El Nido Island Tour A

El Nido Tour A packs the area’s most famous sights into one boat day, with Big Lagoon as the main event. You’ll pass huge limestone cliffs, swim at white-sand beaches, and stop at five separate places rather than spending the whole day at one cove.

I like the simple value: the $22 price includes the boat, guide, life vest, permit, picnic lunch, and hotel pickup within El Nido Town. I also like the mix of activities, from lagoon scenery and swimming to snorkeling, sunbathing, volleyball, and a beach lunch.

The catch is timing. Boat dispatch can wait for Coast Guard clearance, each stop lasts only about 40 to 50 minutes, and the shared beaches may feel crowded. Add the 200-peso lagoon fee and 400-peso environmental fee before you judge the final cost.

Key points to know before booking

• Big Lagoon is the star stop: Expect a guided visit, photo time, swimming options, and a kayak rental option at 300 pesos per hour.
• Five stops fill an eight-hour day: The route includes Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, Payong-payong Beach, and Seven Commandos Beach.
• The schedule has a wide window: Meet before 8:30 a.m., with boat departure between 9 and 10 a.m., and return between 3 and 5 p.m.
• Lunch is included but basic: A picnic meal is served at one of the islands, with one rating describing it as a simple lunch on the boat.
• The headline price is not the full cost: Pay the 200-peso lagoon fee and 400-peso environmental fee at the booking office.
• Service can be warm and helpful: The strongest praise goes to the guides, who are described as friendly, helpful, and good-natured.

Why Tour A is El Nido’s classic first boat day

El Nido’s appeal is easy to understand once you see the limestone cliffs rising from the sea. Tour A gives you a quick look at several sides of the area: a large lagoon, a smaller enclosed lagoon, two beach stops, and a snorkeling stop around Shimizu Island.

The tour runs for about eight hours, but the actual pace depends on the boat dispatch and Coast Guard clearance. You meet at the Cliffside Travel and Tours booking office beside El Nido Cliffside Cottages before 8:30 a.m. From there, the boat leaves El Nido Town Beach sometime between 9 and 10 a.m.

That one-hour departure window matters. If you are planning a dinner, ferry, airport transfer, or other fixed appointment later in the day, leave plenty of room. The listed finish is between 3 and 5 p.m., not at one exact time.

The boat ride to the first stop takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Once the boat reaches the route, each destination gets roughly 40 to 50 minutes. That is enough time to enjoy each place, but not enough for a slow, private-island rhythm.

Big Lagoon brings the dramatic scenery

Big Lagoon is the clearest reason to choose Tour A. The boat enters a broad channel surrounded by tall limestone cliffs, with the water and rock walls creating the classic El Nido view.

You get a guided visit, sightseeing time, a safety briefing, and the chance to stop for photos. The tour also allows hop-on and hop-off access at the destination, with kayaking available for 300 pesos per hour. If paddling is important to you, ask about the kayak before the boat arrives so you do not lose much of your short stop.

The tradeoff is that Big Lagoon draws the most attention. It is likely to be the busiest and most scheduled part of the day, and you may spend part of your time waiting for access or moving with the group. Still, the limestone setting makes it the strongest stop for photographs and the one I would prioritize if weather or delays force a shorter route.

The water color depends heavily on conditions. One rating praised the places visited but noted that poor weather kept the sea from looking blue. That is a useful warning: the cliffs remain impressive in cloudy weather, but the bright colors shown in promotional photos are not guaranteed.

Shimizu Island adds swimming and snorkeling time

Shimizu Island is one of the tour’s water-focused stops. The supplied details allow for snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, and time at the beach, while snorkeling masks can be rented at the beach during boat dispatch.

Bring cash if you want to rent equipment, since the mask is not included. The tour does include life vests, which is useful for anyone who prefers extra support in the water or is not a strong swimmer.

The short stay means you should decide what you want to do before stepping off the boat. You may not have time to snorkel, swim, eat, and sit in the sun at a leisurely pace. I would use Shimizu Island for the water activity you care about most, then save your remaining minutes for a quick look at the beach.

Secret Lagoon offers a different kind of stop

Secret Lagoon changes the mood from open beach to a more enclosed natural setting. The stop is part of the standard five-destination route and is listed as a guided and hop-on, hop-off visit.

This is a place where the access process and crowd level can affect your experience. Tour A uses shared transport and visits popular sites, so you may need to wait your turn or move through the stop with other boats. The 40 to 50 minute allowance gives you time to see the place, but you should not expect a long private visit.

The 200-peso lagoon fee is collected at the booking office before departure. It is separate from the 400-peso environmental fee, so budget for both. Those charges add 600 pesos to the advertised price, making the actual cost more than the first number suggests.

Payong-payong Beach is a short pause by the water

Payong-payong Beach is included as the fourth beach or lagoon-area stop in the route. The supplied information identifies it as one of the five destinations, but it does not give a separate activity list or detailed description for this stop.

You can expect the general island-tour pattern here: a short visit for swimming, sunbathing, photos, or a walk along the sand. The exact use of the stop can depend on weather, boat conditions, and the guide’s timing.

Do not build your decision around this stop alone. Tour A’s value comes from the combination of five places, with Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon carrying most of the sightseeing appeal and the beach stops providing time to get in the water.

Seven Commandos Beach closes the route

Seven Commandos Beach is the final named destination before the boat returns to El Nido Beach. It gives you one more chance to swim, sit on white sand, take photos, or simply slow down after a day of moving between stops.

