EL NIDO: Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH

El Nido Tour A packs the area’s headline scenery into one long day: a white-sand beach, towering limestone cliffs, clear lagoons, coral reefs, and a narrow opening into Secret Lagoon. Big Lagoon is the star, and kayaking through its calm water gives you a better look than simply passing through by boat.

I like the strong mix of activities, especially snorkeling at Shimizu Island and the easy swimming stops at 7 Commandos and Payong-Payong Beach. At $23 per person, the tour also offers solid value, with a buffet lunch, fruit, water, crew, boat, and hotel pickup within El Nido Town and Corong-corong. The catch is that government fees and kayak rental cost extra, and popular stops can be crowded.

Quick points before you book

• Big Lagoon is the main event: Kayaking lets you move at your own pace through the cliffs, but you pay separately for the lagoon and kayak.
• Five stops fill eight hours: Expect swimming, snorkeling, photos, lunch, and boat rides rather than a quiet private cruise.
• Shimizu Island combines food and fish: This is the planned lunch stop, with coral reefs around the island.
• The route can change: Weather conditions may alter the order or replace a stop.
• Budget for extra fees: The environmental fee is 400, the lagoon fee is 200, and hotel drop-off is not included.
• Bring your own dry-day kit: Pack cash, a change of clothes, biodegradable sunscreen, a waterproof bag, and waterproof shoes.

What the $23 price really gets you

The base price is appealing because it covers the major pieces of a full-day boat outing. You get pickup within El Nido Town and Corong-corong, a licensed tourist boat, captain, guide and crew, life vest, buffet lunch, water, and fruit.

That is a good deal for a shared tour, particularly if your priority is seeing the famous El Nido sights without arranging a private boat. You are not paying only for transport. The crew handles the route, beach stops, meal service, and safety equipment while you focus on swimming and taking photos.

Still, the advertised price is not the full cost. You need to pay a 400 environmental fee and a 200 lagoon entrance fee. Those amounts are listed as government taxes, so include them in your budget before deciding that this is an unusually cheap day out. Kayak hire is also extra, and the price does not include a ride back to your hotel.

The practical value depends on what you want. If you are happy sharing a boat and spending time at famous places with other groups, the price is strong. If you want quiet beaches, flexible timing, or a private guide, the savings come with noticeable tradeoffs.

Setting off from El Nido

The day starts at Beachfront Travel and Tours. Pickup is free within El Nido Town and Corong-corong, but hotel drop-off afterward is not included, so plan how you will get back before you leave.

Allow room for a little confusion around the start time. One booking showed an 8:30 start with an instruction to arrive 15 minutes early, while the actual departure was closer to 9:00. Confirm the meeting time directly and arrive early anyway. A relaxed morning is better than rushing to the pier in beach clothes with no cash.

The tour runs for about eight hours. This is enough time to see all five planned locations, but it is still a shared schedule. The boat must move with the group, and the guide may adjust the stops for weather or sea conditions.

The boat is licensed, and life jackets are supplied. English and Tagalog are the tour languages. You will be sharing the experience with other passengers, so expect a social day rather than a personal guide at your side every minute.

7 Commandos Beach: an easy first swim

The first stop is 7 Commandos Beach, a broad strip of pale sand backed by coconut trees and limestone cliffs. A story links the name to seven commandos who supposedly stayed here after World War II, though the real draw today is simple: warm water, sand, shade, and a good first chance to settle into the day.

You get about an hour for photos, swimming, and a short walk. Small shops and rustic beach bars provide drinks and snacks, which is useful if you want something beyond the included lunch.

I like this as an opening stop because it asks very little of you. You can swim, sit under a palm, or take in the views without special equipment. If you want a tan, this is one of the better places to slow down, although biodegradable sunscreen is the responsible choice in a marine setting.

The drawback is popularity. 7 Commandos is part of the standard route, so you should not expect an empty beach. Treat it as a pleasant introduction rather than a private island escape.

