The Best El Nido Tour: A, B, C or D? – Island Hopping in El Nido

Trying your best to pick the best El Nido tour for your trip?

Everyone who has been island hopping in El Nido has had the same dilemma. “A, B, C or D?” is the first question on everyone’s tongues.

Having been to El Nido twice in the past five years, I very much relate to that feeling. Firstly, I didn’t want to miss out on anything El Nido offered: lakes, lagoons, ‘secret’ and ‘hidden beaches’ and coral reefs.

Secondly, time and money are precious, so I wanted to be sure that I was choosing the best island hopping tour in El Nido for me, and not someone else.

In the following blog post, I’ll break down exactly what you can expect from each island hopping tour in El Nido – and most importantly, why you might want to choose one over the other.

If you’re travelling more of Palawan, check out my complete guide to island hopping in Palawan or open up my guide to choosing the best Coron island hopping tours for later.

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. If you decide to click through and make a qualifying purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you – thanks for your support.

El Nido is a town on the northern tip of Palawan Island in the Philippines.

The Palawan archipelago has a total of around 1,780 islands and islets.

El Nido is also the name of El Nido town proper. This is where all of the best El Nido island hopping tours depart from.

El Nido town is located in Bacuit Bay, which is a 15-minute drive south of El Nido Airport. 

It is a five-hour ferry ride away from Coron, another island popular place for island hopping – you can also get from Coron to El Nido by taking a multi-day island-hopping expedition.

The capital of Palawan, Puerto Princesa (home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Puerto Princesa Subterranean Underground River), is a five-hour drive away from El Nido. It’s on the same island, so it’s easier to get to.

Is El Nido Worth Visiting?

El Nido is the most popular tourist destination in Palawan, without a doubt.

The main reason for this is that the town is surrounded by an impressive selection of islands with features such as lagoons, sandbars, caves, limestone and karst cliffs and ‘hidden’ beaches.

There are coral reefs and diving sites too. These are frequented by turtles, seahorses, nudibranchs, reef sharks, and (if you’re lucky enough to see them) eagle rays.

It’s not just island hopping that awaits in El Nido. The Taraw Cliffs, a series of jagged limestone cliffs, tower over the town.

Recently, locals built a boardwalk to the top of the cliffs, where there is a viewpoint over the town and bay.

The downside of visiting El Nido? It is busy, especially between December and May.

Since my first visit to El Nido in 2018, it has expanded significantly. In 2018, it only had a couple of handfuls of guesthouses and a few go-to bars.

Now, it is a thriving tourist destination with restaurants and guesthouses by the dozens.

El Nido is also very well known for its luxury island resorts, especially the Cauayan Island Resort and Spa and Matinloc Resort.

How Many Days is Enough For El Nido?

The best amount of time to spend in El Nido is three to five days. However, you can easily stay for up to a week.

There are four main island hopping tours in El Nido.

If you want to do all four tours, you need at least four or five days. 

If you only want to do Tour A and Tour C, the two most popular tours, you should visit El Nido for at least two to three days.

The tours run from 8pm to 4pm, taking up eight hours of the day.

Most of them involve vigorous activities such as swimming, snorkelling, and scrambling over rocks.

Therefore, you may also need to put aside a day or two to rest and relax, as they can be physically demanding.

If you want to climb the Taraw Cliffs, put aside another full day because the opening times (8am to 5pm) coincide with the timing of the tours.

How to Get to El Nido

There are several ways to get to El Nido.

If you are starting your trip in Coron, you can fly directly to Coron Airport from Manila or Cebu.

From there, you can work your way down Palawan (visiting El Nido next).

Flights from Manila to El Nido take one hour and 30 minutes.

Depending upon the time of year, they cost 11,300+ PHP (£150+).

El Nido airport is a 15-minute drive from El Nido town proper. A taxi costs around 200 PHP (£2.80) one way.

