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

Small Lagoon is one of the most enjoyable places in El Nido to explore by kayak.

It sits among the limestone of Miniloc Island and feels far more enclosed than nearby Big Lagoon. You cross open water, reach a narrow gap in the rock and paddle through into a sheltered basin ringed by steep walls.

Big Lagoon impresses with scale. Small Lagoon feels more intimate.

Lagoon tour prices and stop lists change with the season and the operator, so check the current itinerary and your dates before you pick a boat day.

Small Lagoon at a Glance

Where Is Small Lagoon?

Small Lagoon is on Miniloc Island in Bacuit Bay, the same island as Big Lagoon.

You cannot reach it by road from El Nido town. You need a boat, then usually a kayak for the last stretch. If you are still planning the trip there, our guide on how to get to El Nido covers flights, vans and the ferry from Coron.

More Lagoons, Beaches and Tours Around Palawan

Many travellers add Big Lagoon on Tour A, Hidden Beach on Tour C, or Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon in Coron. These are the current top-rated tours:

Which Tour Includes Small Lagoon?

Small Lagoon is most often sold as part of Tour D, but Tour D stop lists vary between operators.

Some include:

• Small Lagoon;
• Cadlao Lagoon;
• Paradise Beach;
• Pasandigan;
• Nat Nat Beach.

Others leave Small Lagoon out entirely.

The shared departure on GetYourGuide is El Nido: Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D, a six- to seven-hour day from $50, rated 4.3/5 from more than 360 reviews. Its listing names Small Lagoon and Cadlao Island, and the price includes kayak rental, entry fees, a packed lunch and a separate Small Lagoon entry fee. It does not include El Nido’s ₱400 eco-tourism development fee, which you pay once on arrival.

Our rule is to check the stop list, not just the name “Tour D.” The El Nido island hopping guide compares what Tours A, B, C and D each cover.

Is Small Lagoon Still on Tour A?

It depends on the operator. Older guides show Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon together on Tour A, and many boats still run it that way: the El Nido: Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches listing on GetYourGuide (from $25, 4.4/5 from more than 1,990 reviews) names Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Cathedral Cave and Shimizu Island.

Other operators keep Small Lagoon for Tour D or private routes. If you want both lagoons on one day, confirm Small Lagoon is on your boat’s printed stop list before you pay.

What Is It Like?

Your bangka stops outside the narrow entrance. You move into a kayak and paddle towards a gap in the limestone.

Once through, the water opens into a sheltered basin.

Expect:

• calm green-blue water;
• close limestone walls;
• quiet corners;
• a stronger sense of enclosure than at Big Lagoon.

How Do You Enter?

The entrance is narrow, and kayaks usually pass through one at a time.

That creates a queue when several boats arrive together.

Do You Need a Kayak?

For the full visit, yes.

A kayak lets you:

• get through the entrance comfortably;
• explore farther inside;
• carry a phone or small dry bag;
• save energy;
• move slowly along the limestone walls.

Some groups swim in, depending on conditions and the guide’s rules, but most visitors use a kayak.

How Much Is Kayak Rental?

The GetYourGuide Tour D listing includes the kayak. On tours that do not, recent operator listings put rental at roughly ₱300–₱350 per kayak at Small Lagoon, paid in cash at the lagoon.

Ask whether the kayak is included before you book, and carry small notes in case it is not.

Is There an Entrance Fee?

Small Lagoon now carries its own entry charge on some routes, on top of the ₱400 eco-tourism development fee that every visitor to El Nido pays. The fee is set by municipal ordinance and covers 10 days of tours.

The Tour D listing above includes the Small Lagoon charge in its price. On other tours, ask the operator whether it is included, because the amount is not published in one official place.

Small Lagoon vs Big Lagoon

Big Lagoon

• larger;
• more famous;
• the better first-time choice;
• the signature stop on Tour A;
• usually busier.

Small Lagoon

• more intimate;
• narrower entrance;
• quieter;
• an excellent second lagoon.

If you can visit only one, choose Big Lagoon. If you love kayaking, visit both: our Big Lagoon guide covers the larger lagoon in detail.

Is Small Lagoon Less Crowded?

Often, yes, because fewer first-time visitors book Tour D.

The entrance can still feel crowded, because everyone has to pass through the same narrow gap.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season, from mid-November through April, gives you the best chance of calm water. Our guide to the best time to visit El Nido and Coron has the month-by-month detail.

On the day, your operator sets the timing. Private tours give you more flexibility, but the lagoon’s access rules still apply.

Can You Swim?

Sometimes, depending on the current rules and the conditions. Follow your guide and wear the flotation equipment they hand out.

Can Non-Swimmers Visit?

Yes. A non-swimmer can enjoy Small Lagoon from a kayak while wearing a life jacket.

Is It Suitable for Children?

Often, yes. Think about your child’s age, how they cope on boats, whether they can sit safely in a kayak and how much sun they can take.

How Long Do You Spend There?

The operator sets the time at each stop. The Tour D listing fits up to three beaches and two lagoons into six to seven hours, so plan on about an hour at Small Lagoon, sometimes less when the entrance is busy.

What Else Is on Tour D?

Possible stops include:

• Cadlao Lagoon;
• Paradise Beach;
• Pasandigan;
• Nat Nat Beach;
• other beaches around Cadlao Island.

Again, itineraries vary a lot between operators.

Cadlao Lagoon

Cadlao Lagoon pairs well with Small Lagoon and is another good place to paddle.

A Tour D itinerary that includes both makes one of the best kayaking days in El Nido.

Tour A vs Tour D

Choose Tour A if this is your first El Nido tour and Big Lagoon is essential. On many Tour A boats, including the GetYourGuide departure, you see Small Lagoon the same day.

Choose Tour D if you have already done A, or your Tour A boat skips Small Lagoon, and you want calmer kayaking and another lagoon.

Tour C vs Tour D

Tour C (from $30, 4.4/5 from more than 790 reviews) is the better fit for Hidden Beach, Secret Beach and snorkeling.

Tour D is the better fit for calm water, lagoons and kayaking.

Group vs Private Tour

Shared tours are the cheaper option, but you need to check the stop list carefully.

Private boats suit families and groups who want more say over timing and stops, within the access rules. The Tour A listing on GetYourGuide offers a private-boat option alongside the shared one.

What Should You Bring?

Bring:

• waterproof phone pouch;
• small dry bag;
• sunscreen;
• rash guard;
• hat;
• water;
• towel;
• water shoes;
• cash;
• motion-sickness medication if you need it.

Can Small Lagoon Close?

Yes. Weather, sea conditions, environmental management or capacity limits can close it or cut a visit short.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which tour includes Small Lagoon?

Usually Tour D, many Tour A routes or a private itinerary. Confirm the stop list for your specific boat.

Is it still on Tour A?

On some boats, yes. The GetYourGuide Tour A listing names Small Lagoon, but other operators keep it for Tour D, so check the itinerary.

Do you need a kayak?

A kayak is the easiest way to get through the entrance and explore inside.

Is it better than Big Lagoon?

Big Lagoon is the better first-time choice; Small Lagoon is more intimate.

Can non-swimmers visit?

Yes, from a kayak with a life jacket.

How long do you need?

About an hour, depending on the operator and how busy the entrance is.

Final Verdict

Small Lagoon is easy to overlook because Big Lagoon gets almost all the attention.

If you love kayaking, don’t skip it.

Big Lagoon gives you El Nido at its grandest. Small Lagoon gives you a quieter, more enclosed version of the same limestone scenery.

Before you book, check the stops on your boat, not just the name “Tour D.”