The tour information also allows for volleyball and restaurant time during the day, though it does not promise a particular restaurant visit at Seven Commandos. Your guide can tell you what is available when you arrive.

As the last stop, it may feel especially welcome. After several transfers, a final beach visit gives you a chance to enjoy the setting without worrying about catching the next boat. Keep an eye on the departure time, though. A late return from shore can hold up the whole boat.

Lunch is practical, not a centerpiece

A picnic lunch is included and is served at one of the islands. One rating described the meal as simple and served on the boat, so I would treat it as fuel for a long day rather than a special dining experience.

The meal arrangement can affect your comfort. One very negative account described eating while standing on a small, crowded section of beach with little room to sit. That may not happen on every departure, but it shows why you should carry water, a light snack, and patience.

The included lunch improves the tour’s value, especially at a $22 starting price. Just do not expect a quiet table, a long meal, or a wide choice of dishes. Island tours are built around moving on to the next stop.

Boat service and guide support

The tour uses a licensed guide who speaks English and Tagalog. The guide is available if you need assistance, including help with the schedule, safety, and basic movement between the boat and shore.

The most consistent praise is directed at the staff. Strong ratings describe the guides as having an excellent attitude, while another account praises the boat as spacious and well maintained and the staff as friendly and helpful. Those details matter on a shared boat day, where calm, clear instructions can make the difference between a pleasant outing and a confusing one.

There is no guide name supplied, so do not book this expecting a particular individual. Service can vary by departure, and the overall score of 3.7 from 26 ratings points to a mixed experience rather than a guaranteed perfect one.

The boat’s condition is another positive sign, but the information does not give its capacity or exact design. You should not assume a small-group or private-boat setting. The route and beach conditions suggest a standard shared island-hopping trip.

The main logistical risk is the return

The most serious negative account concerns transport and pickup. One person described being moved between locations before reaching the departure point, waiting more than an hour to leave, and then being left without the planned return transfer, requiring a self-paid tricycle ride back to the original pickup point.

That is a specific complaint, not proof that every departure ends this way. Still, I would take it seriously. Before boarding, confirm exactly where the boat returns and whether hotel pickup covers the return journey or only the morning pickup.

Free pickup is available at hotels within El Nido Town only. The meeting point is the Cliffside Travel and Tours booking office beside El Nido Cliffside Cottages, and you should be there before 8:30 a.m. If your lodging is outside town, confirm your own transport rather than assuming the pickup applies.

The boat dispatch depends on Coast Guard clearance. This is a reasonable safety check, but it creates uncertainty. Keep your phone, cash, and booking details with you, and avoid scheduling an important connection immediately after the stated 3 to 5 p.m. return window.

Is $22 a good value?

At $22 per person, Tour A is priced attractively for an eight-hour boat trip with five destinations. The package includes the tour guide, life vest, boat permit, picnic lunch, and free hotel pickup within El Nido Town.

The extra charges change the calculation. The 200-peso lagoon fee and 400-peso environmental fee are collected at the booking office. Kayaking at Big Lagoon costs 300 pesos per hour, and snorkeling mask rental is also extra.

Even with the listed fees, the trip can be good value if you want a full day of sightseeing and water stops without arranging each boat ride yourself. The value is weaker if you want privacy, a precise schedule, a long lunch, or a quiet beach with plenty of personal space.

I would also compare the final peso cost, not just the dollar price. Exchange rates vary, and the local fees are fixed in pesos. Ask the office for the complete amount before paying so you know what the day will cost.

Who will enjoy this boat day most?

Tour A suits first-time visitors who want to see El Nido’s famous sights in one organized outing. It also works well for people who like a full schedule and want several chances to swim, snorkel, take photos, and sit on a beach.

It is a good fit for budget-minded couples, friends, and families who are comfortable sharing a boat. The included guide and life vest make the basic arrangements easy, and English and Tagalog service is available.

I would be more cautious if you dislike waiting, crowded beaches, uncertain departure times, or shared meals. It is also a poor match for anyone with a tight onward connection on the same afternoon. The eight-hour estimate is useful, but the actual day can run from the morning meeting through a return as late as 5 p.m.

Book with the right expectations: this is an efficient route through El Nido’s headline sights, not a private retreat.

Should you book El Nido Island Tour A?

I would book Tour A if you want Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-payong Beach, and Seven Commandos Beach in one day at a low starting price. The friendly guide feedback, maintained boat, included lunch, and five-stop route give it real value.

I would pause before booking if you need firm timing or a carefully managed hotel transfer. Confirm the pickup and return details at the office, arrive before 8:30 a.m., bring extra cash for the 600 pesos in listed fees and any rentals, and leave your afternoon open.

The best reason to choose it is Big Lagoon. The best reason to skip it is the shared-tour uncertainty. If you can accept both, Tour A is a practical introduction to El Nido’s island scenery.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

When does the boat leave?

Boat dispatch is between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m., depending on Coast Guard clearance.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts about eight hours. The listed return time is between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.

Which destinations are included?

The route includes Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, Payong-payong Beach, and Seven Commandos Beach.

Is hotel pickup included?

Free pickup is included for hotels within El Nido Town only. The meeting point is the booking office beside El Nido Cliffside Cottages.

What is included in the price?

The package includes the five-stop island tour, life vest, tour guide, boat permit, picnic lunch, and qualifying hotel pickup.

What extra fees should I expect?

A 200-peso lagoon fee and a 400-peso environmental fee are collected at the booking office. Kayak rental at Big Lagoon costs 300 pesos per hour, and snorkeling mask rental is separate.

What languages does the guide speak?

The live guide service is available in English and Tagalog.