1. El Nido to Coron

If you are visiting Coron after El Nido, you have a few options.

The quickest way is to fly from El Nido to Coron. This is the quickest way and only costs 3,500 – 4,400 PHP(£45 – £65). It takes 40 minutes.

The cheapest way is to take the ferry. Although it only costs 2,800 – 3,000 PHP (£37 – £40), it takes three to five hours. The route is notorious for causing seasickness.

The best way is to take a multi-day island-hopping expedition from Coron to El Nido with Big Dream Boatman or Tao Philippines. Lasting three to five days, they cost $650+.

Many people miss out on these expeditions. However, they are truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you camp overnight on remote islands and spend the day snorkelling from a traditional Bangka boat.

I’ve already done the route twice, and hope to go back for a third expedition.

For more information on these options, feel free to check out my guide to how to get from Coron to El Nido (and the reverse).

2. Puerto Princesa to El Nido

To get to El Nido from Puerto Princesa, you can take an air-conditioned minivan from El Nido and Puerto Princesa.

The vans are cramped but comfortable. The roads can be a bit windy, so I recommend taking some motion sickness tablets with you.

The journey takes approximately five hours (dependent upon traffic) and costs approximately 900 PHP (£12).

How Much is Island Hopping in El Nido?

Several days of island hopping in El Nido generally cost around 10,500 PHP (£150) per person if you take a group tour.

Group tours in El Nido cost around 3500 PHP (£50) per person.

Private tours cost approximately 17,670 PHP (£250) for three people. Split between three people, this works out at £83 per head.

Multi-day expeditions between Coron and El Nido cost $650+.

You also need to think about additional costs such as buying lunch, entry fees, and gear hire.

For any lagoon tours, it’s mandatory to hire a kayak for around 250 PHP (£3.50) and/or a snorkelling mask for 150 PHP (£2).

Lunch is no longer included in the tour price, so you will also need to account for buying a packed lunch from one of the restaurants in the town. A large budget meal should cost 200 – 400 PHP (£2.80 – £5.60).

Entry Fees for the El Nido Island Hopping Tours

On top of the raw cost of island hopping in El Nido, you need to pay an eco-tourism development fee of 200 PHP and entrance fees for each attraction you visit on the tour.

Usually, these are not included in the tour price, but check before you book to be sure.

The El Nido eco-tourism development fee is 200 PHP (£2.80). The fee goes directly towards sustaining the environment and isn’t kept by your tour provider.

Most entry fees, including for Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon, are 200 PHP (£2.80). They must be paid to your tour guide at the beginning of the trip.

Therefore, a typical day of entry fees will include the 200 PHP (£2.80) eco-tourism development fee and 200 – 400 PHP (£2.80 – £5.60) worth of entry fees.

Types Of Tours in El Nido

1. Multi-day expedition

If there is one thing you don’t want to miss when you’re in Palawan, it’s the multi-day island-hopping expeditions between El Nido and Coron.

Starting at $650, the expeditions travel through one of the most spectacular areas in Palawan by traditional bangka boat.

After spending the days snorkelling and swimming to uninhabited islands, you get to stay in bamboo huts on remote islands.

The coral reefs in this area are far healthier than those in El Nido, so the sealife is more diverse.

The expeditions travel from El Nido to Coron (and the reverse direction), letting you skip taking the ferry or taking a flight.

The expeditions are arranged by two main operators:

1. Big Dream Boatman: The best small group tours and the best value for money.
2. Tao Philippines: The original tour operator, but more expensive.

2. Private island hopping tour

A private island hopping tour involves renting a private boat.

The private tours visit routes A, B, C or D, the same destinations covered by the group tours.

The tour is undertaken by a traditional Bangka boat, usually suitable for up to three guests. The total cost of the tour is split between all three guests. 

A private tour is ideal if you want to go island hopping as a family or as a group of friends. You don’t need to feel rushed or crowded. You also have more agency over the itinerary.

