El Nido Tour A (shared tour)

El Nido earns its fame. This shared eight-hour boat trip takes you to Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-payong Beach, and 7 Commando Beach, giving you a full day among Palawan’s clear water and limestone cliffs. I like the strong mix of lagoon scenery and beach time, and I like that lunch, drinking water, towels, a guide, and a boat are included for $34 per person. The main drawback is crowding, plus a possible wait before departure.

I especially like the contrast between the stops. Big Lagoon gives you broad views and calm water, while Secret Lagoon feels tighter and more enclosed. Shimizu Island and 7 Commando Beach add room to swim, rest, and eat, although the shared format means you will not control the schedule or avoid every busy stop.

Five useful things to know before booking

• The $34 price covers the core day out: You get hotel pickup within El Nido town proper, a licensed English-speaking guide, boat transport, lunch, water, and towels.
• The extra fees matter: The environmental fee is P400 per person, valid for five days, and Big Lagoon costs another P200 per person.
• Kayaking is not included: A kayak costs P300 for two people, so plan for that added charge if you want to paddle inside the lagoon.
• The day includes five named stops: Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-payong Beach, Secret Lagoon, and 7 Commando Beach.
• Crowds can shape the experience: Several boats may use the same locations, and one recent departure involved about an hour of waiting at the meeting point.
• This is an active beach day: Bring swimwear, a change of clothes, a towel, and water shoes. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Starting at Umi Travel in El Nido town

The meeting point is Umi Travel at seaside Hama in Barangay Suerte, El Nido. Hotel pickup is included if your accommodation is within El Nido town proper, but hotel drop-off is not included. That difference is easy to miss when you are comparing tour prices, so plan your return to your accommodation after the boat comes back.

The tour lasts about eight hours, though the actual departure may not feel perfectly punctual. One booking included a wait of roughly one hour at the meeting point before the boat left. I would arrive ready, allow extra time in the morning, and avoid scheduling a flight, ferry, or fixed appointment soon after the stated end of the tour.

This is a shared boat tour, not a private charter. That keeps the price low, but it also means the day follows a group schedule. If you want to linger at one beach, skip a stop, or leave the busiest lagoon quickly, you will have less freedom.

The guide speaks English and is licensed. That is useful for keeping the day moving and explaining details such as the name of 7 Commando Beach. The trip has a strong rating of 4.3 from 83 bookings, but the score also reflects the usual shared-tour tradeoff: good scenery and value, with some unevenness in timing and crowd control.

Big Lagoon delivers the grand opening

Big Lagoon is the stop that gives the tour its broadest sense of scale. You move through clear, rippling water with rock formations around you and below the surface. The setting feels less like a normal beach visit and more like a natural waterway cut through Palawan’s limestone country.

This is also the stop where the extra P200 fee applies. That cost is not part of the advertised $34, so add it before judging the value. If you want to paddle, kayak rental costs P300 for two people. The rental fee makes more sense if you plan to share one kayak rather than rent separately.

The lagoon is a major reason to choose Tour A, but it is also one of the places most affected by the shared-tour system. Other boats can be at the same locations, and a recent booking described snorkeling as disappointing because too many boats and people crowded the stops. Big Lagoon is worth seeing, but you should expect a popular attraction, not a private waterway.

Secret Lagoon feels smaller and more enclosed

Secret Lagoon changes the mood. Instead of entering a wide stretch of water, you pass through a small opening in the rocks to reach a secluded pool. The entrance is part of the appeal, and the enclosed water gives this stop a storybook quality without requiring a long visit.

The space can feel tight, particularly when several groups arrive together. That is the point at which patience matters. You may need to wait your turn at the entrance or share the pool with other groups. Still, the setting is different enough from Big Lagoon to justify keeping both on the schedule.

The tour description connects Secret Lagoon with kayaking through peaceful water, but kayak rental is an extra P300 for two people. The included package does not cover that cost. If paddling is important to you, carry cash or confirm payment details before you leave the meeting point.

Shimizu Island combines sand, swimming, and lunch

Shimizu Island brings the classic Palawan beach scene: white sand, clear water, and a break from the rock walls of the lagoons. This is the kind of stop where I would slow down, swim, dry off, and enjoy lunch rather than rush from one photo spot to the next.

Lunch and water are included, which adds real value to a full-day boat trip. One recent rating specifically praised the buffet, and that is worth noting because a meal can make a basic island transfer feel like a better day package. Towels are also included, saving you from carrying one if you prefer to pack light.

Shimizu Island is described as a place of natural beauty, but the word untouched should be taken carefully. It is part of a well-known island route, so you may share the beach with other tour boats. The beach remains a good place to rest, but it is not a promise of solitude.

Payong-payong Beach offers a quieter pause

Payong-payong Beach is one of the shorter, less explained stops in the schedule. That does not make it unimportant. A smaller beach visit can give you a chance to reset between lagoon visits, swim in clear water, and enjoy the surrounding rock scenery without needing a long activity.

Because no detailed stop duration is provided, I would treat Payong-payong as a flexible scenic pause rather than planning a specific activity around it. Bring water shoes if you have them, since the tour recommends them and beach access can be more comfortable with foot protection.

The value here comes from variety. Tour A is not only a lagoon route. It gives you several different settings in one day, which helps justify the long boat schedule even if one stop feels busier or shorter than expected.

