Things to Do in El Nido (Palawan)

El Nido island hopping comes in four lettered boat tours, A to D, each a full day of four to six stops around Bacuit Bay in northern Palawan, from about PHP 1,200 to 1,800 (~USD 21 to 31) per person on a shared boat. If you book only one, make it Tour A. If you book two, add Tour C, but only on a calm day: C is the one tour that leaves the sheltered bay for open water, and it is the first to be cancelled when the sea turns rough.

The rest of this guide covers what each tour actually visits, the fees collected on the day, when a private boat makes sense, how many days to allow, and the land-side alternatives to the boats: Nacpan, Las Cabanas, and the Taraw canopy walk. It also covers the one part of El Nido that has changed recently, getting there, since flights from Manila no longer go straight to the town. For the other islands and activities across the country, see the wider Philippines travel guide.

El Nido Island Hopping Tours A to D Compared

Every operator in town sells the same four routes under the same letters, so the comparison below holds whichever shop or hotel desk you book through. Prices are for a joiner (shared) boat, vary by operator because the market is unregulated, and are approximate.

A joiner price normally covers the boat, crew, guide, grilled lunch, water, mask and snorkel, life jacket, and pickup from El Nido town or Corong-Corong. It does not cover the eco-tourism fee, lagoon fees, kayaks, or tips. Joiner boats carry roughly two dozen people, leave around 9am, and are back between 4pm and 5pm.

The cancellation column reflects reporting from several local guides, not a published statistic. During the wet months, tours are reported to be cancelled on roughly one day in five to one in three, and Tour C goes first. Tours A, B, and D generally still run in conditions that stop C. A gale warning grounds every boat regardless of tour, and the operator should rebook or refund you.

El Nido Tours A, B, C and D Stop by Stop

Tour A: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu, Seven Commandos

Miniloc Island, Bacuit Bay  ·  PHP 1,200 to 1,500 (~USD 21 to 26) joiner

The default choice, and the one tour worth doing if you only have a day. Motorised boats are not allowed inside Big Lagoon, so your bangka anchors at the mouth and you swim or paddle in between the limestone walls. A two-person kayak runs about PHP 300 to 400 (~USD 5 to 7) and is optional, since the swim is short. Secret Lagoon is reached through a narrow gap in the rock and is smaller and more enclosed. Lunch and snorkelling happen at Shimizu Island, and Seven Commandos is the beach stop, often the first of the day. The first boat out sees a quieter Big Lagoon, which is the main argument for a private boat or an early joiner departure.

Tour B: Snake Island, Cudugnon and Cathedral Caves, Entalula

Snake Island and Entalula, Bacuit Bay  ·  PHP 1,300 to 1,600 (~USD 23 to 28) joiner

The quietest of the four and the one that rewards snorkellers. Snake Island is a curving sandbar with snorkelling off both sides, Cudugnon Cave is entered on foot after a beach lunch, and Cathedral Cave is reported to be viewed from the boat rather than entered. Entalula Beach and Pinagbuyutan Island fill out the day. Boats are rarely crowded here. Ask the operator whether cave entry is included, because a small separate charge is reported.

Tour C: Helicopter, Hidden, Secret, Matinloc, Talisay

Matinloc Island, Bacuit Bay  ·  PHP 1,400 to 1,800 (~USD 25 to 31) joiner

The most dramatic tall-cliff scenery and the highest price, with the longest ride in the least sheltered water. Hidden Beach is reached by swimming or wading through a narrow tunnel and is often crowded. Secret Beach is entered by swimming through a small hole in the cliff, which is easier at low tide, and its daily slots are capped. Matinloc Shrine is an abandoned shrine with a clifftop viewpoint, charged separately at about PHP 200 (~USD 3.50). Helicopter Island is the snorkel stop, and lunch is at Talisay or Star Beach. When the sea is rough, operators often drop Hidden Beach or cancel outright, so treat C as the weather-dependent tour.

Tour D: Small Lagoon, Cadlao, Pasandigan, Paradise, Nat Nat, Bukal

Cadlao Island, Bacuit Bay  ·  PHP 1,200 to 1,500 (~USD 21 to 26) joiner

A common mistake is expecting Small Lagoon on Tour A. It sits on Tour D, entered by kayak or swimming through a narrow opening, with a PHP 200 (~USD 3.50) fee and a capped daily slot. The rest of the day is mostly around Cadlao Island, so there is less time on the boat, which suits children and anyone prone to seasickness. Cadlao Lagoon is good for kayaking and snorkelling, and the beaches (Pasandigan, Paradise, Nat Nat or Ipil, Bukal) are quieter than Tour A’s. Because D is the least popular letter, ask the operator the evening before whether your departure is confirmed.