For example, you could ask your tour guide to skip one stop in favour of spending longer at a different destination.

3. Group island hopping tour

A group island hopping tour is the most budget-friendly tour type in El Nido.

They cover routes A, B, C and D.

The group tours accommodate up to 25 people, depending upon the size of the boat. The whole experience is more crowded and noisier.

However, it’s also easier to make friends with other travellers.

4. Island hopping by speedboat

The quickest and most luxurious tours in El Nido are the island hopping tours by yacht or speedboat.

The main benefit of taking a speedboat is that they are quicker, making it possible to beat the crowds to the best attractions. This is the most expensive but equally the most luxurious type of tour.

Most speedboat tours are three to five hours long, meaning that you can make the most of your day back in the town or catch a bus or flight later in the day.

Check the availability for a group speedboat tour or private yacht tour.

The Best El Nido Tour: A, B, C or D?

In an ideal world, you’ll have enough time to go on all four El Nido island-hopping tours.

However, if you don’t, you will want to make the most of the time you have.

The most popular El Nido tours are Tour A and Tour C. They are also the most crowded.

Tour A is popular because it visits Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon. Big Lagoon is one of the most impressive sights in El Nido.

Tour C is popular because it visits Hidden Beach and Secret Beach, two partially concealed beaches. It also visits Matinloc Shrine, a spiritual site among the islands.

Tour B visits some of the less-crowded beaches in El Nido.

Meanwhile, Tour D visits pristine beaches and Small Lagoon, a smaller and more intimate lagoon.

Let me break it down…

Tour A: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon and Beaches

Best for: Visiting El Nido’s famous lagoons

Tour A is one of the most popular tours in El Nido because it visits two of El Nido’s famous lagoons.

Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon are truly impressive, with limestone and karst formations and bright green latter. If you have the time, taking Tour A is definitely worth it.

It’s also the only tour that visits Big Lagoon.

Big Lagoon

To explore Big Lagoon, you must rent a kayak and paddle from the open ocean into the shallower, green water.

The lagoon is huge. There are shallow areas of sand where you can leave your kayak and float in the shallows.

Round to the left, near the back of the lagoon, you can also find narrow grooves in the rocks just big enough for kayaks to pass through. Ask your guide for directions if you can’t find them on your own.

Next up on the tour is Secret Lagoon. It’s one of many places in El Nido that is concealed by rocks.

To get to the lagoon, you need to crawl on all fours through a small cave.

Secret Lagoon

You will emerge into a small, circular lagoon enclosed by tall limestone cliffs.

You don’t need a kayak to visit Secret Lagoon, as it’s much smaller and kayaks don’t fit through the cave. You need to be able to swim, as it’s quite deep.

Tour A ends up visiting several beaches.

Out of these, Seven Commandos Beach is the most famous.

The rumour is that seven World War II soldiers were stranded on the beach. Another rumour says that a fishing vessel was stranded on the beach and passengers set up camp to repair the boat.

The former story is the most popular because it’s said that locals found a rock carved with ‘Seven Commandos’ on the beach.

Either way, it’s a beautiful place to unwind. Lined with palm trees, it has corals (on the right-hand side if you’re facing the ocean) and a few swings erected by locals.

Lunch is usually spent at Shimizu Island, an island with white-sand beaches and tall limestone rocks.

Check the availability for Tour A.

Tour B: Popolkan, Snake and Pinagbuyutan Islands, and the Cudugnon and Cathedral Caves

Best for: Visiting less-crowded beaches and relaxing

Tour B is a wise choice for anyone who wants to avoid the main tourist crowds in El Nido. It is island hopping as it should be: wild, uncrowded and relaxing.

The beaches also have some fascinating rock and sand formations, especially Snake Island with its shifting sandbars.

Tour B starts by visiting Popolkan Island. Small but sweet, it has great snorkelling and diving.