Big Lagoon: the reason many people choose Tour A

Big Lagoon is the most memorable stop for many people. The boat passes through a narrow entrance into a wide body of still water enclosed by tall limestone cliffs. The cliffs make the lagoon feel separate from the open sea, and the water shifts between blue and green depending on the light.

The planned visit lasts about an hour and can include a boat ride, photos, swimming, and kayaking. The kayak is the best way to appreciate the lagoon. You can paddle into quieter corners, look down into the clear water, and set your own pace instead of staying seated on the main boat.

Kayak rental costs extra, and the lagoon entrance fee is also separate. Ask about both charges before committing. One practical issue is timing. A boat may wait in open water while kayaks are being organized, and one experience involved nearly an hour of waiting before the canoes entered the lagoon. Bad weather can make kayaking less appealing, too.

The schedule may also change when conditions are poor. If you pay the entrance fee but decide not to enter because the weather is unsuitable, ask how the fee is handled. It is described as a government charge, and there may not be a refund.

Even with those cautions, Big Lagoon is worth prioritizing. If you have to choose where to spend your energy, save it for the kayak and take your waterproof phone pouch or camera.

Shimizu Island: snorkeling with lunch nearby

Shimizu Island is the main snorkeling stop. Its surrounding coral reefs support colorful fish and other sea life, giving you a chance to trade the towering cliffs for an underwater view.

The island is named after a Japanese diver associated with its waters. You get time for photos, swimming, snorkeling, and lunch, generally around an hour. The buffet is served on or near the beach, where trees provide some shade.

The food receives especially strong praise, with a good range of choices and a meal that works well after a morning in the sun. Fruit is included, and water is listed among the inclusions. Because information about drinks on the boat is not fully consistent, I would still bring your own water. One booking specifically advised passengers to carry it, while another experience described soda and water being served.

Snorkeling conditions depend on the weather and water clarity, so keep your expectations sensible. The reef is a valuable part of the day, but this is not a dedicated marine-life expedition. You are sharing the site with other boats, and your time is limited.

Eat enough to keep going, but do not linger over lunch if you want maximum water time. The boat still has to reach the remaining stops.

Secret Lagoon: a short squeeze into a natural room

Secret Lagoon is reached through a small opening in the limestone. Getting inside may require you to squeeze through the entrance, so keep your bag compact and protect your camera.

Once inside, you find a small enclosed lagoon surrounded by cliffs. The appeal is the sense of discovery, even though this is a well-known stop on Tour A. It feels different from Big Lagoon because the entrance is tight and the space is more enclosed.

The stop allows time for photos, sightseeing, and snorkeling. The opening can become congested when several groups arrive, and the narrow passage is not ideal for anyone who dislikes tight spaces. Follow the guide’s instructions and do not force your way through if the conditions or crowd make entry uncomfortable.

This is also a place where the advertised names can set expectations too high. It is not a secret in the usual sense, and you will not have the area to yourself. Still, the unusual entrance makes it one of the more distinctive stops.

Payong-Payong Beach: a quieter finish when conditions allow

Payong-Payong Beach is a smaller, calmer beach surrounded by plants and rock formations. The water is clear and the sand is soft, making it suitable for swimming, snorkeling, photos, or simply sitting down after a busy day.

The itinerary allows about an hour here. Some days may bring a different final stop, since the guide can adjust the route for weather, crowd levels, and local conditions. That flexibility can work in your favor. A crew may choose a prettier or calmer beach instead of following the standard order.

This is an excellent place to judge the day honestly. If you want one more swim and a peaceful pause, Payong-Payong can be just right. If you hoped for nonstop major sights, it may feel less dramatic than Big Lagoon or Secret Lagoon.

Small beach bars may offer cocktails or other drinks, but those are not part of the stated inclusions. Carry cash for purchases, and do not assume every stop accepts cards.

Food, crew, and organization

The crew’s biggest strengths are friendliness and practical help. The guides are described as professional and willing to make the day easier, particularly when changing the final stop or organizing activities. They also call the group back after kayaking, which helps keep the schedule moving.

