El Nido: Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches
About This Experience
Discover Bacuit Bay on a shared or private boat tour in El Nido. Stop to explore Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Cathedral Cave, and snorkel at Shimizu Island.
Highlights
- Kayak inside Big Lagoon surrounded by 150-metre limestone walls
- Swim through the arch into Small Lagoon's hidden interior pool
- Scramble through Cathedral Cave to a secret cove beach
- Explore Secret Lagoon through a narrow passage in the cliff
- Snorkel at Shimizu Island's healthy reef (2–15m depth)
- Fresh grilled fish lunch prepared on board or at Shimizu Beach
What's Included
- ✓ Shared or private bangka with crew and guide
- ✓ All national park and environmental entrance fees
- ✓ Fresh lunch (grilled fish, rice, vegetables)
- ✓ Snorkeling equipment (mask, fins, life vest)
- ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off in El Nido Town
Not Included
- Kayak or paddleboard rental at Big Lagoon (approx. PHP 150)
- Personal travel insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tips for crew and guide
What to Bring
- Reef-safe sunscreen (mandatory in Philippine marine parks — conventional sunscreen banned)
- Waterproof bag or dry bag for phone, camera, and valuables
- Cash (PHP 150 for optional kayak rental at Big Lagoon; tips for crew)
- Snorkeling mask if you own one — fit is better than a shared rental
- Light rash guard for sun protection on the boat
Good to Know & Caveats
- Shared boats carry 8–15 passengers — departs from El Nido Town Beach at 8:00–9:00 AM
- National park and entrance fees for all listed stops are included in the tour price
- Big Lagoon kayak or paddleboard rental is NOT included — bring PHP 150 if you want to paddle in
- Rain can fall year-round in El Nido — a small waterproof bag is more important than a raincoat
- Tour A does not visit the outer islands (Nacpan, Cadlao) — those are Tour D or private charter territory
Not Suitable For
- Travelers who cannot handle a short swim through a low arch (Small Lagoon entry at high tide)
- Guests requiring wheelchair or mobility-assisted boarding — bangka boarding is by wading or stepping over the hull
Meeting Point
El Nido Town Beach, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
What Travelers Say
Rated 4.4/5 by 1953 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
Amazing experience, staff very friendly and made the day great. Lots to see and do along with relaxing
— , 2026-07
Loved all the spots, it was good variety of activities. Guides were great photographers as well. The food they prepared for lunch was delicious.
— , 2026-07
Myself and my partner have been travelling for 6 weeks and this is by far the BEST tour we have done on our trip. The guides were amazing, big shoutout to Ivan for bringing the energy and enthusiasm!! The scenery was unbelievable, the swim spots and islands were incredible, lunch was amazing. Loved
— , 2026-06
Frequently Asked Questions
Which El Nido tour is best for first-timers?
Tour A is the classic first-timer choice because it covers El Nido's most photographed sites: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, and Secret Lagoon. If you're doing multiple tours, do Tour A first and follow it with Tour C for the more remote northern archipelago experience.
Is Tour A suitable for non-swimmers?
Yes. Life vests are provided and many stops (Secret Lagoon, Cathedral Cave, beach stops) don't require swimming. Big Lagoon can be explored by kayak. Small Lagoon involves a short swim through the arch but is very shallow and calm.
How early should I book Tour A?
During peak season (December to March), popular shared boats fill up 1–2 weeks in advance. Book as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. In shoulder season (April, May, November) you may be able to book 2–3 days ahead.
What is the difference between a shared and private Tour A boat?
Shared boats carry 8–15 passengers at a standard price (around PHP 1,200–1,500 per person). Private boats are for your group only and cost significantly more (PHP 5,000–10,000+ depending on group size and operator). Private charters allow a more flexible schedule and fewer crowds at each stop.
