El Nido Island Tour D

Small Lagoon is the star of El Nido Island Tour D, with limestone walls, clear water, and the option to paddle into the lagoon by kayak. I like that this route also reaches Cadlao Lagoon and four beaches, giving you a good mix of scenery, swimming, and time in the sun. I also like that Tour D is often less crowded than the better-known A and C routes.

The main catch is the loose morning schedule. You meet at 8:30am, then may wait for Coast Guard clearance before the boat leaves between 9:00am and 10:00am. Kayaking and several local fees cost extra, and one past booking was changed from Tour D to Tour A, so confirm your route before setting out.

Key points to know before booking

• Five stops in one day: Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Bukal Beach, and Pasandigan Beach.
• A quieter choice: Tour D may have fewer boats and people than Tour A, especially at the popular stops.
• Small Lagoon costs extra: Kayak rental is 300 pesos per hour, and the 200 peso lagoon fee is not included.
• Simple island lunch: A picnic lunch is included, though the amount may feel modest if you have a large appetite.
• Flexible departure time: Meet before 8:30am, then expect boat dispatch between 9:00am and 10:00am.
• Good basic value: At $22 per person, the price includes the boat permit, life vest, guide, lunch, and hotel pickup within El Nido Town.

What Tour D is really like

El Nido is famous for pale beaches and tall limestone cliffs rising out of the sea. Tour D gives you a full day among those formations without asking you to choose between lagoons and beaches. You get five destinations, around 40 to 50 minutes at each one, and a picnic lunch at one of the stops.

That schedule sounds generous, but remember that boat rides, loading, and group movement take time. You will not spend half a day at Small Lagoon. Instead, the experience works as a moving picture show: arrive, swim or explore, take in the cliffs, then board the boat for the next scene.

I see the strongest reason to choose Tour D in its balance. Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon provide the dramatic rock scenery. Paradise Beach, Bukal Beach, and Pasandigan Beach give you open sand, swimming, sunbathing, volleyball, and a slower break from the boat.

The tour is operated by Cliffside Travel and Tours, a tourism-accredited agency in El Nido. A licensed guide is available throughout the day, and tours are conducted in English or Tagalog. No guide names are provided, so you should not expect to request a particular guide when booking.

The morning meeting and boat departure

The day begins at the Cliffside Travel and Tours booking office beside El Nido Cliffside Cottages. You need to be there before 8:30am. Free pickup is available from hotels within El Nido Town, but the supplied details do not promise pickup outside that area.

From the office, the group goes to El Nido Town Beach for boat dispatch. The listed departure window is 9:00am to 10:00am, depending on Coast Guard clearance. That means the advertised eight-hour activity is not a precise eight hours on the boat.

The first ride takes about 20 to 30 minutes. This is useful to know if you are trying to fit another activity into the same afternoon. The tour usually ends between 3:00pm and 5:00pm, so leave your evening open.

The waiting period is the least polished part of the arrangement. You may be at the office at 8:30am, reach the beach as the group forms, and then wait before boarding. One account describes roughly 30 minutes of waiting at the beach. Bring water, sun protection, and patience.

Boat comfort can vary. A previous booking described the boat as small and objected to not being allowed to sit on the boat benches. That may not happen on every departure, but it is a useful warning: this is a practical island-hopping boat, not a private yacht with a lounge area.

Small Lagoon, the main attraction

Small Lagoon is the stop most likely to shape your opinion of Tour D. Limestone walls surround a narrow entrance, and the water inside offers a more enclosed setting than an open beach. The scenery is the kind of natural spectacle people come to El Nido to see.

Kayak rental is available here for 300 pesos per hour. The lagoon fee of 200 pesos is also separate from the tour price. If paddling into the lagoon matters to you, add both costs to your budget and confirm the rental process with the office before departure.

You can still visit Small Lagoon without renting a kayak, but the kayak is important because it gives you access to the lagoon experience described in the tour. The exact time available for paddling depends on the group schedule and the 40 to 50 minute stop.

One useful detail is that there is a small beach where you can stop when renting a kayak. That gives you a place to pause, but it does not turn the visit into a long beach stay. You will need to watch the time and return to the boat when your guide calls the group together.

Small Lagoon can be beautiful and busy at the same time. Tour D may be quieter than some other routes, but popular places in El Nido can still have several boats in the area. For the best chance at a calmer visit, follow the early meeting time rather than arriving late.

Cadlao Lagoon and the limestone scenery

Cadlao Lagoon adds another water-and-cliff stop to the day. The point of this visit is the setting: enclosed water, pale rock, and the sense of being surrounded by El Nido’s famous formations.

The tour gives you about 40 to 50 minutes here, enough for swimming, photos, and a look around, but not enough for a long independent outing. If you prefer staying in one place, the repeated boarding process may feel rushed. If you enjoy seeing several different spots, the pace works well.

This is also where the difference between Tour D and a standard beach trip becomes clear. The beaches matter, but the lagoons provide the strongest visual contrast. I would choose Tour D for the combination rather than for any single beach alone.

Snorkeling is possible during the tour, and you can rent a mask at the beach during boat dispatch. The tour does not include the mask, so ask about availability before leaving the town beach. A life vest is included.

Paradise Beach, Bukal Beach, and Pasandigan Beach

The three beach stops give the day room to breathe. Paradise Beach is included as one of the five destinations, along with Bukal Beach and Pasandigan Beach. The supplied details do not assign a fixed activity to each beach, so expect the guide to direct the group based on conditions and the day’s schedule.