Snake Island is next. It has a long sand bar at low tide, which stretches for three kilometres between two islands.

Snake Island

Mangroves and thick palm trees (with the occasional monkey) rest alongside the beach.

If you have enough time (which is more likely on a private tour than a group tour), locals can also show you how to climb to the shed at the top of the island.

The route also visits Cudugnon Cave, which is tucked underneath a hill on Lagen Island, miles away from the civilisation of El Nido town.

The cave is a neolithic burial site for Palawan residents and people who settled in Palawan from Borneo.

Human bones have been found in the cave dating to 960 AD. It’s also thought that Japanese soldiers hid in the cave during World War II.

It is filled with limestone-karst formations, stalactites, bats, and swallows.

Access to the cave is during low tide only, through a small opening. 

Cathedral Cave is similar, but you can’t go inside the cave because it has venomous snakes. You’ll get to admire the cathedral-like entrance from a distance instead.

Finally, Tour B ends at Pinagbuyutan Island, one of the closest islands to El Nido town proper (around half an hour’s sail from the town).

It’s a wild, deserted island, making it the ideal place to relax and snorkel without many crowds.

Check the availability for Tour B.

Tour C: Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island and Matinloc Shrine

Best for: Visiting El Nido’s ‘secret’ beaches

If you’re looking for a tour with an adventure factor, Tour C is it.

Tour C was my favourite tour. Firstly, it was less crowded than Tour A. Secondly, it has the surprise factor of searching for and finding hard-to-spot beaches.

Tour C is pretty popular, so I can’t say that the beaches are exactly a ‘secret’ anymore. Still, you’d have no idea they were there if it wasn’t for the tour guides.

The tour begins at Hidden Beach. On the approach, you’ll see nothing but a wall of limestone.

However, as you get closer, a slither of sand appears through an alley behind one limestone islet.

Hidden Beach

The boats park in the deeper water a short distance away from the rocks, so you will need to clamber through knee- to thigh-high water (over rocks and sand) to reach the beach.

It’s harder than it looks because it’s easy to lose your balance in the waves, so hold onto a partner if you can. Reef shoes are essential.

In the shallow passage of water leading to the main secret beach, I was lucky enough to be joined by a tiny family of tiny reef sharks, who peacefully took a length or two before exiting.

The beach itself is a tiny strip of white sand, so the most fun part is paddling around the shallow water and spotting marine creatures.

The second stop on the tour is Secret Beach.

Unlike Hidden Beach, Secret Beach is fully concealed by limestone rocks

You need to jump into deep water and swim through a narrow passageway into a secret limestone crevice.

Wear your reef shoes, because once you’ve squeezed through, you still have a small clamber to reach the sand.

Finally, it’s time to relax at Helicopter Island, which is vaguely shaped like a helicopter (hence the name).

The beach is one of the prettiest places I visited out of all of the El Nido island hopping tours, so it’s nice to have time to relax there and take in the views.

Helicopter Island

First thing in the morning, the beach was pretty busy. However, it is still large enough that you can walk until there are no people around.

There are some corals just off the beach if you want to go snorkelling. Just swim a couple of strokes away from the sand until you reach the drop-off. There are lots of raindbow fish around the corals.

The next location, Tapiutan Beach, is positioned alongside Matinloc Island.

It’s a popular stop for lunch, located just through a narrow limestone pass. It has yet more white sand and corals.

The final stop is Matinloc Shrine, a large, white shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

It looks quite out of place on Matinloc Island. However, it has been there since 1982, supposedly set up by adventurers who found treasure from World War II on the island and built the shrine to cover up their mischievous digging.

Check the availability for Tour C.

Tour D: Small Lagoon, Caldao Island and Beaches

Best for: Snorkelling and visiting a less-busy lagoon

Tour D is one of the least crowded routes in El Nido. If want to experience a smaller, quieter lagoon, it’s a good alternative to taking Tour A.

