Private El Nido Tour A Island Hopping

El Nido Tour A puts the area’s famous lagoons and beaches into one long, private boat day. You’ll visit Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach, with a licensed guide and lunch included. The private boat gives your group more say over the pace, which is useful when the coves begin filling with boats.

I like the fixed group price and the chance to share the boat with your own party rather than strangers. I also like the mix of swimming, beach time, rock formations, and lagoon scenery. The main caution is that the details conflict: one section says the package is for up to eight people and another says up to ten, while hotel transfers and snorkel gear appear both included and not included in different parts of the description. Confirm those points before paying.

Key points to know before you go

• Five major stops in one half-day: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach each receive about 30 minutes in the stated plan.
• Private boat, not a shared group outing: Only your party takes part, so the day can be more flexible than a standard group tour.
• Lunch and basic safety equipment included: You get a licensed guide, life vest, first-aid kit, motorized boat, ice box, and lunch.
• Vanessa and Eva are named tour contacts: They are associated with Natural Arts Travel and Tours, the operator for this experience.
• Check the equipment details: Snorkel gear and kayak use are listed as not included, despite the promotional description mentioning snorkel gear.
• Price works best for a full group: At $940.28, the cost is about $117.54 per person for eight people, before any extra charges.

What this private El Nido day is really like

El Nido’s Tour A is built around a simple idea: put several of Palawan’s best-known water sights into one boat trip. You are not signing up for a quiet, little-known outing. These are famous places, and the appeal is the combination of clear water, limestone walls, bright sand, and short hops between stops.

The private format matters most when you are traveling with family or friends. You can spend your day with your own group, rather than adjusting to a boat full of strangers. The description also says a private schedule may help you get ahead of the busiest boats, though that is not a guarantee. The timing of your departure, weather, and conditions at each stop will still shape the day.

The stated duration is six to eight hours. That is enough time for a full outing, but the listed stop times add up to only about two and a half hours. The rest goes to boat travel, boarding, swimming, lunch, and the practical business of getting in and out of the lagoons. Think of this as a full day activity, not five long beach visits.

The meeting point is Dayo Cafe on Serena Street in El Nido. The activity ends back there. Since the information also says hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, plan on reaching the cafe yourself unless the operator confirms a transfer separately.

Big Lagoon: the signature opening stop

Big Lagoon is the headline attraction. It is one of the best-known sights in El Nido, and its appeal comes from the contrast between dark limestone cliffs and calm water inside the lagoon. You are given about 30 minutes here in the stated itinerary.

That time can feel brief if you want to swim, take photos, and simply look around. On a private trip, ask your guide how the timing will work before you set out. The boat may stop at a point where you continue by swimming or another small craft, but the supplied details do not confirm the exact arrangement. Do not assume a kayak is part of the package, since kayak use is specifically listed as an extra.

Big Lagoon is best for scenery rather than a long, lazy beach break. Have your camera ready, but keep your attention on the cliffs and water too. The private boat gives your group a better chance to manage the pace, but the day still has four more stops to cover.

Secret Lagoon: a short visit with a different feel

Secret Lagoon is the second listed stop, also with about 30 minutes allowed. It offers a change from the open views of Big Lagoon. You go from a broad, famous setting to a more enclosed place associated with the name of the stop itself.

The exact access details are not provided, so your licensed guide will direct you when you arrive. This is one place where comfort in the water matters. Life vests are included, and the tour is described as suitable for most people, but you should tell the guide if you are not a confident swimmer.

Half an hour is enough for a quick look and a swim if conditions allow. It is not enough for an unhurried stop if the site is busy or if boarding takes time. That is a normal trade-off on a five-stop boat day. You get variety, but you give up long stretches at any one place.

Shimizu Island: lunch, water time, and practical comfort

Shimizu Island is the third stop. The plan gives you about 30 minutes, and lunch is included. The information does not state exactly where or when lunch is served, so ask your guide at the start of the day. The included ice box should help keep food and drinks cool, but no drink list or menu is supplied.

This is also one of the stops associated with snorkeling in the Tour A description. The important catch is the equipment wording. The highlights refer to snorkel gear, yet the inclusion list says use of snorkeling equipment is not included. Bring your own gear or confirm rental arrangements before departure if snorkeling is important to you.

The island is a useful middle point in the day because it combines beach time and a meal. You can refuel before the final stops instead of treating the entire outing as a series of quick swims. Still, with only 30 minutes listed, you should not expect a long restaurant-style lunch or a slow afternoon on the sand.

Seven Commando Beach: the easy beach break

Seven Commando Beach is the fourth stop. It is the clearest chance in this itinerary for classic white-sand beach time. The visit is listed at 30 minutes, so you can expect a short break rather than several hours with a book.

This stop suits you if you want to get out of the boat, stretch your legs, and enjoy a simple beach setting. It also gives the day a useful change of rhythm after the lagoons. The limitation is timing. If you are hoping to swim, take photos, and relax on the sand, you may need to choose what matters most.

