El Nido Tour A – Big Lagoon Premium Tour (Private / Shared)

Big Lagoon is the star here, a narrow blue waterway framed by dark limestone cliffs that look almost too sharply cut to be real. I like that you also get a proper beach and snorkeling break at Shimizu Island, plus a picnic lunch rather than a day spent hunting for food.

I also like the range of scenery packed into roughly seven hours: cliffs, shallow turquoise water, a cave entrance, palm-lined sand, and a beach bar. The catch is important: private and shared arrangements can be unclear, and some bookings have involved a cramped boat, changed pickup plans, or a late change to the start time.

Key points before you book

• Big Lagoon takes the spotlight: Allow about 90 minutes for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and photos among the limestone cliffs.
• Five major stops fit into one day: You visit Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commando Beach.
• The private package includes a kayak: This is specifically listed for private tours, not the shared option.
• Lunch and basic gear are covered: You get a picnic lunch with fruit, purified water, a life jacket, boat transport, crew, and a licensed guide.
• Budget for extra charges: Big Lagoon costs PHP 200 per person, the environmental fee is PHP 400 per person, and a snorkeling mask costs PHP 150.
• Check pickup and boat arrangements carefully: Some bookings have had pickup limits, altered departure times, or confusion over whether the boat was truly private.

Big Lagoon is the reason to go

Big Lagoon has the sort of setting that makes you stop talking for a moment. The water runs between tall, dark limestone walls, with blue and green tones shifting as the light moves. The channel is narrow and scenic, and you have time here for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, or simply looking up at the cliffs.

The scheduled stop lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes. That is useful because Big Lagoon is not treated as a quick photo stop. You have a fair chance to enjoy the water and the rock formations without racing straight back to the boat.

Admission is not included. Set aside PHP 200 per person for Big Lagoon. You may also need to rent a snorkeling mask for PHP 150 per person, unless you bring your own or the operator confirms another arrangement.

One detail needs careful attention. Kayaking is included for private tours only. If you are booking a shared arrangement, do not assume a kayak will be waiting for you. The title uses private and shared wording, while the included features distinguish between the two.

Shimizu Island brings the best beach break

After the cliffs of Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island gives you a change of pace. Expect powdery white sand, clear water, forested areas, and a more open setting. The planned stop is about 90 minutes, long enough for a swim, a beach break, and snorkeling.

This is one of the most useful parts of the day for families and mixed groups. Someone who wants to swim can do that, while another person can sit on the sand or take in the views. The water is described as fairly shallow, which makes the stop appealing for an easy swim, though conditions can vary.

The island is also where lunch fits naturally into the day. The picnic includes fruit and a selection of seafood and pork or chicken. The food has been a strong part of the experience for some people, though portions may feel limited if you arrive very hungry.

You receive purified water, which is a small but worthwhile inclusion in a full day under the sun. Still, bring any additional drinks or snacks you need if you know you eat often. The supplied information does not promise unlimited food or beverages.

Payong-Payong depends on the weather

Payong-Payong Beach is planned as a one-hour stop, with time to relax and snorkel in the clear water. It is the quieter beach pause in a schedule that otherwise moves from one major attraction to the next.

The operator makes clear that this stop depends on weather conditions. If Payong-Payong is not suitable, you will be taken to another spot for snorkeling. That flexibility is sensible in El Nido, where wind and sea conditions can affect what is safe and pleasant.

You should see this as a water-and-beach stop rather than a guaranteed landmark. The replacement location may still offer good snorkeling, but it will not necessarily look like Payong-Payong. If a specific beach matters most to you, ask about the day’s conditions before departure.

Secret Lagoon requires a small cave entrance

Secret Lagoon is reached through a small cave, which gives the stop its appeal. You pass through the opening to reach a sheltered lagoon used mainly for sightseeing.

The visit lasts about one hour. It is a good contrast to Big Lagoon because the experience is less about a broad cliff-lined waterway and more about the surprise of reaching a tucked-away pool through a narrow entrance.

The cave access is worth keeping in mind if you dislike confined spaces or find uneven access difficult. The supplied tour details say it is accessible through a small cave, but they do not provide further information about the approach. Ask the crew if you need a clearer idea of the conditions before entering.

Seven Commando Beach closes the day

Seven Commando Beach offers the classic end-of-day setting: white sand, turquoise water, palm trees, rock formations, and a beach bar. The planned stop is one hour, giving you time to look around, enjoy the view, and take a final swim if conditions allow.

This stop feels less dramatic than Big Lagoon, but that is part of its value. After a day of boat rides, snorkeling, and moving between islands, a simple beach stop can be exactly what you need. The beach bar also gives the day a more social finish, although food and drinks from the bar are not listed as included.

At the end of the tour, you are returned to the El Nido floating dock. The route gives you a useful sample of the area rather than focusing on one island only.

What the roughly seven-hour schedule feels like

Five stops in seven hours sounds generous, but the day has a steady rhythm. Big Lagoon and Shimizu Island each receive about 90 minutes. Payong-Payong, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commando Beach each receive about an hour.

That leaves limited spare time for transfers, boarding, lunch, and any delays. You will see a lot, but this is not a slow, stay-until-sunset island day. If you want long, unhurried hours at one beach, a shorter custom trip may suit you better.

The benefit is variety. You get the famous lagoon, a sandy island, a weather-dependent snorkeling stop, a cave lagoon, and a final beach. For a first look at El Nido, that range makes practical sense.

