Small-Group El Nido Island Hopping Tour

Palawan saves its best scenery for the water. I like the way this $23.50 shared boat trip packs El Nido’s famous Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach, and Seven Commando Beach into one full day. I also like that lunch, drinking water, a guide, a life vest, and town pickup are included. The tradeoff is simple: this is a popular shared route, so you should expect other boats and some crowding at the main stops.

You’ll spend about seven hours moving between limestone cliffs, white-sand beaches, and clear water. I find the price strong for a boat-based day out, but you need to budget extra for the lagoon fee, the eco-tourism fee, and any kayak or snorkeling equipment.

Key points before you book

• Big Lagoon is the main prize: Allow about two hours here, with a separate admission fee and an optional kayak rental.
• The route covers five major stops: You visit Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Seven Commando Beach, Shimizu Island, and Payong-Payong Beach.
• This is a joiner tour, not a private cruise: The boat can carry up to 25 people, and popular beaches may feel busy.
• Lunch is part of the deal: You get a picnic-style meal and drinking water, plus a licensed guide and life vest.
• Pickup is limited to town proper: The listed meeting point is CafeElena Suites in Corong-Corong, with pickup offered in the town area.
• Plan your return ride: The tour does not include hotel drop-off after the boat trip.

Why Tour A is El Nido’s classic day on the water

El Nido’s Tour A is popular for a good reason. It brings together the area’s most recognizable scenery in a single outing: tall dark limestone, shallow emerald water, small beaches, and sheltered lagoons.

I like this route for a first visit because you get a broad taste of El Nido rather than spending the day at only one beach. You can see the famous lagoon scenery, have time for swimming and snorkeling, and still enjoy a proper picnic lunch without arranging separate transport.

The tour runs as a shared trip, with up to 25 people. That keeps the cost low, but it also shapes the day. You will not have complete control over how long the boat stays at each place, and the same popular route can attract many other boats.

One rating praised the friendly guides, while another gave four stars after an initially disorganized start. That is useful context. The natural sights are fixed, but the quality of the day depends partly on how well the operator handles timing, loading, and the movement of a full group.

Starting in Corong-Corong and getting organized

The listed meeting point is CafeElena Suites, 1st Floor, in Barangay Corong-Corong, El Nido. The tour information gives an 8:00 a.m. start time, while the pickup window is listed as 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. within town proper.

Because those times do not match perfectly, I would confirm the exact pickup or meeting time when you book. You should also tell Sia Travels where you are staying, even if you plan to walk to the meeting point.

The boat portion runs approximately from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pickup is free within the town proper, but hotel drop-off is not provided afterward. That last detail matters more than it might seem. You need to arrange your own way back from the meeting point after the tour.

This is a mobile-ticket activity, and confirmation is received at booking. The meeting point is near public transportation, which gives you some flexibility if you are not staying close enough to walk.

Big Lagoon takes the largest share of your day

Big Lagoon is the centerpiece, and the schedule gives it about two hours. You approach through shallow water, then see the color shift toward deeper emerald tones beneath the dark limestone walls.

The contrast is what makes this stop special. The cliffs rise sharply from the water, and the enclosed setting gives the lagoon a calm, dramatic feel. You will likely spend your time taking photos, paddling if you rent a kayak, and looking into the deeper sections from the boat or water.

The entrance has a separate admission fee. Kayak rental is optional, and kayaks are not included in the $23.50 price. Snorkeling gear is also extra, so you should ask about current rental arrangements before setting out if you want to use equipment.

Two hours is a useful amount of time here, but it will not feel like private-lagoon pacing. The boat must work around the group and the conditions at the entrance. If Big Lagoon is your main reason for booking, accept that you are paying for access as part of a shared schedule rather than a private visit.

Secret Lagoon means a small entrance and a tight space

Secret Lagoon offers a different kind of stop. Instead of a broad open water view, you look for a small pool concealed within striking rock formations.

The appeal comes from the change in scale. Big Lagoon feels open and grand, while Secret Lagoon feels enclosed and personal. The stop lasts about an hour, and admission is listed as free.

You should be ready for a more confined visit here. The name describes the setting, not a guarantee of solitude. With a shared boat route and other operators visiting the same locations, the entrance and pool can become crowded.

Still, this is an important part of the day because it breaks up the larger views. I like having both kinds of scenery in one tour: a wide lagoon for scale and a small rock-framed pool for a closer look.

Seven Commando Beach gives you time to slow down

The schedule allows two hours at Seven Commando Beach, one of the longer stops of the day. You get white sand, turquoise water, coconut trees, and tall limestone around the shore.

This is the sort of stop where you can make your own pace. You might swim, sit beneath the palms, walk along the sand, or simply enjoy the picnic lunch. The beach is an easier place to relax after the more structured lagoon visits.

The long stop also helps explain the value of the tour. You are not merely rushing from one photo point to the next. At least on paper, the schedule gives you enough time to spend part of the day doing very little, which is often exactly what a Palawan boat trip needs.

The drawback is the same one found elsewhere on Tour A. Seven Commando Beach is part of a heavily used route, so you should not picture an untouched private beach. The setting remains beautiful, but the shared-tour format is part of the scene.

Shimizu Island is the best snorkeling stop

Shimizu Island is described as a strong snorkeling location, with clear water, a beautiful beach, and tall black limestone. The planned stop lasts about an hour.

If you want to spend time in the water, this is probably the most useful stop on the route. Snorkeling gear is not included, so you need to rent it or bring your own if permitted. The tour does provide a life vest, but a vest is not the same as a mask, snorkel, or other water gear.

I like the contrast here as well. The island’s dark rock gives the shore a bold outline, while the clear water draws your attention below the surface. You can expect this stop to be more active than Seven Commando Beach, though the exact conditions will depend on the weather and water.

