Private El Nido Tour A Island Hopping

Crowds fade when your boat has room to breathe. This private El Nido Tour A visits Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach, and Seven Commando Beach in about six to eight hours. I like the private boat format, which gives your group more control than a standard shared trip, and I like that lunch, a licensed guide, life vests, and a first aid kit are included.

The main catch is that the inclusions need checking before you pay. One description says hotel transfers and snorkel equipment are included, while the detailed inclusions say hotel pickup, drop-off, and snorkel equipment are not included. The price is also listed as $940.28 per group, with one section saying up to eight people and another saying up to ten. That is worth clearing up in writing.

The tour has a 5 out of 5 rating from four published ratings. Vanessa and Eva of Natural Arts Travel and Tours, along with the boat crew, received special praise for their friendly service, island knowledge, and willingness to take photos. That personal help can matter when you are busy managing bags, masks, cameras, and a slippery boat ladder.

Key points to know before booking

• Five major stops in one day: You visit Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach, and Seven Commando Beach.
• Private boat, private group: Only your party takes part, giving you more say over the day’s pace.
• Six to eight hours on the water: This is a full outing, not a quick scenic cruise.
• Lunch and safety basics included: The package lists a meal, life vests, a first aid kit, an ice box, and a motorized boat.
• Inclusions need confirmation: Hotel transfers and snorkel gear appear differently in the tour details, so ask before departure.
• A good fit for small groups: The listed price is per group, making the value stronger when several people share the boat.

Why Tour A is El Nido’s classic route

Tour A brings together the sights that make El Nido famous: limestone cliffs, pale beaches, enclosed lagoons, and clear water suitable for swimming and snorkeling. You are not choosing between one beach and one lagoon. You get a broad sample of the area in a single day.

That variety is the main reason I find this route appealing. Big Lagoon gives you El Nido’s grandest scenery. Secret Lagoon provides a more enclosed, compact stop. Shimizu Island adds beach time and snorkeling, while Seven Commando Beach gives the day a relaxed finish. Payong-Payong Beach adds another scenic pause, marked by an umbrella-shaped rock formation.

The private setup changes the mood. On a shared boat, you follow the group’s timing. Here, your guide can help your party decide how long to spend at each stop, within the practical limits of the day and local conditions. The tour still has a fixed route, but it should feel less like moving through a queue.

That said, private does not mean empty. El Nido’s best-known places can still be popular, especially Big Lagoon. The early or late timing of your stops may depend on local boat traffic, weather, and the guide’s judgment. The advantage is your group’s flexibility, not a guarantee of solitude.

Big Lagoon: the dramatic first look

Big Lagoon is one of Palawan’s most famous sights, and it earns that reputation through scale. Tall limestone walls frame calm water, creating the kind of setting that looks made for photographs. The included stop lasts about 30 minutes.

I would treat this as a scenic and photographic visit rather than expect a long swim. Thirty minutes passes quickly once you arrive, get settled, and take in the cliffs. If you have a phone or camera, keep it secure around the boat and water. The first stop can also set the tone for the whole day, so listen closely when the guide explains where you can move and how long you have.

The private boat is useful here because your group can organize itself without strangers competing for the same space. It may also give you a better chance of arriving at a less crowded moment, though the tour cannot promise that.

Secret Lagoon: a short, enclosed stop

Secret Lagoon offers a different type of scenery. Instead of a broad sweep of water, you enter a smaller enclosed area associated with the surrounding cliffs. The scheduled visit is about 30 minutes, with admission included.

This stop is best approached with modest expectations. It is compact, and the appeal comes from the feeling of moving from open sea into a tucked-away rock setting. Depending on conditions and how busy the area is, getting in and out may take some of your allotted time.

This is also where good guidance matters. Natural Arts Travel and Tours uses a licensed guide, and the guide can help your group understand the practical route through the stop. The tour’s supplies include life vests and a first aid kit, useful reassurance on a day that involves swimming areas, boat movement, and wet footing.

Shimizu Island: beach, water, and lunch

Shimizu Island is one of the day’s most flexible stops. You can expect a white sand beach setting, time near the water, and a chance to snorkel if equipment is available for your group. The scheduled stop lasts about 30 minutes.

Lunch is included, which is a real advantage on a six to eight hour boat trip. You do not need to arrange a separate meal while moving between islands. The ice box is also included, helping keep food and drinks cool during the day.

The details do not specify the exact menu, so you should not book this expecting a particular dish. The meal is best understood as practical fuel for a long outing. If you have dietary needs, ask the operator before the tour.

Shimizu Island may be one of the more comfortable places to slow down, but thirty minutes is still not much time for eating, swimming, taking photos, and snorkeling. Your group may need to choose its priority. If the water matters most to you, get ready before reaching the beach rather than spending the whole stop sorting out your things.

Payong-Payong Beach and its umbrella rock

Payong-Payong Beach is tied to a distinctive umbrella-shaped rock formation. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and adds a quieter scenic break to a route already filled with major names.

This is a good place to keep your camera ready. The rock formation gives the stop a clear visual focus, while the beach provides a change from the enclosed lagoon settings. It also helps break up the day. Five water stops can begin to feel repetitive if every stop looks and feels the same, but Payong-Payong offers a different frame for your photos.

The itinerary does not provide details about swimming conditions or facilities here, so I would think of it first as a scenic pause. Your guide can tell you what makes sense on the day.