The buffet is one of the better parts of the package. You get a proper meal rather than needing to buy lunch at each island, and the range of choices suits a long day in the sun. Fruit is also included.

Organization is less consistent. A delayed start and a case where lunch was left behind led to a long wait at one beach. That does not mean every departure will have the same problem, but it does show the limits of a low-cost shared operation.

Bring patience along with your swimsuit. A boat tour has moving parts: weather, tides, other boats, kayak availability, and lunch timing. The crew can manage most of this, but you should not expect Swiss-clock precision.

There is also an environmental responsibility issue. Plastic bags, smoking, alcohol and drugs, and littering are not allowed. That is sensible, but you should also carry reusable containers where possible and take care of your own rubbish. The beaches and reefs are the reason this tour works at all.

Crowds, timing, and the shared-boat tradeoff

Tour A is popular because it contains the places most people want to see. The downside is that many boats follow similar routes at similar times. You may find yourself swimming, kayaking, and taking photos alongside several other groups.

This affects the mood more than the scenery. The cliffs and lagoons remain impressive, but a busy beach is less peaceful than the brochures suggest. If solitude is your main goal, a private boat or a less common route may suit you better.

The shared format does have benefits. It keeps the price down, creates a social atmosphere, and removes much of the planning burden. You can spend the day moving between famous sites without negotiating every boat fare or lunch arrangement yourself.

The best approach is to go early, follow the meeting instructions carefully, and accept that the schedule is a group schedule. Bring a waterproof bag, change of clothes, camera, beachwear, waterproof shoes, biodegradable sunscreen, and cash. Keeping your belongings dry matters because you will move between boat, beach, and water repeatedly.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this trip if you have one full day in El Nido and want a broad first look at the area. It suits couples, friends, solo visitors who enjoy group outings, and families comfortable with swimming, snorkeling, beach stops, and a little boat-day disorder.

It is also a good fit if value matters. The combination of five stops, buffet lunch, equipment, crew, and transport from central El Nido gives you plenty for the base price, even after adding the required fees.

You may want a different plan if you dislike crowds, need exact departure times, or do not want to pay extra for the lagoon and kayak. The hour-by-hour schedule is useful, but the actual day depends on weather and group logistics.

A final practical point: free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour, and you can reserve now and pay later. That flexibility helps if your Palawan plans are still shifting.

Should you book El Nido Tour A?

Book it if you want the classic El Nido highlights at a low starting price. Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, 7 Commandos Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach give you a satisfying mix of cliffs, reefs, sand, and swimming.

Go in with realistic expectations. You are buying access to famous shared sites, not a private island day. Add the environmental and lagoon fees, budget for a kayak, carry water and cash, and allow for a late start or a route change.

For a first El Nido outing, the value is hard to ignore. For a quiet, carefully timed escape, look toward a private or less common boat route instead.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour A last?

The tour lasts about eight hours, including the boat rides, five planned stops, lunch, swimming, snorkeling, photos, and kayaking.

What places does Tour A visit?

The planned stops are 7 Commandos Beach, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Payong-Payong Beach.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch is included, along with fruit and water.

Is kayaking included in the price?

No. Additional kayak rental is not included. The lagoon entrance fee is also charged separately.

How much are the government fees?

The environmental fee is 400, and the lagoon entrance fee is 200. The supplied information does not specify the currency, so confirm the payment details when booking.

Is hotel pickup included?

Free pickup is included within El Nido Town and Corong-corong. Drop-off back to your hotel is not included.

What languages does the guide speak?

The tour guide service is available in English and Tagalog.

Can the itinerary change?

Yes. The destinations and order can change according to weather and local conditions. The guide may also select a different lunch or final beach stop.

What should I bring?

Bring a change of clothes, camera, biodegradable sunscreen, beachwear, cash, a waterproof bag, and waterproof shoes. Carrying extra drinking water is also a sensible precaution.

What is not allowed on the tour?

Smoking, plastic bags, alcohol and drugs, and littering are not allowed.