1. Small Lagoon

Exploring Small Lagoon by kayak feels a lot more intimate than kayaking at Big Lagoon.

At Big Lagoon, I felt like I didn’t see everything. However, at Small Lagoon, I felt like I could fully explore the place within half an hour.

Because the lagoon is so small, you can take the time to look for marine life too.

There are several cliff-jumping spots and deep water suitable for swimming. Plus, there are a few small caves in the limestone cliffs if you can find them.

The first island on the tour itinerary is Cadlao Island, which – drumroll – has yet another lagoon.

This island has a 609-metre hill. It’s one of the largest islands that you’ll encounter while island hopping in El Nido. 

It’s also very close to El Nido, so if you feel very adventurous, you can kayak there directly from the town.

The island has some coral reefs (at the end of the bay), but the lagoon is by far the prettiest place (and a great place to snorkel, too).

Other stops on Tour D include Pasandigan Beach, Nat Nat Beach and Paradise Beach

These are three beautiful beaches with shallow waters and fab marine life. If you’ve been wanting to snorkel, these are great spots to get stuck in.

Pasandigan Beach is known for its turtles.

Check the availability for Tour D.

The Best El Nido Tour for Luxury

While taking a group tour is helpful if you want to make friends, it’s not particularly luxurious.

The boats usually have wooden benches and minimal storage space for your belongings.

Instead, you’re better off taking a speedboat or sailing luxury tour

By far the most extensive luxury tour is the two-day yacht cruise which is a private sail on a 42-foot yacht.

The yacht has two private cabins.

It visits places far away from the typical tourist route, such as Malapacao Island (for snorkelling), Lagen Island (a sandbar), and Dibuluan Island (where the Survivor TV show was shot). 

If you want a shorter luxury tour, you can take a yacht day cruise. This tour also takes you away from the tourist sites to Dibuluan Island and Lagen Island.

There is another popular group tour on a 50-foot sailing catamaran. This is more affordable because the boat is shared with a minimum of six other guests.

The catamaran visits some of the best spots on the A, B, C and D routes. 

The Best El Nido Tours Inland

Aside from island hopping, there are plenty of places to explore on the main island.

You can rent a scooter to explore inland on your own but if you’re not comfortable driving, I’ve heard many people rave about the Beyond El Nido jeepney tour.

Jeepneys are a traditional vehicle in the Philippines and an artistic symbol. The buses were converted from jeeps left behind by invaders in World War II.

This particular jeepney tour will take you to Lio Beach, a wide, windswept sandy bay with a long pier. I stayed in a resort next to the beach in 2018 and was blown away by the size of the beach.

The tour also passes through the El Nido countryside, taking you on a guided trek to the Bulalacao Waterfalls where you can swim or go cliff jumping. 

The final stop is Napcan Beach for sunset with free unlimited cocktails at a beach bar. So, if you want to party, this is your chance

How to Avoid Crowds in El Nido

Crowds are the one thing that can turn the best El Nido tours into the worst.

However, they are avoidable with a little planning.

1. Take a speedboat tour

The best way to beat the crowds is to take a speedboat tour.

Speedboat tours travel at almost double the speed of the Bangka boats used on the traditional tours.

This gives you the chance to arrive at popular spots before other boats get there.

2. Book a tour that departs early

Book a tour that departs early. Most tours leave the port by 8.45 am.

If see tour reviews about the boat leaving late or being disorganised, you’re not on the best El Nido tour.

I find that tours booked online were far more prompt than tours booked through a hotel or hostel. Maybe this is because they rely on positive reviews to get more bookings.

3. Visit El Nido during the low season

Visiting El Nido during the low season is a great move.

Accommodation is cheaper and the island tours are less crowded.

It’s a win-win, as long as the weather forecast holds out.

November is a good month to visit because it still counts as the ‘off season’, but it is at the start of the dry season. Just watch the weather forecast to monitor any typhoons that may be moving into the area.