At these stops, you can swim, sunbathe, play volleyball, and spend time on the sand. Snorkeling may also be possible, depending on the location and water conditions. The beaches are a good counterpoint to the tighter lagoon stops because you have more open space around you.

Do not expect an isolated private beach at every stop. Tour D is a shared boat excursion, and the same popular waters can attract other groups. Its advantage is that it may draw fewer people than Tour A, not that you will have every beach to yourself.

Beach time also depends on the boat’s departure schedule. The operator says each destination lasts about 40 to 50 minutes, but the whole day can stretch from 3:00pm to 5:00pm because of the morning dispatch window and conditions at sea.

Lunch and activities on the water

A picnic lunch is included, and it is served at one of the islands. This keeps the day simple. You do not need to return to town for food, and lunch becomes part of the island stop rather than a separate restaurant visit.

The meal may not satisfy everyone equally. One past booking found the lunch less generous than food provided on other island tours. If you eat a large breakfast or need snacks between meals, bring something extra if permitted, since the supplied information does not promise unlimited food.

You can spend the free time in several ways:

• Swim from the beach or around the boat stop.
• Sunbathe on the sand.
• Snorkel with a rented mask.
• Play volleyball where the beach setup allows it.
• Eat lunch and take photographs.
• Rent a kayak at Small Lagoon.

This range makes Tour D a good fit for mixed groups. One person can swim, another can photograph the cliffs, and someone else can stay on the beach. The tradeoff is that you may not get a long stretch for one favorite activity.

What the $22 price includes

At $22 per person, Tour D is priced as a shared day tour rather than a private charter. The included items are the island-hopping boat, life vest, tour guide, boat permit, picnic lunch, and hotel pickup within El Nido Town.

That is a reasonable package for eight hours and five destinations. The value is strongest if you plan to see several islands anyway, since arranging separate transport and meals would be harder. You also get a licensed guide who can assist with the day’s movements and basic needs.

The advertised price is not the final cash amount. You must pay a 400 peso environmental fee and a 200 peso lagoon fee at the booking office. Kayak rental at Small Lagoon is 300 pesos per hour, and snorkeling masks cost extra at the boat dispatch beach.

I prefer tours that bundle the main activity costs into one price, and Tour D does not do that. One person specifically wished kayaking were included rather than paying extra at the lagoon. If kayaking is central to your plan, calculate the total cost before booking.

The value also depends on getting Tour D as booked. A previous reservation was changed to Tour A shortly after confirmation. Tour A can still be enjoyable, but it is a different choice, with more crowding and different stops. Confirm the route and destinations at the office, especially if you chose Tour D to avoid the most visited places.

Crowds, service, and the overall pace

Tour D has a useful reputation for being less crowded than Tours A and C. That does not mean empty beaches, but it can make the stops feel more relaxed. For many people, that quieter pace is worth more than adding another famous location.

Service is harder to judge as a single fixed quality. One booking described the staff as cool and the trip as great. Another found the guides less engaging and the staff not especially warm. The guide is available for assistance, but do not book this as a highly scripted storytelling tour.

The boat arrangement also deserves a realistic expectation. Some groups may be asked to remain in certain seating areas, and a smaller boat can make a long day less comfortable. If you are sensitive to tight seating, ask the office about the boat setup before paying.

The good news is that the route has enough variety to keep the day moving. You are not repeating the same beach five times. The less good news is that you have limited control over how long you stay at each place.

Who should book Tour D

I would recommend Tour D for you if you want a full day of El Nido scenery, prefer a route that may be calmer than Tour A, and enjoy mixing swimming with short sightseeing stops. It suits couples, families, and small groups with different interests.

It is also a smart pick if Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon appeal to you, but you still want three beach stops. The included lunch and hotel pickup make the day easy to arrange, especially for a first visit to El Nido.

I would be more cautious if you need exact departure times, a generous included meal, premium boat seating, or kayaking included in the headline price. You should also reconsider if your main aim is a completely private beach experience.

The cancellation policy gives you some flexibility: you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your weather plans are still shifting.

Should you book El Nido Island Tour D?

Book it if you want five varied stops for a modest shared-tour price, with Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon providing the strongest scenery. Tour D’s quieter feel can be a real advantage over the crowded main routes, and the included lunch, guide, permit, and town pickup keep the planning simple.

Before you commit, confirm that Tour D is operating on your date, ask about the boat arrangement, and budget for the 400 peso environmental fee, 200 peso lagoon fee, kayak rental, and snorkeling mask. If the agency confirms the route and you accept the flexible timing, this is a solid way to spend a day around El Nido.

FAQ

Where does El Nido Island Tour D start?

Meet at the Cliffside Travel and Tours booking office beside El Nido Cliffside Cottages. You should arrive before 8:30am.

Where does the boat leave from?

The boat dispatches from El Nido Town Beach, usually between 9:00am and 10:00am, depending on Coast Guard clearance.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts about eight hours. The tour usually ends between 3:00pm and 5:00pm.

Which places are included in Tour D?

The five destinations are Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Bukal Beach, and Pasandigan Beach.

Is hotel pickup included?

Free hotel pickup is included within El Nido Town only.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic lunch is included and served at one of the islands.

Are the environmental and lagoon fees included?

No. A 400 peso environmental fee and a 200 peso lagoon fee are collected at the booking office.

Is kayak rental included?

No. Kayak rental is available at Small Lagoon for 300 pesos per hour.

What languages does the guide speak?

The live tour guide service is available in English and Tagalog.