If you love beaches and simple island days, this one hits hard. Tour A mixes snorkeling around Shimizu Island with long white-sand time at Seven Commando, plus lagoon stops where you’ll spot limestone cliffs and marine life. One catch: it’s not a great match if you’re prone to seasickness.

I also like the way the day is built around swim time, not just sightseeing. You get a motorized boat, lifevest, a DOT-licensed guide, and a picnic lunch. Still, budget for extra on-site costs like the environmental fee and lagoon fee, since those aren’t included in the $27 price.

Key Things I’d Focus On for Tour A

• Shimizu Island snorkeling or sand relaxation with coral and lots of fish
• Seven Commando beach stretch plus a small bar for a drink
• Lagoons, beaches, and limestone cliffs with vegetation views between stops
• Sea turtle possibility during the day, depending on what’s around
• Lifevest + DOT-licensed guide for a calmer experience on the water
• Bring your own sunscreen and waterproof setup to avoid a day of soggy gear

Shimizu Island Snorkeling and Seven Commando White Sand

Tour A is basically a greatest-hits package for El Nido’s “day on the water” mood. You’ll spend time around Shimizu Island, where you can either snorkel to look at corals and fish or just kick back on the fine white sand. That choice matters because snorkeling is active work, and beach time is what your shoulders thank you for later.

Then the day ends at Seven Commando beach, another long stretch of white sand. This is where the tour shifts from exploring to lingering. There’s also a little bar serving drinks, which turns the last stop into a more relaxed finish instead of a rushed photo-op.

Because the day is built around water time, you’ll want to be honest about your body. If you’re prone to seasickness, the boat segments may feel tough. If you’re usually fine on boats, it’s a straightforward, classic island-hopping style day.

Your 9-Hour Day Plan: Why It Works

This tour runs for 9 hours, which is a sweet spot. It’s long enough to feel like you really left the town behind, but short enough that you’re not wiped out for the next day.

You’ll typically be on a motorized boat between stops, then spend chunks of time in the water or on the beach. Since the schedule is arranged around swimming and snorkeling, the pacing can feel more “waves and breaks” than a strict timeline of monuments.

One more timing note: starting times depend on availability, so check when you can be picked up. If you’re the type who hates being rushed, pick an earlier start if you can. It gives you more cushion if there’s any delay.

Getting to the Dock: Pickup Rules That Matter

Pickup is included only if your accommodation is within Elnido Proper. That’s a big deal because the tour’s convenience depends on where you’re staying.

If your hotel sits outside town proper, you’ll need to take a tricycle to the meeting point at Petron Gasoline Station near El Nido Port. Plan to build in a little buffer for that ride. It’s usually not dramatic, but missing the meet-up because of “just one more thing” is the fastest way to spoil a beach day.

Tip: if you’re staying just a few minutes outside town, still consider making your own way to the meeting point early. Tricycles can be quick, but you don’t control wait time.

The Stops: Lagoons, Beaches, and Limestone Cliffs

Even though Tour A is often described through its anchor stops, the day also includes lagoon and beach moments in between. Expect to see beautiful lagoons and shoreline scenery, plus the limestone cliffs covered with vegetation. Those cliffs are part of what makes El Nido feel so different from generic beach towns. You’re not just staring at sand. You’re watching a whole coastal world of rock, greenery, and water.

The tour also includes snorkeling spots beyond just Shimizu. The plan is to let you swim and admire corals and hundreds of fish species, which is the reason most people book an El Nido hopping day in the first place. When it works, you’ll feel like you’re seeing the “real underwater side” of the islands, not just surface views from the boat.

A practical drawback: lagoon hopping days depend on conditions. If you show up with the right mindset, you’ll still enjoy the beaches, but you shouldn’t expect a guaranteed perfect-water-magic moment every single minute.

Shimizu Island: Pick Your Mode

Shimizu Island is the first big draw for many people, and for good reason. You get two modes here:

1. Snorkel to see corals and fish
2. Relax on white sand if you’d rather not suit up

If snorkeling is your priority, focus on the little things that keep you comfortable: good fit, clear visibility, and controlled breathing. If you’re on the fence, you can still do it in a way that feels relaxed. Even short snorkeling sessions are often the most memorable part because the coral life can look active in a way that doesn’t require hours of effort.

If beach mode is your priority, you’ll still get the payoff: fine sand and the sense that you’re on a real island, not a beach that belongs to a hotel. Either way, Shimizu is the stop where the day can feel like a true getaway.

