9 Kayak Trips in the Philippines Worth Booking

1.Big Lagoon Kayaking & Island Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 132 reviews · 6 hours · from $23Our pick

Join Alexzus Travel and Tours for a six-hour El Nido island trip with kayaking at Big Lagoon, snorkeling near Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and 7 Commandos Beach. Guides may include Arnold, Anderson, or Ken Kyle. Lunch, boat, gear, and drinking water are included, while kayak hire and local fees cost extra.

“great tour. loved everything about it. only thing I didn't like was we were the last ones off the boat so my daughter and I got one piece of chicken each. everything was gone by the time we got to it. we were the last ones to eat and people ravaged the food”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Crystal Kayak Photo-op Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 72 reviews · 15 min · from $6Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide near Astoria Boracay, step into a clear kayak, and spend 10 to 15 minutes posing on the water. Bring your own phone or camera. Your guide helps with angles and poses, though weather and meeting details can change.

“The activity was great and the photographer was flexible with the rain.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Firefly Watching Paddle Boat Tour & Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 47 reviews · 4 hours · from $27

You’ll begin with hotel pickup, dinner at Swag Restaurant, and a motorized boat ride from Baywalk before boarding a paddle boat for firefly watching. An English-speaking guide explains the insects’ role in the ecosystem. Bring repellent and skip flash photography.

“Great great tour! Very well organised and didn’t feel touristy at all. We were pretty much the only boat there until the very end and felt super private. The guide was great, very well spoken and super friendly and enthusiastic. Food was amazing. If I had the food in a restaurant I would be very happy.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.SUSTAINABLE Mangrove Tunnels & Firefly Kayaking trail

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · 5 hours · from $85Top rated

Paddle Bohol’s Abatan River with local guides such as Vince, Jeremy, or MacMac, passing mangroves, nipa palms, and quiet forest channels before returning after dark to watch synchronous fireflies. The five-hour trip includes transfers, snacks, equipment, and a fresh Filipino dinner.

“I’m at a loss for words when it comes to leaving a review for this experience. My guide was Vince. He has a strong passion for conservation for all that is included in his community. Might it be fireflies, mangroves, birds, everything. He wants future generations to have a future and to be able to see and experience what their surroundings can offer. I started off with the mangrove kayaking. We experienced all the kinds of weather Philippines could ever offer. But it’s nothing short of experiencing nature at its finest. To be honest, I enjoyed it more during the downpour. We saw a lot of birds, which I was…”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Coron Island Sunset Kayaking trail

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $64

You’ll kayak from Coron Town toward Coron Island with guides such as Julius, passing mangroves, limestone islets, and quiet lagoons. Expect basic lessons, a possible snorkel stop, sunset from the water or a secluded beach, then tea, coffee, Filipino snacks, and a dark-water paddle back.

“was a really good way to go out and see the area. guide was amazing”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 8 reviews · 15 min · from $9

Take a 10 to 15-minute crystal kayak photo session in Boracay with an English-speaking local guide. Guides such as NoyPo, also called Elvine, help with poses and camera angles. The activity works best in calm water, on a sunny day or near sunset. Hotel transport is not included.

“Very nice photos, the guy helps you and suggests the best poses”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.From Tagbilaran City/Panglao Island: Bohol Mangrove Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 5 hours · from $64

You’ll kayak the Abatan River with local guides such as Vince or Jeremy, passing narrow mangrove tunnels, bird habitat, crab holes, and community-managed forests. Beginners receive a lesson and safety briefing, with transport from Panglao or Tagbilaran, food, water refills, lockers, and changing rooms included.

“Our Guide Vince was very informative, took many pictures for us. Never rushed us. was a great 7k paddle through the mangroves”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.North Face Kayaking Tour with Lunch and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 5 hours · from $85

Paddle Coron Island’s rugged north coast with guides such as Julius or Julian, reaching quiet lagoons and beaches that larger boats cannot. Snorkel uncrowded reefs, hear about Indigenous island culture, and enjoy lunch with coffee, tea, water refills, gear, entry fees, and Coron town transfers included.

“vam fer la excursió amb el Julius, i va ser el tour que ens va agradar més era expectacular. Vam anar amb kayak per Coron passant per llocs increïbles on nomes s'hi pot accedir amb kayak. Racons amagats, tranquils, sense gent, envoltats d'una natura impressionant. Tot estava perfectament organitzat: ens portaven el menjar fins allà així que només ens vam haver de preocupar de gaudir del moment. una experiencia totalment unica, auntentica i super recomanable per a tothom. Sobretot si vols descobrir llocs especials fora de les rutes més turistiques. ho recomanem 100%.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Shared Underground River with Mangrove Paddle Boat & LUNCH

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 3 reviews · 8 hours · from $56

You’ll tour Puerto Princesa’s UNESCO-listed Underground River by paddle boat, then eat a buffet lunch and glide through mangroves with a community guide. The day includes Tamilok harvesting and tasting, wildlife spotting, hotel pickup, and a scenic 1.5-hour ride from Puerto Princesa.

“Mediocre. I posti incredibili ma le guide mettevano molta fretta e non abbiamo potuto goderci a pieno il nostro tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review