One day, five coastline moments. El Nido’s limestone and lagoon scenery is the real star here, and the island-hopping format makes it feel efficient without rushing every second. I especially like the licensed, English-Tagalog guide support and the fact that your day is built around swimming, snorkeling, and beach time (not just photo stops). The one drawback to keep in mind is that the schedule can run a bit by the clock, since boat dispatch depends on Coast Guard clearance and you’ll also have limited time and space at each stop.

You’ll start with a hotel pickup within El Nido Town (for this tour), then meet at the Cliffside Travel and Tours booking office before heading to the beach for the boat. Expect about 40–50 minutes at each main destination, plus a picnic lunch served on one of the islands. If you’re hoping for long, slow lounging in one perfect spot all day, Island Tour A may feel more like “sampling the highlights” than “owning the day.”

Key things to know before you go

• Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon get the most “wow” time in the route, with guided help plus photo moments
• Shimizu Island and 7 Commando Beach are built for hopping, swimming, and beach breaks
• Picnic lunch is included, but it’s served as part of a tour day, not a sit-down meal
• Kayak rental in Big Lagoon costs extra, so plan if you want to add it
• Lagoon and environmental fees are extra and collected at the booking office
• Boat dispatch timing shifts (9:00–10:00), depending on Coast Guard clearance

What Island Tour A actually feels like in El Nido

El Nido can feel like a choose-your-own-adventure city. One day you’re on limestone cliffs and one minute later you’re on a sandbar that looks like it was put there by a movie crew. Island Tour A hits that contrast fast. You get a classic lineup of lagoon scenery plus open-beach time, all wrapped into an 8-hour outing that’s designed to keep you moving from stop to stop.

The tour’s value is in the structure. You’re not stuck planning or timing the route yourself, and the day is paced around short, focused windows. That matters because El Nido’s best views are time-sensitive. Go too late and the light changes, the sea conditions can shift, and boat clearances can make your day feel shorter than planned.

I also like that the tour is organized with a real meeting point and a licensed guide on hand. You’re given a safety briefing, you have life vests, and the guide is available if you need help. When you’re doing island hopping, that calm “someone’s handling it” feeling makes the whole day smoother.

Price and what you should budget beyond the $22

Island Tour A is priced at $22 per person, and that’s the headline. What you get for that price is important:

Included in the tour price:

• Life vest
• Tour guide
• Boat permit
• Picnic lunch
• Free pick-up in the hotel within El Nido Town only

Not included (you pay at the booking office):

• 200 pesos Lagoon fee
• 400 pesos Environmental fee
• Kayak rental (Big Lagoon only): 300 pesos per hour
• Snorkeling mask rental: not listed as a paid inclusion, but masks are available during boat dispatch

So the real “all-in” cost is the base tour price plus those two fees. That’s still usually one of the better ways to do El Nido without sinking money into private boats. The only thing to watch is the “extras” that appear during the day. If you’re the type who always adds a kayak, you’ll feel that 300 pesos per hour quickly.

Meeting point timing: how to avoid the start-of-day scramble

Your day begins at the Cliffside Travel and Tours booking office, beside El Nido Cliffside Cottages. Be there before 8:30am. The boat dispatch is scheduled between 9:00am and 10:00am, depending on Coast Guard clearance.

That time window matters. Island tours in El Nido aren’t just about getting on a boat; they’re about paperwork and clearances. If you show up right at the deadline, you can end up stressed before you’ve even seen the first lagoon.

A practical way to make this smoother:

• Arrive early enough to check in and get oriented before the crowd thickens.
• Keep your valuables zipped away. You’ll be on and off boats and doing water time.
• Have small cash ready for the Lagoon fee and Environmental fee collected at the booking office.

Also note that the tour ends back at El Nido Beach around 3pm to 5pm. If your hotel is not right next to that area, plan your ride back accordingly. One of the big “value” questions with island tours is how painless the end of day is for your specific hotel location.

The rhythm of the itinerary: what 40–50 minutes really means

Island Tour A includes five main destinations, with hop-on hop-off style stops. The pattern is usually:

• Travel time to the first destination: about 20–30 minutes
• Time at each island/destination: about 40–50 minutes
• Lunch served at one of the islands
• The licensed guide stays available if you need help

Forty to fifty minutes sounds like enough until you factor in basic water logistics: getting from boat to shore, putting on mask or adjusting gear, finding a nice spot to swim, then packing up and boarding again. The good news is that the tour is set up for quick enjoyment rather than slow hanging.