Seven Commando Beach: Long Sand, Light Ending

Seven Commando beach is where the tour shifts into slow mode. You’ll get long white sand time, plus a chance to keep hanging out after the main exploring. There’s also a small bar serving drinks, which makes it easy to reward yourself without having to leave the beach.

This part of the day is also a great time for photos, but not because you need Instagram-perfect views. It’s because the light and the cliff scenery tend to look good from different angles, even when the day is simply cloudy or bright.

Sea turtles are possible during the tour. That’s not something you can schedule like a stop. But if you love wildlife watching, this is the kind of day where you might get a surprise sighting.

Snorkeling Gear and Lifevest: How to Get Ready

You’ll be given a lifevest and you’ll have a DOT-licensed guide with you, which helps a lot if you’re not used to boats and open water. Still, you’ll want to show up prepared so snorkeling doesn’t turn into a logistics headache.

Bring:

• Sunscreen (and biodegradable sunscreen is recommended)
• Beachwear
• A waterproof camera or a waterproof setup for your phone
• A waterproof bag for your dry items
• Goggles
• Snorkeling gear

Also, don’t rely on luck. Mask and snorkeling gear can be optional through the tour, but the data here doesn’t confirm what’s guaranteed to be available. If you have your own gear, you’ll avoid that uncertainty and get a better fit.

Humor-free reality check: if your sunscreen is the wrong kind, you might feel it later. Using the recommended biodegradable sunscreen is not just about rules; it’s about making your day easier and more comfortable on the go.

Price and Fees: What the $27 Actually Means

The listed price is $27 per person, and it includes a lot of what makes the tour painless: hotel pickup within Elnido Proper, a DOT-licensed guide, motorized boat, lifevest, and picnic lunch.

But you should know about the extra costs before you arrive:

• Environmental fee: 400 per person
• Lagoon fee: 200 per person
• Eco tax and lagoon fee are paid directly by the guest before the tour

So the real value question is: does $27 buy you the “core experience” plus the right logistics? Yes. The boat, the guide, and the swim-focused plan are the expensive part. The on-site fees are more about access and environmental management, and they’re standard for lagoon areas.

If you’re traveling on a tight budget, it’s worth adding those fees into your decision math instead of treating them like a surprise.

Optional add-ons also exist, like kayak rental and mask and snorkeling. If you already have gear, skip the extras.

Lunch on Island Time: Fuel for the Swim Day

You get a picnic lunch included in the tour. That matters because you’re spending hours on boats and in the sun, and you need real energy for snorkeling and swimming.

One verified experience highlighted enjoying the buffet lunch. Even if your own lunch looks a little different day to day, the point stands: you’re not spending the day hungry or paying for food between stops.

Practical advice: don’t treat lunch like a full meal replacement for an empty stomach. Eat what you can calmly when it’s served. Then go easy with sunscreen and water after. A burnt day ruins the “look at the fish” part fast.

Who Tour A Fits Best (and Who Should Skip)

This is a good fit if you want:

• A popular El Nido style day with lagoons, beaches, snorkeling, and limestone views
• A mix of water activity and downtime
• A guided experience with lifevest support

It’s not suitable for people prone to seasickness. If boats make you feel rough on land, don’t gamble with a hopping day.

If you’re traveling with a group that has different energy levels, Tour A is also easier to enjoy because Shimizu Island supports both snorkeling and beach relaxation. One person wants to see coral life. Another wants to read a book on sand. You can still share the same day.

Reliability and Real-World Flow

A small but useful detail from recent verified booking experience: there were multiple issues in the morning, yet the provider still delivered the tour and ensured everyone did everything. That’s the kind of thing that matters because island hopping tours live and die on timing.

It doesn’t mean the day is guaranteed perfect. But it does suggest that if something goes wrong early, the team works to keep you on track. That gives you more confidence than a tour that feels fragile from the start.

Should You Book El Nido Island Hopping Tour A?

I’d book it if you want one of El Nido’s most popular day trips that covers the essentials: Shimizu snorkeling or beach time, a long finish at Seven Commando, and lagoon scenery with limestone cliffs. The included lifevest, DOT-licensed guide, motorized boat, and picnic lunch make it a solid value for a full day outdoors.

Skip or reconsider if:

• Seasickness is a regular problem for you
• You want a slower, more land-based experience with minimal boat time
• You’re not willing to pay the environmental and lagoon fees on top of the $27

If you’re a beach-and-snorkel person who likes guided structure (not micromanagement, just clear stops), Tour A is a good bet. Bring the right sun protection, pack a waterproof setup, and plan to enjoy the day as a sequence of swims, sand time, and cliff-and-lagoon views.

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