10 Boat Tours in El Nido Worth Booking

1.Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 301 reviews · 7 hours · from $23Our pick

Spend seven hours island hopping from Marber’s Beach Club to Small Lagoon, Cadlao Island, Nat Nat Beach, Paradise Beach, and Bukal Island. Swim, snorkel, and kayak in clear water with an English or Tagalog guide. Tour guides such as Mark, Jordan, Arnold, and TJ have earned praise for their friendly help and photos. Expect a packed lunch and extra fees for the environmental fee, lagoon entry, and kayak rental.

“We really enjoyed our tour D, it was the only one we did in El Nido but it seemed like the perfect pace, less touristic than others. In the Small Lagoon we were the only boat which I do not think happens very often in other places. Also the guide and entire crew was great, working hard and making sure we have a great day, whicb we certainly did!”

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2.Full-Day Premium Island Hopping Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 51 reviews · 7 hours · from $150

Spend seven hours aboard Seacret, a 50-foot catamaran sailing from Corong-Corong Pier around El Nido. Depending on the day, you’ll visit Big or Cadlao Lagoon, Hidden Beach, Small Lagoon, Seven Commandos, Helicopter Island, and the El Nido Yachting Club’s private beach. Lunch, towels, life jackets, guiding, and the environmental fee are included.

“Perfect island hopping day! We decided to go with the nicer catamaran cruise as opposed to one of the cheaper tours and we are glad that we did. Omar and his crew were so kind, helpful and had great communication before the tour and throughout the day of the tour. There were 15 guests on board and we had plenty of space; our ages ranged from late 20’s to early 40’s and we all ended up going out for drinks together afterwards. It was one of the guests birthdays and the crew provided a cake so we could celebrate! Our tour was on a Sunday and we had 3 stops…”

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3.Private Sailing Yacht Cruise in El Nido

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 38 reviews · 8 hours · from $124Top rated

Spend eight hours with skipper Sylvain aboard a private Beneteau Oceanis 430 for up to five guests. Sail across sheltered Bacuit Bay, snorkel at Malpacao Island, stop at Lagen Island, eat lunch on board, and watch the sunset on the way back to El Nido. The route can change with weather.

“This trip was the highlight of our holidays! Sylvain takes you to places where none of the common tourist boats go. Beautiful sand banks and nice snorkeling spots. We can 100% recommend!”

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4.Island, Lagoons, and Beaches Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 31 reviews · 8 hours · from $34

Spend eight hours sailing from El Nido to Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Cove, Paradise Beach, and Serenity Beach. You get hotel pickup in El Nido Town proper, lunch, water, towels, a licensed English-speaking guide, and a guaranteed boat ride. Kayak rental, snorkeling gear, and entrance fees cost extra.

“I don’t complain easily, but I was really deeply disappointed with this tour. The app clearly states what is and isn’t included, but that turned out to be completely false. You arrive at the meeting point in the morning, and the first thing they do is charge you for renting a snorkel. How is that not included in a snorkeling tour? The kayaks, which are supposed to be part of the tour, were also charged separately—and believe me, the prices are steep. When I questioned this, they told me to take it up with the tour operator. I contacted them before posting a negative review, but they kept stringing me…”

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5.El Nido Islands: Shared Paraw Sunset Sailing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 30 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $35

You board a traditional Filipino paraw at 4:00 PM for a 1.5-hour sunset sail across Bacuit Bay. Expect limestone cliffs, clear water, and a chance to sit on the boat’s outer netting. English-speaking guides, including captain Victor, lead small groups of 5 to 8. Bring dry clothes, towels, and a waterproof way to protect your valuables.

“I’m surprised this trip has so many 5-star reviews. I don’t usually leave negative feedback, but I feel the need to share my honest experience. Firstly, this is a sailboat that relies entirely on the wind to move and stay upright, which didn’t feel very safe. You’re sat in a net on either side of the boat — the one my partner and I were on went underwater. It was scary, and all of my possessions, including an expensive camera, got soaked. We sailed miles out from land, and as it got darker, I started to feel quite anxious. No one on my trip was provided a life jacket. If…”

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6.El Nido Islands: Private Paraw Day Sailing with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 21 reviews · 5 hours

Set sail from El Nido at 10:30 AM on a private paraw cruise with an English-speaking crew. You’ll visit Ipil and Papaya beaches for snorkeling, crystal-kayak paddling, swimming, and a beach lunch. The boat carries up to five people, with Victor, James, or Christian among the crew members reported on recent trips.

“A very memorable activity. Being able to sail without a motor is something I never thought I would experience. I felt like Moana!! Huge thank you to our guides Victor & James :)”

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7.Island Hopping and Snorkeling Private Boat Tour C

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · 8 hours · from $136

Spend eight hours on a private El Nido boat with your own group, guide, and crew. Swim through the rocky entrance to Secret Beach, snorkel near Helicopter Island and Star Beach, and stop for a buffet lunch at Hidden Beach. Guides such as Joshua, Alvin, Olsin, and Jun have been praised for safety and flexible pacing, though weather can change the route.

“Nuestra experiencia no fue muy buena, primero porque nos cambiaron el itinerario debido al tiempo y nos dijeron que iríamos a otros lugares, y nos redujeron a tres lugares a visitar, una vez en el barco nos dijeron que a uno de los lugares tampoco podríamos ir. Luego al llegar a la laguna tuvimos que dar la vuelta porque había muchísima gente y no habían kayak, y fuimos a otro lugar para luego volver más tarde a la laguna… la embarcación no posee kayak y hay que bajar a la playa únicamente nadando o pisando los corales, a la hora de comer nuestra tripulación preparó la comida y nos sugirieron…”

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8.El Nido Islands: Private Paraw Sunset Sailing

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 14 reviews · 1.5 hours

Set out around 4:30 PM on a private traditional paraw with an English-speaking crew, including boatmen such as Rapy and Gerald. You will sail Bacuit Bay for 1.5 hours, view El Nido’s limestone cliffs, pause for beach exploration and water activities, and watch the light change over the islands. Bring towels, dry clothes, and biodegradable sunscreen.

“We sailed around El Nido for 1.5 hours , it was amazing! Crew was very friendly and the views were absolutely amazing”

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9.El Nido Islands: Shared Paraw Sunrise Sailing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $35

Meet before dawn for a 1.5-hour shared paraw cruise across Bacuit Bay. Sail beneath the stars, watch first light reach El Nido’s limestone cliffs, and enjoy a quiet start with an English-speaking crew. Boats carry 5 to 8 people, and private sailing may be available for an added fee.

“You might think this experience is just about the sunrise, but it’s so much more than that. One of our favourite things was that the sailing began at the dead of night, allowing us to gaze at the stars while the crew navigated through the dark waters. As the first colors of dawn appeared, we continued to peacefully explore the bay. The unspoiled beauty of El Nido, free from crowds, was truly remarkable. The crew was very accomodating, friendly and professional. Highly recommend it!”

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10.El Nido Islands: Shared Paraw Day Sailing with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 4 reviews · 5 hours · from $55

Join SailPH for a five-hour shared Paraw cruise from Pops District El Nido. You will sail through Bacuit Bay, stop at Ipil Beach and Papaya Beach, snorkel in clear water, use a crystal kayak, and eat lunch beside the beach. The small group is limited to eight people, with an English-speaking guide.

“This was a fantastic way to spend the day visiting beautiful locations in such an amazing boat.”

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