One day. Five famous stops. Clear water, tight timing. El Nido’s Shared Tour A is built for people who want the highlights of Palawan’s islands without planning every hour themselves. I like that it packs in both lagoons and beach time in a 6–7 hour window, so you get value even if you only have a day.

Two things I really like: the tour includes a licensed English-speaking guide plus boat transfers, so you’re not stuck figuring out the wharf or the route. And the day is designed around snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, and more, which is what most people come for in El Nido—active time on the water, not just staring at a viewpoint.

One drawback to consider is timing. This is a shared experience, and there have been reports of late departures and extra waiting, often tied to late arrivals by other passengers. If you’re the type who hates uncertainty, build in patience for a slightly chaotic group day.

Key highlights at a glance

• Marbers Beach Club check-in: quick docs and verification right near El Nido’s wharf area
• Five major El Nido stops: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong Payong Island, Seven Commandos
• Included lunch on the islands: scenery while you eat, not just a rushed meal back on shore
• English live guide: helps you understand what you’re seeing and what to do next
• Limited inclusions: water (300 ml) and lunch are covered, but lagoon fees and gear rentals cost extra

El Nido Shared Tour A: the 6–7 hour rhythm you should expect

Shared island hopping is a balancing act: you want enough time in each spot to enjoy it, but you also need to fit in the boat transfers and group check-in. This tour runs about 6–7 hours maximum, with meet-up starting 8:30–9:00 a.m. That timing matters because the whole day is built around getting moving early enough to reach multiple sites.

The vibe is classic El Nido: lots of water, lots of sun, and a schedule that keeps you busy. You’ll be bouncing between lagoons and beaches, with water activities like snorkeling and kayaking as the main events. If you like active days more than long, slow sightseeing, this format is a good match.

Starting at Marbers Beach Club: the wharf-area meeting point

You meet at Marbers Beach Club, a few minutes’ walk from the El Nido wharf area. In practice, that’s convenient because you’re not trekking across town before the tour even starts.

What I’d call out is the paperwork and document processing step before you board. The team meets you at Marbers Beach Club, then you go through verification with the coast guard before getting dispatched on your assigned boat with your group. This is normal for a shared marine tour, but it does mean you should show up early and ready.

If you want a smoother day, treat the 8:30–9:00 arrival window as real-life truth, not a suggestion. And if you’re planning anything else after your tour, keep some buffer—group processing and boat dispatch can take time.

Stop-by-stop: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu, Payong Payong, Seven Commandos

This tour’s core appeal is the lineup. Instead of picking just one lagoon, you hit five of El Nido’s most talked-about destinations: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong Payong Island, and Seven Commandos Beach.

It’s also why the day feels busy: each stop is part “wow moment,” part “get in the water,” part “get back on the boat.” Here’s how each stop shapes your experience.

Big Lagoon: the one that may cost extra

Big Lagoon is the first big-name lagoon on the route. It’s also the one with an extra fee listed as Big Lagoon Fee @ Php 200/person.

That extra cost is worth understanding up front: it means your final day spend won’t be only the advertised $25. If you really want Big Lagoon as your must-do, plan for the add-on fee early so it doesn’t feel like a surprise later.

At this stop, you’ll likely spend time enjoying the lagoon setting and any water activity you’re doing there. Even if you’re not a hardcore snorkeler, the lagoon scenery is the draw.

Secret Lagoon: smaller-feeling, big-view energy

Secret Lagoon is another highlight stop on the same day. It’s the contrast to Big Lagoon—often that’s what people are hoping for when they do both.

Even without extra fee details provided for Secret Lagoon, it’s still part of the shared route, meaning you’ll be going through the same flow: quick staging, group time in the lagoon area, then moving on. If you like variety—different water settings back-to-back—this is where the day can start feeling especially satisfying.

Shimizu Island: a snorkel-and-swim type of stop

Shimizu Island is included on this itinerary and fits the tour’s water-first style. The tour description specifically calls out activities like snorkeling and swimming, and Shimizu is the kind of stop where that plan usually makes sense.

One practical point: snorkeling and swimming are great, but the whole day is shared and timed. If you want longer water time here, you’ll need to stay flexible with the group schedule rather than expecting a slow, personal pace.

Payong Payong Island: add-on scenery between the bigger hits

Payong Payong Island appears as the next stop after Shimizu. This is often the kind of place where you feel the day “open up” a bit—more scenery, more chance to reset between more structured lagoon moments.

It also helps break the day into chunks. Instead of only lagoons, you get a different kind of coastline feel, which can make the whole route more enjoyable if lagoons start to blend together in your head.

Seven Commandos Beach: for sand, breaks, and photos

Seven Commandos Beach rounds out the island list. This is where a beach stop is useful in a day that’s otherwise water-and-boat heavy.

Even if you’re mostly there for the water views, Seven Commandos offers that needed rhythm shift: some time onshore, some calmer moments, and photo opportunities without constant boarding and paddling.

If you get seasick easily, this beach pacing can actually help—assuming you can tolerate the boat ride segments.

Lunch on the islands: what’s included (and what to plan around)

Lunch is included. The tour describes it as a lunch meal while viewing the beautiful scenery in one of the island destinations. That’s a big quality-of-life win versus eating back at the port.

There are two practical things to plan around:

• Your schedule is tight, so lunch is part of the day’s flow, not a long restaurant meal.
• Drink options are limited to what’s provided: you get bottled water (300 ml only).

If you know you drink a lot of water in heat, that 300 ml can vanish fast. So mentally prepare for hydration to be your responsibility after the included water runs out. Also follow the rules on drinks in the vehicle and what you can bring; the tour lists alcohol restrictions, and it also bans plastic bottles and glass objects.

