The 9 Kayak Trips in the Philippines That Earn Their Price

1.Big Lagoon Kayaking & Island Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 132 reviews · 6 hours · from $23Our pick

Spend six hours exploring El Nido’s classic island stops with a local guide and boat crew. Kayak across Big Lagoon, snorkel near Shimizu Island, enter Secret Lagoon, and rest at Seven Commandos Beach. Guides including Arnold, Anderson, and Ken Kyle are known for keeping the boat lively. Bring cash for kayak, access, and equipment fees.

“great tour. loved everything about it. only thing I didn't like was we were the last ones off the boat so my daughter and I got one piece of chicken each. everything was gone by the time we got to it. we were the last ones to eat and people ravaged the food”

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2.Crystal Kayak Photo-op Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 72 reviews · 15 min · from $6Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide near Astoria Boracay, then paddle into the shallow coastal water in a transparent kayak for a 10 to 15 minute photo session. Bring your own phone or camera. Your guide helps with poses and framing, though the short time means you should arrive ready. Confirm the meeting point before booking, as weather and traffic can change it.

“The photographer was really good. I'm satisfied with my photos”

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3.Firefly Watching Paddle Boat Tour & Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 47 reviews · 4 hours · from $27

Spend the evening with an English-speaking guide, dinner at Swag Restaurant, and a quiet paddle-boat ride along the Sicsican River, also described as the Nagsaguipi River. Expect mangroves, fireflies, and possibly glowing water. Hotel pickup, transfers, life vests, dinner, and drop-off are included.

“Great evening activity. The guide was excellent, food was good, and the boat trip accords the bay way lovely and relaxing”

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4.SUSTAINABLE Mangrove Tunnels & Firefly Kayaking trail

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · 5 hours · from $85Top rated

Paddle the Abatan River with local guides such as Vince, Jeremy, and MacMac, moving through mangrove tunnels and quiet forest channels before watching synchronous fireflies after dark. This beginner-friendly, five-hour outing includes transfers, equipment, snacks, a Filipino dinner, and practical lessons about Bohol’s river ecology and conservation work.

“My mangrove tour experience at Kayakasia in Maribojoc was nothing shy of fantastic! 🥰🌴 Raymark was a gracious, welcoming host who met me upon arrival, oriented me to the tour schedule and eco conservation mission of these wonderfully talented and resourceful folks. Vince was a knowledgeable, generous, and thoughtful kayak instructor/tour guide who enlightened me about the life cycle of the mangrove…the daytime mangrove tour was very informative and stunning to behold up close! The nighttime firefly watching tour was nothing short of spectacular and magical… and a much needed therapeutic escape from the urban pace of my trip that started in Cebu City. Finally, the creative and conservation ta...”

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5.Coron Island Sunset Kayaking trail

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $64

Meet your English-speaking guide in Coron Town for a small-group sunset paddle through calm channels, mangroves, lagoons, and marine sanctuaries. You may snorkel, watch the sun from a quiet beach, and spot bioluminescent plankton on the return. Julius is one of the guides praised for his local knowledge and careful instruction.

“Great Excursion from start to finish. tuk tuk 🛺 picks you up in Coron and drives you to the location. Julius was great.. started with a quick lesson how to use the paddles correctly and then off we went. Travelled to a hidden lagoon covered with chocolate chip starfish. Then headed to a beach to watch the sun set. we snorkelled and saw a lot of wildlife including lionfish, eels, pufferfish etc. Julius made us tea and snacks at the beach.. a nice touch. kayaked back in the dark.. small fish were jumping out of the water. we were also treated to a show of bioluminescent plankton. could not recommend…”

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6.Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 8 reviews · 15 min · from $9

Spend 10 to 15 minutes in a renewed crystal kayak on Boracay’s calm waters while an English-speaking local guide helps with poses and photos. Guides named in guest feedback include Elvine and Mari. Choose a sunny day or sunset for the clearest shots. Hotel transfers are not included.

“Very nice photos, the guy helps you and suggests the best poses”

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7.From Tagbilaran City/Panglao Island: Bohol Mangrove Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 5 hours · from $64

Kayakasia Philippines takes you from Panglao or Tagbilaran to the Abatan River for a guided paddle through narrow mangrove tunnels. Local guides such as Vince and Jeremy explain the plants, birds, crabs, and river community. The five-hour outing includes transport, equipment, safety instruction, food, water refills, and changing facilities.

“Our Guide Vince was very informative, took many pictures for us. Never rushed us. was a great 7k paddle through the mangroves”

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8.North Face Kayaking Tour with Lunch and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 5 hours · from $85

Paddle Coron Island's rugged north face with guides such as Julius, reaching quiet lagoons and beaches that larger boats cannot. Stop for coral-reef snorkeling, tribal stories, coffee or tea, and a fresh beach lunch. The five-hour trip includes gear, boat support, water refills, entry fees, and Coron Town transfers.

“vam fer la excursió amb el Julius, i va ser el tour que ens va agradar més era expectacular. Vam anar amb kayak per Coron passant per llocs increïbles on nomes s'hi pot accedir amb kayak. Racons amagats, tranquils, sense gent, envoltats d'una natura impressionant. Tot estava perfectament organitzat: ens portaven el menjar fins allà així que només ens vam haver de preocupar de gaudir del moment. una experiencia totalment unica, auntentica i super recomanable per a tothom. Sobretot si vols descobrir llocs especials fora de les rutes més turistiques. ho recomanem 100%.”

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9.Shared Underground River with Mangrove Paddle Boat & LUNCH

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 3 reviews · 8 hours · from $56

Spend about eight hours exploring Puerto Princesa’s UNESCO-listed Underground River and Sabang’s mangroves. A hotel pickup, scenic drive, motorized boat, 45-minute cave paddle, buffet lunch, community-led mangrove trip, and Tamilok tasting are included. Wildlife sightings may include monkeys, lizards, snakes, and birds.

“Mediocre. I posti incredibili ma le guide mettevano molta fretta e non abbiamo potuto goderci a pieno il nostro tour.”

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