El Nido Island Hopping Tour D with Lunch

Quiet beaches, big island scenery. El Nido Island Hopping Tour D gives you a full day in Bacuit Bay, with the Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, and several less-populated beaches on the schedule. I like the mix of famous scenery and quieter stops, plus the included lunch and local guide. I also like that the crew may adjust the day to avoid crowded islands when conditions allow.

The main catch is that the advertised $24 price is not the complete cost. You still need to pay the El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee, the Small Lagoon entrance fee, and possible kayak, snorkel gear, and aqua shoe rentals. A $120 van transfer surcharge may also apply if your hotel is outside downtown El Nido.

Key points at a glance

• Small Lagoon is the premium stop: Entry requires an extra fee, and a kayak is available for rent to reach the lagoon.
• Cadlao Island gets most of the attention: Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Beach, Natnat Beach, and Paradise Beach offer a varied day beyond the usual postcard stops.
• Lunch is prepared for the group: Your boat crew serves the midday meal on an island or aboard the boat.
• The crew can shape the day: Stop lengths are estimates, and the group may decide when to move on.
• Hotel pickup depends on location: Pickup is offered near Corong-Corong Beach and El Nido town proper, while hotels outside downtown may face a $120 van surcharge.
• The group can reach 30 people: That keeps the price low, but the boat may feel social rather than intimate.

Why Tour D is a good change of pace in El Nido

El Nido is famous for towering limestone formations, clear water, and busy island-hopping routes. Tour D takes a slightly different approach. Instead of packing the day with only the most famous beaches, it combines one high-demand attraction, Small Lagoon, with a string of Cadlao Island stops that can feel more relaxed.

That balance matters. Small Lagoon gives you the signature El Nido experience: dramatic rock walls and a narrow water entrance. The beaches around Cadlao Island give you room to slow down, swim, eat lunch, and enjoy the bay without spending the entire day in a queue for one attraction.

I particularly like the way the schedule leaves some room for judgment by the crew and group. The stated stop times are only estimates. If one beach is especially pleasant, you may stay longer. If the group is ready to move, you may leave sooner. This is less precise than a tightly timed sightseeing program, but it can make the day feel more natural.

The tradeoff is that you are sharing the boat with other people. The maximum group size is 30, and the tour is designed as a budget-friendly shared outing. A smaller group of seven once had four crew members looking after them, but that should not be treated as the standard size for every departure.

Starting at 9 a.m. near El Nido

The tour begins at Marbers Beach Club at 9 a.m. If you stay in El Nido town proper or near Corong-Corong Beach, the guide can pick you up from your hotel and take you to the waiting boat.

The final step to the boat may depend on the tide. You could need to walk through shallow water, so wear clothing that can get wet and avoid carrying anything you do not want splashed. This is also the moment to rent equipment for the day. Snorkel gear, aqua shoes, and dry bags are available for an additional charge.

The meeting point is practical, but it is important to confirm your pickup details when booking. The listed price does not cover a $120 van transfer surcharge if your hotel is outside downtown El Nido. That is a major extra cost for a solo visitor or a small party, so check your hotel’s location before deciding that this is a bargain.

You will also need to provide the names and nationalities of everyone in your party for documentation. Confirmation is provided when you book, and mobile tickets make the arrangement easy to keep on your phone.

Small Lagoon brings the day’s biggest demand

Small Lagoon is the premium stop on this route and likely the most anticipated part of the day. You reach it by boat, then use a kayak if you want to enter the lagoon itself. Kayak rental is not included, and the entrance fee is separate.

The setting is the main attraction. Sheer limestone walls close around the water, and the narrow entrance gives the visit a sense of discovery without requiring a long journey on foot. You can enjoy the view from the boat, but kayaking gives you a better chance to move through the lagoon at your own pace.

