El Nido Island Tour D

Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon give this trip its main appeal: towering limestone cliffs, clear water and a quieter route than El Nido’s better-known Tour A. I like the five-stop plan and the included picnic lunch, especially at $22 per person. You also get a guide, life vest, permits and hotel pickup within El Nido Town.

The catch is the loose morning schedule. You meet before 8:30am, may wait at the beach, and the boat leaves between 9:00am and 10:00am after Coast Guard clearance. Add the 400-peso environmental fee, 200-peso lagoon fee and optional kayak rental, and the bargain price needs a little planning.

Key points

• Five stops in one day: Visit Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Bukal Beach and Pasandigan Beach.
• A quieter route: Tour D can feel less crowded than Tour A, though the exact boat and group situation may vary.
• Small Lagoon costs extra: Kayak rental is 300 pesos per hour, and it is the only stated way to enter the lagoon by kayak.
• Simple, useful inclusions: Lunch, life vest, guide, boat permit and town hotel pickup are covered.
• Expect a flexible start: Boat dispatch depends on Coast Guard clearance and normally takes place between 9:00am and 10:00am.
• Five extra stops and fees: Budget 400 pesos for the environmental fee and 200 pesos for the lagoon fee, both collected at the booking office.

Why Tour D is worth considering

El Nido’s famous limestone cliffs are the star of this outing. They rise sharply from the sea around narrow passages, lagoons and small beaches, creating the sort of scenery that makes an ordinary boat ride feel like a film set.

Tour D is a good choice if you want the classic El Nido setting but would rather avoid the busiest circuit. The route includes two lagoon stops and three beaches, so the day has a useful mix of paddling, swimming, sunbathing and time on shore.

I particularly like the balance between major sights and beach time. Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon provide the dramatic scenery, while Paradise Beach, Bukal Beach and Pasandigan Beach give you room to slow down. Each stop lasts roughly 40 to 50 minutes, which is long enough for a swim or short walk but not long enough for a leisurely beach day.

The main compromise is comfort and timing. Boat dispatch is not fixed to the minute, and the wait between the office meeting and boarding can be around 30 minutes or more. Boat size and seating rules can also affect how pleasant the ride feels, so this is best approached as a simple local island trip, not a private cruise.

Starting at the Cliffside office

Your morning begins at the Cliffside Travel and Tours booking office beside El Nido Cliffside Cottages. Be there before 8:30am, even though the boat may not leave until later.

The office meeting is useful because the guide can organize the group, check the required fees and prepare you for the boat transfer. It also means you should not arrive at the beach expecting to board immediately. The group may walk or transfer together to El Nido Town Beach, then wait for Coast Guard clearance.

The stated boat dispatch window is 9:00am to 10:00am. The ride to the first stop takes about 20 to 30 minutes. If you have a hotel pickup, it is included only within El Nido Town, so confirm your lodging location before booking.

Bring patience for this part of the day. A fixed 8:30am meeting does not mean an 8:30am departure, and weather or official clearance can affect the start. I would avoid scheduling a tight afternoon commitment after the tour, since the return is expected between 3:00pm and 5:00pm.

Small Lagoon and the extra kayak decision

Small Lagoon is likely to be the most memorable stop for many people. Limestone walls frame the water, and the entrance creates a strong sense of arrival even before you get close.

The tour information says kayak rental is available here for 300 pesos per hour. This fee is separate from the tour, and kayaking is not included in the $22 price. If entering the lagoon by kayak is important to you, bring enough cash and ask about availability before the boat leaves.

A kayak can make the stop more active and gives you a way to move into the lagoon rather than simply staying near the boat or beach. If you prefer swimming or taking photographs from shore, you can skip the rental, but you should not assume every part of the lagoon can be reached without one.

You may find Small Lagoon busier than the beach stops, especially when several boats arrive at once. The short visit also means you need to choose your activity quickly. Decide in advance if you want to kayak, swim, photograph the cliffs or simply enjoy the setting.

