EL Nido Tour A

El Nido rewards an early start. Tour A packs several famous island sights into one boat day, with Shimizu Island, Papaya Beach, Secret Lagoon, and a choice between Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon. I like the included guide, boat, land transfers, life vest, lunch, and national park admission, all for a listed price of $21. I also like that pickup is offered within El Nido Town, saving you a trip to the pier.

The main concern is the lagoon arrangement. Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon cannot be visited on the same day, and the supplied details are not fully clear about whether one of them is included in every booking. Lagoon user fees and kayak rental are extra, while the eco-tourism development fee is also not included. Confirm the exact stops and extra costs before you pay.

Key points to know before booking

• Four headline stops: The day focuses on Shimizu Island, Papaya Beach, Secret Lagoon, and either Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon.
• A full boat day: Plan on roughly 7 to 9 hours, with the listed start time at 9:00 am.
• Excellent scenery: Palawan’s dramatic rock formations, clear water, small beaches, and narrow lagoon entrances are the main reward.
• Lunch is included: A beach picnic is part of the package, and one account praised it as a generous full meal.
• Extra fees matter: The eco-tourism fee, lagoon user fee, and kayak rental are not included.
• Good value, with one important question: At $21, the package is inexpensive for a guided island-hopping day, but ask exactly which lagoon you will enter.

What the $21 price really covers

At first glance, $21 is a remarkably low price for a full day around El Nido. The listed inclusions cover a guide, land and boat transfers, island hopping, a life vest, pickup within El Nido Town, lunch, and national park admission. That gives you the basic structure needed for a day on the water without arranging separate transport or hiring a boat yourself.

The price is especially useful if you have limited time in Palawan. Instead of organizing several boat connections, you can see multiple famous locations in one outing. You also return to El Nido, so the tour works neatly within a short stay.

Still, treat $21 as the starting cost, not necessarily the final total. The eco-tourism development fee is excluded. A separate user fee applies to Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon, and kayak rental is not included. The exact amounts are not supplied here, so ask the operator for the current total before booking.

There is also a wording problem worth taking seriously. The description lists the Secret Lagoon and Big or Small Lagoon, but the included items specifically exclude the Big and Small Lagoon user fee. A past booking experience also reported being told that neither Big nor Small Lagoon was part of the day, despite expecting one of them. That is a major issue if the lagoon is the reason you are booking.

Send one clear question to CTPH TOUR before you commit: Which exact stops are included on my date, and what extra fees will I pay at the pier or lagoon? A written answer can prevent an expensive disappointment.

Leaving El Nido Pier at 9:00 am

The listed meeting point is the El Nido Pier dispatching and docking area, with a 9:00 am start. Pickup is available within El Nido Town, which is useful if you do not want to find the pier on your own. The trip ends back in El Nido.

The full outing lasts about 7 to 9 hours, although the supplied stop information gives about five hours for the El Nido island portion. In practical terms, allow most of your day. The remaining time can include pickup, boarding, movement between islands, lunch, and the return boat ride.

Boat days depend on the weather. This experience requires good conditions, so poor weather can lead to a different date or a full refund. That policy is reassuring, but it also means you should avoid scheduling an important flight immediately afterward. The tour needs a minimum number of participants as well, and if that number is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

The maximum group size is listed as 100 people. That is a large possible group, and it affects the feel of the day. You should expect a shared boat experience rather than a private, quiet cruise. The upside is a lower price. The downside is less control over timing and more people at popular stops.

Shimizu Island brings the classic island-hopping setting

Shimizu Island is one of the named stops, and it represents the kind of scenery that makes El Nido famous. Expect a small island setting, striking coastal rock, clear water, and time for swimming and photographs.

The most useful feature here is the chance to enjoy the scenery without having to plan a separate visit. The boat carries you directly into the island-hopping circuit, and the guide helps keep the group moving through several stops in one day.

Shimizu Island is also connected with the included beach lunch. One especially positive account described the meal as a generous full spread served on the beach. That matters because a long boat day is far more pleasant when lunch is part of the plan rather than something you must arrange between stops.

Do not expect a long, quiet stay at every island. Tour A is built around seeing several places, not spending an entire afternoon at one beach. If you prefer one unhurried beach day, a private boat or a slower custom trip may suit you better.

Papaya Beach offers time for swimming and photos

Papaya Beach is another named stop, and the tour allows time for swimming and taking pictures at each location. That makes it a good part of the day for you if you want a mix of water time and scenery rather than a sightseeing ride with no chance to get wet.

The beach stop also gives you a break from the boat. You can stretch out, swim, and take in the rock formations from shore. The experience is not only about checking off names on a map. The best moments will likely come from the contrast between the boat ride, the small beaches, and the enclosed lagoons.

Bring a way to protect your phone and camera from water. A life vest is included, but the supplied details do not state that waterproof storage is provided. You should also remember that the tour is built around shared timing. If you want long, uninterrupted time in the water, ask how long the group usually stays at Papaya Beach.

Secret Lagoon is the day’s more enclosed stop

Secret Lagoon is included among the main places visited. Its appeal comes from the change in setting: instead of an open beach, you reach a more enclosed natural area associated with El Nido’s limestone islands.

