El Nido Tour D – Lagoons & Beaches Premium tour(Private / Shared)

Small Lagoon steals the show. This seven-hour El Nido boat trip pairs Cadlao Lagoon and Small Lagoon with four beaches, giving you a good mix of kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, and lazy white-sand time. I especially like the variety and the included picnic lunch, since you get more than a single scenic stop before heading back to town.

I also like the crew service reported on this trip. Guides Joshua and Bernard received special praise for being attentive and helpful, while one group described the boat as smooth and well equipped. The main drawback is the fine print: some fees are extra, and pickup service appears to have caused problems for at least one booking, so you should confirm the meeting point before departure.

Key things to know before booking

• Cadlao Lagoon gives you a colorful opening stop: Clear turquoise water and limestone walls make this a strong place to begin.
• Small Lagoon is the star attraction: Kayaking, swimming, and cliff jumping are offered here, but the admission fee is not included.
• Four beaches keep the day varied: Nat Nat, Pasandigan Cove, Paradise Beach, and Serenity Beach each offer a different kind of pause.
• Kayaks are included only on private tours: Shared-tour guests should confirm rental arrangements before paying.
• Lunch and drinking water are included: The picnic includes fruit plus seafood and pork or chicken according to the tour feedback.
• The $40 price is not the final cost: Add the environmental fee, possible lagoon charges, and snorkeling mask rental to your budget.

Why Tour D works as a full-day island outing

El Nido’s island-hopping trips are built around scenery rather than formal sightseeing. You spend the day moving by boat between limestone islands, small coves, and shallow water. Tour D is appealing because it does not rely on only one famous stop. It gives you two lagoon visits, several beaches, and time to eat and swim.

The listed price is $40 per person, which is reasonable for a seven-hour outing that includes hotel pickup, boat transport, crew service, life jackets, drinking water, and lunch. It becomes better value if you are using the private option and sharing the cost with a small group. Still, you need to add the PHP 400 environmental fee, valid for five days, plus any required lagoon entry and the PHP 150 snorkeling mask charge.

The information lists PHP 200 for Big Lagoon, even though the route describes Cadlao Lagoon and Small Lagoon. I would ask the operator exactly which admission fees apply to your date. That small check can prevent a surprise at the dock.

The tour is described as private, but the product title also refers to private and shared departures. That distinction matters. A private group has more control over pacing and receives a kayak according to the inclusions. If you choose shared, confirm boat arrangements, kayak access, and pickup details before you book.

Cadlao Lagoon opens the day with color

Cadlao Lagoon is the first scheduled stop, with about an hour set aside. The water is described as turquoise and clear, with limestone walls surrounding the inlet. This is a fine first look at the El Nido setting, especially if you enjoy taking photographs from the water.

Kayaking is part of the plan, allowing you to paddle toward the shore and see more of the surrounding rock formations. On a private tour, the kayak is included. On a shared departure, ask if it is available or rented separately, since the inclusion specifically applies to private tours.

Cadlao Lagoon is not simply a place to step off the boat, take one picture, and leave. The appeal comes from moving slowly through the compact waterway. You can look up at the rock walls, check the water below, and enjoy a quieter start before the more famous Small Lagoon.

The one-hour schedule is useful but not generous. If kayaking is important to you, use your time well. You may need to choose between paddling, swimming, and sitting on the beach rather than doing all three at length.

Small Lagoon brings the biggest wow factor

Small Lagoon receives another hour and is likely the most memorable part of the day. It is a tight inlet surrounded by limestone walls, with kayaking and swimming at its center. Cliff jumping is also listed, but you should treat that as optional and follow the crew’s safety instructions.

The setting feels more enclosed than Cadlao Lagoon. That gives the place its character. You move through a compact natural opening, with rock faces close around you and clear water below. One person specifically described Small Lagoon as the highlight of the day, and it is easy to see why this stop receives such attention.

There is an important cost issue here. Small Lagoon admission is listed as not included, while the fee notes mention PHP 200 for Big Lagoon. Because the names do not match perfectly, contact Philippines Divers before departure and ask which entrance charge applies to this itinerary.

You should also remember that lagoon visits can involve waiting, especially when several boats arrive around the same period. The tour gives you a planned hour, so do not expect a long private session unless your group is able to adjust the timing.

Nat Nat Beach offers a softer break

After two lagoon stops, Nat Nat Beach changes the pace. This Cadlao Island beach has soft white sand and clear water, with about an hour available for relaxing and swimming.

I like this stop because it gives your day some breathing room. Lagoons ask you to look upward, paddle, and move through narrow water. Nat Nat is simpler. You can sit on the sand, wade in the shallows, or take a proper pause before lunch or the next cove.

The beach is generally described as less crowded than some El Nido stops, though crowd levels can change. That makes it a good place to avoid overplanning. Bring your towel, protect your phone from water, and use the time as a reset rather than trying to turn every stop into an activity.

Nat Nat also shows why this route suits people who want more than the headline attractions. You are not spending every minute in a kayak. You get a beach day in small pieces, spread across several locations.

Pasandigan Cove adds snorkeling time

Pasandigan Cove is presented as a nature-focused stop with a wide mix of land and underwater scenery. The scheduled hour is intended for swimming, snorkeling, and resting on the isolated beach.

This is where the extra snorkeling cost becomes relevant. A mask is listed at PHP 150 per person and is not included. If you want to look below the surface, confirm whether you can bring your own equipment or rent one from the crew.

The cove offers a practical balance. You can snorkel for part of the hour, then return to the beach without feeling that you have missed the entire stop. If your group includes people who do not want to swim, the beach gives them something to do while others enter the water.