El Nido Island Hopping Fees to Budget For on the Day

Nearly everything on a tour day is paid in cash, in pesos, and collected separately from the tour price.

• Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF). As of 2026 the fee is PHP 400 (~USD 7) per person, valid for 10 days, up from PHP 200 (~USD 3.50) in 2024. Some operators may quote a little less, but budget PHP 400 (~USD 7) and treat any saving as a bonus. Pay at the municipal tourism office, or through your operator or resort before the first boat, and keep the receipt. Show it on later tours instead of paying twice. Discounted rates exist for Palawan residents, students, and seniors, and rules are set locally, so confirm the current amount with the tourism office.
• Lagoon and shrine fees. Around PHP 200 (~USD 3.50) each for Big Lagoon (Tour A), Small Lagoon (Tour D), and Matinloc Shrine (Tour C). Most joiner prices exclude them, so ask.
• Pre-registered sites. Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, and Secret Beach have daily visitor caps. Operators book the slots in advance, so book your tour a day or more ahead rather than turning up at the pier. The official cap numbers are not published.
• Kayaks. Around PHP 300 to 600 (~USD 5 to 10) per two-seater, and optional at both lagoons.
• Gear. Mask and snorkel are normally included. Water shoes rent for around PHP 100 to 150 (~USD 2 to 3) if you do not bring your own.
• Tips. Not included, and customary for the boat crew.

In practice, a first Tour A day costs roughly PHP 1,800 to 2,500 (~USD 32 to 44) once the ETDF, lagoon fee, and an optional kayak are added to the joiner price. A second tour day is cheaper because the ETDF is already paid: Tour C comes to roughly PHP 1,600 to 2,000 (~USD 28 to 35) with the Matinloc fee. For how these sit alongside rooms, food, and flights, see what a Philippines trip costs island by island.

Private vs Joiner Boats in El Nido

A private boat is the only way to combine tours in a single day, such as Tour A and Tour C together, and the only way to set your own order of stops.

• Joiner. Shared with about 24 strangers, a fixed itinerary, a roughly 9am start, and the lowest price per head. Lagoon stops can be crowded by late morning.
• Private. The whole boat, typically from around PHP 6,000 (~USD 105) for a small local boat up to around PHP 14,000 (~USD 245) for a larger outrigger, which is quoted for about two people with an extra charge per added guest. Fees are still on top. Confirm the price, the stops, and what is included with the operator before paying.
• When private pays off. A small private boat matches the per-person cost of a joiner seat for a group of roughly four. For a couple, it is a splurge for being first into Big Lagoon, or for covering two tours on a short trip.

Which El Nido Island Hopping Tour to Book First

Start with Tour A. It is among the most-booked, one of the more sheltered, and the one to choose when the weather is uncertain. Save Tour C for a day the forecast is calm, and book it early in your stay so a cancellation leaves a spare day to rebook.

• One tour. Tour A.
• Two tours. A and C, with C on the first calm day.
• Three tours. Add B if you snorkel or want caves and quiet, or D if you are travelling with children or get seasick.
• All four. Allow four to five days in the dry season, and more in the wet season, to absorb cancellations.

Plan on three nights for two tours and one buffer day. Keep your last day free of fixed commitments, particularly an onward flight or ferry. For how El Nido fits into a longer route, see a first-timer Philippines itinerary that includes Palawan.

Beyond the Boats in El Nido: Nacpan, Las Cabanas and Taraw

A rest day between tours is also the right time for El Nido’s mainland options.

Nacpan Beach

About 17 km north of town  ·  no entrance fee

Around four kilometres of open sand on the exposed outer coast, with surf and none of the limestone walls or boat traffic of Bacuit Bay. The ride takes about 45 minutes. A tricycle (a three-wheeled motorbike taxi) round trip with waiting time runs around PHP 700 to 1,500 (~USD 12 to 26), so agree the price first. A rented motorbike is around PHP 350 to 600 (~USD 6 to 10) a day. The road is improved but still rough, especially in the wet season. Staying out here suits a beach holiday more than a boat-tour trip.

Las Cabanas

About 20 minutes south of town  ·  free beach

Also called Marimegmeg or Vanilla Beach, this west-facing stretch is the easy sunset option, with a tricycle ride of around PHP 100 to 250 (~USD 2 to 4). There is a zipline at the beach, from around PHP 500 (~USD 9) one way up to around PHP 1,100 (~USD 19) for a return in the superman position. Operating hours are roughly 9am to 5:30pm, but check before going.