The private format helps here. Your group can talk with the guide about the order and pace, subject to local conditions and the needs of the rest of the day. That flexibility is one of the main reasons to pay for a private outing rather than simply choosing the lowest-cost shared boat.

Payong-Payong Beach and its umbrella rock

Payong-Payong Beach is the final listed stop, with another 30 minutes. The description points to its umbrella rock formation, a natural feature that gives the stop a distinct visual focus.

This is a good final visit because it is not just another generic beach stop. The rock formation provides something specific to look for and photograph, while the beach gives you one more chance to enjoy the coast before returning to El Nido.

As with Seven Commando Beach, half an hour goes quickly. Keep an eye on the time and listen for instructions about returning to the boat. Missing the departure would be a serious problem on any island trip, and a private boat does not remove that basic responsibility.

What is included, and what needs checking

The solidly stated inclusions are useful. You get a private tourist boat, a motorized boat, a licensed tour guide, life vests, a first-aid kit, an ice box, and lunch. Those basics cover the boat ride, safety, guidance, and food.

The biggest issue is the conflicting information about extras. The overview describes lunch, transfers, and snorkel gear as part of the package. The detailed inclusion section says hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and the exclusion section says snorkeling equipment is not included. Kayak use is also excluded.

I would contact Natural Arts Travel and Tours before booking and ask three direct questions:

• Is the price for up to eight people or up to ten?
• Is hotel pickup and drop-off included from your accommodation?
• Is snorkeling equipment supplied, rented, or entirely separate?

Get the answers in writing. This is not needless fussiness. On a private boat priced at $940.28, small misunderstandings can become expensive ones.

Is $940.28 a fair price?

The price is per group, not per person. If eight people share it, the arithmetic works out to about $117.54 each. For four people, it is about $235.07 per person. The value changes sharply with group size.

For a full group of eight, the private format can make good sense. You are paying for your own boat and guide, lunch, safety equipment, and a day at five well-known El Nido sites. You also avoid sharing the boat with unrelated parties.

For a smaller party, the price is harder to justify unless privacy and schedule control are very important to you. A shared Tour A boat may cost less, though the supplied information does not provide a comparison price. The lack of confirmed transfers and snorkel gear also matters when you calculate the real total.

The price summary says up to eight people, while another description says up to ten. If ten are accepted, the per-person figure drops to about $94.03, but do not use that calculation until the operator confirms the actual limit. Boat capacity affects comfort as well as price.

The guide and crew can shape the day

A licensed tour guide is included, which is important in a place where the day depends on weather, water conditions, and local access. Your guide will also be the person who helps manage the five-stop schedule and explains how each site works.

Vanessa and Eva are named contacts connected with Natural Arts Travel and Tours. One detailed account specifically praised Vanessa, Eva, and the boat crew for being friendly, informed about the islands, and willing to take photos. That is a useful point for you if you are traveling as a couple, family, or group of friends and want help getting pictures without handing your phone to random people.

Do not expect the guide to turn a short stop into unlimited free time. A good guide has to keep the boat moving, watch the weather, and bring everyone back safely. The private format gives you a voice in the plan, not complete control over the sea or the schedule.

Who should book this tour?

I would consider this tour for a group of friends or family members who want a private boat and are willing to pay for it. It also suits you if you want the famous Tour A sights in one day and prefer a fixed package with lunch already arranged.

It is a reasonable match for people who can handle a six to eight-hour outing with repeated boarding, boat travel, swimming, and short visits. Most people can participate according to the supplied information, but the itinerary still involves water and boat access. If you have concerns, ask the operator before booking.

I would be more cautious if your priority is long, quiet time at one beach. Five stops in one day means variety, not idleness. I would also hesitate to book until the transfer and snorkeling contradictions are cleared up.

The experience has a top rating from four submitted reviews, and the strongest praise centers on the tour staff and crew. That is encouraging, but four reviews are not enough to answer every question about weather, crowd levels, or day-to-day consistency. Treat the staff praise as a reason to consider the operator, not as a promise that every departure will run identically.

Should you book El Nido Tour A?

Book it if you have a large enough group to share the cost, want privacy, and are happy to visit five famous sites at a brisk pace. The mix of Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach gives you a strong first look at El Nido’s classic scenery.

Skip it, or compare other options first, if your party is small, you need hotel transfers, or snorkeling gear is essential. Before committing, confirm the group limit, pickup arrangements, and equipment in writing. With those details settled, this is a practical private version of El Nido’s best-known island-hopping route.

FAQ

How long does the private El Nido Tour A last?

The tour lasts approximately 6 to 8 hours.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Dayo Cafe El Nido, located on Serena Street in El Nido, Palawan.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at Dayo Cafe El Nido.

Which places does the tour visit?

The listed stops are Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach.

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch is listed as included.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

The details conflict. The overview refers to snorkel gear, but the inclusion and exclusion information says snorkeling equipment is not included. Confirm this with Natural Arts Travel and Tours before booking.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.