Seven Commando Beach: an easy final stop

Seven Commando Beach is the final listed stop, with about 30 minutes scheduled. After the cliffs and lagoons, a white sand beach offers a simple way to end the island portion of the trip.

The short visit works well for a final swim, a walk along the sand, or a few last photos. It may also be the point where you realize how much the day has packed in. Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon are about rock walls and enclosed water. Shimizu Island and Seven Commando Beach give you more open beach scenery.

Because this is the final stop, your group may appreciate the chance to relax rather than rush toward another major attraction. Still, the tour ends back at the meeting point, so your boat must eventually leave. Keep an eye on the agreed departure time.

What the private format really gives you

The strongest feature here is not just having a boat to yourself. It is having a group-sized experience with less negotiation. You are not sharing every decision with strangers, and you can ask the guide for help with timing, photos, and the practical details of each stop.

The tour is described as suitable for up to eight people in the price information, while another description says up to ten. Confirm the maximum group size before booking. The difference matters if you are arranging a family outing or a larger party.

A private boat is especially useful for people who want to take photos without feeling hurried by a large group. It can also work well for families and friends with different swimming abilities. One person can focus on the beach while another spends time in the water, subject to the guide’s instructions and the stop’s conditions.

The tradeoff is cost. At $940.28 per group, the price is high for two or three people. Split among eight people, it works out to about $117.54 each. Split among ten, it would be about $94.03 each, but you should first confirm which group limit applies. The more people in your party, the stronger the value becomes.

What is included, and what is not

The package lists a private tourist boat, motorized transport, a licensed tour guide, life vests, a first aid kit, an ice box, and lunch. Those inclusions cover the basic structure of a full day on the water.

There is an important contradiction around snorkeling equipment. The overview says snorkel gear is included, but the detailed exclusions say use of snorkeling equipment is not included. Kayak use is also listed as not included.

Hotel transport is unclear as well. One description says transfers are part of the package, while the meeting point and exclusions say hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The stated starting point is Dayo Cafe El Nido on Serena Street, and the activity ends back there.

I would send Natural Arts Travel and Tours a short message before booking. Ask three direct questions:

• Is the $940.28 price for up to eight people or up to ten?
• Are hotel pickup and drop-off included?
• Is snorkeling equipment included, rented separately, or unavailable?

Those answers can change the real cost and convenience of the day.

Meeting point, timing, and practical planning

The tour starts at Dayo Cafe El Nido, listed at Serena Street in El Nido, Palawan. It ends at the same meeting point. Since hotel pickup and drop-off are not clearly confirmed, plan around reaching the cafe yourself unless the operator tells you otherwise.

The tour lasts approximately six to eight hours. That range likely reflects weather, sea conditions, boat timing, and how the day unfolds, but the exact reason for the difference is not stated. Keep your schedule flexible after the tour rather than booking a tight connection or another fixed activity immediately afterward.

Confirmation is received at booking, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The activity is private, so only your group participates. Most people can take part, but the information does not provide detailed accessibility guidance. If anyone in your party has mobility concerns, ask the operator about boarding and moving around the boat before reserving.

Bring only what you need. A dry bag or waterproof pouch is sensible for phones and documents, even though one is not listed as provided. The boat has an ice box, but the information does not state that drinks, towels, or personal storage are supplied.

The guide and crew can shape the day

The published praise for Vanessa and Eva, as well as the boat crew, focuses on friendliness, island knowledge, and help taking photographs. Those are not small details on an island-hopping trip.

A licensed guide can make the stops easier to manage, especially when you have only 30 minutes at each location. A willing photographer also means you may not have to choose between being in the picture and taking it. Ask early in the day if the crew is happy to help with group photos.

Natural Arts Travel and Tours describes itself as the provider. The response from the company expresses pride in showing visitors the wonders of Palawan and hopes to welcome them again on future trips around the Philippines. That gives the experience a more personal, locally operated feel than a bare transport service.

Weather, cancellation, and the best booking decision

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather cancels the experience, you are offered another date 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 less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local time, so note the time zone when planning.

I would book this tour when your group values privacy, wants the full Tour A route, and can split the cost among several people. It is also a sensible choice if photos, flexible pacing, and a personal guide matter more to you than finding the cheapest boat.

I would hesitate if you are traveling alone or as a couple, if you need confirmed hotel transport, or if snorkeling gear is essential and the operator cannot clarify the equipment policy. In those cases, the high group price and uncertain add-ons may weaken the value.

Should you book Private El Nido Tour A?

Book it if you have a group of friends or family, want Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon in the same day, and prefer your own boat. The route is packed with El Nido’s signature scenery, and the private format gives you a better chance to set a comfortable pace.

Before paying, confirm the group limit, hotel transfer policy, and snorkeling equipment. Once those points are clear, this looks like a strong full-day option for a group that wants convenience, lunch, a licensed guide, and the freedom of a private boat.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Dayo Cafe El Nido, located on Serena Street in El Nido, Palawan.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the starting meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The expected duration is approximately six to eight hours.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

How many people can join the tour?

The price information says the group can include up to eight people. Another description says the tour is good for up to ten travelers. Confirm the applicable limit with the provider before booking.

What places does the tour visit?

The listed stops are Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is listed among the included services.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

The tour information gives conflicting details. The overview says snorkel gear is included, while the exclusions say snorkeling equipment is not included. Confirm this with Natural Arts Travel and Tours.

Are hotel pickup and drop-off included?

The information is also inconsistent about transfers. One description says transfers are included, while the detailed exclusions say hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Confirm before booking.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.