El Nido Island Hopping Tour A

El Nido Tour A packs the classic Palawan postcard into one full day: limestone cliffs, clear water, pale sand, lagoons, and a boat ride between them. I like the mix of swimming and quiet beach time, and I like that lunch, a guide, a boat, and hotel pickup within town proper are included for $27.

The main catch is that the cheapest advertised price is not the full cost. You must also pay the 400-person environmental fee and 200-person lagoon fee, and snorkeling gear or a kayak costs extra. If you get seasick, this is not the right boat day for you.

Key Points

• Shimizu Island gives you a choice: Snorkel over corals and look for fish, or stay on the white-sand beach.
• Seven Commando Beach adds a relaxed finish: You can walk the long beach and buy a drink at the small bar.
• The scenery is the main event: Expect tall limestone cliffs covered with vegetation around the water and beaches.
• Lunch is included: The meal is served as a picnic, with one recent booking describing it as a buffet lunch.
• Town pickup is limited: Hotels in El Nido proper are covered, while accommodations farther out require a tricycle ride to the Petron station near the port.
• The day lasts about nine hours: Bring sun protection, water protection for your belongings, and gear for swimming.

Why Tour A Is El Nido’s Classic Boat Day

Tour A works because it gives you several sides of El Nido in one outing. You are not spending the whole day on one beach. You move from lagoons to snorkeling water, then to a long strip of white sand, with the cliffs providing a dramatic backdrop throughout.

I like this format for a first day in El Nido. It gives you a quick sense of the area’s main appeal without requiring separate bookings for beaches, snorkeling, and lagoon visits. The motorized boat also lets you cover more ground than you could on foot or by arranging isolated beach stops.

The setting is especially striking when the boat passes between limestone cliffs covered in vegetation. These rock walls are not just scenery in the distance. They shape the route, frame the swimming areas, and make the beaches feel tucked into a much larger natural setting.

The tradeoff is a long day on the water. The tour lasts roughly nine hours, so you should be comfortable with boat travel, heat, sun, and repeated movement between stops. The activity specifically advises against booking if you are prone to seasickness.

The Morning Start and Town Pickup

Pickup is included if your accommodation is within El Nido town proper. That is useful because you do not need to arrange your own ride to the port area, but the boundary matters.

If you stay outside town proper, you must take a tricycle to El Nido town proper and meet your assigned guide at the Petron gasoline station near El Nido Port. Build that extra transfer into your morning. Do not assume the hotel pickup applies to every address around El Nido.

The guide service is licensed by the Philippine Department of Tourism, and tours are available in English or Tagalog. No individual guide names are provided, so your assigned guide will be confirmed for your departure rather than selected in advance.

The boat is motorized and life vests are included. That makes the day practical rather than luxurious. You are booking transport between natural sites, not a private yacht experience. The size of the boat and the number of people on your departure are not specified, so expect the exact feel of the day to depend on the assigned boat and group.

Lagoons Framed by Limestone Cliffs

The lagoon portions are among the biggest reasons to choose Tour A. The provided details do not identify each lagoon by name, but they do confirm that the route includes beautiful lagoons surrounded by El Nido’s pale limestone formations and plant-covered cliffs.

This is where the scenery changes from open beach to enclosed water and rock. You may spend time looking at the cliffs, swimming, or taking photographs from the boat and shore, depending on the stop’s arrangement that day.

A waterproof camera is worth bringing. A regular phone in a loose pocket is a poor match for a wet boat, swimming stops, and beach landings. A waterproof bag also gives you a safer place for dry clothes, money, and other small items.

Lagoon access costs extra. The listed lagoon fee is 200 pesos per person, paid directly before the tour. That charge is separate from the tour price, so add it to your budget before comparing this outing with other El Nido boat options.

Kayak rental is optional. The information does not give a rental price or confirm that kayaks are available at every lagoon stop, so ask about the current arrangement before counting on one. If you prefer to keep costs down, you can enjoy the scenery and water without renting one.

Snorkeling and Beach Time at Shimizu Island

Shimizu Island is the stop that gives Tour A its clearest choice. You can snorkel over corals and look for hundreds of fish species, or stay on the white-sand beach and relax.

That flexibility matters. If you want an active day, this is your chance to get in the water and spend time looking beneath the surface. If you are tired from the boat ride or simply prefer sand to snorkeling, you are not forced to swim.

The tour description says there is a chance of seeing sea turtles. Treat that as a possibility, not a scheduled part of the day. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and you should enjoy the corals and fish even if no turtle appears.

Snorkeling masks and gear are not included. You can bring your own equipment, including goggles and a snorkel, or ask about renting gear. The supplied details do not give the rental fee, so confirm that cost before departure.

Use biodegradable sunscreen, and apply it before you reach the beach or water. You should also bring beachwear, a waterproof bag, and a waterproof camera. The sun can make a beautiful beach stop surprisingly tiring, especially when you have several more hours on the water.

A Picnic Lunch Between the Stops

Lunch is included, which improves the value of the $27 base price. You do not have to find a restaurant during a full-day boat trip, and the meal gives you a proper break from swimming and sightseeing.

