El Nido Island Tour D

Small boats, big scenery. El Nido Island Tour D packs five stops into an eight-hour day, with limestone cliffs, white sand beaches, lagoons, swimming, snorkeling, and a picnic lunch. I like the quieter route and the low $22 starting price. I also like that hotel pickup within El Nido Town, a guide, life vest, boat permit, and lunch are included.

The main catch is that the advertised price is not the final price. You still pay 400 pesos for the environmental fee and 200 pesos for the lagoon fee, while kayaking and snorkeling equipment cost extra. Boat comfort can also vary, and the departure process may involve waiting at the beach.

Key points to know before booking

• Five contrasting stops: Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Bukal Beach, and Pasandigan Beach give you a full day of lagoons and beaches.
• A quieter alternative: Tour D is generally less crowded than the famous Tour A route, which can make each stop more pleasant.
• Small Lagoon costs extra: Kayak rental is available there for 300 pesos per hour, but it is not part of the $22 tour price.
• Slow morning start: Meet at the Cliffside Travel and Tours office before 8:30 a.m., then expect boat dispatch between 9 and 10 a.m.
• Lunch is included: A picnic lunch is served at one of the islands, though portion sizes may not satisfy every appetite.
• Good value with extra fees: The base rate covers the main tour essentials, but you should budget for 600 pesos in required fees plus optional rentals.

Why Tour D makes sense in El Nido

El Nido is famous for pale beaches and towering limestone formations rising from the sea. Tour D gives you a full day among that scenery without keeping you on one beach or one lagoon for too long.

The route includes five destinations, with roughly 40 to 50 minutes at each stop. That is enough time to swim, take photos, sit on the sand, or try snorkeling, but it does not give you hours at any one place. The format suits you if you prefer variety over a slow beach day.

I also like the route because it can feel calmer than Tour A. Tour A is the best-known island outing in El Nido, so its popular stops may feel busy. Tour D has a quieter reputation while still offering the cliff walls and clear water that draw people to the bay.

The $22 starting price looks very attractive. It covers the boat trip, tour guide, life vest, boat permit, picnic lunch, and free pickup from hotels within El Nido Town. The required 400-peso environmental fee and 200-peso lagoon fee bring the true cost higher, and Small Lagoon kayaking adds another 300 pesos per hour if you want to paddle inside.

That still makes Tour D a useful budget choice. Just compare the full cost, not only the advertised rate.

The early meeting and the wait for the boat

Your morning begins at the Cliffside Travel and Tours booking office beside El Nido Cliffside Cottages. You should arrive before 8:30 a.m., even though the boat usually leaves El Nido Town Beach between 9 and 10 a.m.

The delay is tied to Coast Guard clearance, so the exact departure time is not fixed. Once the group reaches the beach, you may wait before boarding. One reported experience involved meeting at 8:30 and leaving around 9:30, with about 30 minutes spent waiting at the beach.

This is not a tour for a perfectly timed morning. Bring water, sun protection, and patience for the dispatch process. The boat ride to the first destination takes about 20 to 30 minutes, so the day gets properly underway after the initial wait.

The tour ends at El Nido Beach between roughly 3 and 5 p.m. That wide end time reflects sea conditions, Coast Guard clearance, boarding delays, and the pace of the group. Do not schedule a tight evening connection or an important dinner immediately afterward.

Free hotel pickup applies only within El Nido Town. If you stay outside that area, you should confirm how you will reach the meeting point before paying.

Small Lagoon: the route’s extra-cost centerpiece

Small Lagoon is likely to be the stop that shapes your decision about Tour D. Tall limestone walls surround a narrow water entrance, giving the place a more enclosed feel than an open beach stop.

You can swim and take in the cliffs from the water. Kayak rental is available for 300 pesos per hour, and this is the one place where paying extra may make the most sense. A kayak lets you move through the lagoon at your own pace and reach the small beach area mentioned in the tour details.

The rental is not included, however. If you assumed the $22 covered every activity, this will feel like an unnecessary add-on. I would decide before the trip whether kayaking matters to you, then carry enough cash for it.

The stay at each destination is only about 40 to 50 minutes. That means you may need to choose between kayaking, swimming, photos, and sitting on the beach. If the lagoon is your top priority, use your time carefully.

Cadlao Lagoon: water, cliffs, and a second lagoon stop

Cadlao Lagoon gives Tour D another chance to show off El Nido’s limestone scenery. Its appeal is the combination of enclosed water and steep rock formations, rather than a long stretch of sand.

Your guide is available if you need help, and the tour allows swimming and snorkeling where conditions permit. A life vest is included, which is useful even if you are a confident swimmer.

The important point is that Cadlao Lagoon follows Small Lagoon in the same itinerary. You get two lagoon experiences, but the day is not built around long periods of beach lounging. I would choose this tour if cliffs and sheltered water interest you more than spending most of the day on one broad beach.

The lagoon fee is collected at the booking office, not added later at the water. Budget 200 pesos for that charge, along with the 400-peso environmental fee.

Paradise Beach: a change of pace

Paradise Beach gives the day a welcome shift from cliff-lined lagoons to white sand and open shoreline. After the tighter spaces of the lagoons, you can stretch out, swim, sunbathe, or simply enjoy the beach.

The tour allows about 40 to 50 minutes here, so think of it as a scenic stop rather than a full beach afternoon. You might find that the time passes quickly if you want photos, a swim, and lunch nearby.

This is also the kind of stop that makes Tour D work for mixed groups. One person can swim, another can sunbathe, and someone else can stay near the boat without missing the main scenery.

Bukal Beach: simple beach time

Bukal Beach continues the beach portion of the route. The appeal here is uncomplicated: sand, sea, sun, and a break from the boat.

