El Nido Tour A (shared tour)

El Nido’s best scenery arrives by boat. This shared day trip links Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Shimizu Island with two beach stops, giving you a full taste of Palawan’s famous island scenery for $34 per person. I especially like the mix of calm water, dramatic rock walls, and soft white sand, plus the included lunch, water, guide, towels, and guaranteed boat.

I also like that the route covers five well-known stops in roughly eight hours, so you see much more than one beach without arranging several separate trips. The main drawback is crowding. All of these places are popular, and one recent rating specifically noted that many boats at the same locations made snorkeling and some stops feel cramped.

Key points to know before booking

• Big Lagoon requires an extra P200 fee per person: This cost is separate from the tour price and should be part of your budget.
• The environmental fee is P400 per person: It is a one-time charge valid for five days, useful if you plan more island trips in El Nido.
• Kayaking costs P300 for two people: The kayak rental is not included, but it can make the lagoon visit more enjoyable.
• The tour includes five stops: Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-payong Beach, Secret Lagoon, and 7 Commando Beach.
• A meeting-point wait is possible: One recent rating described waiting about an hour before departure, so keep your morning flexible.
• This is an English-language shared tour: It suits people who want a lower-cost group outing, not a quiet private cruise.

Why Tour A remains El Nido’s classic day out

El Nido Tour A is popular for a simple reason: it gathers the area’s most recognizable scenery into one boat trip. You get pale sand, clear water, limestone rock formations, small coves, and lagoon views that look very different from an ordinary beach day.

The route also gives the day a good rhythm. You begin with lagoon scenery, move on to beaches and swimming, then finish with another relaxed coastal stop. That variety matters. If you spent eight hours at only one beach, the day could feel repetitive. Here, each stop offers a different setting, even though the whole outing follows the same island circuit.

The shared format keeps the cost at $34 per person. That is good value if you want transport by boat, a licensed English-speaking guide, lunch, drinking water, and towels without paying for a private charter. Still, you should add the environmental fee and Big Lagoon charge, and possibly a kayak rental. The final cost is higher than the headline price, but it remains reasonable for a full-day island excursion with five destinations.

One practical warning: the route is not built for a quiet, empty-island experience. El Nido’s famous locations draw many boats, and the same schedule can put several groups at one lagoon or beach. If you care most about solitude, a private trip or a less famous route may suit you better.

Meeting in El Nido and setting out

Hotel pickup is included within El Nido town proper, while the stated meeting point is Umi Travel at Seaside Hama in Barangay Suerte, El Nido. The information does not promise hotel drop-off, so plan to make your own way back after the boat returns.

The tour lasts about eight hours, but the exact departure time depends on availability. The safest approach is to keep the entire day open. A recent 5-star rating praised the activity but noted an approximately one-hour wait at the meeting point before the boat left. That kind of delay can happen on a shared excursion, so do not schedule a tight afternoon flight, appointment, or long-distance transfer afterward.

You will travel on a guaranteed boat with a licensed guide. The guide speaks English and helps manage the route, stops, and practical details. Lunch and water are included, which saves you from having to organize a separate meal during the day. Towels are also supplied, though bringing your own backup towel is sensible if you dislike waiting for one to dry.

Wear swimwear beneath your clothes and pack a change of clothes. Water shoes are specifically recommended, and they should help at rocky entries and around the lagoon areas. Masks, snorkels, fins, and aqua shoes are not included, so check your own equipment before leaving or budget for rentals if available.

Big Lagoon and the extra kayak choice

Big Lagoon is the visual centerpiece of Tour A. The water is clear and calm, while rock formations rise around the route and continue beneath the surface. Instead of a wide-open beach view, you get a natural waterway framed by stone, with the boat moving through a quieter-looking pocket of El Nido scenery.

The lagoon is also where the extra charges matter most. Entry costs P200 per person, and the tour price does not include a kayak. A kayak costs P300 for two people. If you want to paddle rather than simply view the lagoon from the boat, this is one of the more worthwhile add-ons, especially for two people who can share the cost.

Kayaking lets you move at a slower pace and look more closely at the rock walls and water. It does not guarantee a peaceful experience, though. Big Lagoon is one of the area’s best-known stops, and crowd levels can affect how much space you have. One rating specifically criticized the number of boats at shared locations, with snorkeling and other stops feeling hindered by the crowd.

You should also expect the possibility of waiting before entering or moving through the lagoon. That is not unusual on a popular route, but the timing depends on the day. I would treat Big Lagoon as a scenic highlight rather than a private nature experience.

Shimizu Island for sand, lunch, and swimming

Shimizu Island brings the day back to beach level. Its white sand and clear water offer a pleasant break after the rock-lined lagoon. This is the place to spread out a towel, eat lunch, and take a swim when conditions allow.

The island is described as having a natural, untouched feel, but the shared-tour setting is worth remembering. You will not have the beach to yourself, and lunch service can feel more practical than leisurely when several groups arrive together. Still, the combination of food, water, sand, and swimming gives this stop real value.

One rating gave special praise to the buffet lunch. That is useful information if food quality matters to you, since lunch is included rather than an extra purchase. Exact dishes are not provided, so you should not book this expecting a particular menu. Think of it as a convenient island meal that keeps the day moving.

Bring beachwear and a change of clothes. Even if you do not swim at every stop, the spray, wet boat seats, and water activities can leave you damp. A small dry bag would be useful, though it is not listed as an included item.

Payong-payong Beach and a slower stretch of the route

Payong-payong Beach is one of the five destinations, and it adds another coastal setting to the day. The supplied details do not specify a long list of activities here, so you should think of it as a stop for scenery, beach time, and a change of pace rather than a highly structured attraction.