The lunch is described as a picnic, and one recent booking specifically noted a buffet lunch. The exact menu is not provided, so do not book this expecting a particular dish or a restaurant-style meal. Think of it as practical food served during a beach day.

This is also one area where expectations matter. A picnic meal is useful because it keeps the group moving, but it is not the reason to choose Tour A. The lagoons, cliffs, beach, and snorkeling are the core experience.

Bring only what you need for the day. A waterproof bag is more useful than a large suitcase, and your valuables should stay protected from spray and wet hands.

Ending at Seven Commando Beach

Seven Commando Beach provides a slower final stop. It has a long stretch of white sand, giving you room to walk, sit, swim, or simply look back toward the water and cliffs.

There is also a small bar where you can buy a drink. That is a welcome detail at the end of a hot day, but the drink is not included in the tour price. Bring some extra spending money if you want one.

I like this stop because it is less about checking off an attraction and more about having time on a beach. After the boat rides, lagoon visits, and snorkeling, a long sandy shoreline gives the day a natural pause before returning to El Nido.

The beach stop may not suit you if you want nonstop activity. That is not a flaw, but it helps to know what you are buying. Tour A has a rhythm of travel, scenery, swimming, lunch, and rest. It is not a tightly packed sightseeing schedule from start to finish.

What the $27 Price Really Covers

At $27 per person, the package offers solid basic value. You receive town-proper pickup, a DOT-licensed guide, a motorized boat, a life vest, and picnic lunch. Those inclusions cover the costly pieces of a full-day island trip.

The extra fees are important. You must pay 400 pesos per person for the environmental fee and 200 pesos per person for the lagoon fee. That adds 600 pesos per person before optional rentals, drinks, or transport from a hotel outside town proper.

Snorkeling equipment and kayak rental are optional, not part of the advertised price. If you bring your own mask and snorkel, you can avoid one possible extra charge. If you stay outside the pickup area, add a tricycle ride to the Petron station near the port.

For a full nine-hour outing with transport, lunch, beach stops, and water activities, the price remains appealing. Just compare the final cost, not only the headline number.

Handling Delays and Imperfect Mornings

One booking from January 2025 received four out of five and noted that the operator faced several issues in the morning but still delivered the planned experience. That detail gives you a useful expectation: the day can recover from a rough start, but island tours do not always run with clockwork precision.

The same booking praised the beautiful beaches and buffet lunch. Those are sensible priorities for this tour. If the morning takes longer than expected, focus on the main value of the day: the scenery, beach time, snorkeling, and included meal.

Leave some flexibility around the tour if you have an important evening plan. The stated duration is nine hours, but boat departures, loading, weather, and group movement can affect the exact return time. No specific departure time is provided, so check availability for the date you want.

Who Will Enjoy This Day Most

I would choose Tour A if you want a first look at El Nido’s famous combination of rock formations, calm water, white sand, and snorkeling. It suits people who like a varied day rather than one long beach stay.

It also works well if you want the basics included. The boat, guide, life vest, lunch, and town pickup simplify planning. The English and Tagalog guide options make the trip workable for a broad range of visitors.

You may want to skip it if you are prone to seasickness, dislike long boat days, or want a private and quiet outing. The group size is not stated, and the tour is described as one of the most popular options, so do not assume solitude.

You should also think about your comfort in the sun. Sunscreen, beachwear, a waterproof bag, and a way to protect your camera are not minor extras here. They shape how enjoyable the nine hours will feel.

Should You Book El Nido Tour A?

Book it if you want the classic El Nido mix at a reasonable starting price: lagoons, limestone cliffs, Shimizu Island snorkeling, white-sand beaches, lunch, and Seven Commando Beach. The chance of seeing sea turtles is a pleasant bonus, but the scenery and water access are the dependable reasons to go.

Before paying, add the 600 pesos in required environmental and lagoon fees. Confirm the pickup point if your hotel is outside town proper, and bring or arrange your own snorkeling gear if needed.

I would recommend Tour A to an active first-time visitor who wants a full day with several types of scenery. I would not recommend it to anyone who gets seasick or wants a slow, private beach escape.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Island Hopping Tour A last?

The tour lasts about nine hours. Starting times depend on availability for your chosen date.

What places are included in Tour A?

The tour includes lagoon visits, Shimizu Island, and Seven Commando Beach. You can also expect snorkeling areas, white-sand beaches, and views of limestone cliffs covered with vegetation.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is included for accommodations within El Nido town proper. If your hotel is outside town proper, you must take a tricycle to the Petron gasoline station near El Nido Port to meet your assigned guide.

What fees are not included?

You must pay a 400-peso environmental fee per person and a 200-peso lagoon fee per person before the tour. Kayak rental, masks, and snorkeling equipment are also not included.

Is lunch provided?

Yes. A picnic lunch is included, and the meal has been described as a buffet lunch on one recent booking.

What languages are available for the guide?

Guiding is available in English and Tagalog. The tour uses a DOT-licensed guide.

Can I cancel the tour for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately.