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

El Nido’s famous lagoons reward an early start. This private eight-hour boat trip combines the Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach, and Seven Commandos Beach, with time for swimming, snorkeling, photos, and lunch. I like the exclusive boat, which lets you adjust the order of stops, and the crew’s strong record for friendly, careful service. I also like that guides such as Gabi, Cyron, Renz, Edward, and Jason have helped guests avoid the worst crowds and taken excellent photos.

The main catch is cost. At $135 per person, this is much dearer than a shared boat, and environmental and lagoon entrance fees are extra. You must also pay separately for a kayak at the Big Lagoon, along with mask, snorkel, fins, or water shoes if you need them.

Key points to know before booking

• Big Lagoon is the visual star: Black limestone cliffs frame clear blue-green water, with swimming and optional kayaking inside the lagoon.
• Private means useful flexibility: Your guide can change the order of stops to reduce crowding, weather permitting.
• Shimizu Island includes lunch and snorkeling: It is also the main stop for a possible turtle sighting.
• Boat access can get your clothes wet: You may need to walk through shallow water to reach the boat, so bring a dry bag and spare clothes.
• The crew earns high marks for care: Guides have helped with photos, allergies, bad weather, and even a medical emergency.
• Budget for extras: Government fees, kayak hire, and snorkeling equipment are not included in the advertised price.

Why a private Tour A can be worth the extra cost

El Nido’s Tour A is popular for good reason. It gives you the area’s best-known lagoon scenery in one full day, plus beaches and snorkeling. The route covers several different kinds of stops, so the day does not feel like five versions of the same beach.

The private format matters most if you dislike standing in line for a photo or sharing a small boat with a large mixed group. Your party gets the boat to itself, and the guide can often shift the sequence. Cyron adjusted the timing to find quieter stops, while Ben said Gabi timed visits well enough to avoid much of the group-tour traffic.

That flexibility is not magic. Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commandos can still be busy, especially in good weather. But changing the order by even an hour can make a large difference. I would ask the guide at the start which stop looks busiest and let the crew plan around it.

At $135 per person, the value depends on your group size and priorities. For a couple, the price is a serious splurge. For four or more people, the cost of an entire boat can feel more reasonable, especially if you value quiet time, personal attention, and control over the schedule. A shared tour will be cheaper, but you give up much of that freedom.

The short tuk-tuk ride and boarding the boat

Pickup is available within one kilometer of Corong-Corong Beach, using a tuk-tuk. The ride is listed as about five minutes, so this is a quick transfer rather than a long hotel pickup service.

Hotel drop-off is not included. You should check the meeting point carefully and allow time to reach it. If your accommodation is outside the free pickup area, ask about the arrangement before booking rather than assuming the tuk-tuk will collect you.

The first practical detail is boat access. You may need to walk through water to reach the boat, and Steffie specifically advised bringing water shoes because the entry areas can contain stones and coral. Wear swimwear under your clothes, protect your phone, and keep a change of clothes in a dry bag.

The boat has life vests, bottled water, a licensed tourist boat, and a licensed guide and crew. Plastic bottles and littering are not allowed, so bring a refillable option if you have one. Smoking in the vehicle and traveling while intoxicated are also prohibited.

Seven Commandos Beach, a gentle first stop

Seven Commandos Beach is scheduled for about 45 minutes. You can swim, take photos, look around, and enjoy a short boat cruise along the coast.

The beach is framed by limestone cliffs, which gives it more character than a simple strip of sand. Coconut water and a little time in the sun make it an easy opening stop. The water is generally suited to a relaxed swim, though conditions can change.

The name comes from a group of soldiers who were stranded there during World War II. You will not need a history lecture to enjoy the place, but that unusual story adds a little texture to the stop.

Forty-five minutes is enough for a swim and photos, but not a long beach day. If you want to linger, tell your guide. On a private trip, the crew may be able to adjust the timing, but the day still has several major stops to cover.

Big Lagoon, the main reason to choose Tour A

Big Lagoon is the centerpiece. Tall black limestone cliffs surround a narrow entrance and open into striking blue water. The cliffs make the lagoon feel enclosed and calm, while the bright water gives you the classic El Nido photo.

