El Nido Tour A (shared tour)

El Nido Tour A packs Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon into one busy day of clear water, limestone walls, small beaches, and boat travel. You’ll also stop at Shimizu Island, Payong-payong Beach, and 7 Commando Beach, with lunch and an English-speaking guide included.

I like the strong mix of lagoon scenery and beach time, and I like that the $34 price covers your boat, guide, lunch, water, and towel. The main catch is crowding: several boats often use the same stops, and one recent departure involved an hour of waiting at the meeting point.

• Big Lagoon sets the tone: Clear water, high rock walls, and a calm marine passage make this the star stop.
• Secret Lagoon feels tucked away: You pass through a small rocky entrance to reach its enclosed pool.
• Shimizu Island adds beach time: Bring swimwear and water shoes for a proper break on white sand.
• Five stops fill the eight-hour day: The schedule gives you variety, but it can also feel rushed when boat traffic is heavy.
• Extra fees matter: Add P400 for the environmental fee, P200 for Big Lagoon, and P300 for a two-person kayak.
• Shared-tour value comes with waiting: The price is low for El Nido, but the group schedule is not fully in your hands.

Big Lagoon gives Tour A its main wow moment

Big Lagoon is the reason many people choose Tour A. The boat moves through clear, rippling water framed by El Nido’s tall rock formations. You see stone walls around you and below the surface, creating the feeling of traveling through a calm natural waterway rather than simply stopping at a beach.

The scenery is the kind that explains El Nido’s fame without much help from a guide. The water is bright, the rocks rise sharply, and the route feels open enough to take in the whole setting. If you enjoy photographs, this is likely the stop that fills most of your camera roll.

A kayak is available for P300 for two people. That extra cost can make sense here if you want a slower look at the water instead of staying aboard the main boat. The provided information also presents kayaking as part of the experience around the peaceful lagoon waters, but kayak rental is not included in the base price.

The fee is small compared with the total cost of the excursion, yet you should budget for it before you arrive. You also need to arrange your own mask, snorkel, aqua shoes, or fins if you want them. These items are not supplied with the tour.

Secret Lagoon rewards a little effort

Secret Lagoon changes the mood. Instead of a broad waterway, you reach a small entrance in the rocks and duck through to find a secluded pool surrounded by stone. The entrance is part of the attraction, but it also means this stop is not ideal for anyone who has difficulty moving through a tight or uneven passage.

The pool has a storybook quality, with the rock walls enclosing a pocket of clear water. It is a very different scene from Big Lagoon, and that contrast is one of Tour A’s strengths. You get grand views first, then a more enclosed and intimate setting.

Expect the stop to feel less open and potentially more crowded when several boats arrive together. The shared format means your experience depends partly on how many groups reach the entrance at the same time. I would keep your expectations focused on the unusual setting rather than on complete solitude.

Water shoes belong in your bag here. They are listed among the recommended items, and they can make wet, rocky access more comfortable. Pack a change of clothes as well, since the day is built around water access and swimming.

Shimizu Island is the day’s easy beach break

After the lagoons, Shimizu Island provides a welcome change of pace. Its white sand and clear blue water give you room to relax, swim, and dry off. This is the sort of stop where you can put the camera away for a while and enjoy the basic pleasure of a beach day.

The island is presented as a place of natural beauty, and the white beach is the main draw. Lunch is included, which helps make this a useful pause in an eight-hour outing. One recent rating specifically praised the buffet, so you can expect a meal rather than just a small snack.

The exact lunch menu is not provided, so I would not book this trip based on food alone. Still, having lunch and water included adds real value at this price. You do not have to arrange a separate meal while moving between islands, and the stop gives you time to eat before continuing.

Shimizu Island may also be one of the better places to use the towel included with the tour. Keep your dry clothes protected until you need them. With several water stops in one day, a change of clothes is more than a nice extra.

Payong-payong Beach keeps the itinerary varied

Payong-payong Beach is another coastal stop on the route. The supplied details give it less description than Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and 7 Commando Beach, so I would treat it as part of the day’s wider beach-and-water rhythm rather than expect a separate major attraction with a long list of activities.

That is not a weakness by itself. Tour A works because the stops are varied. You move between enclosed rock pools, open lagoon water, white sand, and a more relaxed beach setting. Payong-payong helps break up the larger headline sights and gives the boat route another place to stop.

If you prefer a tightly focused excursion with plenty of time at one location, five destinations may feel like too much. If you like seeing several parts of El Nido in one outing, the mix is useful. The decision comes down to whether variety or unhurried time matters more to you.

7 Commando Beach adds swimming and a bit of local story

The final listed stop is 7 Commando Beach. You can relax on the sand and swim in clear blue water, making it a fitting close to a day spent around lagoons and islands.

The beach also gives the guide a chance to explain the origin of its name. The available details do not provide the full story, so listen during the stop rather than arriving with a fixed version in mind. That small piece of local context helps turn a pretty beach into a place with a reason behind its name.

By this point, the day may feel full. You will have spent hours moving between stops, getting in and out of the water, and sharing space with other groups. I would use 7 Commando Beach as a chance to slow down if the schedule allows, rather than trying to collect another set of hurried photographs.

The shared boat format keeps the price low

At $34 per person, this is a strong-value way to see several of El Nido’s best-known sights in one day. The price includes hotel pickup within El Nido town proper, a licensed English-speaking guide, a guaranteed boat, lunch, water, and towels.

That package covers the costly basics of an island day. You do not need to hire a separate boat or find lunch between stops. The guaranteed boat is especially useful because the trip depends on getting out on the water rather than merely meeting for a land-based activity.