Taraw Canopy Walk

Taraw Cliff, El Nido town  ·  around PHP 400 to 450 (~USD 7 to 8)

A guided via ferrata walk of about 90 minutes along the cliff, with a suspension bridge of roughly 75 metres, zip wires, and a high point of around 150 metres. Helmet, harness, and guide are included, and reasonably fit visitors can do it. The scramble to the peak itself is a different matter: it crosses sharp limestone, and the official route is reported to be restricted after fatal accidents. Stay on the guided canopy route.

Day Trips and Onward Travel from El Nido: Coron and Port Barton

The Puerto Princesa Underground River is not a realistic day trip from El Nido, since the drive alone is more than five hours each way. Do it from Puerto Princesa on the way in or out, as covered in the wider Philippines things-to-do guide.

• Coron. Fast ferries run about three and a half to four hours for around PHP 1,800 to 3,250 (~USD 32 to 57) depending on the operator, departing early. Sailings depend on the weather, so do not tie the crossing to a same-day flight. A flight from Busuanga to El Nido’s airport also exists.
• Port Barton. A slower, less developed bay south of El Nido. Shared vans are reported at around three and a half to four hours for roughly PHP 700 (~USD 12), with departures commonly in the morning and early afternoon. Check times locally.

Best Time to Visit El Nido and the Wet Season

The dry season runs roughly November to May, with February and March generally the calmest and driest. January is a good month but pricier. June is a shoulder month with lower prices and more cancellations. July to October brings the southwest monsoon (habagat) and typhoon season, with August bringing the lowest prices and the least reliable boat days.

Wet season does not mean closed. Palawan is less exposed to typhoons than most of the country, and tours A, B, and D still run on many days. Book tours one day at a time instead of prepaying a package, look at a regional forecast each evening, and keep a spare day. Expect fewer people and lower room rates.

How to Get to El Nido: Clark, Cebu or Puerto Princesa

El Nido has a small airport at Lio, about 15 to 20 minutes from town. A tricycle costs around PHP 150 to 400 (~USD 3 to 7), and many hotels run free or low-cost transfers.

• From Manila. There is no longer a direct Manila to El Nido flight on the turboprops that used to serve it. Cebu Pacific’s AirSWIFT and Cebgo turboprop flights were reported to move from Manila (NAIA) to Clark International Airport on 29 March 2026, and PAL Express was reported to be moving its turboprops out of NAIA by the same date, so check the airport code on every leg before you book. Clark is about 80 km northwest of Manila by road, not another terminal at NAIA.
• Clark to El Nido. Roughly an hour and a half in the air, with several flights a day and one-way fares reported at around PHP 3,500 to 8,000 (~USD 61 to 140). Turboprop baggage is strict, reported at 15 kg checked and 7 kg carry-on.
• Manila to Clark. A shuttle between NAIA Terminal 3 and Clark was reported as free for passengers with a confirmed Clark departure within 24 hours, and Genesis buses from Cubao or PITX run for around PHP 200 to 280 (~USD 4 to 5). A taxi or Grab is far more. Leave a long buffer, and consider sleeping near Clark before an early flight.
• From Cebu. A direct Cebu to El Nido route opened on 26 October 2025. Check the current schedule. El Nido is also linked by air to Caticlan (for Boracay), Bohol, and Busuanga (for Coron).
• From Puerto Princesa. Shared vans take about five to five and a half hours for around PHP 600 to 800 (~USD 10 to 14), running from about 3am to mid-afternoon and picking up at the airport and city hotels. Larger buses from the Irawan terminal take longer. Everything arrives at the transport terminal in Corong-Corong, a tricycle ride of around PHP 100 (~USD 2) from town.

Treat the Manila details as the part most likely to change, and confirm the airport and the airline on your own booking before you pay.

Practical Tips and What to Bring to El Nido

• Cash. Fees, small operators, and tricycles take pesos only, and island ATMs run out. Bring more than you expect to need. Foreign visitors usually cannot use the local wallet apps without a workaround, covered in how GCash and QR Ph work for visitors.
• On the boat. A dry bag, water shoes for rocky landings, a hat or cover-up since boats have only a small roof, a waterproof phone pouch, and snacks. Bottled water is sold on the beaches at a markup.
• Signal. Coverage is workable in town and thin to none on the water, so download maps and bookings first. Which Philippine SIM to buy covers the networks.
• Drones. Registration is required before flying in the Philippines, so read the drone registration and no-fly rules before packing one.
• Evenings. El Nido is an early-night town built around 9am departures, so plan a drink at the beach and bed.