El Nido: Private/Exclusive Island Hopping Tour A BEST PRICE!

El Nido’s Big Lagoon is the star here, but the real advantage is having a private boat to shape the day around your group. You can change the order of stops, linger over lunch, and ask your guide to seek quieter timing rather than follow the standard group-tour rhythm.

I like the personal attention and the mix of limestone lagoons, white sand, and snorkeling. Guides such as Gabi, Jason, Renz, Joshua, Edward, and Cyron have been praised for safety, photos, and thoughtful adjustments. The catch is price: at $135 per person, with government fees and some rentals extra, this makes the most sense for couples, families, or small groups sharing the boat.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat and flexible timing: Your group has exclusive use of the boat, with the option to change the order of stops.
• Big Lagoon is the main event: Black limestone cliffs surround striking blue water, with swimming and kayaking available.
• Five scenic stops: The route covers 7 Commandos Beach, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Payong-Payong Beach, though weather can change the plan.
• Helpful crew and photo support: Guides often take photos and videos, and several named guides have been praised for calm, attentive service.
• Lunch is included, but extras add up: Filipino buffet lunch and bottled water are provided, while environmental and lagoon fees, snorkeling gear, fins, and kayak rental are not.
• Expect wet boarding: You may need to walk through shallow water to reach the boat, so water shoes, a dry bag, and spare clothes are sensible.

Why private Tour A can be worth the higher price

El Nido’s classic Tour A route is popular for a reason. It brings together the area’s most recognizable scenery in one long day: sheer limestone cliffs, small beaches, clear water, and narrow lagoon entrances.

The private format changes how that scenery feels. On a group boat, you generally follow the operator’s schedule and share photo spots, lunch space, and swimming areas with other parties. Here, your guide can adjust the sequence. Several people had stops rearranged to miss heavier crowds, and one private group skipped 7 Commandos Beach in favor of a quieter beach.

That flexibility is especially useful for two people. The price may feel steep for a solo visitor, but it becomes easier to justify when divided among a family or group of friends. You also get more direct help with swimming, snorkeling, boarding, and photos.

The tradeoff is that private does not mean all-inclusive. The $135 price covers the boat, crew, guide, lunch, bottled water, life vest, and pickup within one kilometer of Corong-Corong Beach. You still pay government environmental and lagoon fees, and you may need to rent a mask, snorkel, fins, aquashoes, or kayak.

Starting in Corong-Corong and getting to the boat

Pickup is available within one kilometer of Corong-Corong Beach by tuk tuk. The listed tuk tuk ride takes about five minutes, but the full outing lasts around eight hours, so plan for most of your day to be spent on the water.

Boat boarding is worth planning for. You may have to wade through shallow water to reach the boat, which means your shoes and lower clothing can get wet before the tour properly begins. Wear swimwear beneath light clothes, bring a towel and a full change of clothes, and keep phones and passports in a dry bag.

The boat is licensed, and a licensed guide and crew accompany you. Life vests are included. English and Tagalog are available, so communication should be straightforward for most international visitors.

There is no hotel drop-off included. That is a small but important detail after a full day in the sun. Arrange your own way back from the ending point, and keep some cash with you for fees, rentals, drinks, or other purchases.

7 Commandos Beach, a gentle first stop

The day may begin at 7 Commandos Beach, where you get roughly 45 minutes for swimming, photographs, and a short break. Limestone cliffs frame the sand, giving the beach a sheltered, dramatic feel.

This is a useful opening stop because it eases you into the day. You can swim, take photos, or simply sit with coconut water before the more enclosed lagoons. The beach is also a good place to get a sense of how wet and active the day will be.

The name comes from a group of soldiers who were reportedly stranded there during World War II. The historical detail is brief, but it gives the beach a memorable name beyond its scenery.

Because destinations can change with weather and sea conditions, 7 Commandos is not guaranteed on every departure. That is not necessarily a problem. The private setup allows the guide to make reasonable changes, and the central attraction of the day is the lagoon route rather than any single beach.

