El Nido: Island Hopping Tour A

Four lagoons, one long day at sea. El Nido Tour A packs the Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island into an eight-hour outing around Bacuit Bay. I like the clear focus on lagoons and swimming, and I like that lunch, a boat, a guide, and town hotel pickup are included. The main drawback is that the $34 price does not include the environmental fee, lagoon fees, or mask and snorkel rental.

You should also sort out the meeting point before departure. A verified booking praised the friendly, helpful boat crew, but the pickup point shown in the app was wrong and follow-up communication was not strong. That is an easy problem to reduce: message the operator on WhatsApp and confirm the nearest pickup hotel the day before.

Key points to know before booking

• Four major stops define Tour A: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island make this the lagoon-focused route.
• Eight hours gives you a full day on Bacuit Bay: You get time for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and beach stops, but this is not a quick half-day outing.
• The $34 price covers the core outing: A professional guide, boat, lunch, and pickup from hotels in El Nido Town are included.
• Extra charges affect the real cost: Budget separately for the 400.00 environmental fee, 200.00 lagoon fees, and mask and snorkel rental.
• Confirm pickup directly: The meeting point is arranged through WhatsApp at the nearest hotel, and the app location may not always be accurate.
• Water comfort matters: The activity is not suitable for non-swimmers, pregnant women, or people with back problems.

Why Tour A is El Nido’s classic lagoon day

El Nido is best understood from the water. Bacuit Bay is scattered with limestone islands, narrow openings, pale beaches, and sheltered coves. Tour A gives you a concentrated look at that setting rather than sending you across a long list of unrelated attractions.

The route is built around four well-known places. That makes planning simple, especially if this is your first day in El Nido and you want the area’s most recognizable scenery. You can swim, snorkel, and kayak in clear water, then return to the boat for the next stop.

I like this format because it mixes active time with easy pauses. You are not expected to spend eight straight hours swimming. At the same time, you should not book it if you want a quiet, private boat day with no fixed schedule. The main locations can be busy, particularly during popular travel periods.

The experience costs $34 per person before the additional charges. That is a reasonable starting price for a full day with boat transport, lunch, a guide, and town pickup, but the headline figure is not the final amount. Add the 400.00 environmental fee, 200.00 lagoon fees, and any equipment rental when comparing this tour with other island trips.

Starting the morning with the pickup details right

Pickup is available from hotels in El Nido Town. If your hotel is farther from town, a tricycle fare is charged separately and comes from your own funds. That small transfer detail can matter because it adds both cost and another step before the boat leaves.

The meeting arrangement deserves more attention than usual. The operator asks you to send your hotel through WhatsApp so the nearest hotel can be used as the meeting point. I would not simply rely on the location shown in an app. Confirm the exact hotel, pickup time, and any tricycle arrangement directly.

Be ready 15 minutes before the stated pickup time. That gives you room to handle a meeting-point change without starting the day in a rush. Since the tour lasts about eight hours, a late start can reduce time at the stops or make an already long day feel longer.

Wear clothing and shoes that can handle water. Bring a change of clothes, since you may be wet after swimming or kayaking. A hat, camera, sunscreen, water, and snacks are also listed as useful items. Lunch is included, but snacks and water remain sensible for an active day.

Big Lagoon, the grand opening stop

Big Lagoon is the stop most closely associated with El Nido Tour A. Its appeal comes from scale: high limestone walls frame a broad, clear waterway, giving you the feeling of entering a natural room carved into the coast.

This is a good place to take in the setting before rushing into the water. You can swim or kayak, depending on what is available and how the day is organized. A kayak lets you move at your own pace and look into the water below, while swimming gives you a closer feel for the calm lagoon.

The tradeoff is popularity. Big Lagoon is not likely to feel like a private discovery, and the access area can be crowded. I would treat the stop as a chance to enjoy one of El Nido’s signature views, not as a promise of solitude.

Bring a camera, but protect it from water. The combination of limestone cliffs and clear water is the sort of scenery you will want to keep, yet boat and water activities make a dry bag or waterproof case a practical choice if you have one.

Small Lagoon and the pleasure of moving slowly

Small Lagoon offers a more enclosed setting than Big Lagoon. The name suggests the difference: instead of a wide open view, you get a tighter water space where kayaking and careful swimming become the point of the stop.

This is where the tour’s activity level becomes clear. You are not only stepping onto beaches for photographs. You are expected to get into the water, use a kayak if available, and move through the lagoon under your own effort.

I like Small Lagoon for that reason. It gives the day a change of rhythm after the larger scale of Big Lagoon. You can take your time, watch the water, and enjoy the rock walls without needing to turn the stop into a race.

Comfortable water shoes are useful here, although the supplied information does not specify the exact conditions underfoot. Follow the guide’s instructions and avoid touching plants or marine life. Those rules protect the places you came to see and help keep the water environment in good shape.

Secret Lagoon, a compact stop with more effort

Secret Lagoon is another enclosed coastal stop, but it is not simply a place to sit on the boat and look around. Depending on the day’s conditions, reaching the lagoon can involve a short water approach and movement through a narrow entrance.

That makes it a more active part of the itinerary. You should expect to get wet and pay attention to where you step. If you have back problems, the operator lists this activity as unsuitable, so take that warning seriously rather than assuming the stop will be effortless.

