El Nido Tour A – Big Lagoon Premium Tour (Private / Shared)

El Nido’s Big Lagoon is the main event here: a narrow ribbon of blue-green water framed by dark limestone cliffs. You’ll also get beaches, snorkeling stops, a cave entrance, and a picnic lunch in one long island-hopping day.

I like the wide mix of scenery, especially Big Lagoon and the shallow turquoise water around Shimizu Island. I also like that lunch, drinking water, life jackets, and an experienced crew are included, with Jerry singled out as a helpful guide.

The catch is the wording around private and shared tours. Some bookings have felt shared or cramped, and pickup arrangements have caused confusion. Confirm your boat type, pickup point, kayak access, and total fees before paying.

Key points to know before you book

• Big Lagoon takes center stage: You get about 90 minutes for the area’s cliffs, clear water, swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking.
• Five major stops fill roughly seven hours: The route includes Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commando Beach.
• Kayaking is for private tours only: Do not assume a kayak is included if you book a shared option.
• Several fees are extra: Big Lagoon costs PHP 200 per person, the environmental fee is PHP 400 per person, and a snorkeling mask costs PHP 150.
• Pickup needs checking: Some hotels outside central El Nido may not qualify for direct pickup, even when they appear in the booking choices.
• The scenery is stronger than the premium label: The islands are superb, but the boat and service setup can vary.

Big Lagoon gives the day its wow factor

Big Lagoon is a long, narrow waterway cut between tall limestone cliffs. The rock walls are dark and jagged, while the water can look bright blue or green depending on the light. It has the sort of scale that makes you stop talking for a minute.

You have about 90 minutes here. That is enough time to take in the cliffs, swim, snorkel, or use a kayak if your booking includes one. The lagoon is the reason many people choose this route, so check the weather and sea conditions before setting out. A gray day can soften the colors, though the rock formations still make the stop worthwhile.

The PHP 200 entrance fee is not part of the advertised tour price. Add it to your budget from the start. It is a small cost beside the overall trip, but extra charges can add up quickly once you also include the environmental fee and mask rental.

The lagoon can also be the busiest stop. This tour is not a private quiet-water experience unless you have confirmed a truly private boat. If getting the first peaceful view of the lagoon matters to you, ask for the departure time and whether it can change with weather conditions. One booking was changed from the advertised time because the operator wanted to work around conditions.

Shimizu Island is the best place for a proper beach break

Shimizu Island brings the classic El Nido scene: powdery white sand, clear water, forest, and limestone views. You get about 90 minutes here, which gives you time to swim, sit on the beach, and snorkel.

I like this stop because it breaks up the sightseeing. Big Lagoon is about cliffs and enclosed water. Shimizu Island gives you open space and a more relaxed stretch of shore. The water is described as fairly shallow and suitable for swimming and snorkeling, with schools of fish possible beneath the surface.

Bring patience during busy periods. The island is attractive precisely because it delivers the postcard version of El Nido, so it can feel less secluded than its name might suggest. Still, the combination of sand, water, and forest makes it one of the more useful stops for anyone who wants both swimming and photographs.

Snorkeling masks cost PHP 150 per person if you need to rent one. The tour supplies life jackets, but it does not include the mask rental. That detail matters if several people in your group want to look underwater.

Payong-Payong Beach depends on the weather

Payong-Payong Beach is planned as a one-hour stop for swimming, snorkeling, and rest. Its appeal is simple: clean El Nido water, a scenic beach, and a quieter pause between the larger highlights.

The operator notes that this stop depends on weather. If conditions are not suitable, you will be taken to another snorkeling spot instead. That is sensible for a boat day, but it means you should not treat every stop as fixed.

I would view this part of the route as a flexible bonus rather than the reason to book. The strongest case for the tour remains Big Lagoon and the combination of Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commando Beach. A substitute snorkeling location can still provide a good swim, but you will not necessarily see the beach shown in your plans.

Secret Lagoon adds a short cave passage

Secret Lagoon is reached through a small cave. That entrance gives the stop its character and makes it different from the open beach stops on the same route.

You get about an hour here for sightseeing. The cave access may be the most memorable part, but it also means the experience is not simply a walk from the boat onto a wide beach. Pay attention to conditions and follow the crew’s instructions around the entrance.

The lagoon works well in the middle of a full day because it changes the pace. After open water and beach time, you move through a confined passage into a sheltered pool. Do not expect a long independent exploration period. The scheduled hour includes the approach, cave access, and time at the lagoon.

Seven Commando Beach closes with sand and palms

Seven Commando Beach offers a calmer finish: white sand, turquoise water, palm trees, rock formations, and a beach bar. You get about an hour to enjoy the shore and scenery before returning toward El Nido’s floating dock.

This is a good final stop because it asks very little of you. After a day of boat movement, swimming, and snorkeling, you can simply sit by the water. The beach bar gives you another option, though purchases there are not listed as included.

Seven Commando Beach is less about a single dramatic feature than the full picture. It gathers the familiar El Nido elements in one place, making it a pleasant ending rather than a difficult final activity.

Lunch and crew service matter on a long boat day

The tour includes a picnic lunch with fruit, plus purified water. The food has been described as including seafood, pork or chicken, and fruit, with enough variety to make the meal a useful break during the day.

