Big Lagoon El Nido: Tours, Kayaking and What to Expect

Big Lagoon is the place that most closely matches the image people have in their heads before visiting El Nido.

Towering limestone cliffs rise almost vertically from turquoise water. A narrow entrance opens into a vast sheltered lagoon. Kayaks glide across shallow sandbanks while the water changes from pale aqua to deep blue.

It is one of Palawan’s most photographed places and the main reason Tour A is so popular.

Tour prices in El Nido move with the season and with how far ahead you book, so check current dates and rates before you commit to a departure day.

Big Lagoon at a Glance

Where Is Big Lagoon?

Big Lagoon is on Miniloc Island in Bacuit Bay, offshore from El Nido town.

You cannot walk or drive there. You reach it by island-hopping boat.

Which Tour Includes Big Lagoon?

Tour A.

A typical Tour A also includes some combination of:

• Secret Lagoon;
• Shimizu Island;
• Seven Commandos Beach;
• Payong-Payong or another beach stop.

The standard shared departure is El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: Lagoons and Beaches, an eight-hour day from El Nido Town Beach rated 4.4/5 across more than 1,900 reviews. Its published itinerary lists Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Cathedral Cave and snorkeling at Shimizu Island, with national park fees, lunch and snorkeling gear included.

If Big Lagoon is your priority, confirm it is listed specifically in the itinerary. Our El Nido island hopping guide compares what Tours A, B, C and D each cover.

Other Palawan Experiences You Might Enjoy

Big Lagoon is one stop on one tour day. Most travellers pair it with a second El Nido boat day for Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine on Tour C, or carry on south to Coron for Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon and the WWII wrecks in Coron Bay. These are the current top-rated El Nido and Coron experiences:

What Makes Big Lagoon Special?

The scale.

The lagoon is surrounded by enormous karst limestone formations rising directly from the water — the walls above the entrance run to roughly 150 metres. As you paddle inward, the channel opens dramatically and the water shifts through different shades according to depth and light.

Photographs rarely communicate how tall the cliffs feel from a kayak.

How Do You Enter?

The main island-hopping boat stops near the lagoon entrance. Visitors then transfer to kayaks and paddle inside.

Motorised tour boats do not simply cruise deep through the lagoon, which makes the inner experience much quieter than the busy boat area outside.

Do You Need a Kayak?

For most visitors, yes.

Kayaking allows you to:

• cross shallow sections;
• get close to the limestone walls;
• stop for photographs;
• explore at your own pace;
• move where larger boats cannot.

Ask whether kayak rental is included in the tour price. On the standard shared Tour A it is not — kayak or paddleboard rental at Big Lagoon is listed as an exclusion at roughly PHP 150, payable on the day. Carry small notes; there is nowhere to draw cash at the lagoon.

Can You Swim?

Swimming rules can change according to current protected-area management. Even where swimming is possible, kayaking is the practical way to explore because the lagoon covers a large area and tour time is limited.

Do You Need Kayaking Experience?

No. It is recreational paddling and suitable for beginners under normal conditions.

Double kayaks are common and work well for couples, friends and families.

Is Big Lagoon Suitable for Children?

Many families visit. Consider the child’s:

• age;
• swimming confidence;
• comfort on boats;
• ability to sit safely in a kayak;
• tolerance for a full day in the sun.

Bear in mind that boarding a bangka is done by wading or stepping over the hull, so the day is not suited to anyone needing assisted boarding.

Can Non-Swimmers Visit?

Yes. Non-swimmers can enjoy the lagoon from a kayak while wearing a life jacket. Tell your guide before entering the water.

Is the Water Deep?

Depth varies considerably. Some pale sandy sections are extremely shallow while darker channels are much deeper.

Do not assume you can stand everywhere simply because the water is clear.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season generally gives the most reliable island-hopping conditions. Within a particular day, your actual access time depends on your operator and current visitor-management system.

Earlier or carefully timed private departures may help with crowds, but no legal tour can promise a private lagoon.

For the month-by-month picture, see our guide to the best time to visit El Nido and Coron.

