El Nido: Secret Lagoon Island Hopping with Lunch

Big Lagoon is the star of this El Nido outing, but the real appeal is the mix of scenery and sea time packed into six hours. You paddle or swim beneath towering limestone cliffs, snorkel around Shimizu Island, squeeze through the entrance to Secret Lagoon, and finish on Seven Commandos Beach. It is a busy, active day, not a quiet private escape.

I like the wide range of stops and the fact that boat transfers, a licensed guide, lunch, and life vests are included for $34. I also like the practical route: dramatic scenery first, underwater time in the middle, then a beach where you can relax. The main consideration is getting wet. You may wade waist-deep to board the boat, and some landings require you to enter the water. Big Lagoon entry and environmental fees also cost extra.

• Big Lagoon sets the visual tone: Limestone walls rise around calm turquoise water, with kayaking or swimming available.
• Shimizu Island brings the snorkeling: Expect coral gardens and tropical fish, but bring or arrange your own mask and snorkel.
• Secret Lagoon requires a short squeeze: You enter through a small opening in the rock before reaching the enclosed pool.
• Seven Commandos Beach slows the pace: Swim, rest under the coconut trees, or play beach volleyball.
• The $34 price covers the basics: Lunch, boat transport, a licensed guide, and life vests are included.
• Water access matters: Wear clothes and shoes you can wet, and carry your phone in a waterproof bag.

Four El Nido Icons in Six Hours

This tour gives you a compact introduction to El Nido’s famous island scenery. In six hours, you visit Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commandos Beach, with lunch served at one of the islands.

That schedule is efficient, but it is also fairly full. You are not spending a whole day at one beach or drifting slowly between islands. You are moving from one major stop to the next, so this suits you best if you want to see several places in one outing and do not mind a little hurry.

The route combines three types of activity:

• Scenic boat rides past limestone cliffs
• Swimming and snorkeling in clear water
• Short walks, beach time, and lagoon visits

The guide leads the visits in English and handles the boat-side coordination. A private group option is available, although the supplied information does not specify how many people are included in each private booking. Standard meeting and drop-off choices are at Jarace Grill or Marber’s Restaurant in downtown El Nido.

Big Lagoon: The Main Scenic Event

Big Lagoon delivers the classic El Nido view. You pass beneath steep limestone cliffs and reach a calm body of turquoise water enclosed by rock. The setting feels large and dramatic, even though the water inside the lagoon is generally suited to a slower pace.

You can take a kayak through the lagoon or swim. Kayak rental is not included, so you should budget for it if paddling is important to you. One practical point is worth knowing: kayak paddling can be tiring. If you are in a two-person kayak, agree in advance on who will do the work, or you may end up doing most of it yourself.

The lagoon has a separate entry fee of Php 200 per person. Access is limited, so your visit is not guaranteed if the available spaces have already been taken. In that case, the operator will take you to another spot. This is a normal risk with a popular El Nido stop, but it matters if Big Lagoon is the main reason you are booking.

Bring a dry bag for your phone and camera. You may need to board from the water, and the boat is not always right beside a dry shoreline. A waterproof pouch is more useful here than a regular backpack.

Shimizu Island and the Snorkeling Stops

Shimizu Island shifts the focus from cliffs to sea life. The stop is set up for snorkeling around coral reefs, with tropical fish and coral gardens below the surface.

The tour description promises snorkeling opportunities, but masks, snorkels, and fins are not included. You need to bring them or arrange rental equipment separately. The same applies to water shoes, which are not supplied. Since the day includes wading and shore landings, water shoes can make the rocky or shallow entries easier on your feet.

You may see a sea turtle at the second snorkeling area. That possibility is exciting, but it should not be treated as a guarantee. The stronger reason to bring snorkeling gear is the chance to spend time with the fish and coral, not a promise of one particular animal.

Life vests are provided. That helps if you are not a confident swimmer or if you simply prefer extra support in open water. Still, this is an active water day. You should be comfortable getting in and out of the boat with assistance and walking through shallow water.

Secret Lagoon Behind the Rock Opening

Secret Lagoon is the most playful stop on the route. A small opening in the limestone leads into a quiet pool surrounded by high rock walls. The entrance itself is part of the experience, since you leave the open sea and pass through a narrow gap before reaching the lagoon.

The name can create the wrong expectation. This is not a private place where you will have the water to yourself. El Nido’s famous sites can be busy, and the same is true here. You should go for the unusual rock entrance and enclosed setting, not for solitude.

You may need to get out of the boat in the water before reaching shore. Keep your phone, wallet, and spare clothes in a dry bag, and avoid carrying loose items in your hands. A life vest helps with the water crossing, but you still need to protect anything that cannot get wet.

The visit is best for people who enjoy a little physical effort and do not mind an uneven, wet route. The experience is not well suited to people with mobility impairments, and the operator lists this tour as unsuitable for those travelers.

Seven Commandos Beach for a Softer Finish

Seven Commandos Beach gives the day a less enclosed feel. After the limestone lagoons and snorkeling areas, you reach a white-sand beach lined with coconut trees. You can swim, rest, or play beach volleyball.

This is the stop where you can finally slow down. If the earlier parts of the tour feel packed, use this time for a quiet swim or simply sit near the shore. The beach is still a popular stop, so do not expect an empty stretch of sand.

The shore landing may require more effort than the name suggests. Getting from the boat to land can involve wading, and eating near the shoreline may be awkward if you have difficulty standing or walking on wet, uneven ground. One older participant found the shore meal challenging, a useful warning for anyone with limited mobility or balance.