Cadlao Lagoon and the limestone cliffs

Cadlao Lagoon adds another major cliff-and-water stop to the day. Its appeal is similar to Small Lagoon, but the change of setting keeps the route from feeling like one repeated photo opportunity.

The limestone formations are the visual reason to choose Tour D. Their steep walls make the water feel enclosed and calm, while the boat ride gives you changing views as you approach and leave the area.

The stay is again about 40 to 50 minutes. That is enough for a short swim or a relaxed look around, but you will need to follow the guide’s timing. In a shared boat, the schedule keeps everyone moving, so lingering at one lagoon may not be possible.

The extra lagoon fee is 200 pesos, collected at the booking office. The environmental fee is another 400 pesos. These charges are not hidden once you know to expect them, but they do change the real cost of the day. Include both in your budget before comparing this trip with other El Nido tours.

Paradise Beach brings a change of pace

After the lagoon stops, Paradise Beach gives the day a more open and relaxed feel. The name sets a high bar, but the practical attraction is simple: it is a white sand beach where you can swim, sunbathe and take a break from the boat.

This is also the sort of stop where the short schedule matters. Forty to 50 minutes passes quickly if you want to swim, dry off and take photographs. I would keep your belongings organized and avoid spending the entire stop walking away from the boat.

The tour also allows activities such as volleyball, depending on what is available at the beach and how the group uses the time. If you want a quiet beach visit, try to claim a little personal space early rather than waiting until the final minutes.

Paradise Beach works well as a middle part of the day. The lagoons provide cliffs and enclosed water, while the beach gives you sun and open views. That variety is one of Tour D’s stronger points.

Bukal Beach and Pasandigan Beach

Bukal Beach and Pasandigan Beach round out the five-stop route. Both are included as separate destinations, giving you more chances to swim, rest on white sand or enjoy the water without paying for another excursion.

The available details do not promise a different activity at each beach, so I would keep expectations practical. These are beach stops within a shared island-hopping day, not full guided visits with long walks or extensive interpretation.

Their value comes from the rhythm of the day. After a lagoon visit, another beach lets you stretch, dry off and enjoy lunch. The next stop then provides a fresh setting rather than sending you straight back to town.

The group may choose one of the islands for the picnic lunch. The meal is included, but the exact beach and menu are not specified. One direct account found the meal less generous than meals on other tours, while another described the trip positively overall. I would treat the lunch as a convenient included meal, not a major reason to book.

What the day feels like on the water

Tour D is an active day, but it is not a demanding expedition. You move between five destinations by boat, spend short periods at each place, and choose among swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, volleyball and eating.

A licensed guide is available throughout the trip for assistance. English and Tagalog are the stated guide languages, which makes the tour accessible to many visitors, though no individual guide names are provided.

Life vests are included. Snorkeling mask rental is available at the beach during boat dispatch, but the price is not stated. If snorkeling is central to your plans, ask about the mask cost before boarding rather than assuming it is part of the package.

Boat comfort deserves attention. One account found the boat small and objected to not being allowed to sit on the boat benches, while other boat operators on similar routes allowed it. Rules can vary by boat and crew, so ask where you may sit and what is expected before departure.

This is a shared excursion with a practical schedule. You are paying for access to several beautiful places and basic support, not for a private boat or a custom pace.

Is $22 a good value?

At $22 per person, Tour D is priced attractively for an eight-hour island day. The base package includes the boat trip, guide, life vest, boat permit, picnic lunch and free hotel pickup within El Nido Town.

The added fees are important. You pay 400 pesos for the environmental fee and 200 pesos for the lagoon fee at the booking office. Kayaking at Small Lagoon costs another 300 pesos per hour, and snorkeling mask rental is extra.

That still may be good value if you want five destinations in one day. The trip would cost more if lunch, permits and boat transport were charged separately, and the town pickup removes one small transport concern.

The value is weaker if you want guaranteed comfort, a fixed departure time or a generous lunch. You are also paying for an eight-hour schedule that may end anywhere from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. I would compare the total cost after fees, not just the advertised price.