Do not expect a long guided snorkeling session based on the available details. The tour promises an opportunity, not a specialist reef trip. I would choose this excursion for the mix of lagoons and beaches, with snorkeling as an added pleasure.

Paradise Beach is built for doing very little

Paradise Beach is the most openly relaxing stop on the route. The description centers on powdery white sand, emerald-colored water, coconut trees, and a remote feel. You can wade, sunbathe, or simply sit with lunch nearby and forget the clock for a while.

That may sound basic, but it is a valuable part of a long boat day. After the movement and activity at the lagoons, a quiet beach lets you slow down. I would use this hour for photographs, a swim, and a proper break rather than trying to fill every minute.

The name sets a high bar, but the appeal here is straightforward: sand, water, shade from coconut trees, and open space. As with every beach stop, weather and the number of boats present will affect the mood.

Serenity Beach closes the island circuit

The final stop is described under Bacuit Bay and refers to Serenity Beach. It is a small white-sand beach intended as a quiet place for a picnic and a last rest in beautiful surroundings.

A small beach can feel especially welcome at the end of the route. You have already visited two lagoons and several swimming areas, so Serenity Beach gives you a gentle finish rather than another demanding activity. If lunch has not happened earlier, this is a natural setting for the included picnic.

The schedule assigns about an hour here, but the actual order can change. Boat routes depend on conditions and local operations. Think of the itinerary as a clear outline, not a minute-by-minute guarantee.

After Serenity Beach, the boat returns you to the El Nido floating dock. The return ride marks the end of the roughly seven-hour outing.

Lunch, crew service, and the boat matter

The included lunch is a useful part of the price. It comes with fruit, and one detailed account described a choice of seafood plus pork or chicken. That gives you more substance than a simple snack, especially during a day spent swimming and paddling.

Drinking water is included, as are life jackets. These basics matter on a boat route with several water stops. You should still bring sun protection and any personal snacks you prefer, since the supplied information does not promise unlimited food or drink.

Crew service is one of the strongest reasons to consider this trip. Joshua was singled out for kindness and help from start to finish. Bernard was praised for being informative and helpful, and another group described the boat crew and driver as attentive.

Those comments do not guarantee that every departure will feel identical. Staff can vary by date. Still, they point to the kind of support you can reasonably hope for: help around the boat, guidance at the stops, and someone keeping the day moving.

Private or shared: choose with care

A private tour is the better choice if you care about flexibility. You travel only with your own group, and the kayak is included. A private boat may also make it easier to ask about time at a beach or lagoon, though you should not assume every request can be granted.

A shared trip can lower the cost for solo visitors or couples, but the day may feel less personal. Confirm how many people will be aboard and whether the listed $40 price applies to your exact departure type.

Pickup is offered, but one serious complaint described a missed hotel pickup and an unanswered phone call. Another issue involved meeting at a designated place at 8:30 in the morning and no one arriving. I would not ignore this. Get the pickup time and location in writing, keep the provider’s contact details, and arrive early if you are meeting at the floating dock.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. The standard cancellation rule is strict: the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons.

Who will enjoy El Nido Tour D most?

I would recommend this route to you if you want a broad sample of El Nido in one day. It suits people who like alternating active stops with beach breaks, rather than spending the entire outing on snorkeling or kayaking.

It is also a good fit for a private group that wants a manageable seven-hour plan. Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the choice between swimming, paddling, snorkeling, and sitting on the sand. The information says most people can participate, but you should be comfortable boarding a boat and taking part in water-based stops.

You may want another option if your top priority is a fully private, highly flexible itinerary with every cost included. You should also think twice if you dislike strict cancellation terms or cannot tolerate uncertainty around pickup arrangements.

The 3.8 rating reflects a mixed picture. Many accounts praise the scenery, lunch, boat ride, and crew, while one serious complaint raises a real service concern. The trip looks appealing, but clear confirmation before departure is part of making it work.

Should you book this lagoon and beach tour?

I would book El Nido Tour D if you want two lagoons plus four beaches and you value variety more than long stays at one place. Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon provide the main scenic reward, while Nat Nat, Pasandigan, Paradise, and Serenity prevent the day from becoming one long queue for a famous photo.

The $40 price is fair when you include the boat, crew, lunch, water, life jacket, and possible private kayak. It is not an all-in price, so budget separately for environmental and entrance fees, plus a snorkeling mask if needed.

Before paying, confirm three things: your exact pickup point, whether the booking is private or shared, and the current lagoon admission charges. If those details are settled, this is a pleasant, well-rounded way to see El Nido’s water and beaches in a single day.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour D last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours, including the lagoon, beach, and return boat portions.

What places does the tour visit?

The route includes Cadlao Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Nat Nat Beach, Pasandigan Cove, Paradise Beach, and Serenity Beach in the Bacuit Bay area.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is listed as included, and pickup is offered. Because one booking reported a missed pickup, confirm the exact location and time before the tour.

Is the tour private or shared?

The experience is offered as private or shared. The additional information describes it as a private activity, so confirm which option you are booking.

Is kayaking included?

Kayaking is included for the private tour only. The tour data does not confirm kayak access for shared departures.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic lunch with fruit is included. The food has been described as including seafood and pork or chicken.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees are not included. The fee information lists PHP 200 per person for Big Lagoon, although the route names Small Lagoon, so ask the provider which fee applies.

Is the environmental fee included?

No. The environmental fee is PHP 400 per person and is valid for five days.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. Personal cancellations or amendments are non-refundable.