EL NIDO: Private Island Hopping Tour A with BUFFET LUNCH

Beauty comes quickly around El Nido. This private eight-hour boat tour brings you to Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, 7 Commandos Beach, Shimizu Island, and Payong-Payong Beach, with time for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and a buffet lunch. I like the way it combines El Nido’s famous limestone scenery with several different kinds of beach time. I also like that a private boat gives you a guide and crew focused on your group, rather than sending you through the day in a large shared boat.

The strongest parts are the Big Lagoon kayak and the care provided by guides such as Julius, Leonard, and Cyron. The main caution is timing: a private tour is most valuable when it leaves early, and one poor experience involved a late start, crowded sights, missed stops, and a kayak accident that injured a child. Confirm the departure time clearly, and take safety instructions seriously.

Five things to know before you book

• Big Lagoon includes one free kayak, making the tour more than a boat ride through the cliffs.
• The lunch stop can change, since the guide chooses the beach according to weather and conditions.
• The private format is best for families and couples who want personal help getting on and off the boat.
• Two government charges are extra: 200 for the lagoon entrance and 400 for the environmental fee.
• Snorkeling quality can vary, so enjoy Shimizu Island for the setting as well as the reef.
• Hotel pickup is included within El Nido Town and Corong-corong, but return drop-off is not.

What the $139 price really buys you

At $139 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see El Nido’s islands. The value comes from the private format and the amount packed into eight hours. You receive hotel pickup within El Nido Town or Corong-corong, a licensed boat, captain, guide, and crew, plus lunch, water, soft drinks, fruit, snorkeling gear, life jackets, and one kayak.

That package removes several small costs and decisions during the day. You do not need to arrange a separate boat, find a captain, rent basic snorkeling equipment, or bring a packed meal. The crew also helps with boarding and leaving the boat, a simple service that matters when the boat is moving between beaches and rocky shorelines.

You should budget an additional 600 for the stated government fees: 200 for lagoon entry and 400 for the environmental fee. Extra kayak rental is also not included, and the boat does not provide hotel drop-off afterward. Cash belongs on your packing list.

For a couple or family that values privacy, the price can make sense. For a solo visitor or a strict budget, a shared boat may cost less, though it will not offer the same private setup. The tour is sold with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead and a reserve-now, pay-later option, which helps if your Palawan plans are still shifting.

Starting from El Nido Town or Corong-corong

Pickup is free from accommodation within El Nido Town and Corong-corong. You need to provide your hotel name when filling out the booking form. The stated duration is eight hours, but the exact start time depends on availability, so ask for the earliest practical departure.

That timing matters more here than on many ordinary sightseeing trips. The best-known lagoons and beaches can become crowded, and one disappointing experience came from leaving late. A private boat should give you more control, but only if the boat actually gets away early.

The provider is Beacfront Travel & Tours. Guides speak English and Tagalog, and the boat is operated by a licensed captain with a licensed guide and crew. The strongest personal praise goes to the staff: Julius is described as funny and engaging, Leonard as a strong photographer and guide, and Cyron and his crew as especially attentive.

7 Commandos Beach: an easy first swim

7 Commandos Beach is a gentle way to begin. Expect white sand, coconut trees, clear turquoise water, limestone cliffs, and about an hour for swimming, photos, sightseeing, and a guided visit.

The beach name comes from a story about seven commandos who supposedly lived here after World War II. You do not need to treat the tale as a major historical stop. It is a small bit of local color attached to a very appealing beach.

Rustic bars and small shops provide cold drinks and snacks. That convenience is useful, but it also means this is not a completely untouched shore. If you want a calm swim, use the time well and enjoy the view from the water rather than expecting total solitude.

Bring biodegradable sunscreen and reapply it carefully. The combination of pale sand, open water, and tropical sun can catch you off guard, even on a cloudy morning.