Tour D compared with the more crowded routes

Tour D is especially useful for someone who has already heard about Tour A and does not want the busiest possible version of El Nido. One account found Tour A crowded at each stop and disappointing because it did not visit the places originally desired.

Tour D can provide a quieter alternative, although no shared island tour can promise empty beaches. Another account praised the route for being less visited than Tours A and C while still reaching attractive places. That is a strong reason to consider it during a busy season.

The tradeoff is that the lower-crowd advantage may come with a smaller boat or less polished service. One account found the staff less cheerful and the guide less engaging than on other trips. Another described the staff as cool and the places as beautiful.

This is a useful reminder to judge the tour by what it actually offers. If your priority is scenery and route choice, Tour D makes sense. If your priority is lively guiding, generous food and roomy seating, you may want to ask detailed questions before paying.

Practical preparation for the morning

Arrive at the booking office before 8:30am and allow time for the group to reach the beach. Since boat dispatch depends on Coast Guard clearance, do not plan around the earliest possible departure.

Bring cash for the 400-peso environmental fee, 200-peso lagoon fee and optional 300-peso kayak rental. Snorkeling mask rental is also extra, but its price is not given.

Wear clothing that can handle swimming and sun. Keep valuables in a secure waterproof bag if you have one, since the trip includes repeated movement between boat, beach and water.

The included life vest is useful, but it does not replace ordinary sun protection and drinking water. The tour information confirms the picnic lunch, but it does not state that drinks or snacks are included, so check before leaving the office.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those terms help if your El Nido schedule is still changing, but you should still confirm the exact meeting instructions and any pickup details with the operator.

Who should book Tour D?

I would recommend Tour D to you if you want El Nido’s famous limestone scenery with a route that may feel calmer than Tour A. It suits people who enjoy a full day outdoors and are happy moving through five stops on a shared boat.

It is also a good fit if you want choices. You can kayak at Small Lagoon, swim at the beaches, snorkel with rented equipment, sunbathe or join a volleyball game. The trip does not force you into one activity at every stop.

Families and casual swimmers may appreciate the short visits and included life vests, though the boat wait and variable return time require patience. Anyone with a tight schedule should leave plenty of space after the planned 3:00pm to 5:00pm finish.

I would be more cautious if you dislike waiting, need a roomy boat seat or expect a large lunch. The service can depend on the assigned boat and guide, and the extra fees make the final price higher than the headline figure.

Should you book El Nido Tour D?

Book it if two lagoons, three beaches and a quieter route sound more appealing than a polished, tightly timed cruise. The scenery is the main reward, and the $22 starting price is fair once you account for lunch, permits, guide service and town pickup.

Before booking, budget the 600 pesos in required environmental and lagoon fees. Add 300 pesos per hour if you want a kayak at Small Lagoon, and confirm the mask rental price if snorkeling matters to you.

Tour D is not the right pick for everyone. It may involve a long morning wait, a small boat and uneven service, but it gives you a strong full-day introduction to El Nido’s cliffs, lagoons and beaches. For a flexible visitor who values the route more than luxury, I would put this one on the shortlist.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour D last?

The tour duration is about eight hours. The trip usually ends between 3:00pm and 5:00pm, depending on the morning dispatch and conditions.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at the Cliffside Travel and Tours booking office beside El Nido Cliffside Cottages. You should arrive before 8:30am.

When does the boat leave?

Boat dispatch from El Nido Town Beach is scheduled between 9:00am and 10:00am. The exact time depends on Coast Guard clearance.

Which destinations are included?

Tour D visits Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Bukal Beach and Pasandigan Beach.

What is included in the price?

The package includes a life vest, tour guide, boat permit, picnic lunch and free hotel pickup within El Nido Town.

What extra fees should I expect?

You pay a 400-peso environmental fee and a 200-peso lagoon fee at the booking office. Kayak rental at Small Lagoon costs 300 pesos per hour, while snorkeling mask rental is also separate.

Can I cancel the tour or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you book without paying immediately.