The one-hour schedule is enough for a taste of snorkeling, but not a long marine outing. If snorkeling is your top priority, ask about rental gear and the day’s sea conditions before departure.

Payong-Payong Beach brings a smaller cove

Payong-Payong Beach sits on Miniloc Island and is described as a picturesque white-sand beach enclosed by mountain rock formations. The stop lasts about an hour.

This is a good final-style beach stop because the cove feels smaller and more sheltered than the broad lagoon spaces. The rock walls frame the shore, making it another strong place for photos and a short swim.

I would keep your expectations practical. An hour moves quickly once the group reaches shore, gathers equipment, and returns to the boat. It is enough for a brief visit, not a long beach afternoon.

Together, the five stops give you a varied day: Big Lagoon for scale, Secret Lagoon for its enclosed pool, Seven Commando for beach time, Shimizu for snorkeling, and Payong-Payong for a compact cove surrounded by rock.

What the $23.50 price really covers

At $23.50 per person, the tour is priced as an accessible shared outing rather than a luxury boat day. You receive the boat transfer, picnic-style lunch, drinking water, licensed guide, life vest, and free pickup within the town proper.

That is a good base package. Arranging a boat, guide, lunch, and transport separately would take more effort, and the tour gives you the main El Nido route in one booking.

The headline price is not the full cost, though. You still pay the lagoon fee and eco-tourism development fee. Snorkeling equipment and kayak rental are also excluded, and you need your own towel.

I would compare the total cost after adding those extras, especially if you want a kayak at Big Lagoon and snorkeling gear at Shimizu Island. Even with those additions, the shared format may suit you well if your goal is to see the main sights without paying for a private boat.

The tour is often booked about 23 days ahead. That suggests you should not assume a last-minute place during a busy period. Booking earlier also gives you time to confirm the meeting point, pickup timing, extra fees, and equipment.

Lunch, gear, and what to pack

The included lunch is picnic-style, with drinking water provided. The supplied information does not specify the menu, so I would not book this based on a particular dish or on special dietary arrangements.

Bring a towel because one is not supplied. You should also plan for sun protection, though the tour information does not list specific items. A small waterproof bag can help protect your phone and ticket around the boat, but the only stated requirement is to bring your own towel.

For water activities, check the rental situation in advance. Kayaks and snorkeling gear are optional extras. If you already own suitable equipment, ask whether you can use it on the tour rather than paying to rent another set.

The life vest is included, which is useful for boat travel and water stops. Most people can participate, but the tour does involve a full day around beaches, lagoons, and a shared boat, so you should be comfortable with that type of outing.

Crowds are the main compromise

The highest praise goes to the guides and the scenery. One five-star rating specifically called the guides very nice, while also noting that there were too many people in many places. That is a fair description of this route.

You are visiting El Nido’s headline locations, and other operators use the same stops. The limestone cliffs and beaches do not lose their beauty, but you will share the experience with your own group and other boats.

The group limit is 25 people. That is not a tiny small-group outing, despite the tour title. It is smaller than a very large excursion, but you should still expect some coordination when boarding, leaving the boat, collecting lunch, or returning from shore.

Another rating pointed to initial disorganization and praised the crew’s hard work later in the day. I would treat that as a reason to keep your morning flexible. A short delay at the start can affect the time available at a later stop, especially when weather and boat traffic are involved.

The operator has acknowledged that concern and said it would work on smoother operations. That does not erase the issue, but it gives you a useful expectation: the scenery is the reliable part, while the day’s flow may depend on how well the group is managed.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this tour if you are visiting El Nido for the first time and want to see the main Tour A sights at a low starting price. It suits you if you are happy sharing a boat and want lunch, a guide, and basic boat safety handled in one package.

It also works well for a mixed group. One person can enjoy the lagoons, another can snorkel at Shimizu Island, and someone else can spend more time on the beaches. The route provides variety without requiring you to plan several separate activities.

You may want another option if privacy matters most. A private boat would give you more say over timing and may reduce the feeling of moving with a crowd, although the supplied information does not provide private-tour prices for comparison.

I would also think twice if you need a carefully controlled schedule. The tour has a stated timetable, but shared boat trips can be affected by other boats, loading, weather, and group movement.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund. Since sea conditions affect the trip, that policy is worth reading before you commit.

Should you book this El Nido boat tour?

Book it if you want the classic El Nido route, a low starting price, included lunch, and a guide-led day with five major stops. I especially like it for first-time visitors who would rather see Big Lagoon and Shimizu Island without arranging every detail themselves.

Before paying, confirm the 8:00 a.m. meeting instruction against the 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. pickup window. Ask about the exact lagoon and eco-tourism fees, then add the cost of a kayak or snorkeling gear if you need them.

My final call is favorable, with clear limits. The scenery is excellent, the route is well chosen, and the package includes the basics. Just book it for access to El Nido’s famous places, not for quiet beaches or private-boat freedom.

FAQ

How long does the El Nido island hopping tour last?

The island hopping portion runs approximately from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for about seven hours.

Which islands and beaches are included?

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

Is Big Lagoon admission included?

No. The Big Lagoon admission fee is not included in the tour price.

Is lunch provided?

Yes. The tour includes a picnic-style lunch and drinking water.

Is hotel pickup available?

Free pickup is offered within the town proper. You should tell the operator which hotel you are staying at.

Does the tour include hotel drop-off afterward?

No. The tour does not include hotel drop-off after the activity. It ends back at the meeting point.

Are snorkeling equipment and kayaks included?

No. Snorkeling gear and kayak rental are optional extras. Aqua shoes are also available as an optional rental.

How many people can join the boat tour?

The activity has a maximum group size of 25 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can receive a different date or a full refund.