There are two practical points to keep in mind. First, Small Lagoon has limited capacity and assigned time slots. Booking early is wise, especially if this is the stop you most want to see. If the permit is unavailable for your date, the operator may replace it with another destination and will not collect the extra permit fees.

Second, the stop is not fully included in the base fare. Add the entrance fee and possible kayak rental to your budget. This does not make the stop poor value, but it means the $24 headline price needs context.

Cadlao Lagoon adds a quieter water stop

Cadlao Lagoon gives the route another enclosed-water setting, this time on Cadlao Island. Like Small Lagoon, you can rent a kayak to access it. The kayak cost is separate, and the tour includes neither kayak rental nor snorkeling equipment.

The difference for you is variety. Visiting both lagoons keeps the day from becoming a simple series of beach stops. You get two chances to see the rock formations from the water, with different surroundings and a different pace.

The exact amount of time here can change. The tour sets out suggested time frames, but the group decides together when to leave. If you have your heart set on a long kayaking session, make sure you understand that the boat is operating on a shared schedule.

Pasandigan Beach is built for a slower pause

Pasandigan Beach is one of the stops that gives Tour D its less-crowded feel. The information provided does not promise specific facilities or activities here, so think of it as a scenic beach pause rather than a fully programmed attraction.

You might use the stop for swimming, sitting on the sand, taking photos, or simply enjoying the water between lagoon visits. The appeal is the chance to enjoy a beach without rushing through it as part of a larger checklist.

Bring patience and flexibility. Since stop durations are estimates, the time at Pasandigan depends on the rest of the group, the weather, and the boat crew’s judgment. That uncertainty is a weakness if you want a fixed timetable, but it is useful if you prefer a day that can adjust to conditions.

Natnat Beach keeps the route varied

Natnat Beach adds another stretch of shoreline to the itinerary. By this point, the value is not just the beach itself. The stop helps break up the day, giving you a change from lagoon walls, boat travel, and shared meals.

The route visits up to five destinations in total, and the exact combination or timing can be shaped by conditions. This means you should not expect every stop to receive an identical amount of time. The boat crew may suggest a plan, while the group makes the final call about staying or leaving.

If you are choosing this tour for a calm beach day, Natnat Beach supports that goal. If you are choosing it for a strict list of attractions, the flexible timing may feel less satisfying.

Paradise Beach offers another easygoing finish

Paradise Beach is another chance to step off the boat and enjoy the shoreline. Its place in the route gives the day a pleasant rhythm: lagoon, beach, lagoon, beach, then lunch and more open-water scenery depending on the timing.

The name suggests a scenic stop, but the supplied details do not promise a particular activity or facility. I would plan to enjoy whatever the conditions offer rather than arrive with a fixed expectation of snorkeling, long swimming time, or extended beach access.

That is a useful rule for the whole tour. The route is designed around natural settings, not a collection of guaranteed, timed activities. Weather, tide, permits, and group preferences all affect the day.

Bucal Island completes the island-hopping mix

Bucal Island is the final named destination in the route. The tour can visit up to five destinations, so not every listed place is guaranteed on every departure. The crew may also change the route if a premium stop is unavailable or if weather makes the planned route unsuitable.

Bucal Island adds another island setting to the day and helps keep the outing broad rather than focused on one beach. For you, the real benefit is variety. You get a wider sample of Bacuit Bay instead of spending the entire seven hours in one area.

The drawback is predictability. You may not know the precise order of stops, and the time at each location can change. Pack for a flexible day and treat the itinerary as a framework rather than a minute-by-minute promise.

Lunch is simple, social, and part of the value

Lunch is included, which makes the $24 base fare more useful than a boat-only outing. The crew prepares a substantial meal for the group and serves it on one of the islands or aboard the boat.

The exact menu is not specified, so you should share dietary requirements when booking. That is especially important if you have allergies, follow a restricted diet, or need a particular type of meal.

Eating during the tour also saves you from arranging food independently in the middle of the day. It becomes part of the shared rhythm of the outing, with the group gathering around a meal before returning to the water.