The planned visit lasts about 45 minutes and can include swimming, sightseeing, photography, and kayaking. A kayak is not included in the base price, so budget for rental if you want to paddle inside. This is an important point to settle before departure.

The water and cliffs are the reason many people choose this route over other island tours. You get the broad postcard view first, then a closer look from the water. A guide can also help with photos, which is useful because the best angles are not always obvious when you are busy managing a phone, paddle, and life vest.

The lagoon can be crowded. Private timing helps, but it does not guarantee solitude. If the area is packed when you arrive, ask whether you can visit another stop first and return later, provided weather and local rules allow it.

One booking also raised a concern about kayak access and soft drinks. The guide treated the kayak as useful for getting bags to the boat rather than as free lagoon hire, and soft drinks were not supplied as expected. The safest approach is to consider kayak rental and drinks excluded unless the operator confirms them clearly in writing.

Shimizu Island, lunch, snorkeling, and possible turtles

Shimizu Island is allotted about an hour and combines a break, buffet lunch, swimming, and snorkeling. It is one of the more useful stops because you can eat and enjoy the water without losing a separate sightseeing slot.

The island has calm water beneath large limestone cliffs. That shade can be welcome after a sunny morning, especially if you have been swimming at the earlier beaches. The snorkeling is a key part of the day, with coral areas and the possibility of seeing marine life, including turtles.

Turtle sightings are never something I would treat as guaranteed. Conditions, timing, and wildlife all matter. Still, Shimizu is presented as the place to look for them, and the snorkeling gives you something worthwhile even if the turtles stay out of sight.

Lunch is a Filipino buffet with local dishes. Several bookings praised the meal, while Will found the food to be the main weak point. Both points are useful: do not expect a restaurant meal, but you should have a filling spread of local food served during the island break.

If anyone in your group has an allergy, tell the operator before the boat leaves. Princess from Poseidon Tours arranged a seafood-free lunch for one couple, which shows that dietary planning is possible when you give advance notice. Do not wait until food is already being served.

Secret Lagoon, a narrow entrance and a dramatic setting

Secret Lagoon is another 45-minute stop. It is hidden behind steep limestone walls and reached through a narrow opening in what was once a cave or enclosed grotto.

The entrance is part of the fun, but it can also be the least comfortable part of the day if the water is rough or the access is crowded. You may pass through a sizable opening or caldera-like area before reaching the enclosed lagoon. Follow the guide’s instructions and take care around rock surfaces.

Inside, the setting feels quieter and more enclosed than Big Lagoon. The space is not large, so the visit is more about the unusual entrance and rock formations than about a long swim. If the area is busy, your private boat may help with timing, but it cannot change the physical size of the lagoon.

This is a good place to keep your phone secure. A waterproof pouch or dry bag is more practical than trusting a loose pocket while moving through water and rock.

Payong-Payong Beach, the relaxed final swim

Payong-Payong Beach is scheduled for about 45 minutes and offers swimming, snorkeling, photos, and a boat cruise. It is smaller and more sheltered in feel, with rock formations, cliffs, and a modest beach.

The waves are described as gentle and low, making this a pleasant place for paddling and casual swimming. It can also work well as a picnic setting, although the official lunch stop may be Shimizu Island or another location chosen by the guide.

This stop gives the day a slower rhythm. After the visual drama of the lagoons, you get a little open beach time and another chance to snorkel. If weather has affected the route, Payong-Payong may be one of the easier places to enjoy without needing a long swim.

The exact destinations and lunch location can change because of weather. That flexibility is sensible in Palawan, where wind and rain can affect boat safety and water visibility. It also means you should view the route as a plan rather than a rigid promise.

What the crew adds to the day

The strongest part of this experience is the crew. The feedback repeatedly praises friendly, attentive service, with specific guides including Gabi, Jason, Jayson, Renz, Cyron, Edward, Joshua, and Duetch.

Several guides took photos and videos at good locations. That may sound minor, but it is useful when you want a picture of the whole group rather than another arm’s-length phone shot. Edward was especially attentive about safety and photographs, while Renz helped create photos and videos that one couple considered a highlight.