El Nido Island Hopping Tour A
Tour A is El Nido’s most iconic day trip — the route that introduced millions of travelers to the extraordinary scenery of Bacuit Bay. Rated 4.4/5 by 1,953 verified travelers, it covers the four most-photographed sites in the El Nido island chain: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Cathedral Cave, and a snorkel stop at Shimizu Island.
If you have only one day in El Nido and want to see what makes the area famous, Tour A is that day.
Big Lagoon: El Nido’s Most Photographed Site
The highlight of Tour A and one of the most recognisable images in Southeast Asia travel photography. Big Lagoon sits inside a ring of vertical limestone karst formations — the cliffs rise 150 metres on three sides, forming a natural amphitheatre around a pool of water in improbable shades of turquoise and jade.
Entry to the lagoon requires a kayak or paddleboard (available to rent from the bangka for 150 PHP, or wade in if water levels are low enough). The interior of the lagoon is calm and shallow, and the colours intensify as you move toward the centre. Morning light produces the best photography conditions; the tour is typically timed to arrive before 10 AM while the sun is still low over the eastern cliffs.
Small Lagoon: The Secret Inside
Smaller than Big Lagoon but arguably more dramatic, Small Lagoon is entered by swimming or kayaking under a low rock arch — approximately 90 cm of clearance at high tide. The arch is narrow enough that only one kayak can pass at a time, and the passage opens into an enclosed pool that is completely hidden from outside.
The interior of Small Lagoon is quiet, shadowed by the enclosing limestone walls, and home to a handful of large lizards that bask on the lower cliff faces. It is the most intimate stop on Tour A and the one most travelers remember longest.
Cathedral Cave: Natural Architecture
A sea cave that penetrates deep into one of the limestone formations between Big and Small Lagoon. The cave is tall enough to stand in for most of its length, and the entrance at the waterline is passable at most tide levels. The interior is dark and the walls are covered with stalactites formed over tens of thousands of years by groundwater seepage — guides carry flashlights and will point out the formations.
The cave opens at the far end into a beach cove accessible only through the cave itself — one of several “secret beaches” accessible only by sea in Bacuit Bay.
Secret Lagoon: Hidden from the Sea
Another enclosed lagoon, this one entered via a narrow passage through the limestone rather than by water. A short scramble through a gap in the cliff wall opens into a sheltered sandy area with a small pool. Unlike Big and Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon is accessed on foot — the physical passage through the rock is part of the experience.
During low season, Secret Lagoon is genuinely quiet. During peak season (December to March), the passage can queue with other tour groups. The guide will typically time the visit to avoid the busiest windows.
Shimizu Island: Snorkeling
The snorkel stop on Tour A, Shimizu Island is a small island with a sandy beach and one of the better-maintained coral reefs accessible by day tour in Bacuit Bay. The reef starts at 2–3 metres depth immediately off the beach and drops to 10–15 metres in the channel. Triggerfish, wrasse, parrotfish, and occasional turtles are regular sightings.
Lunch is typically served at Shimizu Island’s beach — fresh grilled fish, vegetables, and rice prepared by the bangka crew.
Tour A vs Other El Nido Tours
Tour A is the right choice if you want El Nido’s classic scenery: lagoons, caves, and enclosed bays formed by the karst limestone. Tour B focuses on cave systems and a sandbar (Snake Island). Tour C reaches further into the archipelago for more remote beaches and Matinloc Shrine. Tour D covers the northern part of Bacuit Bay.
Most travelers do Tour A first and then choose one other tour based on their remaining time. If you are taking the El Nido to Coron multi-day expedition, Tour A’s Big Lagoon and Shimizu Island are also visited on Day 1 — so consider doing Tour B, C, or D on the days before the expedition.
Practical Notes
Departures are from El Nido Town’s main beach at 8:00–9:00 AM with return in the late afternoon. All stops have national park entry fees (included in the tour price). The tour operates on shared boats of 8–15 passengers — if you want a private boat with your own schedule, operators offer private Tour A charters at roughly three times the shared price. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a waterproof bag for your phone and camera, and cash for optional kayak rental at Big Lagoon.
