EL NIDO: Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH

Five stops, one very full island day. El Nido Tour A packs Big Lagoon kayaking and Shimizu Island snorkeling into an eight-hour boat trip, with white beaches, limestone cliffs, and a buffet lunch along the way. I like the wide mix of activities and the low price of $23 per person. The main catch is crowding, plus extra fees for the lagoons and kayak rental.

The crew is generally praised for being friendly, helpful, and eager to keep the day running smoothly. Still, you should confirm the meeting time, bring your own water, and expect the route or lunch stop to change if weather or sea conditions turn rough.

Key points to know before booking

• Big Lagoon is the star stop: Kayaking gives you a quieter way to see the cliffs and blue-green water, but the kayak costs extra and delays can happen.
• Five major stops fill the day: You visit Seven Commandos Beach, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Payong-Payong Beach.
• The buffet lunch is a real value: Food, fruit, and water are included, with several people especially pleased by the selection.
• Crowds are part of Tour A: Boats often follow the same route at similar times, so famous sites may feel busy.
• Fees are not fully included: Allow for the 400 environmental fee, 200 lagoon entrance fee, and additional kayak rental.
• The best fit is an easygoing adventurer: You get swimming, snorkeling, beach time, and scenery without needing advanced skills.

Why El Nido Tour A is so popular

El Nido’s limestone islands rise sharply from clear coastal water, creating the kind of scenery that makes a simple boat ride feel like a major outing. Tour A brings you to the area’s most famous sights in one day, so you do not need to arrange separate trips for beaches, lagoons, and snorkeling.

I like the balance here. You can paddle a kayak through Big Lagoon, snorkel around Shimizu Island, squeeze through the entrance to Secret Lagoon, then spend time doing very little on a beach. The day has enough activity to keep it interesting, but it is not built around hard physical exertion.

The $23 price is unusually attractive for an eight-hour island trip with a licensed boat, captain, guide, crew, buffet lunch, fruit, and water. You will still pay government fees and possibly the kayak charge, so the final cost is higher than the headline price. Even so, this is a strong budget choice if you want to see several El Nido sights in one outing.

The tradeoff is popularity. Tour A is one of the area’s best-known routes, and boats tend to reach the same places around the same time. You may find a quiet corner, but you should not expect every beach or lagoon to feel private.

Seven Commandos Beach starts the day gently

The first stop is Seven Commandos Beach, a broad strip of pale sand backed by coconut trees and limestone cliffs. Its name comes from a local story about seven commandos who supposedly stayed here after World War II, though the beach itself is now much more social than secret.

You get roughly an hour for swimming, photographs, sightseeing, and a little free time. The water is clear and inviting, while small beach bars and shops offer cold drinks and snacks. That makes this an easy opening stop: you can swim, stretch your legs, or simply settle into the day.

I would not treat Seven Commandos as a deserted island experience. Rustic bars and other boats give it a livelier feel, and the beach can become crowded. Still, the setting is attractive, and the stop gives you a useful chance to test the water before the more activity-focused locations.

Bring cash if you want to buy something on the beach. Cash is also useful for other small purchases during the day, since the tour specifically recommends carrying it.

Big Lagoon delivers the strongest scenery

Big Lagoon is the centerpiece for many people. The boat approaches a narrow opening, then enters a broad body of calm water surrounded by high limestone walls. The cliffs create a natural bowl, and the water shifts between green and blue as the light changes.

The usual way to experience the lagoon is by kayak. Paddling lets you move at your own pace and reach quieter corners that are harder to appreciate from the main boat. You can stop for photographs, look into the clear water, and enjoy the silence between groups.

Kayak rental is not included, so check the current charge before setting out. The additional cost may be worthwhile if Big Lagoon is the main reason you chose Tour A. If you prefer not to paddle, you can still enjoy the boat ride and scenery, but you will miss the closest look at the lagoon’s edges.

