El Nido Island Hopping in Palawan
Part of the Palawan travel guide — see every topic in All Palawan Guides.
El Nido sits at the northern end of Palawan, facing Bacuit Bay. The bay is full of tall limestone islands, clear green water and small white beaches. The best way to see it is on a day trip by boat. Local operators sell four standard routes, called Tours A, B, C and D. This guide explains each tour, how to book, and what to bring.
How the tours work
Island hopping in El Nido is organised by the town. The routes are fixed, and all operators follow the same list of stops. You can book in any travel shop in El Nido town or through your hotel. Most tours leave from the main beach in the morning, at about 8 or 9 am, and come back in the late afternoon. A shared tour puts you on a large outrigger boat, called a bangka, with other travellers. Lunch is usually cooked on the boat and served on a beach. Private boats cost more but let you start earlier and avoid the crowds.
Tour A: the lagoons
Tour A is the most popular route. Its main stop is the Big Lagoon, a wide bay of calm, clear water closed in by high limestone cliffs. Boats wait at the mouth, and you go in by kayak or by swimming. The Small Lagoon is now part of Tour D, so you cannot see both lagoons on one shared tour. Each lagoon has a daily visitor limit and its own fee, so the order of stops can change. Tour A also visits Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island and Seven Commandos Beach, with snorkelling and lunch. If you only have time for one tour, most people choose Tour A.
Tour C: hidden and secret beaches
Tour C goes further out to the western islands of the bay. Its best-known stops are Hidden Beach and Secret Beach. To reach Secret Beach, you swim through a small hole in the rock wall into a quiet cove. Hidden Beach is a small white beach between dark cliffs. The route often includes Helicopter Island, named for its shape, and good snorkelling spots with coral and fish. Tour C is the most exposed to open sea, so it is cancelled more often when the waves are high. Check the weather the day before.
Tours B and D
Tour B visits caves and beaches, including Snake Island, where a long, curving sandbar appears at low tide. You can walk along it and climb a short path to a viewpoint over the bay. Tour D stays closer to town. It visits the Small Lagoon, which you enter by swimming or kayaking through a narrow gap in the rock, plus Cadlao Lagoon and quiet beaches. They are a good choice for a second or third day on the water. Some operators also combine stops from different tours into one day, so ask what is included before you pay.
Booking and what to bring
Book a day ahead in the busy season, from about December to May. Prices are set by the town for shared tours and differ by route, so compare a few shops but expect similar rates. The tour price usually covers lunch, but not always the lagoon or island entrance fees or kayak rental. Ask before you pay. Bring a dry bag, water shoes, sun protection, cash and a reusable water bottle. Snorkel gear is often included, but you can bring your own for a better fit. Wear a life jacket on the boat, even if you swim well.
El Nido Island Hopping at a glance
| Getting there | Boats leave from El Nido town beach; book in town or through your hotel |
|---|---|
| Hours | About 8 or 9 am to 4 or 5 pm; private boats can start earlier |
| Cost | Shared tours are set by the town and vary by route; entrance and environmental fees may be extra |
| Best time | December to May for calm seas; tours are often cancelled in rough weather |
| Bring | Dry bag, water shoes, reef-safe sun protection and cash |