Big Lagoon and the best scenery of the day

Big Lagoon is the reason many people choose Tour A. You pass between tall black limestone cliffs into blue water surrounded by steep rock walls. The contrast between the dark stone and bright water makes this the strongest photo stop on the route.

You have about 45 minutes here for sightseeing, swimming, photographs, and possibly kayaking. Kayaking is a good way to see the lagoon at a slower pace, but kayak rental is listed as an extra cost. Do not assume it is included in the tour price.

One booking also led to confusion over a kayak. The visitor understood that a kayak was part of the package, while the operator said the included kayak was only used to carry bags from shore to the boat. Since the official inclusions state that kayak rental is not included, ask for the current price and exact terms before you set out.

The lagoon can be busy, especially because it is one of El Nido’s most famous sights. Your guide may help by changing the order of the stops or timing your visit around other boats. That is one of the clearest practical benefits of paying for a private trip.

Swimming is possible, but obey the crew’s instructions and wear the life vest when required. If you want to kayak, keep your belongings secured. Water, paddles, boat edges, and frequent boarding make loose electronics easy to damage.

Shimizu Island for lunch and snorkeling

Shimizu Island is scheduled for about an hour and is the main break for lunch, swimming, and snorkeling. The island has calm water backed by large limestone cliffs, so it works well as a place to slow down after the morning stops.

The included meal is a Filipino buffet. Dishes are local in style, and the quantity appears generous enough to share with the guide and boat crew. Food feedback has been mixed: some people found lunch delicious, while one person considered it the weak point of an otherwise good day.

If you have a seafood allergy, tell the operator before departure. A seafood-free lunch was arranged for one private group after the issue was communicated in advance. That does not mean every dietary request is guaranteed, but it shows why early notice matters.

Shimizu is also promoted as a place to see turtles. Wildlife sightings are never certain, so treat turtles as a possible bonus rather than a promise. The snorkeling itself is one of the day’s more appealing features, with clear water, coral areas, and time to swim rather than only take photographs.

Masks and snorkels are not included. You can rent them if you do not bring your own, while fins and aquashoes are also extra. Water shoes are especially useful because coral and stones can make entry uncomfortable.

Secret Lagoon through the limestone opening

Secret Lagoon offers a different kind of stop. Instead of a wide open bay, you reach a small lagoon through a narrow opening in the limestone. The passage leads into a more enclosed space, with steep rock walls and a quiet, sheltered feel.

You get around 45 minutes for photographs, sightseeing, and swimming. The entrance can be tight, and the area may require careful movement over uneven or rocky ground. This is another reason to bring water shoes and leave bulky bags on the boat.

The lagoon is visually striking because the entrance hides what lies inside. It is less about a long swim and more about the short passage, the enclosed water, and the sense of finding a small room inside the cliffs.

If the sea is rough, the guide may alter the order or replace a stop. A private boat gives you more say in the pace, but it does not override safety or local access rules.

Payong-Payong Beach for a quieter beach break

Payong-Payong Beach is scheduled for about 45 minutes and is well suited to a simple picnic or swim. The beach is small, with rock formations, cliffs, and relatively gentle waves.

I would use this stop as a reset. After the more famous lagoon areas, you can paddle, swim casually, take photos, or sit in the shade. It is not the place to expect a long beach walk. Its appeal is the compact setting and calm water.

The boat may stop here for lunch depending on the guide and conditions, though the lunch location is not fixed. That flexibility can help the crew choose a more comfortable spot for your group on the day.

What the crew adds to the experience

The strongest pattern in the feedback is the crew’s attitude. Safety, friendliness, and helpfulness come up repeatedly, with guides making people feel looked after in the water and on the boat.

Several named guides received especially warm praise. Gabi was noted for good timing and crowd avoidance. Jason and Jayson were praised for friendly service. Renz took photos and videos. Joshua helped a group make the most of cloudy weather and choppy water. Edward was attentive with safety and photography, while Cyron adjusted the route and helped a couple find a quieter lunch setting.