Lunch on an Island, With Some Practical Limits

A picnic lunch is included and served on one of the islands. The meal is a welcome break because the day combines swimming, snorkeling, boat transfers, and walking.

The supplied information does not give a detailed menu, so you should not book this expecting a specific dish or dietary plan. The value is convenience: you do not have to arrange a separate meal during a remote island route.

Eating on a beach is scenic, but it is not the same as sitting at a restaurant. Sand, heat, wind, and an uneven shore can all be part of the meal. If you have trouble sitting or standing near the water, tell the crew as soon as possible.

Bring your own drinking water if you prefer a particular amount or brand, since the tour details only confirm the picnic lunch. Comfortable clothes are listed as essential, and quick-drying clothing makes more sense than heavy cotton.

The Water Transfer You Need to Expect

The most important practical detail is that this is not a dry boat tour. You may wade from the shore to the boat, sometimes up to waist depth. At several stops, you may also enter the water to reach land.

You receive a life vest, so you do not need to be a strong swimmer. Still, the transfer can feel awkward if you are carrying a backpack, camera, or phone. Pack light and put valuables in a waterproof dry bag before leaving your accommodation.

Wear swimwear under comfortable clothes, or choose clothing that dries quickly. Water shoes are not included, but they can help with shore entries. If you bring ordinary sandals, use a pair that stays secure on your feet.

The boat crew can help with the transfer, but you should still be ready to manage your own belongings. A wet phone can ruin an otherwise excellent day, while a sealed bag lets you take photos without constant worry.

What the $34 Price Really Covers

At $34 per person, this is a solid-value way to reach several of El Nido’s best-known places. The price includes the boat, a licensed English-speaking guide, lunch, and life vests. Those are the costly and useful parts of a day on the water.

You still need to add:

• Php 400 per person for the El Nido Environmental or Tourism Development Fee
• Php 200 per person for Big Lagoon entry
• Kayak rental, if you choose to paddle
• Mask, snorkel, fins, and water shoes
• Transport to the downtown meeting point

That means the advertised price is not the full amount you will spend. Even so, it remains appealing if you want a guided route rather than arranging separate boat transport and island visits yourself.

The price is especially fair for a first El Nido outing. You get scenery, snorkeling, a beach, lunch, and a guide in one booking. It is less compelling if you already have private transport, your own snorkeling gear, and plenty of time to visit the islands at a slower pace.

Meeting Points, Timing, and Cancellation

You choose between Jarace Grill and Marber’s Restaurant for pickup, with the same two places used for drop-off. Hotel transfers are not included, so you need to reach the selected downtown meeting point yourself.

The tour lasts six hours, but starting times depend on availability. Check the time carefully when booking and keep your morning free for the full outing. Boat and shore conditions can affect how quickly the group moves between stops.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available, which helps if your El Nido plans are still changing.

The environmental fee is not optional. You must pay it at the transport terminal, hotel, or municipal hall and keep the QR code for verification. Without proof of payment, you will not be allowed to board the boat, and the booking fee will not be refunded.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most?

I would choose this tour if you want the major El Nido sights in one organized day and you are happy to swim, snorkel, wade, and move often. It works well for first-time visitors who want a broad sample rather than a quiet day at one island.

It also suits you if you prefer having a guide and crew handle the route, transfers, and lunch. The English-speaking guide can explain the stops and help coordinate the wet boat entries.

Think twice if you have mobility limitations, dislike getting wet, or want a secluded beach. The narrow Secret Lagoon entrance, shore wading, and beach lunch can be difficult if you need firm, dry ground.

You should also be realistic about the word secret. The lagoon is scenic, but you may share it with other groups. The same applies to Big Lagoon and Seven Commandos Beach.

What to Pack for a Better Day

Pack as if every item could get wet. That means a waterproof phone pouch or dry bag, swimwear, quick-drying clothes, secure footwear, sunscreen, and a hat.

You should also bring:

• A towel
• Drinking water
• Cash for extra fees and rentals
• Your environmental fee QR code
• Snorkeling gear if you have it
• A small bag rather than a large backpack

Do not bring explosive substances. Keep your load small enough to carry through the water and into the boat.

Should You Book This El Nido Tour?

Book it if you want strong scenery, several famous stops, snorkeling, and lunch for a reasonable base price. Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon provide the most memorable settings, while Shimizu Island adds time in the water and Seven Commandos Beach gives you room to relax.

Before paying, add the Php 400 environmental fee and Php 200 Big Lagoon fee to your budget. Confirm that you are ready to wade from shore to boat, bring a waterproof bag, and arrange snorkeling equipment if needed.

I would skip it if you need easy, dry access at every stop or want a genuinely quiet beach day. For an active six-hour introduction to El Nido, though, this route offers a lot in a short time, as long as you arrive prepared for crowds, wet transfers, and a little physical effort.

FAQ

How long does the El Nido island-hopping tour last?

The tour lasts six hours. Starting times depend on availability.

Where does the tour start and finish?

The available meeting and drop-off locations are Jarace Grill and Marber’s Restaurant in downtown El Nido. Hotel transfers are not included.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a picnic lunch, boat transfers, a licensed English-speaking guide, and life vests.

What extra fees do I need to pay?

You must pay the El Nido Environmental or Tourism Development Fee of Php 400 per person. Big Lagoon entry costs Php 200 per person. Kayak rental and snorkeling equipment are also extra.

Do I need to bring snorkeling equipment?

Yes, if you want to snorkel, because masks, snorkels, and fins are not included. Water shoes are also not included.

What happens if Big Lagoon access is unavailable?

Big Lagoon entry is limited. If access is no longer available, the tour visits a different spot instead.