Secret Lagoon El Nido: How to Visit and Which Tour Goes There

Secret Lagoon is one of El Nido’s odder natural sights. From the boat you mostly see a wall of limestone, until you spot a small opening barely wide enough for one person.

Go through it and you come out inside a small enclosed lagoon ringed by limestone cliffs. It is far smaller than Big Lagoon, and you visit for the entrance itself and the feeling of stepping into a stone room hidden inside Miniloc Island.

You reach it on Tour A. Two hazards to know before you go through: the rock around the opening is sharp and low, so keep a hand above your head, and the water level at the gap rises and falls with the tide. At low tide the hole sits above the water and you wade over rocks and crawl through; at high tide it is partly submerged, so you may have to swim a few strokes, and guides sometimes skip it.

Shared Tour A prices change through the season, so check the current rate and what it includes for your date below.

Secret Lagoon at a Glance

Where Is It?

Secret Lagoon is on Miniloc Island, the same island as Big Lagoon. That puts both on the same Tour A day, even though they feel nothing alike. Our Bacuit Bay guide shows where Miniloc sits among the other islands.

Plenty of visitors pair Tour A with Hidden Beach and Helicopter Island on Tour C, add a dive day off Sibaltan, or sail on to Coron for Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon. These are the top-rated options right now:

Which Tour Includes It?

Tour A.

Routes usually combine Secret Lagoon with Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commandos Beach or Payong-Payong Beach, depending on the operator.

The shared departure most people book online is El Nido: Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches, rated 4.4/5 from more than 2,000 reviews. Its itinerary lists Secret Lagoon, and the listing includes the national park and environmental entrance fees, so the only common extra on the day is kayak rental at Big Lagoon (around ₱150).

Is Secret Lagoon the Same as Secret Beach?

No.

Secret Lagoon

• Tour A
• small enclosed pool
• Miniloc Island
• narrow, person-sized entrance

Secret Beach

• Tour C
• an actual beach
• reached through a rock opening from the sea
• more dependent on swimming

What Is It Like Inside?

Much smaller than Big Lagoon. Expect:

• steep rock walls
• shallow green-blue water
• an enclosed feel
• little open horizon

With so little space, it feels busy as soon as a few boats’ worth of people are inside.

How Do You Enter?

Your boat stops outside, you get into the water and make your way to the rock opening.

People go through one at a time, so a queue builds when several Tour A boats arrive together.

Depending on the tide, you wade, crouch or swim a short way through. At low tide the opening is above the waterline and you climb and twist through it; at high tide it is partly under water and harder to pass, and on some high-tide days the crew will skip the stop.

Is the Entrance Difficult?

Reasonably mobile visitors usually manage it, but it can be awkward: the rock is wet, the water moves and there is little room.

Take your time and protect your head from the limestone above.

Can Non-Swimmers Visit?

Often, yes, depending on the tide and the sea.

Tell your guide, keep your life jacket on, and do not force yourself through if you feel uncomfortable.

Do You Need a Kayak?

No. Secret Lagoon is not a kayaking stop, unlike Big Lagoon.

How Big Is It?

Small enough that a modest crowd fills it. Treat it as a short geological stop; you will not spend an hour exploring it.

Is It Crowded?

Often, yes. The narrow entrance is the bottleneck, and the name describes the hidden setting, not the visitor numbers.

Does the Crowd Ruin It?

A crowd takes away some of the sense of discovery, but the rock formations are still interesting.

Think of Secret Lagoon as a bonus on Tour A instead of the main reason to book the route.

How to Avoid the Biggest Crowds

You can improve your chances by:

• choosing an operator that leaves early
• taking a private tour
• letting the captain change the stop order where the rules allow
• avoiding major holidays

Nothing guarantees you will have it to yourself.

How Long Do You Spend There?

Usually far less time than at Big Lagoon. On busy days, the wait to get in can take almost as long as your time inside.

Secret Lagoon vs Big Lagoon

Big Lagoon

• huge
• explored by kayak
• the photo most people know El Nido by
• the main Tour A stop

Secret Lagoon

• small
• unusual entrance
• no kayak
• short stop

If you could visit only one, choose Big Lagoon.

Secret Lagoon vs Small Lagoon

Small Lagoon is much larger and you explore it by kayak. Secret Lagoon is tiny and you enter it through a person-sized opening.

Secret Lagoon vs Secret Beach

Secret Beach is a Tour C beach reached from open water, and it usually asks more of swimmers. Secret Lagoon is the smaller and easier of the two.

Is It Worth Visiting?

Yes, as part of Tour A.

It would not justify an expensive private trip on its own. Then again, skipping it while your Tour A boat is already moored outside makes little sense either.

Tour A Cost

Shared Tour A from local operators usually costs around ₱1,200–₱1,500 per person. Some operators quote that before the environmental fees and Big Lagoon kayak rental, so ask for the final total.

The shared Tour A on GetYourGuide starts from about $25 and already includes the national park and environmental entrance fees.

Is There a Separate Secret Lagoon Fee?

Not usually. Packages list extra charges for Big Lagoon kayaks and environmental access, but no specific premium for Secret Lagoon. Fee structures can change, so check what your quote includes.

Shared vs Private Tour

A shared Tour A gives you the best value. A private boat suits families, groups and travellers who want more control over timing.

There is no private Tour A on its own on GetYourGuide. The closest is El Nido Tour A & C: Two Iconic Tours in One Day by Speedboat, which covers Secret Lagoon with the Tour C beaches from about $82. It rates 4.9/5, but from only 52 reviews so far, a far smaller sample than the shared tour’s.

Is It Suitable for Children?

It can be, especially for children who enjoy water and squeezing into small spaces. Think about their swimming confidence and how steady they are on wet rock.

What Shoes Should You Wear?

Water shoes help, because the limestone is sharp, there are submerged rocks and the footing is slippery.

What Should You Bring?

For Tour A:

• swimwear
• rash guard
• sunscreen
• hat
• water shoes
• dry bag
• waterproof phone pouch
• towel
• water
• cash

At Secret Lagoon itself, carry as little as possible.

Photography

A wide-angle lens helps, because the space is small and enclosed. The entrance often makes a more interesting picture than another shot of green water.

Best Time of Year

The dry months usually give the most reliable island-hopping conditions; our best time to visit guide covers them month by month.

Tour A is more sheltered than Tour C, but weather and official restrictions still apply.

Can It Close?

Yes. Sea conditions, high tide, environmental management or safety rules can all stop a visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which tour goes to Secret Lagoon?

Tour A.

Is it the same as Secret Beach?

No. Secret Beach is on Tour C.

Do you need to swim?

Possibly a few strokes, depending on the tide. At low tide you can usually wade and crawl through.

Do you need a kayak?

No.

Is it crowded?

It can be, especially at the narrow entrance.

Is it better than Big Lagoon?

Not for most visitors. Big Lagoon is the main Tour A highlight.

Final Verdict

Secret Lagoon is not El Nido’s biggest natural sight, so go in with the right expectations.

Visit it as a quirky Tour A stop: pass through the small limestone opening, look around the enclosed pool and enjoy the unusual geology. Then save most of your Tour A excitement for Big Lagoon, the stop that defines the route. For how Tour A fits with the other routes, see our complete El Nido island-hopping guide.