These names represent individual guide assignments, not a guarantee that you will receive a particular person. Still, they show the kind of service to expect from the better departures: practical help, photographs from good angles, and willingness to adjust the day.

The crew’s care can matter when plans go wrong. One person became ill near the end of the trip, and the boat team helped get them to a hospital and followed up afterward. That is unusual support, though you should still carry any medication you need and take normal precautions in the heat.

Food, gear, and the extra-cost details

The package includes:

• Private licensed tourist boat
• Licensed guide and crew
• Buffet lunch
• Bottled water
• Life vest
• Tuk tuk pickup within one kilometer of Corong-Corong Beach

The following are not included:

• Hotel drop-off
• Environmental fee
• Lagoon entrance fee
• Mask and snorkel rental
• Fins and aquashoes
• Kayak rental
• Personal purchases and other unlisted costs

The extra fees matter when you compare this with a group tour. Private use of the boat is the main purchase, not a package that covers every activity.

Bring a sun hat, swimwear, towel, camera, beachwear, spare clothes, and cash. A dry bag is one of the most useful items you can pack. Smoking in the vehicle, intoxication, littering, and bringing plastic bottles are not allowed. Follow the crew’s instructions about waste, even though bottled water is provided as part of the package.

Weather, crowds, and the limits of the route

The route is beautiful in good conditions, but weather can change the experience. Rain may reduce the color of the water and make photographs less dramatic. Rougher seas can also make transfers and swimming less comfortable.

That does not mean a rainy day is automatically a wasted day. The crew has helped people enjoy wet weather by keeping spirits high and adjusting the program. Still, you should book with realistic expectations: the famous blue water depends partly on light and sea conditions.

The private format helps with crowds, but it cannot make popular sites empty. Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon remain famous places. Your best chance of a quieter visit is to ask the guide early about changing the order, then accept that local conditions may decide the final route.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. Boarding requires movement through water and onto a boat, and several stops involve swimming, rocky areas, or narrow access.

Is $135 per person good value?

For one person, the price is difficult to call a bargain, especially after adding entrance and environmental fees, equipment, and kayak costs. A solo visitor may prefer a lower-cost shared trip unless having a private boat is the main priority.

For two people, the decision depends on how much you value space and control. For a family or small group, the cost can make more sense because the boat and crew are reserved for your party. You are paying for privacy, route flexibility, better access to the guide, and less time waiting for strangers.

The best value comes when you use that flexibility. Ask to change the stop order, request help with photos, discuss lunch needs, and be clear about which activities you want. If you simply follow the standard route without using the private format, you lose part of what makes the price worthwhile.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later also make planning easier. Check the final charges for fees and rentals before committing.

Should you book this private El Nido tour?

Book it if you want Big Lagoon and the classic Tour A route but prefer your own boat, a slower pace, and direct help from the crew. It is a particularly good fit for couples, families, small groups, photographers, and anyone who dislikes being packed into a fixed group schedule.

Think twice if you are watching every peso, traveling alone, or mainly want a cheap way to reach the lagoons. The advertised price is only part of the final cost, and lunch and gear may not match everyone’s expectations.

For the best experience, bring water shoes and a dry bag, wear swimwear from the start, carry cash, and clarify the environmental fee, lagoon fee, kayak rental, and snorkeling equipment before boarding. If those details suit your budget, the private format gives you a strong day of El Nido’s most famous scenery with a crew that appears to put real effort into safety and personal service.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

Where is pickup available?

Free tuk tuk pickup is available within one kilometer of Corong-Corong Beach in El Nido.

Is hotel drop-off included?

No. Hotel drop-off is not included.

Which places does the tour visit?

The planned route includes 7 Commandos Beach, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Payong-Payong Beach.

Can the itinerary change?

Yes. Destinations may change because of weather, and the guide determines the lunch stop. A private group can also request a different order of stops.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Filipino buffet lunch is included, along with bottled water.

Are snorkeling equipment and fins included?

No. Mask, snorkel, fins, and aquashoes are not included, but mask and snorkel rental is available.

Is kayak rental included?

No. Kayak rental at the lagoon is listed as an extra cost.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.