The start time deserves attention. One booking expected an 8:00 a.m. departure but was later told that the start time had changed to match weather conditions. Weather can require changes, but you should confirm the final departure time shortly before the trip, especially if reaching Big Lagoon early matters to you.

Private, shared, and boat comfort

The package information describes a private activity in which only your group participates, but the product title includes private and shared wording. That is not a minor distinction. A private boat gives you more space and control, while a shared boat can mean less room and less flexibility.

The experience has received mixed feedback on this point. One booking described the private or shared wording as misleading and found the boat cramped. Another account praised the attentive driver and boat crew, while a separate booking had paid for a private premium package and still encountered problems with the promised arrangements.

You should confirm three things in writing:

• Is the boat private for your group?
• Is the kayak included in your selected package?
• What happens if your hotel is outside the pickup area?

The included features list hotel pickup, but some accommodations have reportedly been considered too far from the departure area. One issue involved a hotel appearing in the pickup selection but later being excluded. Do not assume the dropdown list is the final word. Confirm the pickup point and any extra transfer cost before the trip.

What is included, and what is not

The included package is fairly useful for a full day on the water. You receive hotel pickup, boat transport, an experienced crew, a licensed guide, a life jacket, purified water, and picnic lunch with fruit. Private tours also include a kayak.

The missing items add up:

• Big Lagoon admission: PHP 200 per person
• Environmental fee: PHP 400 per person, valid for five days
• Snorkeling mask: PHP 150 per person

The environmental fee is especially worth noting if you are visiting other El Nido sites during the same five-day period. You pay it once for that validity period, rather than once at every stop, according to the supplied details.

At $40 per person, the tour can be reasonable if pickup works, the boat arrangement matches what you selected, and you value having lunch and crew services organized. The total is not simply $40 once the listed charges are added. Compare the complete cost, not just the headline price.

One booking also judged the price high compared with booking a similar island route directly in El Nido. That does not automatically make this package poor value. Booking ahead can offer convenience and a set plan, but you may pay more than you would by arranging a similar boat locally.

Guide service and the strongest part of the experience

The best service detail available is the repeated mention of Jerry, a guide who helped keep the day enjoyable and made sure people were looked after. If Jerry is assigned to your departure, that is a welcome sign, but guide assignments can change.

The crew and driver have also been praised for attentiveness, and the lunch has been described as good, with seafood, pork or chicken, and fruit. These are meaningful positives because a boat day depends heavily on practical service. A beautiful island cannot fix a careless crew, poor timing, or unclear instructions.

At the same time, the overall rating is 3.2 from 27 submitted ratings, which signals an uneven experience rather than a sure thing. The strongest complaints concern cancellations, pickup, boat type, price, and changes to the start time. Those are not complaints about El Nido itself. They are booking and delivery issues, so you can reduce the risk by confirming details early.

Who should book this El Nido route

I would consider this tour if you want to see the main sights in one organized day and prefer having boat transport, lunch, water, crew, and a guide arranged together. It suits first-time visitors who do not want to compare operators on arrival.

It also works for groups with different interests. You can swim at Shimizu Island, snorkel at several points, take photos at Big Lagoon, explore the Secret Lagoon entrance, and relax at Seven Commando Beach. The private option may make sense for a group that wants the included kayak and more control over the day.

I would be more cautious if you are booking mainly for a guaranteed early start, a spacious private boat, or a specific hotel pickup. The available information shows that each of those details has caused confusion for some bookings.

This is also not the best choice if you want a quiet, low-stop schedule. Five locations in about seven hours means movement is part of the day.

Practical tips for a smoother day

Confirm your hotel pickup before the cancellation window becomes a problem. Ask where the vehicle will meet you, how far that point is from the floating dock, and whether you must make your own way there.

Bring or budget for a snorkeling mask. The listed rental price is PHP 150 per person. Also bring sun protection and a dry place for small valuables, but do not expect the tour to supply anything beyond the stated inclusions.

Ask which version you are buying. The phrase private or shared is not clear enough on its own. Confirm boat capacity, whether only your group will be aboard, and whether the kayak is part of your package.

Keep some flexibility for Payong-Payong and the start time. The former depends on weather, and the latter may change to match sea conditions. A flexible attitude will help, but clear communication from the operator still matters.

The activity requires good weather. If the operator cancels because of poor conditions, you are offered another date or a full refund. Otherwise, the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, so do not book until your plans are firm.

Should you book Big Lagoon Premium Tour?

Book it if your priority is seeing El Nido’s main island sights in one day, and you are willing to confirm the practical details first. Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commando Beach give you a strong mix of scenery and swimming, while lunch, water, a guide, and boat transport simplify the day.

I would not book without clarifying private versus shared service, pickup, kayak access, departure time, and the full price after fees. If those answers are clear, the $40 starting price can be fair for the convenience. If the operator cannot give you a firm answer, compare local boat options before paying, especially if spacious seating or a truly private trip matters to you.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour A last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours.

What locations does the tour visit?

The planned stops are Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commando Beach.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is listed as included, but some hotels may be outside the pickup area. Confirm your exact pickup arrangement before the tour.

Is Big Lagoon admission included?

No. Big Lagoon admission costs PHP 200 per person.

What is the environmental fee?

The environmental fee is PHP 400 per person and is valid for five days.

Is a snorkeling mask provided?

No. A snorkeling mask costs PHP 150 per person.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic lunch with fruit is included. Food can include seafood and pork or chicken.

Is a kayak included?

A kayak is included for the private tour only.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a refund?

The booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, except when the operator cancels because of poor weather.