El Nido Island Hopping Tour A with Lunch

El Nido Tour A puts the region’s best-known sights into one long, salty day: Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and Seven Commando Beach, with lunch served somewhere between the limestone cliffs and clear water. The advertised tour visits five islands, though only three stops are fully described in the supplied schedule, so confirm the exact route before you pay.

I like the generous shared lunch, which can include rice, fish, chicken, pork, fruit, and vegetables. I also like the chance to choose among routes built around lagoons, beaches, caves, or coves. The main catch is that the low price does not cover every cost. The eco fee, lagoon fee, kayak, snorkeling gear, and aqua shoes can add up quickly.

Key points to know before you book

• Secret Lagoon combines a white-sand beach with a small enclosed lagoon, giving you two different settings at one stop.
• Shimizu Island is the lunch-and-swim kind of stop, with shade from lush trees and clear water.
• Seven Commando Beach gets the longest listed visit, one hour, so you have time to swim and relax rather than only take a quick photograph.
• The advertised price is $24 per person, but mandatory or optional add-ons can change the final cost.
• Ariel is named as one especially attentive guide, while the crew has also helped arrange vegan lunch requests.
• The boat holds up to 30 people, so this is a social group outing, not a quiet private cruise.

What this El Nido day is really like

El Nido’s famous island tours work because the scenery changes every time the boat rounds a limestone cliff. One moment you are looking at a pale beach under steep rock walls. The next, you are swimming over clear water or waiting your turn to enter a narrow lagoon.

Tour A is designed for that classic El Nido mix. You get beaches, a lagoon, island scenery, swimming, lunch, and boat transfers in a single outing. The start time is 9 a.m. at MABUHAY Sports Bar in downtown El Nido, and the tour returns to the same meeting point after roughly six to eight hours.

That length matters. You are not booking a quick morning cruise. You are committing most of the day to sun, salt water, boat travel, and several stops. If that sounds like your ideal Palawan day, the format offers good value. If you prefer a slow beach day with no schedule, the repeated boarding and moving on may wear you down.

The price of $24 is attractive for a full-day group boat trip with lunch, a local guide, and boat transfers. I would not treat it as the final price, though. The environmental fee is listed at ₱400 per person, and the Big Lagoon user fee is ₱200 per person. A kayak for Big Lagoon costs ₱350 per person, snorkeling equipment is listed at ₱150, and aqua shoes are available for ₱150.

There is also a confusing point about snorkeling equipment. The general description says free snorkel equipment rentals are included, while the exclusions list snorkeling equipment at ₱150 per person. Ask the operator to confirm the current arrangement before departure. That one question can prevent an awkward discussion on the beach.

Secret Lagoon, a short walk into a dramatic setting

Secret Lagoon is listed as the first stop, with about 30 minutes included. The attraction is not only the small lagoon itself. You also get a white-sand beach and clear water outside the entrance, so the stop offers a quick change of scenery in a tight time frame.

The lagoon is enclosed within the island and reached through a narrow opening. That makes access part of the fun, but it can also create a bottleneck when several boats arrive. You may spend part of the 30 minutes waiting, walking, or looking around the beach rather than swimming.

This is a place for photos and a short swim, not an all-afternoon stay. I would keep your expectations sensible. The word secret suggests solitude, but famous El Nido stops are rarely private during the main tour hours. The setting still earns its place because you get the limestone, beach, and lagoon experience together.

The stop may also involve entering the water to board or leave the boat. One account describes chest-high water and a ladder during boarding, though conditions can vary. Wear swimwear under your clothes, keep electronics in a dry bag, and avoid bringing anything you cannot carry safely through shallow water.

Shimizu Island, shade, swimming, and lunch

Shimizu Island is scheduled for about 30 minutes. Its white-sand beach has lush trees that provide welcome shade, especially after time in the open sun. The water is described as clear and blue, making this a natural place for a quick swim.

The short stop means you should not expect a long, lazy beach session. Thirty minutes passes quickly once you walk from the boat, find shade, take photographs, and get into the water. Still, the island works well as a compact beach break in the middle of a busy day.

Lunch is one of the tour’s strongest features. The meal can include rice, fish, chicken, pork, vegetables, and fruit, creating a much fuller spread than a simple boxed meal. Food is commonly served during island tours in a shared format, so you should be ready to eat with the group and follow the crew’s timing.

The crew has also arranged vegan food for at least one booking, but do not assume every special request will be handled automatically. State dietary needs clearly when booking and repeat them at the meeting point. One account raised a problem with a requested meal, so a quick check at the start is sensible.

Seven Commando Beach gives you the longest listed break

Seven Commando Beach has the longest named stop, at one hour. That extra time matters. You can swim, sit under the greenery, take in the limestone mountain, and let your body recover from the first part of the day.

The beach is described as a place to refresh, and that is the right way to think of it. It is less about a single must-see feature and more about having room to slow down. After short stops and boat transfers, a full hour on a beach feels generous.

Do not expect the whole beach to feel untouched. Seven Commando is one of the familiar El Nido stops, and the group format means other boats may be nearby. Even so, the combination of pale sand, green growth, rock, and clear water gives you the classic Palawan scene you came for.