This is also the stop where patience matters. At times, boats wait in open water while kayaks are being organized, and one account describes a delay of nearly an hour before entering the lagoon. Weather can make kayaking less appealing or unsafe, too. If conditions are poor, the guide may change the plan, and a lagoon fee may not be returned if you decide not to enter.

That does not ruin the stop, but it is worth knowing before you pay extra. Big Lagoon is beautiful, yet the experience depends on water conditions, boat traffic, and how smoothly the kayak handover goes.

Shimizu Island combines lunch and snorkeling

Shimizu Island is named after a Japanese diver associated with the area’s waters. Its shoreline offers a pleasant lunch setting, while coral reefs nearby give you one of the day’s better chances to see fish and other sea life.

The boat normally stops for about an hour, including lunch, swimming, snorkeling, and sightseeing. A buffet is included, along with fruit and water. The food has received especially warm praise, with several people calling the selection excellent or saying there were plenty of choices.

That matters because an island day can feel disappointing when lunch is a small afterthought. Here, the meal is part of the value. You can eat under the trees, listen to the water, then return to snorkeling without spending more on a restaurant.

Do not expect unlimited time for both a long meal and a long snorkeling session. One hour passes quickly, especially when the crew is serving food and the group must return to the boat. Pack a waterproof bag for your belongings and bring beachwear that works for both eating and swimming.

Snorkeling conditions depend on the weather and water clarity. The area is known for coral and fish, but nature does not provide the same show every day. Bring a camera if you want underwater photographs, and use biodegradable sunscreen to reduce harm to the sea.

Secret Lagoon is more about access than size

Secret Lagoon is reached through a small opening in the limestone. You squeeze through the narrow entrance and find a confined pool ringed by rock walls. The appeal is the sense of discovery, not the size of the lagoon.

The stop lasts about an hour and may include photographs, sightseeing, and snorkeling. The entrance itself can be the memorable part, especially if you enjoy unusual natural formations and enclosed spaces.

Access may not suit everyone. The opening is narrow, and the area can feel crowded when several groups arrive together. If you dislike squeezing through a tight gap, you can still enjoy the rocks and surrounding views from outside, but this stop will not have the same appeal.

Conditions also affect the plan. The guide chooses the order and lunch stop, and destinations can change with the weather. It is best to treat Secret Lagoon as a possible highlight rather than a guarantee of a fixed, uninterrupted visit.

Payong-Payong Beach offers a quieter pause

Payong-Payong Beach is smaller and calmer than the more famous stops. Soft sand, clear water, vegetation, and rock formations give it a restful character, making it a good place to slow down after the lagoon visits.

You may swim, snorkel, take photographs, or simply sit on the sand. The stop is scheduled for about an hour, though the exact order can change. Some tour groups have been taken to a different beach when the crew wanted a less crowded final stop, which can improve the mood of the afternoon.

This is the place where I would keep your plans loose. You may get a peaceful beach break, or you may arrive when other boats are already there. The scenery remains attractive, but the level of quiet depends on timing.

If your perfect island day includes an empty beach and long stretches without interruption, a private boat may suit you better. If you are happy to share the setting and want several good stops for one reasonable price, Payong-Payong rounds out the route well.

The buffet and included gear improve the value

For $23, the included package covers more than the basic boat ride. You receive pickup within El Nido Town and Corong-corong, a licensed tourist boat, licensed captain, licensed guide and crew, buffet lunch, water, fruit, and a life vest or jacket.

The word licensed matters here. You are not simply hiring an informal ride to one beach. The tour includes a crew responsible for the boat and a guide who speaks English and Tagalog.

The buffet is one of the strongest parts of the deal. You get a proper meal at Shimizu Island rather than needing to find food independently. The exact dishes are not specified, so I would not book this expecting a particular menu, but the selection has been praised as generous and satisfying.

There are also a few easy-to-miss extra costs:

• Environmental fee: 400
• Lagoon entrance fee: 200
• Kayak rental at Big Lagoon
• Hotel drop-off after the tour
• Anything not specifically listed as included

Pickup is free within El Nido Town and Corong-corong, but the return to your hotel is not included. Plan for your own way back after the boat returns.