The advertised duration is eight hours. That is long enough to make the boat journey worthwhile, but the schedule can be shaped by the group and by boat traffic. A shared tour is less private and less flexible than arranging your own boat, yet it is far cheaper for a solo visitor or a pair who want the main route without paying for a private charter.

There are also extra charges to include in your budget:

• Environmental fee: P400 per person, purchased once and valid for five days
• Big Lagoon fee: P200 per person
• Kayak rental: P300 for two people
• Mask, snorkel, aqua shoes, and fins: not included

These additions make the final cost higher than the headline price. Even so, the base package remains appealing if you already have some beach equipment or do not need to rent a kayak.

Crowds and waiting are the real tradeoffs

The biggest concern is not the scenery. It is the shared-tour system. Several boats can visit the same locations, and that can make the stops feel crowded. One recent account found the snorkeling disappointing because too many groups were using the same places at once.

Snorkeling is also not the central promise of this tour. The main attractions are the lagoons, rock formations, beaches, swimming, and boat route. If underwater time is your top priority, the included equipment and busy stops may not give you what you want.

There can also be delays before departure. One person reported waiting an hour at the meeting point before the boat left, while another described the activity as confusing. These details matter because an eight-hour tour already uses most of a day. A late start can reduce the relaxed time available at each destination.

The meeting point is Umi Travel at seaside Hama, Barangay Suerte, El Nido. Hotel pickup is included within El Nido town proper, but the stated meeting point is worth confirming when you book. Clear instructions can help you avoid a stressful start.

Weather can change the feel of the day

El Nido’s appeal depends heavily on the water and sky. One recent visitor had a great day despite poor weather, crediting the guides and scenery. That is encouraging, but it also tells you to bring practical clothing rather than rely on perfect sunshine.

Pack beachwear, a change of clothes, a towel, and water shoes. Towels are included, but bringing the requested items makes it easier to manage wet stops and changing conditions. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed.

The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Secret Lagoon access involves a small rocky entrance, and the general format requires repeated movement between boat and shore. If you have mobility concerns, the supplied information does not identify accommodations, so ask the operator before paying.

The guide can make a crowded route feel smoother

A licensed guide is included, and the tour operates in English. That matters at a place where the main route can feel busy and confusing. A good guide helps you understand where to go, when to return to the boat, and what you are looking at.

The guide also adds context at 7 Commando Beach, where you learn about the name’s origin. At Secret Lagoon, clear directions around the small entrance are useful. At Big Lagoon, the guide can help the group manage kayak arrangements and timing.

The available information does not give a guide’s name, so you cannot choose a particular person in advance. The tour’s guide quality may also matter more on a crowded day, when timing and communication shape the experience as much as the scenery.

Who will get the most from Tour A

I would choose this tour if you are visiting El Nido for the first time and want the famous sights at a reasonable cost. The route covers five named destinations, and the included boat, lunch, water, towel, and guide reduce the number of details you must arrange yourself.

It is also a good fit for solo visitors and couples who do not want to pay for a private boat. You get a full day on the water without taking on the cost of organizing an independent trip.

Families and active beachgoers may like the variety, but the mobility restriction matters. Young children or anyone who dislikes repeated boarding, swimming, and moving between stops may find the day tiring.

I would think twice if your ideal El Nido outing means quiet beaches, long swims, or complete control over the schedule. The shared format brings other boats, possible waiting, and less freedom to linger.

Is the $34 price fair?

Yes, with a few qualifications. The base price is reasonable because it combines transportation by boat, a licensed guide, lunch, water, towels, and pickup within town proper. Paying separately for those elements could be more work and may cost more.

You should calculate the environmental fee and Big Lagoon fee before booking. Add the kayak rental if you want to paddle, and bring or rent your own water equipment as needed. The final amount is not just $34, but it is still a sensible deal for a full eight-hour route through El Nido’s most famous areas.

The value is strongest for a first visit. You can see the headline lagoons and several beaches in a single day. The value is weaker if you already know the area and want a private, slower schedule.

Should you book El Nido Tour A?

Book it if you want El Nido’s classic sights in one affordable day and you are comfortable sharing the boat with other groups. Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon provide the most distinctive scenery, while Shimizu Island and 7 Commando Beach give you time on white sand and in clear water.

Before booking, set aside the extra fees, bring water shoes and a change of clothes, and prepare for possible waiting at the Umi Travel meeting point. If crowds or snorkeling are your main concern, a private or more specialized outing may suit you better.

For a first look at El Nido, though, Tour A offers a practical route and a lot of scenery for the money. Its flaws are mainly about timing and crowd levels, not a lack of beautiful places.

FAQ

How long is El Nido Tour A?

The tour lasts eight hours. Starting times depend on availability.

What destinations are included?

The route includes Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-payong Beach, Secret Lagoon, and 7 Commando Beach.

What is included in the price?

The package includes hotel pickup within El Nido town proper, a licensed tour guide, a guaranteed boat, lunch, water, and towels.

Is kayaking included?

No. Kayak rental costs P300 for two people.

What additional fees should I expect?

The environmental fee is P400 per person and is valid for five days. Big Lagoon has a separate fee of P200 per person. Snorkel masks, snorkels, aqua shoes, and fins are not included.

Where is the meeting point?

The meeting point is Umi Travel at seaside Hama, Barangay Suerte, El Nido. Pickup is listed for hotels within El Nido town proper.

What should I bring?

Bring a change of clothes, towel, beachwear, and water shoes. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed.