EL Nido Tour A

Palawan’s best scenery is offshore. El Nido Tour A packs several of the area’s famous boat-access-only sights into one day, with island hopping, lunch, a guide, transfers, and life vests included. I like the low $21 price and the chance to reach Shimizu Island, Papaya Beach, and Secret Lagoon without arranging several separate trips.

I also like that the package includes pickup within El Nido Town and national park admission, making the day fairly simple to organize. The main concern is the unclear lagoon arrangement: Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon cannot both be visited on the same day, and some bookings may not include either one as expected. Confirm the exact stops before paying.

Key points to know before booking

• Shimizu Island and Papaya Beach provide the classic beach and limestone scenery that makes El Nido famous.
• Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon are not both available on the same day, so your boat’s route matters.
• Secret Lagoon is included in the advertised Tour A route, but the exact combination of stops should be confirmed.
• Lunch, a guide, boat transport, and a life vest are included in the package description.
• The eco-tourism development fee, lagoon user fee, and kayak rental cost extra.
• The group may include up to 100 people, which keeps the price low but can make the day feel busy.

Why El Nido Tour A is so popular

El Nido is not a place where the most impressive sights sit along one easy road. Much of the appeal lies among the islands and limestone formations offshore. Tour A gives you a practical way to see several of them in one outing instead of negotiating separate boat rides, fees, and transfers.

I see this as a good first-day choice if you have limited time in Palawan. You can swim, take photographs, and enjoy the scenery at several stops while the crew handles the boat route. It is not a private, quiet sailing trip. It is a value-focused island-hopping day built around the major sights.

The strongest praise goes to the scenery, the beach lunch, and the boat crew. The limestone geology is the sort of thing that makes El Nido recognizable in photographs, but it is more impressive when you see the cliffs rising directly from the water. The crew has also been described as attentive and experienced, which matters when the boat is carrying a large group and the day includes several water stops.

The $21 price is especially attractive because boat transport, a guide, island hopping, and a life vest are included. The advertised lunch and national park admission add more value, although you still need to budget for the eco-tourism fee and possible lagoon charges.

Starting at El Nido Pier at 9 a.m.

The listed start time is 9 a.m., with the meeting point at the El Nido Pier dispatching and docking area. Pickup is offered within El Nido Town, so you may not need to make your own way to the pier, but check the pickup arrangement when booking.

This is a public boat excursion, and the maximum group size is listed as 100 people. That is a large possible group, so set your expectations accordingly. You may share the boat, beach stops, lunch area, and swimming areas with many other people.

The stated duration is approximately seven to nine hours. One part of the schedule also lists five hours for the El Nido stop, so the exact timing appears to depend on the day’s route, loading, weather, and time spent at each stop. Plan most of your day around the outing rather than scheduling another major activity immediately afterward.

The boat transfer is one of the central parts of the experience, not just a way to get from one beach to another. As you move between islands, you get repeated views of El Nido’s unusual rock formations and open water. The trip itself helps explain why these islands are best visited by boat.

Shimizu Island and the famous El Nido scenery

Shimizu Island is one of the advertised stops on Tour A. Its appeal is the combination of clear water, pale sand, and steep limestone formations that frame the coast.

You should expect time for swimming and photographs rather than a long cultural visit. This is a nature-focused stop, and its value comes from the setting. Bring a waterproof way to protect your phone if you want pictures from the water, since swimming is part of the day’s plan.

The scenery around Shimizu Island is also where the trip’s geology becomes easy to appreciate. El Nido is not simply a collection of pretty beaches. The tall rock walls and sharp island shapes create the dramatic views that define the area.

The practical drawback is crowding. With a possible maximum of 100 people, the beach may not feel private, and the best photo spots can be busy. Still, for a $21 shared excursion, access to this kind of scenery is a strong part of the value.

Papaya Beach for swimming and photographs

Papaya Beach is another named stop. It offers the classic island-hopping pattern: arrive by boat, spend time near the beach, swim, and take photographs before moving on.

I would treat Papaya Beach as a relaxed pause between the larger headline sights. It is not presented as a guided historical site or a place with a long list of activities. Its strength is simple: you get a beach stop in a striking island setting without arranging the boat yourself.

The included life vest is useful for anyone who is not a confident swimmer. Even strong swimmers may want one near the boat or in unfamiliar water. Since the itinerary is shared, the amount of time at Papaya Beach may be controlled by the group schedule rather than by your own preference.

Secret Lagoon and the question of access

Secret Lagoon is listed among the places visited on Tour A. The name suggests a more enclosed setting than the open beach stops, and it is one of the natural landmarks that gives this route its variety.

The important point is to keep your expectations precise. The available details do not describe the access conditions or the exact amount of time spent there, so you should not assume a long private visit or a particular swimming arrangement. The guide will manage the stop as part of the day’s route.

Secret Lagoon also highlights a broader issue with El Nido boat tours: the advertised route can involve several famous places, but the exact order and access can be affected by local operating conditions. Ask the provider which stops are confirmed for your date, especially if a lagoon is the main reason you are booking.

Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon are not interchangeable

The biggest planning issue is the lagoon policy. The Tour A information refers to Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon, but it also states that they cannot both be visited on the same day. A user fee is not included for either lagoon, and kayak rental is extra.

That means you should not read Tour A as a guaranteed visit to both lagoons. Depending on the arrangement, one may be selected, an extra payment may be required, or the route may exclude them. The information also contains a serious point of confusion: one booking experience involved a family expecting Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon, then being told before departure that neither was included.

If seeing a lagoon is essential, contact CTPH TOUR before booking and ask a direct question: Will this exact departure enter Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, or neither? Also ask whether the listed user fee is payable on the day and whether a kayak is required or optional.

This is not a minor detail for families. A child who has been promised a lagoon may find the rest of the trip disappointing if the boat stops only at beaches and other islands. The scenery may still be excellent, but it will not match the expected route.

Lunch on the beach adds real value

Lunch is advertised as included, and the strongest food praise describes it as a full meal served on the beach. That is a useful feature on a seven to nine-hour outing. You do not need to leave the route to find food, and you can eat in the same island setting that makes the tour appealing.

The meal is part of the social rhythm of the day. After several boat rides and water stops, a beach lunch gives you time to rest before continuing. The crew has also received praise for being attentive, which can make the meal and transfers easier in a large shared group.

You should still confirm the lunch details if you have allergies, dietary restrictions, or special requirements. The provided information does not specify the menu or dietary options. Do not assume that a standard picnic meal will meet a particular need.

What the $21 price really covers

At $21, this is an inexpensive way to access El Nido’s offshore sights. The listed inclusions cover the costly basics: land and boat transfers, a guide, a life vest, and island hopping. The tour also advertises lunch and national park admission, adding to the value.

The low price makes most sense for you if you care more about seeing several major sights than controlling the pace. A private boat or smaller group would likely offer more flexibility, but that is not what this package is selling. Tour A is designed to make a famous day of island hopping accessible at a modest cost.

Watch the extra charges. The eco-tourism development fee is not included. The Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon user fee is not included, and kayak rental is also extra. These costs can change the final price, particularly if you are booking for a family.

I would compare the final amount, not just the headline $21. Ask which lagoon is included, which fees are collected locally, and whether the advertised lunch applies to your departure. If the answer is clear, the package can be very good value. If the answer is vague, the low starting price becomes less useful.

The crew and guide can shape the day

The boat crew has been praised for being attentive and experienced, while the guides are described as friendly and familiar with the route. That matters because the day involves boarding, swimming, beach stops, and repeated movement between islands.

You will rely on the guide for timing and stop instructions, especially in a large group. A friendly guide can make the difference between a pleasant shared outing and a confusing one. The strongest feedback also highlights the crew’s handling of the boat, which is reassuring during a full day on the water.

No individual guide names are provided, so I cannot tell you to request a particular person. Instead, judge the experience by the clarity of the pre-trip information. A provider that can clearly explain the lagoon route, fees, pickup, and lunch is more likely to give you a smoother day.

Weather, cancellation, and practical planning

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions cause cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached, with the option of a different date, another experience, or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, so keep the cutoff in mind when arranging your Palawan schedule.

Because the day includes boat travel, allow flexibility around it. A weather cancellation can affect your plans, and the seven to nine-hour estimate leaves little room for another fixed booking. Pickup within El Nido Town is convenient, but confirm the exact meeting instructions for the pier.

Bring only what you need for the day. A swimsuit, sun protection, a towel, and a secure waterproof pouch for valuables are sensible choices, but the supplied information does not specify equipment beyond the life vest. Keep your belongings compact because the boat and beach stops are shared.

Who should book El Nido Tour A?

I would recommend this trip to a first-time El Nido visitor with limited time, especially someone who wants a broad sample of the islands for a modest price. It suits people who enjoy swimming, photographs, beach stops, and dramatic coastal scenery more than a carefully controlled private itinerary.

Families may also find it useful, but only after confirming the lagoon plan. If your children specifically want Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon, do not rely on the general Tour A name. Get the exact stop in writing or choose a booking that clearly guarantees the lagoon you want.

This is less suitable for someone who dislikes large groups or needs a quiet boat ride. A maximum of 100 people is substantial, and shared schedules mean you will not decide how long to stay at every beach. It may also be a poor fit if you need a detailed dietary plan, since the menu is not provided.

Should you book Tour A?

Book it if you want an affordable, full-day introduction to El Nido’s famous island scenery and you are comfortable with a shared boat. The included transport, guide, life vest, lunch, and national park admission give the $21 price strong value.

Do not book without clarification if Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon is the central purpose of your day. Confirm the route, lagoon user fee, kayak cost, lunch, and pickup details first. With that one issue settled, Tour A offers a practical way to see Shimizu Island, Papaya Beach, Secret Lagoon, and the striking rock formations that make El Nido worth the boat ride.

FAQ

Where does El Nido Tour A start and end?

The tour starts and ends in El Nido, Palawan. The listed meeting point is the El Nido Pier dispatching and docking area.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 9 a.m.

How long does El Nido Tour A last?

The experience lasts approximately seven to nine hours. The stop information also lists five hours for the El Nido portion.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Free pickup is offered within El Nido Town.

Which places are included on the route?

The advertised route includes Shimizu Island, Papaya Beach, Secret Lagoon, and either Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon. Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon cannot both be visited on the same day.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the tour description. The menu is not specified.

Are lagoon fees and kayak rental included?

No. The Small Lagoon or Big Lagoon user fee and kayak rental are not included. The eco-tourism development fee is also separate.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.