The crew also appears willing to adapt. Cyron changed the sequence to reduce crowds and found a more secluded lunch shore. Joshua kept the day enjoyable despite clouds and rougher water. During one serious medical problem, the crew took a sick passenger to hospital and stayed to help, then checked in afterward.

You should not book a boat trip expecting perfect weather. Rain can flatten the colors and rough water can limit swimming. But a cheerful, careful crew makes a poor-weather day much more manageable. Shane’s experience is a good reminder that the staff cannot control the sky, but they can control their effort and attitude.

Food, equipment, and the real final price

The package includes buffet lunch, bottled water, life vests, the boat, guide, and crew. It does not include fins, aqua shoes, mask, snorkel, kayak hire, environmental fees, or lagoon entrance fees.

You can rent snorkeling equipment if you do not own it. I would still bring water shoes if possible, as they help with rocky or coral-filled entries. A hat, towel, swimwear, beachwear, camera, cash, and spare clothes all belong in your day bag.

The environmental charge is government-mandated, as is the lagoon entrance fee. These are not optional add-ons invented by the boat crew, but they are still part of your total budget. Ask for the current amount when booking.

The $135 price also needs context. It buys eight hours, a private boat, a crew, lunch, water, and the ability to shape the day around your group. It does not buy every piece of equipment or guarantee an empty lagoon. I think it is best value for families, couples celebrating something special, or friends who will share the boat cost and care about avoiding the most crowded schedule.

For a solo guest, the value is harder to defend unless privacy and personal attention matter greatly. One solo passenger still felt comfortable and well cared for, but the per-person price remains high.

Who should book this island tour?

I would choose this trip if you want the famous Tour A route but do not want to spend the day following a fixed shared-boat timetable. It suits confident swimmers, couples, families with older children, photographers, and small groups that want a quieter pace.

It is less suitable if you use a wheelchair, dislike getting wet before boarding, or want a low-cost beach excursion. The tour is also not ideal for anyone expecting luxury dining or all equipment to be included.

Give the crew your priorities at the start. Say if Big Lagoon photos matter most, if you want extra snorkeling time, or if avoiding crowds is your main goal. A private boat is most valuable when you use the flexibility instead of simply accepting the standard sequence.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. The guides speak English and Tagalog, and the group remains private. Those details make planning easier, but the bigger decision is simple: are you paying for the route alone, or for control over how you experience it?

Final verdict: a strong private choice with a few extra costs

I would recommend this El Nido Tour A for a small group that values personal service, flexible timing, and the chance to enjoy Big Lagoon and the surrounding islands with less crowd pressure.

The crew is the strongest reason to book. Their care with safety, photos, weather changes, dietary needs, and unexpected problems adds real value. Big Lagoon is the visual prize, while Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Payong-Payong keep the day varied.

Before paying, confirm the total cost of environmental and lagoon fees, kayak rental, drinks, and snorkeling equipment. Bring water shoes, a dry bag, and cash. If those extras fit your budget, this is a well-rounded private day on the water. If price matters more than privacy, choose a shared tour instead.

FAQ

How long does the El Nido private Tour A last?

The tour lasts about eight hours. The listed stops include roughly 45 minutes at Seven Commandos Beach, 45 minutes at Big Lagoon, one hour at Shimizu Island, 45 minutes at Secret Lagoon, and 45 minutes at Payong-Payong Beach, with travel time between locations.

What is included in the $135 price?

The price includes pickup within one kilometer of Corong-Corong Beach by tuk-tuk, buffet lunch, bottled water, a life vest, a licensed tourist boat, and a licensed guide and crew.

Are the environmental and lagoon entrance fees included?

No. The environmental fee and lagoon entrance fee are government-mandated charges and are not included in the tour price.

Is kayaking at Big Lagoon included?

No. Kayak rental at the lagoon is listed as an extra cost. Confirm the current arrangement before departure, since one booking also reported confusion about whether a kayak was included for lagoon use.

Can I rent snorkeling equipment?

Yes. Masks and snorkels can be rented if you do not bring your own. Fins and aqua shoes are not included, so bring or arrange those separately.

Where does pickup take place?

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