Bring a towel, sun protection, and water-resistant footwear if you have it. Aqua shoes are listed for rent at ₱150, but you can avoid that charge if you already own suitable footwear. The operator lists snorkeling gear at ₱150 as well, unless the current booking arrangement confirms that equipment is included.

The five-island promise needs a quick clarification

The tour description says you will visit five islands and offers three route themes: hidden beaches and shrines, lagoons and beaches, or caves and coves. The detailed schedule supplied here names Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and Seven Commando Beach, with no full descriptions for two additional stops.

That does not necessarily mean the day has only three stops. It may reflect a shortened schedule or an incomplete display of the route. Still, you should ask which five locations Tour A will visit on your date, especially if Secret Lagoon, Big Lagoon, or a particular cave is the main reason you are booking.

The extra Big Lagoon charges are another clue that the exact route can affect the budget. Access costs ₱200 per person, and a kayak costs ₱350 per person. If you do not want to kayak, clarify whether you can enter by another method or simply enjoy the other stops.

This is not a reason to reject the tour. It is a reason to book with clear expectations. Tour names can sound fixed, but local boat routes change with weather, crowd levels, water conditions, and operating rules.

Guides and the feel of a group boat

The experience includes a local guide and a crew, with a maximum of 30 people. That size keeps the price low, but it also means you will share the boat, lunch, boarding points, and stop times with a sizeable group.

Ariel is named as a helpful and attentive guide in one account. The crew is also credited with being friendly, service-minded, and willing to help with practical needs. Another account describes the boat taking a reverse route from the usual direction, which reduced crowding on that particular day.

You should see those details as possibilities rather than promises. The guide on your date may be different, and the route may change. Still, the strongest part of this experience is not luxury or privacy. It is the hands-on crew service, the food, and the chance to see several major El Nido locations without arranging separate boat transport.

The boat boarding deserves practical attention. Conditions can mean wading from shore through deep water to reach the ladder. Keep bags light, protect cameras and phones, and wear clothes that can get wet. If you have difficulty with ladders or deep water, ask the operator about boarding conditions before you commit.

What your $24 buys, and what it does not

At $24 per person, the tour is priced as an accessible group outing. You receive lunch, a local guide, and boat transfers, with the activity beginning and ending at the downtown meeting point. That removes the need to negotiate a separate boat hire or organize transport between islands.

The value is strongest if you plan to use the included boat service for a full day and eat the provided lunch. It is less obvious if you add every extra charge. A person paying the environmental fee, lagoon fee, kayak rental, snorkeling rental, and aqua shoes could spend far more than the headline price.

Before you leave for the meeting point, ask for the full amount due that day. The environmental fee and lagoon fee are not included. An account described confusion over a combined payment, while the operator explained that the charge covered separate environmental and lagoon fees. Clear wording at the start is better than sorting it out later.

The group discount option may help if you are booking for several people, but no specific discount amount is provided. Ask for the group rate rather than assuming it applies automatically.

Who should book Tour A

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a straightforward introduction to El Nido’s island scenery and prefer one organized day over arranging a private boat. It suits people who enjoy swimming, beaches, shared meals, and a steady sequence of stops.

It is also a good fit if lunch matters to you. The meal is more substantial than the price might suggest, with rice, several main dishes, vegetables, and fruit. Vegetarian or vegan eaters should make their needs clear in advance and confirm the meal when you arrive.

Families and mixed groups may find the format useful because most people can participate, and the stops offer different kinds of scenery. The activity is listed as suitable for most people, but water boarding, ladders, swimming, and boat movement still require basic comfort around the sea.

I would look elsewhere if you want a private, quiet boat, long uninterrupted time at one beach, or complete control over the schedule. A maximum of 30 people can make boarding and lagoon access slower, and the six to eight hour day leaves little room for changing plans.

Booking details that matter

The meeting point is MABUHAY Sports Bar in El Nido, Palawan. The activity starts at 9 a.m. and ends back at the same location. It is near public transportation, and confirmation is sent at booking.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund. Since the trip depends on good weather, a weather cancellation should lead to either another date or a full refund.

The mobile ticket is useful because you can keep the booking on your phone. I would still save a screenshot in case your connection is poor near the meeting point.

Should you book this El Nido Tour A?

Book it if you want a low-cost, full-day sampler of El Nido’s beaches, lagoon scenery, and limestone islands, and you are comfortable sharing a boat with up to 30 people. The lunch, guide support, and downtown return make the base price attractive.

Before booking, confirm three things: the full list of five stops, the current snorkeling equipment charge, and the exact total for environmental and lagoon fees. If those costs fit your budget, Tour A offers a practical way to see several famous Palawan sights in one day. If privacy and flexible timing matter most, spend more on a private boat instead.

FAQ

How much does El Nido Tour A cost?

The listed price is $24 per person. Additional fees may apply for the environmental fee, Big Lagoon access, kayaking, snorkeling equipment, and aqua shoes.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 6 to 8 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 9 a.m.

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is MABUHAY Sports Bar in El Nido, Palawan.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What is included?

Lunch, a local guide, and boat transfers are included.

Is the environmental fee included?

No. The environmental fee is listed as an additional ₱400 per person.

Is Big Lagoon access included?

No. The Big Lagoon user fee is listed separately at ₱200 per person.

How much does a kayak for Big Lagoon cost?

A kayak is available to rent for ₱350 per person.

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 in advance are not refunded.