Big Lagoon: the main event

Big Lagoon is the visual centerpiece for many people. The boat enters through a narrow opening, then the cliffs spread around you in a natural bowl. The water shifts between blue and green, and the tall limestone walls create the kind of scene that makes you stop talking for a minute.

The package includes one free kayak, and this is where it matters most. Paddling lets you move beyond the boat and look into quieter corners of the lagoon. You can also swim, take photos, and enjoy the scenery during the roughly one-hour stop.

The guide may take photos and videos for you. Leonard received particular praise for doing this at Big Lagoon, which is helpful because handling a camera while balancing in a kayak is not always easy. Still, keep your phone or camera in a waterproof bag.

There is a practical safety point here. One family reported falling from the kayak after what they felt was poor maneuvering, with a six-year-old child hurting a leg. That is a serious warning, not a reason to skip the lagoon. Ask how the kayak will be handled, listen carefully before launching, and do not rush children into the watercraft.

An additional kayak rental is available at extra cost, but the supplied information does not state the price. If you need more than one kayak, ask before the trip.

Shimizu Island: lunch and reef time

Shimizu Island is both a meal stop and a snorkeling stop. The island takes its name from a Japanese diver associated with its waters, and the surrounding reef is home to colorful fish and other sea life.

The schedule allows about an hour for a break, buffet lunch, swimming, snorkeling, photos, and free time. Water, soft drinks, and fruit are included alongside the buffet. Several strong comments single out the food, with one person calling the lunch excellent and another saying it was delicious and well catered.

That is a real advantage on a full-day water excursion. You can eat without leaving the island-hopping route, and the fruit and drinks keep the meal from feeling like an afterthought. The guide chooses the lunch location, though, so do not assume it will always happen at Shimizu Island. Weather and sea conditions can change the plan.

Snorkeling is a pleasant extra, but keep your expectations measured. One person found the snorkeling disappointing compared with other places they had visited. Reefs differ from day to day, and visibility depends on conditions. Shimizu Island is still worth appreciating for its beach, picnic setting, and easy access to the water.

The included mask and snorkel save you from arranging your own equipment. A waterproof bag is still useful for keeping dry clothes, cash, and electronics separate from wet gear.

Secret Lagoon: a short squeeze into silence

Secret Lagoon is reached through a small opening in a limestone wall. You squeeze through the narrow entrance and arrive in a tucked-away pool surrounded by cliffs. The entrance is part of the experience, but it is also the point where you should slow down.

Wear waterproof shoes or secure closed-toe shoes if you have them. The supplied packing advice includes both closed-toe shoes and waterproof shoes, which tells you something about the footing and the wet conditions. Keep your hands free and follow the guide’s directions.

Julius received special praise for helping one person through the opening. That kind of assistance is one of the clearest reasons to choose a private group. The guide can pay attention to your pace instead of treating you as one person in a long line.

You get about an hour for photos, sightseeing, free time, swimming, and the scenic approach. The lagoon is not a huge open swimming area. Its appeal is the odd entrance, the enclosed rock walls, and the feeling of finding a small space inside the island.

If you are uncomfortable squeezing through a narrow hole, ask the guide about the conditions before entering. The supplied information does not promise an alternate entrance, so this may not be the most comfortable stop for everyone.

Payong-Payong Beach: the quieter pause

Payong-Payong Beach is described as a small, peaceful beach with soft sand, clear water, thick plant life, and striking rock formations. The tour allows time for swimming, snorkeling, photos, sightseeing, and a break.

Its quieter character gives the day some breathing room. After the famous lagoon stops, a simple beach can be exactly what you need. You can swim, sit on the sand, or photograph the rocks without treating every minute as a major attraction.

The order can change. The guide chooses the lunch stop, and destinations may be adjusted according to weather. In one account, lunch took place at Payong-Payong, followed by snorkeling at Shimizu Island and a final swim at another beach. That flexibility is normal for a boat tour in an area where sea conditions control the route.

