El Nido: Private/Exclusive Island Hopping Tour A BEST PRICE!

Big Lagoon is the main event here, but the real advantage is having a private boat to reach it at a sensible pace. Your guide can adjust the order of stops, which may help you avoid the thickest crowds. You also get time for clear-water snorkeling and a Filipino buffet lunch rather than rushing from one photo stop to the next.

I like the personal service, especially the guides who take photos, watch your safety, and adjust the day when weather or crowd levels change. I also like the mix of famous sights and quieter beach time at Payong-Payong. The catch is the extra cost: at $135 per person, you still pay the environmental and lagoon fees, and kayak rental and snorkeling gear are not included.

Key points to know before booking

• Big Lagoon is the centerpiece: Expect black limestone cliffs, striking blue water, swimming, sightseeing, and optional kayaking.
• The private boat changes the day: Your group has exclusive use of the boat and can ask to change the order of stops.
• Guides are part of the value: Gabi, Jason, Renz, Edward, Joshua, Cyron, and others are praised for safety, photos, timing, and friendly care.
• Lunch is included but not a sure highlight: The buffet offers local Filipino dishes, though one recent comment found the food disappointing.
• Budget for extras: Environmental fees, lagoon entrance fees, kayak hire, and masks or snorkels are separate.
• Prepare to get wet early: You may need to walk through shallow water to reach the boat, so bring a dry bag and water shoes.

Why private Tour A works well in El Nido

El Nido’s Tour A is popular for a simple reason: it packs several of Palawan’s most famous sights into one day. You get limestone cliffs, narrow lagoon openings, white sand, snorkeling, and warm water without spending the whole day on the same kind of beach.

This version uses a private boat for your group. That matters most at the stops where timing makes a difference. You can ask your guide to change the sequence, and several guides have done so to avoid the busiest periods. That does not guarantee an empty lagoon, but it gives you more control than a fixed group departure.

The day runs for about eight hours, with a short tuk-tuk pickup ride at the start. Pickup is free within one kilometer of Corong-Corong Beach. Hotel drop-off is not included, so plan your return from the boat arrival point yourself.

You will have a licensed boat, guide, and crew, plus life vests, bottled water, and lunch. The boat is private, but the beaches and lagoons are not. The word private means your transport and group arrangement, not exclusive ownership of each stop.

Seven Commandos Beach starts the day gently

Seven Commandos Beach is scheduled as a 45-minute stop. It is an easy opening to the day, with time for photos, swimming, a short boat cruise, and a look around the beach.

The beach takes its name from a group of soldiers said to have been stranded there during World War II. The surrounding limestone cliffs give it a dramatic setting, while the sand and open water make it a practical place to swim or settle in with a coconut drink.

I would use this first stop to get comfortable with the boat, check your camera, and ask your guide about the best order for the rest of the day. If the water is rough or the weather shifts, your guide may move stops around. One private group skipped Seven Commandos and still had a satisfying day at other beaches, so do not treat every stop as fixed.

Forty-five minutes goes quickly. You can take photos and swim, but you probably will not have time for a long, lazy beach session here.

Big Lagoon delivers the signature El Nido view

Big Lagoon is the reason many people choose Tour A. It sits among tall black limestone cliffs, with a narrow water passage leading into a large area of bright blue water. The contrast between the dark rock and the water is the classic El Nido scene.

You have about 45 minutes here for sightseeing, photos, swimming, and kayaking. Kayaks are not included in the price, so you need to pay separately if you want one. Clarify the kayak arrangement before setting out. One booking dispute involved a kayak that was available only for carrying bags to the boat, not for use inside the lagoon.

The lagoon is best appreciated slowly. Let your guide handle the practical details, then keep your attention on the cliffs, water, and narrow entrance. If you want photos, guides such as Renz and Edward have been praised for finding good angles and taking photos and videos for their groups.

There is a trade-off. Big Lagoon is famous, so it can be busy. The private format helps your guide time the visit, but it cannot remove other boats or people from a public attraction. If avoiding crowds matters to you, ask for an early start or a changed sequence, subject to local operating conditions.

Shimizu Island brings lunch and snorkeling

Shimizu Island receives about an hour, making it one of the longer stops. The setting is especially pleasant, with calm water, large limestone cliffs, and a beach suited to a break with your group.

This is the planned lunch stop, though the guide decides the exact location. The buffet includes local Filipino dishes, and bottled water is provided. Food quality appears to vary by taste. One person called lunch delicious, while another considered the food the only weak part of the day. I would enjoy the convenience but would not book this tour solely for its menu.

Shimizu is also a snorkeling stop. The tour description highlights the chance to swim with majestic turtles, but wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Bring your own mask and snorkel if you have them, or rent equipment locally. Fins and water shoes are not included.

If you have a seafood allergy, tell the operator ahead of time. A private group arranged a seafood-free lunch after communicating the allergy in advance. That is a good reason to use the private format well: share important food and safety needs before the boat leaves.

Secret Lagoon is small, dramatic, and physical

Secret Lagoon is not a wide-open swimming area. You reach it through a narrow opening in the limestone, then enter a hidden space surrounded by steep rock. The setting feels enclosed and atmospheric, especially after the open views at Big Lagoon.

The scheduled visit lasts about 45 minutes, including photos, sightseeing, and swimming. The entrance can be tight, and you may need to move carefully through the water and rock. This stop is not a good match for anyone who needs wheelchair access. The tour is specifically not suitable for wheelchair users.

The name can create the wrong expectation. Secret Lagoon is popular, so do not expect complete solitude. Its appeal is the unusual entrance and enclosed rock setting, not guaranteed privacy.