You can swim or relax, and the group may also have time for informal beach activities. Volleyball is listed among the things you can do during the tour, although the exact setup may depend on the beach and the group.

Do not expect a long, private stay. The boat moves on after roughly 40 to 50 minutes. That rhythm keeps the itinerary varied, but it can also make the day feel rushed if you like to settle into one place.

Pasandigan Beach: the final scenic stop

Pasandigan Beach completes the five-stop route. Like Paradise and Bukal, it gives you a chance to enjoy white sand and open water after the lagoon visits.

The final stop can be a good time to slow down. By this point, you may have taken plenty of photos and spent time swimming or snorkeling, so a quiet beach break may be more appealing than another activity.

The route’s strength is its mix. Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon provide the rock-framed water scenes, while Paradise, Bukal, and Pasandigan offer more familiar beach time. You do not get an entire day at each place, but you see several different sides of El Nido in one outing.

Lunch, snorkeling, and what is really included

A picnic lunch is served at one of the islands. The meal is included in the tour price, which helps keep the base cost reasonable. You can also eat at a restaurant during the day if the group’s stop and local arrangements allow it.

Portions may be modest. One account found the meal less generous than food provided on other island trips, so you may want to eat breakfast before meeting the group. Do not arrive hungry and assume lunch will be a large feast.

Snorkeling is possible, but the mask is not included. You can rent one at the beach during boat dispatch. Kayak rental is also separate, with Small Lagoon charging 300 pesos per hour.

The included life vest is useful, and a licensed English- and Tagalog-speaking guide is available throughout the tour. The guide can assist when you need help, but the level of engagement may vary. Some visitors found the staff friendly and helpful, while one experience described the guides as less engaging than those on other trips.

That difference matters if you want a lively, story-filled tour. If your main goal is getting to the beaches and lagoons, the guide’s practical help may be enough.

Boat comfort and group atmosphere

The boat is your transport between every stop, so comfort matters. One account described the boat as small and found the seating rules less comfortable than on other boats. In particular, sitting on the upper benches was reportedly not allowed, even though other operators permitted it.

You should not assume Tour D offers the same boat layout as every other El Nido excursion. If you care about seating, ask about the boat arrangement at the office before departure.

On the positive side, Tour D may feel less crowded at the destinations. That is one of its biggest advantages over the better-known routes. A quieter stop gives you a better chance to enjoy the cliffs and beaches without spending the whole visit looking for space.

There is one booking concern to keep in mind. A booking for Tour D was changed to Tour A shortly after confirmation, and the replacement route was more crowded and did not visit the places originally chosen. This does not prove that changes are common, but I would confirm the route again the day before and on the morning of departure.

Who gets the best value from Tour D?

I would recommend Tour D for you if you want:

• Five different stops in one day
• A route that may be quieter than Tour A
• Limestone cliffs and lagoons as well as beaches
• A low starting price with the basic boat services included
• Time for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and casual beach activities
• An English- or Tagalog-speaking guide

It is less suitable if you want a luxury boat, a large lunch, included kayaking, or a highly polished entertainment program. The boat may be basic, the morning can involve waiting, and extra charges add up.

Families and couples can both enjoy the route, provided everyone is comfortable with boarding a boat and moving between several stops. The itinerary also works for people who do not want to spend the entire day in one crowded location.

Strong swimmers may enjoy the freedom to snorkel and swim, while less confident swimmers can use the included life vest. Still, the provided information does not describe special accessibility arrangements, so you should ask the operator directly if you need them.

Booking, cancellations, and the final cost

Cliffside Travel and Tours is a tourism-accredited agency based in El Nido. The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later.

At minimum, plan for:

• $22 per person for the tour
• 400 pesos environmental fee
• 200 pesos lagoon fee
• 300 pesos per hour for a Small Lagoon kayak, if wanted
• Separate snorkeling mask rental, if needed

The final amount depends on exchange rates and optional rentals. Lunch, a life vest, guide, boat permit, and hotel pickup within El Nido Town are already included.

The tour holds a 4.3 rating from five recorded ratings, with especially strong praise for the scenery, the staff’s friendly attitude, and the quieter route. The lower scores focus on boat comfort, food portions, guide energy, waiting time, and the possibility of being moved to another route.

Should you book El Nido Island Tour D?

Book it if your priority is variety and quieter scenery at a reasonable price. The five-stop route gives you two lagoons, three beaches, lunch, and a full day on the water without the heavier crowds associated with Tour A.

Before paying, confirm three things: that Tour D is operating on your date, that the boat seating suits you, and that you understand the 600-peso required fees. If Small Lagoon kayaking is important, budget the extra 300 pesos per hour.

I would choose Tour D for the scenery and route, not for luxury or flawless timing. If you can accept a possible beach wait, basic boat comfort, and a modest lunch, it offers a solid way to see El Nido’s cliffs, lagoons, and beaches in one day.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Island Tour D last?

The tour lasts about eight hours. It usually finishes at El Nido Beach between 3 and 5 p.m., depending on departure timing and conditions.

Where do I meet the tour?

Meet at the Cliffside Travel and Tours booking office beside El Nido Cliffside Cottages before 8:30 a.m. The boat leaves from El Nido Town Beach between 9 and 10 a.m., depending on Coast Guard clearance.

Which destinations are included?

Tour D visits Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Bukal Beach, and Pasandigan Beach.

Are kayak rental and snorkeling equipment included?

No. Kayak rental at Small Lagoon costs 300 pesos per hour. A snorkeling mask can be rented at the beach during boat dispatch.

What fees are not included in the tour price?

The 400-peso environmental fee and 200-peso lagoon fee are not included. Both are collected at the booking office.

Can I cancel or pay later?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve your place and pay later.