getting wet. The tour gives you enough variety that you are not dependent on one activity. If you prefer photography, the limestone cliffs and clear lagoons provide plenty to capture, but keep your camera protected.

This is not the right pick for everyone. The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, or non-swimmers. You should also think twice if you dislike fixed schedules, shared boats, or popular attractions.

If solitude is your top priority, a private or less familiar route may suit you better, though that is not what this activity offers. Tour A is about seeing El Nido’s headline locations efficiently and affordably.

Tour A compared with El Nido’s other routes

The other tour options help clarify what you are choosing. Tour B focuses on Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, and Matinloc Shrine. Tour C combines places from Tours A and B. Tour D goes toward Cadlao Island, the largest island in Bacuit Bay, and its beaches.

Choose Tour A when lagoons are your priority. Choose Tour B if caves, a sandbar-style island setting, and the shrine appeal more. Tour C may suit you if you want a broader mix, while Tour D is aimed at Cadlao Island and its beaches.

The information does not provide prices or exact schedules for the other tours, so you should not assume they offer the same inclusions. For this particular experience, the best reason to book is the clear focus on four major Tour A stops.

Should you book El Nido Tour A?

Book it if you want a full day of classic El Nido scenery for a modest base price. The combination of Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island gives you a well-rounded day, and the included lunch, boat, guide, and El Nido Town pickup make the package practical.

Go in with realistic expectations. Add the environmental and lagoon fees, arrange your own mask and snorkel, confirm the WhatsApp meeting point, and expect other boats at the popular stops. If you are comfortable in the water and happy with an organized group outing, Tour A is a sensible way to see Bacuit Bay’s best-known sights.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour A last?

The tour lasts approximately 8 hours.

Which places are included in Tour A?

Tour A includes Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island.

What water activities can I do?

You can swim, snorkel, and kayak in the clear waters of Bacuit Bay.

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch is included in the tour price.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is included for hotels in El Nido Town. If your hotel is far from town, a tricycle fare may be charged separately.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. A mask and snorkel are not included, so you should bring your own or arrange them separately.

Are there extra fees?

Yes. The environmental fee is listed as 400.00, and lagoon fees are listed as 200.00. Personal expenses are also excluded.

What language does the guide speak?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers reserve now and pay later booking.