Water shoes make sense here and at other stops. One person specifically warned about stones and coral in the water. They also noted that you may need to go through the water to reach the boat, so wear clothes that can get wet or keep a dry change of clothes in a waterproof bag.

Payong-Payong Beach is made for a quiet pause

Payong-Payong Beach offers a softer finish to the sightseeing. The small beach has rock formations, cliffs, and gentle waves suited to paddling, casual swimming, and snorkeling.

This is the stop I would value most if your group wants a little less structure. You can sit in the shade, swim without making a full activity of it, or use the beach as a picnic setting if your guide chooses it for lunch. The water is described as modest and calm, though conditions can change.

Private tours are useful here because you do not have to match the pace of a large group. If one person wants photos and another wants to rest, the guide can usually give you more room to manage your time. The 45-minute schedule still limits how long you can stay, but the stop adds variety to a day otherwise built around major attractions.

What the crew adds to the experience

The strongest pattern in the feedback is the crew’s attitude. Guides named Gabi, Jason, Renz, Edward, Joshua, Cyron, and others are praised for friendliness, safety, careful timing, and photo help.

That personal attention matters on a boat day. A good guide can explain where to swim, help you board safely, watch conditions, and adjust the order of stops. Several groups specifically appreciated avoiding crowds, while one guide found a quieter shore for lunch. Another crew helped a sick passenger reach a hospital and checked on her afterward. That is beyond sightseeing, and it shows why crew quality can shape the whole day.

You should still be clear about what you need. Ask for water shoes advice, mention food allergies, and confirm which equipment is included. One recent complaint involved soft drinks and another involved kayak use. The supplied inclusions list covers bottled water, not a broad range of drinks, and kayak rental is listed as extra.

The real cost at $135 per person

At $135 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see El Nido. Its value depends on group size and how much you care about privacy.

For two people, the price buys exclusive boat use, a guide and crew focused on you, lunch, water, life vests, and the ability to request a better sequence. That can be worth it if you dislike crowded boats, want help with photos, or are celebrating something. One couple specifically felt the extra cost was worthwhile because the guide gave them one-on-one attention.

For a larger group, the private price may make more sense per person, since the boat cost is spread across more people. You still need to add the government environmental fee, lagoon entrance fee, and any kayak, mask, snorkel, or fin rental. Those extras can change the final total, so ask for the current amount before departure.

The tour is less compelling if your only goal is the lowest possible fare. A group boat may cost less, though you will have less control over timing and more people around you. Private Tour A is mainly a purchase of flexibility, space, and attention.

Weather, water, and what to pack

Weather controls the day. Destinations can change, and the lunch stop is chosen by the guide. Rain does not automatically ruin the outing, but it can reduce the vivid color of the water and make boarding or swimming less comfortable. One group had a wet day and still found the crew helpful and upbeat, but clear weather would have made the experience stronger.

Pack light and protect your valuables. Bring:

• Sun hat and beachwear
• Swimwear and a change of clothes
• Towel
• Camera
• Cash
• Dry bag
• Water shoes if you own them
• Your own mask and snorkel if preferred

Plastic bottles, littering, smoking in the vehicle, and intoxication are not allowed. The boat provides bottled water, but a dry bag remains useful because you may get wet before reaching the boat and during the stops.

The five-minute tuk-tuk ride is short, but pickup is limited to locations within one kilometer of Corong-Corong Beach. Hotel drop-off is not included. Confirm where the boat returns and how you will get back to your accommodation.

Who should book this private boat

I would choose this tour for couples, families, and small groups that want control over the day. It also suits anyone who wants a guide to take photos, help with swimming stops, and adjust the schedule around crowds.

It is a good match for confident swimmers and people comfortable getting on and off a boat in shallow water. Water shoes are especially useful because some entry points contain stones and coral.

I would think twice if you need wheelchair access, dislike getting wet, or want every cost included up front. I would also compare the final price with a group tour if you are traveling alone. The private format provides comfort and attention, but one person pays a high per-person rate for the same eight-hour route.

The cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours ahead, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Palawan plans are still moving, but weather and local conditions can still change the actual route.

Should you book El Nido Private Tour A?

Book it if Big Lagoon is a priority and you want more say over the timing. The strongest reasons are the private boat, the helpful crew, the photo assistance, and the chance to reduce crowd pressure by changing the order of stops.

Before paying, confirm the environmental and lagoon fees, kayak price, snorkeling rentals, lunch preferences, pickup point, and whether drinks beyond bottled water are included. Bring water shoes and a dry bag. If those details fit your budget, this is a well-rounded El Nido day with enough beach time to balance the famous lagoons.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts eight hours, including the boat journey and visits to the scheduled stops.

Where is pickup available?

Free tuk-tuk pickup is available within one kilometer of Corong-Corong Beach in El Nido. Hotel drop-off is not included.

Is the boat private?

Yes. The tour uses a private group arrangement with exclusive use of the boat for your group.

Which places are included?

The planned stops are Seven Commandos Beach, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Payong-Payong Beach. Destinations may change because of weather.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch with local Filipino dishes is included. The guide decides the lunch location.

Are snorkeling masks and fins provided?

No. Masks, snorkels, and fins are not included, though masks and snorkels can be rented. Water shoes are also not included.

Is kayak rental included at Big Lagoon?

No. Kayak rental at the lagoon is listed as an extra cost. Confirm the current arrangement before the tour.

Are entrance and environmental fees included?

No. The government-mandated environmental fee and lagoon entrance fee are separate.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers reserve-now, pay-later booking.