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

Big Lagoon looks almost too perfect to be real. This seven-hour El Nido boat trip links the famous Big Lagoon with Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commando Beach. I like the smart mix of lagoon scenery and beach time, and I like that lunch, boat transport, drinking water, life jackets, and an experienced crew are included. The main caution is that private, shared, and premium details can be unclear, especially for hotel pickup and kayak use.

I also like the chance to spend a full hour and a half at Big Lagoon rather than rushing through the main attraction. The drawbacks are the extra PHP 200 Big Lagoon fee, PHP 400 environmental fee, and PHP 150 mask rental, plus a cancellation policy that gives you little flexibility if your plans change.

Key Points Before You Book

• Big Lagoon gets the longest stop: You have about 90 minutes for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and photographs among the dark limestone cliffs.

• Five stops fill roughly seven hours: The day combines major sights with simple beach breaks, so expect a full boat excursion rather than a quiet half-day outing.

• Kayak use is for private tours only: Confirm exactly what your booking includes if paddling through Big Lagoon is important to you.

• Hotel pickup needs checking: Some accommodations may be considered too far from the departure area, even when they appear in a pickup list.

• Payong-Payong depends on weather: If conditions do not allow a visit, the crew will take you to another snorkeling spot.

• Extra fees add to the advertised price: Plan for PHP 600 in environmental and Big Lagoon fees, before any mask rental.

What the Seven-Hour Schedule Really Gives You

This is a classic El Nido island-hopping day. The route is built around five stops, with the boat moving between limestone islands, narrow waterways, beaches, and snorkeling areas.

The schedule gives Big Lagoon and Shimizu Island about 90 minutes each. Payong-Payong Beach, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commando Beach each receive about an hour. That is enough time to see the main sights, but not enough to linger everywhere if weather, boat traffic, or local access rules slow the day.

The tour ends at El Nido’s floating dock. Hotel pickup is offered, but I would confirm the exact meeting point before departure. A few bookings have run into trouble when an accommodation was judged too far from the pickup zone, despite appearing in the available hotel list.

Entering Big Lagoon Among the Limestone Cliffs

Big Lagoon is the reason to book this route. You enter a narrow waterway surrounded by steep, dark limestone cliffs and clear blue-green water. The rock walls make the place feel enclosed and dramatic, while the calm water creates good conditions for a paddle, swim, or slow look around.

You have about 90 minutes here. That is the most generous stop of the day, and rightly so. You can use the time for photographs, swimming, snorkeling, or kayaking if your package includes it.

The kayak detail matters. Kayaks are included for the private option only, while the general tour description can make the package choices sound similar. If you specifically want to paddle inside Big Lagoon, confirm that your reservation is the private version and that the kayak is included.

There is also a PHP 200 admission charge per person for Big Lagoon. It is not included in the listed tour price, so keep cash available for this and the environmental fee.

The main weakness is crowding. Big Lagoon is El Nido’s headline stop, and a boat trip here is not an isolated nature outing. The water and cliffs are the stars, but the number of boats can affect how peaceful the experience feels.

Shimizu Island for Swimming and Snorkeling

Shimizu Island changes the pace. Instead of a narrow cliff-lined waterway, you get powdery white sand, clear water, forested slopes, and a beach break.

The planned stop lasts about 90 minutes. That gives you enough room to swim, snorkel, and sit on the beach without feeling hurried. The shallow turquoise water is especially useful if you prefer an easy swim rather than a demanding snorkeling session.

Snorkeling masks are not included. You can rent one for PHP 150 per person. If you already have your own mask, bringing it will save both money and time.

Lunch is part of the package and is generally described as a picnic meal with fruit. The food includes a mix of seafood and pork or chicken, giving you a more substantial break than a simple snack. One practical limitation is that portions and choices may feel limited, particularly if you expect a large restaurant-style meal.

Payong-Payong Beach and the Weather Question

Payong-Payong Beach is intended as a one-hour stop for rest and snorkeling. Its appeal is simple: a scenic beach, clean water, and a chance to get out of the boat and slow down.

This stop is weather dependent. If the conditions do not cooperate, the crew will take you to another location where you can snorkel in El Nido’s clear water.

That flexibility is sensible because sea conditions shape the whole day. Still, it means you should not treat Payong-Payong as guaranteed. If this particular beach is high on your list, ask about the plan when you meet the crew.

The beach stop also helps break up the day. Five water-based locations can begin to feel repetitive, so an hour on a beach adds a welcome change.

Secret Lagoon Through the Small Cave

Secret Lagoon is the route’s most unusual entrance. You reach the hideaway through a small cave, then come out into a sheltered lagoon.

The attraction here is the setting and the short passage into it. It feels different from Big Lagoon because the approach is more enclosed and the lagoon is reached through rock rather than by simply sailing into an open channel.

Plan for about an hour. That should allow time for sightseeing and photographs, though access through a small cave can make the stop feel less spacious than the name suggests. You may also find that the attraction is popular, so patience helps when entering or leaving.

Secret Lagoon is best understood as a quick natural curiosity, not a long swimming session. Big Lagoon is the better place for a more extended paddle or swim.

Seven Commando Beach and the Final Hour

Seven Commando Beach closes the route with an easy beach stop. You will find white sand, clear turquoise water, palm trees, rock formations, and a beach bar.