Think of the published schedule as a plan, not a guarantee of exact order. You should receive the main mix of beaches, lagoons, snorkeling, and kayaking, but the crew may rearrange stops for safety.

What the crew adds to the day

The most consistent strength of this experience is personal attention. The crew helps people on and off the boat, and one couple felt well looked after throughout the day. That service matters on a private excursion because you are not simply paying for scenery. You are paying for help, timing, and a smoother day on the water.

Guides can also shape how much you get from each stop. Julius is praised for humor and engagement, while Leonard is praised for taking photos and videos at Big Lagoon. Cyron and his crew are described as attentive, with the meal also receiving strong approval.

The language options are English and Tagalog. The group type is private, so your day should feel more personal than a standard shared boat. Still, do not assume private means unlimited control. Weather, government rules, lagoon access, and the operator’s schedule can all affect the route.

What to pack for an eight-hour boat day

Keep your luggage light. You will move between boat, beach, kayak, and water, so a small waterproof bag is more useful than a large daypack.

Bring:

• A change of clothes and a towel
• Beachwear and biodegradable sunscreen
• A camera in a waterproof case or bag
• Cash for the extra fees, drinks, or purchases
• Closed-toe or waterproof shoes
• Water protection for phones and other electronics

Life jackets and snorkeling equipment are provided. Water, soft drinks, and fruit are included, but carrying a reusable water container may still be sensible if you have one.

Smoking, plastic bags, alcohol, drugs, and littering are not allowed. Those restrictions protect the beaches and water, and they are easy to follow.

Who should choose this private Tour A?

I would recommend it most strongly to couples, families, and small groups who want a full day with several different stops. You get beach time, snorkeling, a kayak, a buffet meal, and famous limestone scenery without arranging each piece separately.

Families should speak with the crew before the kayak portion, especially with young children. The reported kayak accident is a reminder that private does not mean risk-free. Good communication and careful handling matter.

Photographers will like the range of settings: white sand at 7 Commandos, cliff walls at Big Lagoon, the tight entrance to Secret Lagoon, and the rocky shore around Payong-Payong. A private guide can also help with photos, as Leonard did for one couple.

You may want to reconsider if your top priority is solitude. These are popular places, and leaving late can mean arriving after other boats. You should also reconsider if snorkeling is the single reason you are booking. The reef may be enjoyable, but one person found it weaker than other snorkeling sites.

Should you book El Nido Tour A?

Book this tour if you want the classic El Nido sights in one organized day and value a private boat, helpful crew, included lunch, and a free kayak. The strongest reasons are Big Lagoon, the personal assistance at Secret Lagoon, and the meal and service.

Before paying, confirm the start time, the hotel pickup details, the extra 200 lagoon fee, the 400 environmental fee, and the lack of hotel drop-off. Ask how many kayaks your group needs and how the crew handles children on the water.

This is a good-value choice for a small group that wants convenience and variety. It is less compelling for a solo budget visitor, someone seeking an early-morning escape from crowds, or anyone choosing El Nido mainly for exceptional snorkeling.

FAQ

How long is El Nido Private Island Hopping Tour A?

The tour lasts eight hours.

What locations are included?

The planned stops are 7 Commandos Beach, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Payong-Payong Beach.

Is the tour private?

Yes. The activity is offered for a private group.

Is hotel pickup included?

Free pickup is included from accommodation within El Nido Town and Corong-corong. You need to provide your hotel name when filling out the form.

Is hotel drop-off included?

No. Return drop-off to your hotel is not included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch is included. Water, soft drinks, and fruit are also provided.

Is kayaking included?

One kayak is included at no extra charge. Additional kayak rental costs extra.

Are snorkeling masks provided?

Yes. A mask and snorkel are included, along with a life vest or jacket.

Which languages are available?

The guide service is available in English and Tagalog.

What fees are not included in the price?

The stated extra charges are a 200 lagoon entrance fee and a 400 environmental fee. Anything not listed in the inclusions is also excluded.