Is Big Lagoon Crowded?

Yes, often.

It is one of El Nido’s signature attractions. Expect other tour boats and kayaks, especially in peak season.

The lagoon itself is large enough that visitors spread out once inside.

Does the Crowd Ruin It?

For most visitors, no.

It changes the atmosphere, but the landscape remains exceptional. Visit because the lagoon is spectacular, not because you expect to discover an untouched secret.

Group Tour or Private Tour?

Shared Tour A

Best for value, solo travellers and couples. Shared bangkas carry roughly 8–15 passengers and leave El Nido Town Beach between 8:00 and 9:00 AM.

Private Tour A

Best for families, groups, photographers and travellers who want more control over the pace.

The main private alternative on the water is El Nido: Tour A&C by Speedboat, which combines Big Lagoon and Hidden Beach on a private speedboat and departs early specifically to reach the lagoons ahead of the shared fleet. It rates 4.9/5, but from only 27 reviews so far — a small sample compared with the shared tour’s 1,900-plus, so weigh it accordingly.

Private tours improve flexibility but do not provide exclusive lagoon access.

How Long Do You Spend There?

Many tours allow around 45–60 minutes, including transferring to the kayak, entering, exploring and returning.

That is usually enough to experience the lagoon, although many visitors would happily stay longer.

What Should You Bring?

Useful items include:

• waterproof phone pouch;
• small dry bag;
• sunglasses with strap;
• sunscreen — reef-safe only, as conventional formulas are banned in Philippine marine parks;
• rash guard;
• water;
• action camera;
• PHP 150 in cash for the kayak.

Travel lightly inside the kayak.

Water Shoes

Useful but not essential. They help with wet boat ladders, rocks and shallow-water transfers.

Snorkeling at Big Lagoon

Big Lagoon is primarily a scenery and kayaking destination, not El Nido’s strongest coral-reef snorkeling stop.

If snorkeling is your main priority, Tour C may suit you better — it trades the lagoons for Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island and Matinloc Shrine, and rates 4.4/5 across nearly 800 reviews.

Big Lagoon vs Small Lagoon

Big Lagoon

• larger;
• more famous;
• Tour A;
• stronger first-time choice;
• generally busier.

Small Lagoon

• more intimate;
• associated with Tour D/private routes;
• narrower spaces;
• excellent kayaking;
• usually less famous.

If you can visit only one, choose Big Lagoon.

Big Lagoon vs Secret Lagoon

Big Lagoon is large and kayak-focused. Secret Lagoon is a tiny enclosed pool reached through a rock opening.

They are normally part of the same Tour A day and should not be treated as equivalents.

Big Lagoon vs Kayangan Lake

Big Lagoon is in El Nido and is best explored by kayak. Kayangan Lake is in Coron and is best known for clear water, swimming and a famous viewpoint — reached on the Coron Ultimate Tour rather than on any El Nido boat.

If your itinerary includes both destinations, visit both.

Is Big Lagoon Worth It?

Yes.

It is popular because the experience itself is genuinely impressive. The scale of the limestone cliffs and the act of moving slowly through the lagoon by kayak make it much more than a five-minute photo stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which tour goes to Big Lagoon?

Tour A.

Do you need a kayak?

It is the standard and best way to explore.

Is kayak rental included?

It depends on the operator. On the standard shared Tour A it is excluded and costs around PHP 150 on the day.

Can non-swimmers visit?

Yes, from a kayak with a life jacket.

Is it crowded?

Usually, yes.

Is it better than Small Lagoon?

For a first visit, Big Lagoon is the stronger choice.

Can you visit from Coron?

Not as a practical day trip. Stay in El Nido — or travel between the two by multi-day expedition, which crosses Bacuit Bay on the way south.

Final Verdict

If you have only one El Nido island-hopping day, Big Lagoon is the strongest reason to choose Tour A.

It is busy, famous and heavily photographed — and still worth it.

Paddle through the entrance, move away from the main cluster of kayaks and let the scale of Miniloc Island do the rest.