The one-hour visit is well suited to a final swim, a drink, or a few last photographs. After several lagoon and snorkeling stops, this beach gives you a straightforward place to relax before returning to El Nido.

The beach bar is convenient, but it also means this is not a completely remote stop. The appeal is comfort and scenery rather than solitude.

The route then returns you to the El Nido floating dock. If you have hotel transport arranged, confirm whether the same operator will take you back or whether you need to organize the return yourself.

Lunch, Crew Service, and What Is Included

The package includes boat transport, an experienced crew, a licensed tour guide, life jackets, purified water, and a picnic lunch with fruit. Those inclusions make the $40 price easier to assess, since you are not paying only for a boat seat.

The crew service has been one of the strongest parts of this experience. Guide Jerry receives especially warm praise for helping everyone have a good day, and the boat crew is described as attentive. That matters in El Nido, where the crew handles timing, safety equipment, beach access, and the movement between several stops.

Lunch is another positive point. A mix of seafood, pork or chicken, and fruit gives you a useful midday meal without needing to leave the route for a restaurant.

Still, do not assume the package includes every comfort. Snorkeling equipment costs extra, and the Big Lagoon entrance and environmental charges are separate. Purified water is included, which is helpful, but I would still confirm the meal setup if you have dietary needs because no special menu is specified.

Private, Shared, and Premium: Read the Details Carefully

The title presents private and shared options, while the additional information describes the activity as private, with only your group participating. That wording creates a real point of confusion.

Some bookings have found the boat experience more like a shared trip, with a cramped boat and less space than expected. If privacy is important, ask the provider to confirm all of the following before paying:

• Is the boat reserved only for your group?
• Is hotel pickup included from your exact accommodation?
• Is a kayak included?
• Are the same five stops planned?
• What happens if Payong-Payong is closed by weather?

The word premium should not be treated as a guarantee of a luxury boat. The core value here is the route, not a high-end vessel. One booking described the boat as cramped and not as good as other operators, while other bookings praised the crew and the day overall.

This is also a group-discount experience, but the available details do not state the discount amount. Ask for the final total rather than assuming the advertised per-person price is the complete cost.

Is $40 a Fair Price for This Route?

At $40 per person, the tour can be good value if you want an organized day with lunch, water, equipment, a guide, and transport between five famous locations.

The price becomes less attractive after adding PHP 200 for Big Lagoon, PHP 400 for the environmental fee, and PHP 150 for a snorkeling mask if you need one. The environmental fee is valid for five days, so it may cover other qualifying activities during your stay.

One booking felt the online price was more than double what similar boat trips cost when arranged directly in El Nido. That does not mean every direct booking will offer the same inclusions, guide service, pickup, or schedule, but it is a useful warning. Compare the total package, not just the base price.

If you value advance planning, hotel pickup, a set itinerary, and online confirmation, paying more may be worthwhile. If you are comfortable arranging a boat locally and comparing operators in person, you may find a lower price.

Timing Changes and Weather Risks

The advertised duration is about seven hours, but the start time can change. One booking was affected when the operator moved the departure time to suit weather conditions. The change was communicated, but it came late enough to disrupt the planned visit to the lagoons.

That is a normal risk for a sea-based trip, not necessarily a sign of poor operation. Weather controls whether boats can safely reach certain sites, and Payong-Payong is specifically subject to conditions.

The policy is strict: the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons. If poor weather forces the operator to cancel, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

For that reason, avoid placing this tour on the only day you have available for El Nido’s main sights. A little schedule space gives you protection if conditions change.

Who Will Like This El Nido Boat Trip?

I would recommend this experience to you if you want to see the major El Nido sights in one organized day. It suits first-time visitors, couples, families, and small groups who value a guide, lunch, and a fixed route.

It is also a good fit if Big Lagoon is your priority. The 90-minute stop gives you more useful time there than a rushed visit would.

You may want another option if you require a truly private boat, a quiet premium vessel, guaranteed hotel pickup, or complete control over timing. The mixed wording around private and shared service needs clarification before booking.

The tour is also less suitable if you dislike crowded attractions or want to spend most of the day at one beach. This itinerary covers a lot of ground, which means variety comes at the cost of lingering.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want the famous El Nido route with transportation, lunch, water, life jackets, and crew support already arranged. Big Lagoon is the clear highlight, while Shimizu Island and Seven Commando Beach add relaxed swimming and beach time.

Before you commit, confirm the private or shared format, pickup from your hotel, kayak access, final fees, and likely start time. If the answers are clear and you value convenience, $40 can be reasonable. If price is your main concern, compare the complete cost with local operators before booking online.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour A take?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours, including the boat journey and visits to five locations.

What places does the tour visit?

The route includes 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 accommodations may be considered too far from the pickup area. Confirm pickup from your exact hotel before departure.

Is kayaking included?

Kayaking is included for the private tour only. Confirm your selected package if you want to use a kayak at Big Lagoon.

What extra fees should I expect?

Big Lagoon charges PHP 200 per person. The environmental fee is PHP 400 per person and is valid for five days. A snorkeling mask costs PHP 150 per person if you need to rent one.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. A snorkeling mask is available for an additional PHP 150 per person.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund. Personal cancellations and booking changes are otherwise non-refundable.