Do not expect a restaurant meal or a long dining stop. This is a boat excursion, so lunch is built around the route. For many people, the practical value is more important than presentation: food and water are already arranged, and you do not need to organize a separate meal between islands.

The crew includes an experienced boat team and a licensed guide. Jerry is the named guide connected with the most specific praise, particularly for helping people have a good day. Service can be an important part of a trip like this because the schedule includes several transfers, water activities, and fee checkpoints.

At the same time, the guide name should not be treated as a guarantee that Jerry will lead every departure. The available information identifies him as a guide associated with the experience, not as the assigned guide for every date.

Private, shared, and premium need careful checking

The tour is presented with private and shared options, yet the wording can be confusing. One part of the booking information describes the activity as private, with only your group taking part. Another booking account describes the private or shared label as misleading and says the boat felt shared and cramped.

That conflict is the biggest practical concern. Before booking, ask these direct questions:

• Is the boat reserved only for my group?
• How many people will be on board?
• Is the kayak included with my exact option?
• Will pickup be at my hotel or at a central meeting point?
• What time will the boat actually leave?

The word premium should not automatically mean a larger boat, more space, or a quieter route. The scenery is premium. The transport arrangement may be more ordinary.

The tour price is listed at $40 per person, with group discounts offered. That can be fair if you value the convenience of a planned route, boat transfer, lunch, water, crew, guide, and pickup. But the value weakens if you are charged extra for a central transfer, find that the boat is shared, or expected the kayak to be included when it is not.

One booking account also judged the online price to be more than double what similar local boat trips can cost when arranged in El Nido. That does not mean the $40 price is automatically poor, but it does mean you should compare it with local operators if saving money is your main goal. Online booking may be worth the added convenience and advance confirmation, while a local booking may offer a lower price and more direct clarification.

The extra costs are easy to miss

Plan for these charges:

• Big Lagoon admission: PHP 200 per person
• Environmental fee: PHP 400 per person, valid for five days
• Snorkeling mask: PHP 150 per person
• Any personal purchases at the beach bar

The environmental fee may cover other eligible activities during its five-day validity period, but you still need to pay it for this trip if you do not already have one. The mask charge is avoidable only if you bring your own or do not snorkel.

The included life jacket is useful for people who are not confident in open water. The tour also includes purified water, which saves you from arranging all your drinks for a seven-hour outing.

Pickup and timing deserve a message before departure

Hotel pickup is offered, but it may not apply to every property. Some hotels outside the central El Nido pickup area have been treated as too far away, even when they appeared in the booking selection. That can lead to an unexpected short car ride or a meeting point near the departure area.

Contact the operator before the day of the tour and get the pickup plan in writing. Ask for the exact time, location, and any extra transport charge. This is especially important if you have an early departure, luggage, or a hotel away from central El Nido.

The listed duration is about seven hours. The five stops account for about five and a half hours of scheduled time, with the remaining time used for pickup, boat travel, lunch, and returning to the floating dock.

Weather can change the schedule. Payong-Payong may be replaced, and the overall starting time may be adjusted to suit sea conditions. If the tour is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered another date or a full refund. However, the stated cancellation policy is otherwise strict: ordinary cancellations or amendments are non-refundable.

Who will enjoy this route most

I would choose this tour if you want to see several famous El Nido locations in one day and prefer having lunch, boat transport, safety equipment, and a guide arranged in advance.

It suits you particularly well if:

• You have one main island-hopping day in El Nido.
• Big Lagoon is high on your list.
• You want both beaches and snorkeling.
• You prefer a fixed route rather than organizing separate boat stops.
• You are comfortable with a full seven-hour day on the water.
• You can confirm the private boat arrangement before booking.

I would be more cautious if you need guaranteed privacy, extra space, a fixed early departure, or direct pickup from a hotel outside central El Nido. The tour may still work, but those points need confirmation.

Should you book El Nido Tour A?

Book it if the route matters more to you than having a flawless premium setup. Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commando Beach make a strong day of scenery, swimming, and short explorations. Lunch, drinking water, life jackets, and crew support add real convenience.

Before you commit, calculate the full cost with PHP 200 for Big Lagoon, PHP 400 for the environmental fee, and PHP 150 for a mask if needed. Then confirm whether your choice is private or shared, whether a kayak is included, and exactly where pickup will happen.

My view is simple: the destination is worth it, but the booking details need more care than the attractive price and premium label suggest. If clear answers come first, this can be a good way to cover El Nido’s major lagoon and beach sights in one day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours, including the boat journey, five stops, lunch, and the return to El Nido’s floating dock.

Which places are included in the route?

The route includes Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach or an alternative snorkeling location, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commando Beach.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is offered, but some hotels outside central El Nido may not qualify for direct pickup. Confirm your exact pickup point with the operator before departure.

Is the Big Lagoon entrance fee included?

No. Big Lagoon admission costs PHP 200 per person and is paid separately.

What other charges should I expect?

The environmental fee is PHP 400 per person and is valid for five days. A snorkeling mask costs PHP 150 per person if you need to rent one.

Is a kayak included?

A kayak is included for the private tour only. Confirm your exact booking option if kayaking is important to you.