That can be a good thing. A full day of moving between famous sites can become tiring, and a simpler beach stop gives you room to sit, swim, or take photographs without needing to follow a complicated plan. At the same time, shared tours sometimes allow limited time at each location, especially when the route is busy.

If your priority is seeing as much of El Nido as possible in one day, Payong-payong helps round out the itinerary. If you prefer spending a long, unhurried stretch at one beach, five stops may feel a little rushed.

Secret Lagoon and the storybook entrance

Secret Lagoon offers the day’s most unusual entrance. You duck through a small opening in the rock to reach a secluded pool surrounded by stone. The entrance itself is part of the attraction, turning a simple swim into a short sense of discovery.

The pool has clear water and a sheltered setting, with rock walls enclosing the space. It feels very different from the open beach stops and from the broad waterway of Big Lagoon. This contrast is one reason Tour A works well as a first El Nido excursion.

The small entrance also explains why this stop may not suit everyone. The tour information lists the experience as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments, and this stop is one reason to take that warning seriously. You need to be comfortable with the physical movement involved in reaching the lagoon entrance.

Crowding can affect Secret Lagoon as well. The space is naturally more confined than a beach, so a busy arrival can make the pool feel less secluded than its name suggests. Go for the rock passage and setting, not a guarantee of solitude.

7 Commando Beach and the final swim

The final stop is 7 Commando Beach, where you can relax on white sand and swim in clear blue water. The tour also explains the origin of the beach’s name, adding a small piece of local character to what could otherwise be just another swimming stop.

The name is linked to seven commandos, although the supplied details do not provide the full story. Listen to the guide here, since the explanation is part of the stop’s appeal. A guided boat trip is not only about transport. Small details like this help connect a scenic place with a memorable name.

As the last beach, 7 Commando can feel like an easy finish. You can take one more swim, dry off, and enjoy the coast before returning by boat. It may also be the point where fatigue catches up with you. Eight hours in sun and water is a long day, so use sunscreen, drink the supplied water, and do not feel obliged to take part in every activity.

What the shared format means in practice

A shared boat is the main reason this experience costs less than a private outing. You split the boat experience with other people, follow a set route, and accept that the group may wait for boarding, entry, or other passengers.

The trade-off is flexibility. A private boat could potentially adjust its pace and focus more closely on your interests, while this tour has to keep moving through all five listed stops. The shared option makes sense if you want a straightforward introduction to El Nido and are comfortable with a social day.

The rating of 4.3 from 83 ratings suggests a generally positive but not flawless experience. The most praised elements are the scenery, the beaches, the guides, and the buffet lunch. One 5-star rating described the guides as excellent and the scenery as very appealing even in poor weather. Another 5-star rating liked the activity overall but flagged the long wait before departure.

The lower ratings focus on confusion, delays, and too many people at the same locations. These are not minor details if you dislike uncertainty. You should book this with the right expectation: it is an affordable shared island circuit, not a private escape from El Nido’s busiest sights.

Fees, gear, and the real value of $34

At $34, the tour includes several items that add convenience:

• Hotel pickup within El Nido town proper
• A licensed English-speaking guide
• A guaranteed boat
• Lunch and water
• Towels

You must still pay the P400 environmental fee per person. This fee is valid for five days, so it becomes better value if you are staying long enough to take other island tours during that period. Big Lagoon adds another P200 per person.

Kayak rental is P300 for two people. Masks, snorkels, aqua shoes, and fins are not included. If you care about snorkeling, confirm equipment arrangements before departure rather than assuming the boat supplies it. The itinerary includes clear water and beach swimming, but equipment availability is separate.

The package is strongest for a first full day in El Nido. You receive transport, a guide, food, and a well-known route in one booking. It is less attractive if you already have a private boat arranged, dislike group schedules, or want a slower day with fewer stops.

Who should book El Nido Tour A

I would recommend this trip to first-time visitors who want to see the classic El Nido scenery without spending heavily on a private boat. It also suits couples or friends who can share the P300 kayak fee and families whose members are comfortable with a full day around water.

You should be able to manage boat boarding, beach landings, and the small entrance at Secret Lagoon. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and the water-focused schedule may not work for anyone who prefers dry sightseeing.

Book it if you can accept crowds and a possible wait. The strongest parts are the mix of Big Lagoon’s rock scenery, Secret Lagoon’s unusual entrance, Shimizu Island’s sand, and 7 Commando Beach’s easy swimming. The weaker parts are shared-tour timing and the fact that popular stops can feel busy.

Should you book this $34 island tour?

Book El Nido Tour A if you want the classic lagoon-and-beach route at a sensible starting price, with lunch, water, towels, a guide, and boat transport included. Budget separately for the P400 environmental fee, P200 Big Lagoon fee, and optional P300 kayak rental.

Skip it if a crowded schedule would ruin your day or if you need complete control over departure and stop times. For most first visits, though, this is a practical way to see El Nido’s signature scenery in one day. Just arrive ready for a shared boat, keep your schedule open, and bring water shoes, beachwear, and dry clothes.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour A last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability when booking.

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 in Barangay Suerte, El Nido.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch and water are included in the tour price.

Are kayaking and lagoon fees included?

No. Kayak rental costs P300 for two people, and Big Lagoon has a separate P200 fee per person.

What is the environmental fee?

The environmental fee is P400 per person. It is a one-time purchase valid for five days.

What should I bring?

Bring a change of clothes, a towel, beachwear, and water shoes. Masks, snorkels, fins, and aqua shoes are not included.