How to Prepare for Island Hopping in El Nido 

Island hopping El Nido requires some preparation.

1. Packing list

The most important thing you need is a dry bag to protect your belongings from the water.

This can be purchased from market stalls in El Nido town if you don’t have your own.

The second most important thing, in my opinion, is reef shoes. On most of the tours, you will be walking over rocks or sand which might hide sea urchins or lionfish.

Again, sea shoes can be purchased in El Nido town if you don’t have any of your own.

Other items you should pack include:

• A reusable water bottle
• Beach towel
• Change of clothes
• Cash – you will need to pay by cash for any extras such as tourist fees, snorkelling or kayaking gear, and food and drinks from kayak vendors.

2. Allow time for your journey

The meeting place for most of the best El Nido tours is either on El Nido beach directly next to the town, where the island hopping boats are docked, or at one of the restaurants next to the beach.

It may take you around 20 minutes of walking to reach the meeting place from your hotel.

If you’re staying on the outskirts of the town or in the Napcan beach area, you may need to account for a tricycle ride to the beach.

Leave plenty of time for breakfast, travel and finding the meeting point.

Also, don’t skip breakfast. You will need the energy for the day’s activities.

Just remember that you’re going to be on a boat all day, and don’t make my mistake of having a huge breakfast before sitting on a stationary boat in the windy bay for half an hour directly afterwards.

Things to Do in El Nido 

1. Get a massage

There’s a massage parlour on the main road in El Nido called The Organic Spa El Nido, which honestly gave me the best hilot massage I’ve had in the space of nearly two months in the Philippines.

2. Climb the Taraw Cliffs

Before the canopy walk existed, people used to scramble up the Taraw Cliffs to get photos of the bay from the precarious limestone ledges. Some people still do, although it is illegal.

Locals have erected a canopy walk (the Taraw Via Ferrata) consisting of boardwalks which will take you safely to the top of the cliffs in a harness.

I can’t really compare the health and safety standards to those in Australia or Britain, but it seems sturdy enough, and it’s a wonderful way to take in the views. Plus, the climb only takes 20 minutes. 

You’ll need to book a ticket either at the office in town or online. You can check the availability for the Taraw Via Ferrata ticket here.

3. Take the Las Cabañas Beach zipwire

El Nido Beach isn’t suitable for a beach day because of all of the boats that keep coming and going.

The best place is Las Cabañas Beach, which is approximately a 20-minute tricycle ride from the town.

The area is fairly built up. To reach the beach, you must walk through a small outdoor mall with a gym, bougie restaurants and coffee shops.

The beach is usually fairly empty, as aside from the residents of the small strip of holiday apartments alongside the beach, not many people visit.

One of the best attractions at the beach is the zipwire, which travels from a slope over the beach to an islet adjoined to Las Cabañas by a sandbar.

To reach the zipwire, you’ll need to walk up a very steep hill or rent a scooter driver to drive you up there (it’s around 20 minutes’ walk from the mall).

4. Go waterfall trekking

The Bulalacao Waterfalls are part of the Beyond El Nido jeepney tour, but you can also rent a tricycle driver to take you there and wait for you for several hours.

Otherwise, rent a scooter from the town. 

There are two waterfalls: one big and one small. Both have swimming holes where you can take a dip. It’s a gorgeous two-hour hike through the jungle to and from the largest waterfall.

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I hope you found my guide to the best El Nido tours useful.

If you want more help to plan your trip, read on…

Suggested reading:

• Island hopping in Palawan – start here to plan your trip!
• Coron travel itinerary
• How to choose the best Coron island hopping tours
• How to choose the best El Nido tour
• How to get from Coron to El Nido
• Puerto Princesa itinerary, including how to get to the underground river
• How to get to Coron Palawan
• What to wear in Palawan – plus an island-hopping packing list!

FAQ

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Katie Treharne

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