Do not expect a private restaurant experience. This is a shared island-hopping lunch, and the setting may depend on weather, tide, and where the boat is able to stop.

What the crew adds to the day

A local guide and boat crew are included. The crew handles the route, prepares lunch, and helps coordinate the group between destinations. One account of the experience praised the driver Paul and four other crew members for taking excellent care of a small group, with special appreciation for the crew’s willingness to choose islands with fewer people.

That detail points to the tour’s strongest human feature: the route does not have to feel rigid. A good crew can help you avoid wasting time in an overcrowded place, explain what to expect, and keep the day moving.

The flexibility also requires cooperation. With a shared boat, you cannot make every decision alone. Speak up politely if you have a concern, but expect the group’s wishes and local conditions to shape the schedule.

What is included, and what you still pay

The tour includes:

• A local guide
• Life vest use
• Lunch

The following costs are separate:

• El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee
• Small Lagoon entrance fee
• Kayak rental for Small Lagoon
• Kayak rental for Cadlao Lagoon
• Snorkeling equipment
• Aqua shoes
• Dry bag rental
• Possible $120 van transfer surcharge outside downtown El Nido

This list is the key to judging value. At $24 per person, the tour is competitively priced for about seven hours of boating, a guide, crew support, lunch, and several island stops. It becomes less cheap once you add the environmental fee, premium entrance fee, equipment, and possible transport surcharge.

Still, the base fare covers the main service you are buying: access to a full day in Bacuit Bay without arranging your own boat, guide, food, and route. If you already have snorkeling gear and stay near town, the total cost should be easier to control.

Weather, group size, and the right expectations

The tour requires favorable weather. If poor conditions cause a cancellation, you can choose another date or an alternative tour, or receive a full refund under the stated policy. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, so a departure could change if that minimum is not reached.

The maximum group size is 30. That is a reasonable size for a low-cost shared outing, but it can affect how quickly everyone boards, eats, kayaks, and agrees on when to leave.

Most people can participate, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Because tide conditions may require walking through water to reach the boat, aqua shoes can be useful, though they are not included.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the 9 a.m. start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book Tour D?

I would recommend this outing if you want a budget-friendly way to see several parts of Bacuit Bay, especially if you like a mix of famous scenery and quieter beaches. It suits people who enjoy shared boat trips, included lunch, and a flexible schedule.

It is also a good fit if Small Lagoon matters to you but you do not want a route made up entirely of high-demand attractions. Just reserve early because the lagoon has limited capacity and time slots.

I would be more cautious if you want a private boat, exact stop durations, or a fully inclusive price. The extra fees are easy to overlook, and the potential van surcharge can change the economics completely.

Should you book this El Nido tour?

Book Tour D if you value variety, a low starting price, and a crew-led day with room for adjustment. The strongest combination is Small Lagoon, Cadlao Island scenery, beach stops, lunch, and the possibility of avoiding the busiest areas.

Before paying, confirm your hotel location, add the government and entrance fees to your budget, and decide if you need kayaks or rental gear. If you are comfortable sharing the boat and accepting changes caused by weather, tides, permits, or group decisions, this is a practical way to spend seven hours around El Nido.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Marbers Beach Club in El Nido, Palawan.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 9 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours and returns to the starting beach at around 4 p.m.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is available for people staying near Corong-Corong Beach or in El Nido town proper.

Is transportation from hotels outside downtown included?

No. Hotels outside downtown El Nido may require a $120 van transfer surcharge, payable at tour check-in.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and may be served on one of the islands or aboard the boat.

Is the Small Lagoon entrance fee included?

No. The Small Lagoon entrance fee is separate from the tour price.

Is kayak rental included?

No. Kayaks for Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon are available to rent separately.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Snorkeling equipment is available for rent.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. Children may participate, but they must be accompanied by an adult.