The name can create the wrong expectation. Secret Lagoon is one of the established Tour A stops, not a guaranteed private cove. Its appeal comes from the enclosed setting and the sense of entering a smaller space, while its popularity means you may share the moment with other boats.

A dry change of clothes becomes especially valuable after this stop. You will be glad to have something comfortable for the later part of the day, particularly if your swimwear remains wet during the boat ride.

Shimizu Island brings in the beach and snorkel time

Shimizu Island adds a beach stop to the lagoon-heavy route. It is a useful change after several enclosed water locations because you can stretch out, eat lunch, and spend time snorkeling near the island.

Lunch is included, which improves the value of the outing. You do not need to arrange a separate meal while moving between stops, and a beach lunch breaks up the water activities. The exact menu is not provided, so anyone with strict dietary needs should ask the operator before booking.

Snorkeling equipment is not included. You need to bring your own mask and snorkel or pay for rental, and the tour information does not state the rental price. This matters more here than at a purely scenic stop. If marine life is a priority, ask about equipment availability before departure.

The rules are straightforward: do not touch marine life or plants, and do not smoke. Those restrictions are reasonable in a sensitive coastal setting. They also make the experience better for everyone, since the focus stays on observing the water rather than disturbing it.

What happens to the other El Nido routes

The wider El Nido program includes four route choices, but the destinations listed for Tour A are Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island. Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, and Matinloc Shrine belong to Tour B, while Tour C combines locations from the A and B routes.

Tour D goes toward Cadlao Island, the largest island in Bacuit Bay, and its beaches. If one of those places is your main goal, check the route name carefully before paying. A common booking mistake is choosing a tour by price and then assuming every famous El Nido stop appears on the same itinerary.

For a first visit, Tour A is the most direct choice if your priority is lagoons, clear water, swimming, and kayaking. Tour B makes more sense if caves, a shrine, and Snake Island appeal more. The supplied information does not give enough detail to judge Tour C or D in the same depth, so I would ask the operator for the exact stop list before switching routes.

How much value do you get for $34?

At $34 per person, the package covers the parts that are usually hardest to arrange independently: the boat, a professional English-speaking guide, lunch, and hotel pickup within El Nido Town. For an eight-hour day, that is a practical bundle.

The extra fees keep the price from being quite as simple as it first appears. You must add the 400.00 environmental fee and 200.00 lagoon fees, while mask and snorkel equipment are separate. A hotel outside town may also add a tricycle fare.

I would compare the full expected cost, not just the advertised $34. Even so, the tour can offer solid value if you want several major stops in one day and prefer having transport, lunch, and a guide handled together.

The strongest praise available for the experience concerns the crew. A verified booking described the boat staff as very kind and attentive, and rated the trip five out of five. That matters on a long water day, since a helpful crew can make boarding, meal service, and changes between stops much easier.

There is a clear communication concern, though. The same booking found the listed meeting point incorrect and the later communication weak. That does not prove every pickup will go wrong, but it is enough reason to confirm the details yourself rather than assume the app has the final word.

Who should book this island day

I would recommend Tour A to you if you want El Nido’s famous lagoon scenery in one organized outing. It suits people who enjoy swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and beach time more than people who want a passive sightseeing cruise.

It is also a good fit for a first day in the area. The route gives you a broad introduction to Bacuit Bay without asking you to plan several separate boat transfers. The English-speaking guide can help keep the day moving and explain what you are seeing, although no guide’s name is provided.

You should think twice if you are a non-swimmer, pregnant, or dealing with back problems. The operator specifically lists the activity as unsuitable for those groups. The tour also may not suit you if crowds quickly spoil scenic places, since the key stops are well known and can be busy.

Smoking is not allowed, and touching marine life or plants is prohibited. Those rules are simple, but they are part of the practical contract of visiting these coastal sites. Bring patience, stay ready for wet conditions, and follow the crew’s directions.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your El Nido schedule is still taking shape. Check the available start time before booking because the activity lasts eight hours.

Should you book El Nido Tour A?

Book it if you want the classic El Nido combination of lagoons, clear water, a beach lunch, and guided boat transport at a reasonable starting price. The friendly crew, full-day schedule, and four major stops give you plenty for your money.

Before booking, confirm the WhatsApp pickup point, ask about the total fees, and arrange mask and snorkel equipment if you need it. If those details are clear and you are comfortable in the water, Tour A is a sensible way to see Bacuit Bay in one substantial day.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour A last?

The tour lasts eight hours. Check availability for the scheduled starting times.

What places does Tour A visit?

Tour A visits Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the tour price.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is included for hotels in El Nido Town. Hotels farther from town may require a separate tricycle fare paid from your own funds.

Where is the meeting point?

You should send your hotel details through WhatsApp. The operator will provide the nearest hotel meeting point.

Are mask and snorkel equipment included?

No. Mask and snorkel equipment are not included, so you need to bring or rent them separately.

What extra fees should I expect?

The environmental fee is 400.00, and the lagoon fees are 200.00. Personal expenses, mask and snorkel equipment, and possible tricycle fare are also separate.

Can non-swimmers join the tour?

No. The activity is listed as unsuitable for non-swimmers. It is also not suitable for pregnant women or people with back problems.