The name can create high expectations, so keep them in check. This is a well-known stop on a popular route, not a private discovery. The experience depends on weather, water conditions, the number of boats in the area, and how smoothly your group moves through the entrance.

The tour’s guide and life vest are useful here. You will have someone managing the group and basic safety equipment supplied. The details do not promise a private guide or a particular guide by name, so you should think of the guiding as shared, practical assistance rather than a custom geological tour.

That said, the natural rock formations are a real strength of the day. One especially enthusiastic account praised the local geology and the attentive, experienced boat crew. You can expect the rock scenery to be one of the most memorable parts of the trip, even if the timing at each stop is limited.

Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon is the decision point

Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon are presented as alternatives, not two stops on the same day. This is the detail most likely to affect your satisfaction.

The supplied information says they cannot be visited on the same day. It also lists a separate user fee for the lagoon and excludes kayak rental. That means you need to decide what you want from the experience and confirm which lagoon is scheduled before departure.

The names sound similar, but the practical point is simple: you cannot assume you will see both. If your family, children, or photography plans are centered on Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon, do not rely on a general Tour A label. Ask for the exact plan for your date.

You might also find that entering the lagoon requires a separate payment or an optional kayak rental. The listed price does not cover those items. If you want to paddle, add that cost to your budget. If you are happy to see the lagoon without kayaking, ask whether the user fee still applies, because the supplied details do not explain the payment rules.

This is the one area where I would be firm. Before you board, make sure the operator confirms one of these outcomes: Big Lagoon included, Small Lagoon included, or neither included. The difference is too important to leave vague.

Lunch and the boat crew add real value

Lunch is included, and that is more valuable than it may sound. You are spending most of the day moving between islands, so an organized meal saves you from finding food during a tight schedule. The beach setting also makes lunch part of the experience rather than a quick stop in town.

The strongest description of the meal called it a full beach lunch and praised the crew for attentive service. You should not expect restaurant-style dining, but the meal appears to be treated as a substantial part of the outing rather than an afterthought.

The crew also received praise for experience and care. That is important on a boat day, where loading, unloading, life vests, swimming time, and group movement all need coordination. Good crew work keeps the day pleasant.

Still, a maximum of 100 participants means the crew may be handling a sizeable group. The quality of the day can depend on how many people are actually booked, not only on the advertised maximum. If you want more personal attention, ask about the expected group size.

What to bring for a comfortable day

The package supplies a life vest, but you should still prepare for a wet and active outing. Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection, and a waterproof pouch for valuables. The trip includes swimming and photography, so a secure way to carry your phone is especially useful.

Carry some extra money for the excluded eco-tourism development fee, lagoon user fee, and kayak rental. The current amounts are not provided, so confirm them before you leave your accommodation.

A light change of clothes can make the ride back more comfortable. You will also appreciate footwear that can handle both the boat and beach stops. The provided information does not specify the condition of every landing area, so practical footwear is safer than delicate sandals.

Because weather can cancel or change the tour, keep your plans flexible. The cancellation terms allow a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes within that period are not accepted.

Who will get the most from Tour A

I would choose this tour if you have a short stay in El Nido and want the famous island stops handled in one day. It suits people who value convenience, a low upfront price, an included lunch, and a guide to manage the boat route.

It also works well for you if swimming, photographs, and big natural scenery matter more than a slow pace. The itinerary gives you several chances to get into the water and see different settings, from beaches to lagoons.

Families may appreciate the organized transport and life vests, but parents should confirm the lagoon plan first. One poor experience centered on children expecting Big or Small Lagoon and finding that neither was included. That is exactly the kind of mismatch a quick pre-booking message can avoid.

I would hesitate if you want a private experience, a quiet boat, or full control over how long you stay at each stop. A group that can reach 100 people may feel busy, especially at popular sites. I would also hesitate if the lagoon is your only priority and the operator will not confirm which one you are getting.

Final verdict: book it after confirming the lagoon

El Nido Tour A offers strong value at $21. You get a guide, boat and land transfers, life vest, island hopping, pickup within El Nido Town, lunch, and national park admission in a single package. The scenery, beach meal, and attentive crew can make this a memorable day.

My advice is simple: book it if you want an affordable, broad introduction to El Nido and you are comfortable with a shared boat schedule. Before paying, confirm the exact lagoon stop and all extra fees. If CTPH TOUR gives you a clear answer, this is a sensible way to see several famous Palawan sights without spending much.

If the operator cannot confirm Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, or the alternative plan, choose another arrangement. The rest of the day looks appealing, but no bargain is worthwhile if it misses the one place you most want to see.

FAQ

Where does El Nido Tour A start and end?

The tour starts at the El Nido Pier dispatching and docking area and ends back in El Nido, Palawan. Pickup is offered within El Nido Town.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 9:00 am.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 7 to 9 hours. The listed island-hopping portion is described as about five hours.

Which places are included?

The named stops are Shimizu Island, Papaya Beach, Secret Lagoon, and Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon. Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon cannot be visited on the same day.

Are lunch and admission fees included?

Lunch and national park admission are included. The eco-tourism development fee and the Big or Small Lagoon user fee are not included.

Is kayak rental included?

No. Kayak rental is not included in the tour price.