7 Commando Beach finishes with open water

The final named stop is 7 Commando Beach. You will hear the explanation behind the beach’s name during the tour, then have time to relax and swim in clear blue water. After the more enclosed feel of Secret Lagoon, the open beach makes a pleasant ending.

This is a good place to use the included towel, change into dry clothes, or simply sit on the sand. You should bring beachwear and a change of clothes because the day involves repeated water stops. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, so this is a sightseeing and swimming trip rather than a party boat.

The beach may also be busy. Several operators use the same popular route, and the shared schedule can put groups at the same beach at once. I would focus on the water, the sand, and the final chance to relax rather than expect an empty shoreline.

What the $34 price really includes

At $34 per person, Tour A is priced as an accessible way to see several of El Nido’s best-known stops in one day. The included boat, guide, lunch, water, towels, and town pickup cover the main costs that can quickly add up on an independent outing.

The headline price is not the final price, though. You should budget for:

• P400 environmental fee per person, purchased once and valid for five days
• P200 Big Lagoon fee per person
• P300 kayak rental for two people, if you choose to use one
• Mask and snorkel rental, if needed
• Aqua shoes and fins, if needed
• Your return to the hotel, since drop-off is not included

That means the tour is best judged as a low-cost base package rather than an all-inclusive day. It still offers good value if you want the main sights and do not need private transport or specialist equipment. The extra fees are reasonable, but they should be part of your budget from the start.

Snorkeling equipment is not included. The route has clear water and attractive marine scenery, but the available information does not promise a dedicated snorkeling session or a special reef location. If snorkeling is your main goal, this may not be the strongest reason to choose Tour A. One recent booking found the snorkeling underwhelming because of the number of people at the same stops.

Crowds and timing can change the mood

The biggest question is not the scenery. El Nido’s lagoons and beaches are the reason people book this route, and the natural setting is the tour’s clear strength. The question is how much company you will have when you reach each stop.

Shared tours are efficient, but efficiency has a cost. You move according to the group, and several boats may arrive at the same famous locations. A recent rating described the stops as hindered by too many people from other tours. Another gave the day five stars but still pointed out an hour-long wait before departure. Those details are not dealbreakers, but they are useful warnings.

I would book this tour for scenery, variety, and price. I would not book it expecting quiet beaches, exact departure times, or long private visits at each location. If you value a calm pace above all else, a private boat may suit you better, though it will cost more.

Weather is another factor. A recent February outing had gloomy weather but was still judged a very good day because of the guides and scenery. The views remain worthwhile under cloud, but water color, beach comfort, and photos will vary with conditions.

What to bring for a comfortable eight hours

Pack for repeated swimming, not for a simple sightseeing cruise. The most useful items are:

• Beachwear
• A change of clothes
• Water shoes
• A towel, although one is included
• Sun protection
• Money for fees and optional kayak rental
• Snorkel equipment if you want to use your own

The official advice specifically calls for a change of clothes, towel, beachwear, and water shoes. I would take it seriously. Even if you plan to stay mostly dry, the route includes lagoons and beaches where getting wet is part of the point.

Do not count on hotel drop-off. Arrange your own return plan after the boat trip. Also keep your schedule open after the tour, since the morning departure may take longer than expected.

The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. The information does not provide detailed access conditions at each lagoon or beach, so anyone with movement concerns should ask the provider for more detail before paying.

Who should book El Nido Tour A?

I think this tour suits you if you want a first look at El Nido’s famous island scenery without paying for a private boat. The five-stop route gives you a good spread of lagoons, white sand, swimming areas, and scenic beaches in a single day.

It also works well if you like having the basics organized. A guide, lunch, water, towels, and boat transport are included, so you do not need to arrange each piece yourself. The English-language guide can also explain local details, including the story behind 7 Commando Beach.

I would be more cautious if you dislike crowds, waiting, or fixed schedules. I would also think twice if snorkeling is your main purpose, since equipment is extra and the shared stops can be crowded. People with mobility impairments should not book without first confirming whether the route can meet their needs.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later add useful flexibility. Those policies do not fix a busy beach or a late start, but they make it easier to hold a place while your El Nido plans come together.

Should you book this shared island tour?

Yes, if you want the classic El Nido route at a reasonable starting price and can accept a group atmosphere. The combination of Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-payong Beach, and 7 Commando Beach gives you plenty of scenery for one day, while the included buffet lunch, water, towels, boat, guide, and town pickup make the package practical.

Before booking, add the P400 environmental fee, P200 Big Lagoon charge, and any equipment rental to your budget. Arrive prepared for a possible wait, bring water shoes and dry clothes, and do not expect every stop to be quiet.

For many first-time visitors, that is a fair trade. You get El Nido’s signature lagoons and beaches without the cost or planning work of a private trip. Just book it for the scenery and variety, not for solitude.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour A last?

The tour lasts eight hours.

What destinations are included?

The route includes Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-payong Beach, Secret Lagoon, and 7 Commando Beach.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is included for hotels within El Nido town proper. Hotel drop-off is not included.

Where is the meeting point?

The meeting point is Umi Travel at seaside Hama, Barangay Suerte, El Nido.

Is kayaking included in the price?

No. Kayak rental costs P300 for two people.

What extra fees should I expect?

The environmental fee is P400 per person and is valid for five days. Big Lagoon also has a P200 per person fee. Masks, snorkels, aqua shoes, and fins are not included.

What should I bring?

Bring beachwear, a change of clothes, a towel, and water shoes. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed on the tour.