If you like structured time, you’ll enjoy this. If you prefer drifting for hours with no schedule, you may feel the pace.

Big Lagoon: the main photo spot and the kayaking add-on

Big Lagoon is where the tour puts a spotlight. You’ll get a photo stop and a guided tour, plus sightseeing and a safety briefing. It’s also the place where you can rent a kayak: 300 pesos per hour.

Why this stop matters: Big Lagoon is often the reason people come to El Nido’s island tours. The limestone shapes and lagoon setting are the centerpiece, and the guided part helps you know where to look and what you’re seeing, instead of just taking random photos and hoping for the best angle.

The kayak option is your choice. If you rent one, you’ll usually get more freedom to move through the lagoon at your own pace. But don’t treat it like a mandatory add-on. With limited time onshore, a kayak can be great or it can eat your swim time. I’d decide based on your comfort level and how much you want to spend that limited 40–50 minute window actively paddling.

If the conditions are rougher than ideal, you might find snorkeling and swimming less comfortable than on calmer days. The good side: even in less-than-perfect sea conditions, lagoon scenery usually still delivers.

Shimizu Island: short hop, beach reset

After Big Lagoon, the tour moves to Shimizu Island as a hop-on hop-off stop. That means you’re not stuck waiting through long transitions; you get a set window to enjoy the beach and take in the view, then you’re back on the boat.

This is a “reset” stop. You’ll likely do some combination of:

• swim time
• sunbathing
• quick photos

Because your time here is still in the 40–50 minute range, you’ll want to keep your gear setup fast. If you’re already comfortable in the water with your snorkeling mask, this stop can be an easy add-on. If you’re not into snorkeling, it’s still a good chance to recharge with the sand and sea.

Secret Lagoon and the best part of lagoon time: quick in, quick out

Next up is Secret Lagoon, El Nido, again as a hop-on hop-off stop. Lagoon stops tend to be where you get the big visual payoff. You’re watching limestone cliffs, trying to spot the best water color, and making small decisions like where to swim so you don’t waste time paddling to the view.

The practical catch is simple: you won’t have all day. Even with a guide present, you’ll be sharing limited time with the group and any other boats in the area. That’s not a bad thing—it keeps your day focused—but it does mean you should treat this as a “hit the highlights” stop.

If you’re a photographer, this is where you’ll want to be ready to move quickly when the timing feels right. If you’re just there to float and swim, aim to get in the water as soon as you can and then slow down.

The short stop at 48WC+77: where it fits in the day

You’ll also have a hop-on hop-off stop at 48WC+77 El Nido. The name looks like a coordinate or location marker rather than a scenic label. The key point for you is how it functions: it’s another scheduled moment within the broader route, designed to break up the day and keep the itinerary flowing.

Because the provided details don’t explain activities specifically at this stop, I’d treat it as a “stay alert, do what the guide suggests, and make the most of the time.” If you’re the type who wants a clear, specific destination identity before you arrive, this one may feel a bit less defined compared to Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, or Seven Commandos Beach.

Seven Commandos Beach: swimming and shore time

Seven Commandos Beach is the last major stop before you head back to finish at El Nido Beach. This is your shoreline moment, with the chance to swim, sunbathe, and enjoy the beach environment.

What I like about ending with a beach stop is that it’s easier to relax at the end of the day. There’s less “need-to-understand-where-to-look” pressure than lagoon scenery. You can just enjoy water time and sand time, then gather your things and board for the return.

Also, this is a nice place for casual activities mentioned as part of the tour: you can play volleyball and enjoy snacks/meals in the overall tour context. If you’re traveling with friends or you’re in a social mood, a beach stop is where that energy usually shows up.

Lunch on tour: simple food, practical timing

A picnic lunch is served during the tour, at one of the islands. This is one of those “good to know” items that changes how you pack your mindset for the day. You’re not going to get a restaurant meal experience. You’re getting food at tour time, with the sea day rhythm.

From the tour details alone, you should plan for:

• eating as part of the schedule
• eating without a long sit-down break

That doesn’t mean it’s bad. It just means you should bring a basic expectation: you’re eating to keep going, not to linger. If you’re sensitive to simple meals, you might want to carry a small snack for yourself (only if it doesn’t create hassle on the boat), especially if you tend to get hungry.