Water activities: kayaking, snorkeling, and what rentals really mean for your budget

The tour highlights water activities you can choose from, including snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, and more. That sounds great, but your wallet may feel the difference because gear costs aren’t fully included.

It clearly says kayak and other aqua gear rentals are not included. So if you want a kayak, assume you’ll pay extra on top of the base rate.

Even if you’re mostly focused on snorkeling, keep the rental note in mind. The day is built around water time, so you may end up needing additional gear depending on what you personally bring and what’s available at the time.

My advice: decide what’s your priority—snorkel, kayak, or just swimming—and then budget accordingly. This tour can still be great value, but only if you align expectations with what’s included.

Price and value: $25 plus the fees you should not ignore

The headline price is $25 per person, valid for 1 day with starting times based on availability. That’s a reasonable entry price for a boat-based island hopping day with lunch and a guide.

But here’s the key: your total can climb once you add mandatory fees listed as not included:

• Environmental Fee @ Php 400/person
• Big Lagoon Fee @ Php 200/person
• Possible kayak and aqua gear rentals

So the best value comes if you:

1) actually use the included lunch and guide time, and

2) plan your add-ons instead of reacting to them at the docks.

If you mainly care about beach views and one lagoon and you’re not excited about extra activities, you might feel the extra fees more than someone who’s fully in for snorkeling and lagoon time.

If you want to experience several well-known El Nido sites in a single day, this format usually wins. Just don’t mentally treat $25 as the entire cost of your day.

Timing reality: how group dispatch affects your day

This is where you should pay attention. Because the tour is shared, it depends on everyone being ready for documentation and boarding. There have been reports of long waits for late passengers and delays before departure, including a case of about an hour and 20 minutes late.

That means you should do two simple things:

• Be early, even if you think you’re already early
• Don’t schedule anything stressful right after your return

Also, shared days can come with communication issues between booking sources and operators. In other words, don’t wait for perfect updates. When you arrive at Marbers Beach Club, get your bearings fast and confirm what’s happening with your assigned team.

Comfort rules: what to bring and what to leave behind

The tour has a clear list of not-allowed items and restrictions, and they affect how smooth your day will be.

What to bring

• ID card (a copy is accepted)

What to skip

• Luggage or large bags
• Weapons or sharp objects
• Alcohol and drugs (and also alcohol-related rules in vehicles)
• Plastic bottles and glass objects
• Valuables (bring minimal valuables)
• Surfboards, bikes, and lots of types of wheeled gear
• Anything that risks being unsafe around boats and water

Footwear and behavior

• No high-heeled shoes
• Avoid anything that increases risk on wet surfaces
• Don’t create fire or litter

If you pack light and wear practical shoes, you’ll avoid most of the annoying friction. This tour is about moving between water and boats, not hauling your life around.

Seasickness and health: be honest with yourself

The tour is specifically noted as not suitable for people prone to seasickness and for those with pre-existing medical conditions. It’s also not suitable for mobility impairments, wheelchair users, and visually impaired people.

So don’t try to tough it out. If you know boats can make you sick, pick a gentler plan. And if you have any medical constraints, verify with your doctor first and don’t treat this as a casual stroll.

Rainy season changes: you might not get the exact same route

During rainy season, tours might be diverted to different tour options depending on weather and availability. That’s common in island tourism, but it matters if Big Lagoon or a specific stop is your main reason for booking.

If weather is questionable when you travel, keep an open mind about route changes. The good news is the tour is still built for island-hopping style sightseeing. The trade-off is you might not hit the exact same sequence every time.

Who Shared El Nido Tour A fits best

This tour fits best if you want a full “El Nido hits” day:

• You want five famous stops in one outing
• You’re interested in snorkeling and kayaking options
• You like guided days where the route is handled for you
• You’re okay with a shared-group pace and some waiting

It’s less ideal if you hate group delays, are sensitive to boat motion, or want a fully quiet, private experience. Also note that the tour isn’t suitable for wheelchair users and isn’t meant for visually impaired guests, based on the stated restrictions.

Should you book Shared El Nido Tour A?

I’d book it if your goal is simple: spend one day in El Nido doing the big-name island hopping route, with lunch included and a licensed English guide, and you’re comfortable paying the extra lagoon/environment fees.

I’d hesitate if punctuality and comfort are your top priorities. There are real-world reports of late departures and a bit of chaos around late arrivals in shared groups. If you’re the type who needs your day to run like a train, build extra time and don’t assume the schedule will be perfect.

If you do book, your best move is practical: show up early at Marbers Beach Club, keep expectations flexible, and decide ahead of time whether you’ll pay for kayak/aqua gear rentals. That’s how you turn a shared tour into a day that feels worth it.

FAQ

What time do I need to meet for Shared El Nido Tour A?

Meet-up starts between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. at Marbers Beach Club near the El Nido wharf area.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts and ends at Marbers Beach Club.

What’s included in the $25 price?

The included items are lunch, a licensed English-speaking tour guide service, boat transfers, and bottled water (300 ml only).

What extra fees might I need to pay?

The tour does not include the Environmental Fee @ Php 400/person and the Big Lagoon Fee @ Php 200/person. It also does not include kayak and other aqua gear rentals.

Can I bring luggage or a lot of belongings?

No. The tour lists luggage or large bags as not allowed. You should travel light.

Is the tour okay if I get seasick or have mobility needs?

No. It is listed as not suitable for people prone to seasickness, people with pre-existing medical conditions, and those with mobility impairments or wheelchair users.

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