Timing and organization can vary

The advertised duration is eight hours, with several stops of about one hour each. That is enough time to swim, eat, snorkel, and take photographs, but the day also includes boat travel, boarding, and possible waits.

One useful warning concerns the morning start. A booking instruction showed an 8:30 start with an arrival 15 minutes early, while the actual meeting information given at the beach was 9:00. That kind of mismatch can happen, so confirm the meeting time directly before the morning of your trip.

The group operation is not always perfectly polished. A delayed departure and a lunch mix-up once left a boat waiting at a beach far longer than planned. These are not guaranteed problems, but they show why you should allow some flexibility in your schedule.

The crew receives much better marks for friendliness and helpfulness than for strict precision. Several people found the guides professional, attentive, and fun, while another account praised the crew for changing the final stop to a calmer beach. I would expect a warm, service-minded team, but not a minute-by-minute private charter.

What to bring for a comfortable day

The supplied advice is practical and worth following. Pack a change of clothes, beachwear, biodegradable sunscreen, a camera, cash, a waterproof bag, and waterproof shoes.

Waterproof shoes are useful around beaches, rocks, boat steps, and the Secret Lagoon entrance. A waterproof bag protects your phone and dry clothes when you move between the boat and shore.

Bring enough personal water for the day. Water is listed among the inclusions, and one account specifically appreciated being warned to bring water, while another wished more drinking water had been offered on the boat. The safest approach is to carry your own supply.

Plastic bags, smoking, alcohol, drugs, and littering are not allowed. That is sensible in a place where beaches and reefs depend on visitors leaving little behind. If you see rubbish near your stop, picking up a small piece is an easy way to help protect the setting you came to enjoy.

Who should book this island tour?

I would recommend Tour A to you if this is your first El Nido visit and you want the major sights in one day. It works well for couples, friends, and families who like a mix of swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, beach time, and scenic boat rides.

It also suits budget-minded visitors. The base price is low, lunch is included, and the route covers five distinct stops. You get much more variety than you would from spending the whole day at one beach.

You may want another option if you dislike crowds, tight schedules, or shared boats. A private trip gives you more control over timing and may let you avoid the busiest periods, though it will cost more. Tour A is also less appealing if your main goal is long snorkeling sessions, since each stop has a fixed window and lunch takes part of the Shimizu Island hour.

Should you book El Nido Tour A?

Book it if you want maximum variety for a modest price and can accept shared-boat conditions. Big Lagoon, the buffet lunch, and the combination of beaches and snorkeling give the day plenty of substance.

Go in with realistic expectations. The famous route can be crowded, kayak arrangements may take time, extra fees apply, and the guide may change the order or destinations because of weather. Confirm the start time, bring water and cash, and keep your schedule open after the tour.

For a first look at El Nido’s best-known coastal sights, this is a sensible and enjoyable choice. For privacy, perfect timing, or a slower pace, pay more for a private arrangement instead.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour A last?

The tour lasts about eight hours. Starting times vary, so you should check the available departure time when booking and confirm the morning meeting details.

What places does Tour A visit?

The planned stops are Seven Commandos Beach, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Payong-Payong Beach. The guide may change the destinations or order because of weather.

Is kayaking at Big Lagoon included?

No. Kayak rental is an additional expense. The tour includes the boat ride, but you should budget separately if you want to paddle inside Big Lagoon.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch at one of the island stops is included, along with fruit and water. The guide chooses the lunch stop, and the location may change.

Are entrance and environmental fees included?

No. The environmental fee is 400, and the lagoon entrance fee is 200. These government charges are separate from the tour price.

Does the tour pick you up from your hotel?

Free pickup is available within El Nido Town and Corong-corong. Drop-off back at your hotel is not included.

What languages does the guide speak?

The live guide service is available in English and Tagalog. The tour also includes a licensed guide and crew.