Snorkeling and masks: what’s included and what you’ll want ready

The tour includes the option to snorkel and swim. You’ll also have snorkeling mask availability during boat dispatch, but renting a snorkeling mask is not listed as an inclusion.

So what does that mean for you?

• You can likely get a mask at dispatch if you need one.
• If you have your own mask, you can skip any waiting and use what fits your face.
• If you want to snorkel, arrive feeling ready to do a quick setup rather than treating it like a long prep session.

Even if you don’t snorkel deeply, water time is a core part of the day. Life vests are provided, which helps with peace of mind for casual swimmers.

Guides and service: when help on water matters

Cliffside Travel and Tours runs the experience, and the tour guide is described as licensed and always available if you need assistance. The tour operates with English and Tagalog live guidance.

This matters more than people think. On a day like this, you’re dealing with:

• getting to multiple stops
• timing and boarding changes
• water activities and safety briefings

A guide with a good attitude and practical support can make the difference between feeling rushed and feeling taken care of. One positive theme in the feedback is that the guides are friendly and the overall tour service attitude is solid.

Also, you’re traveling by boat that’s kept in service condition. That sounds obvious, but with island tours, it directly affects how comfortable you feel once you’re out on the water.

Weather and sea conditions: why your day can look different

One of the most realistic parts of island hopping is that the sea and sky won’t always cooperate. If conditions are less calm, you might notice changes in how comfortable swimming feels, and the water color can look different than you expected.

You can’t control the weather. But you can control your expectations:

• You’re there for the scenery and the experience, not just perfect postcard conditions.
• If the sea is rougher, focus on being safe and staying flexible with your water plans.

The upside is that even on a day with imperfect conditions, you still get multiple stops with lagoon and beach scenery.

Is this tour good value for you?

For $22, Island Tour A is usually a strong value if you want the classic El Nido highlights without paying for a private boat. You’re getting life vests, a tour guide, a picnic lunch, and a permit-backed outing. Then you’re paying extra for the lagoon and environmental fees, plus optional kayaking.

Here’s how I’d decide if it fits your travel style:

You’ll likely love it if you:

• want to see several El Nido highlights in one day
• like swimming and short beach or snorkeling windows
• prefer guided structure over self-planning

You might want to skip or choose another option if you:

• hate time limits and prefer long stays
• need a very comfortable sit-down lunch setup
• are worried about schedule shifts due to Coast Guard clearance

Should you book El Nido Island Tour A?

Yes, I’d book it if you’re set on doing the iconic El Nido-style island hopping and you’re okay with a paced schedule. The mix of Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and Seven Commandos Beach gives you variety in scenery and water time, and the guide support plus included life vests make it a practical choice.

Just do two things before you go: factor in the extra 200 pesos lagoon fee and 400 pesos environmental fee, and arrive early at the Cliffside Travel and Tours office so you’re not rushing during the 9:00–10:00 dispatch window.

If you want a half-day that feels like a tour highlight reel, Island Tour A does that job well.

FAQ

FAQ

What is included in El Nido Island Tour A?

Life vest, tour guide, boat permit, and picnic lunch are included. Free pick-up in the hotel is included only within El Nido Town.

How many destinations are included in Island Tour A?

It includes five destinations: Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, Payong-payong beach, and Seven Commandos Beach.

How long is the tour and how long do we stay at each stop?

The total duration is about 8 hours. Time at each island or destination is approximately 40–50 minutes.

Where do I meet, and what time should I arrive?

Meet at the Cliffside Travel and Tours booking office beside El Nido Cliffside Cottages. Be there before 8:30am.

When does the boat dispatch leave?

Boat dispatch is scheduled between 9:00am and 10:00am depending on Coast Guard clearance.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at El Nido Beach around 3pm to 5pm.

Are lagoon and environmental fees included?

No. A 200 pesos lagoon fee and a 400 pesos environmental fee are collected in the booking office.

Is kayaking included?

No. Kayak rental in Big Lagoon costs 300 pesos per hour.

Is snorkeling gear included?

Snorkeling mask rental is not listed as included, but masks are available in the beach during boat dispatch.

What languages is the live guide available in?

The live tour guide is available in English and Tagalog.

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