El Nido:Private Tour D with Highlights Small & Cadlao Lagoon

El Nido rewards a full day on water. I like the chance to kayak through Small Lagoon and the calm, emerald setting of Cadlao Lagoon. The $24 price also includes a licensed boat, captain, guide, lunch, mask, snorkel, life jacket, and drinking water, which makes this a strong value. The main catch is that kayaking, environmental, and Small Lagoon fees cost extra.

This six to seven-hour outing also gives you time on quiet beaches, with stops for swimming, photos, and lunch at Paradise Beach. I like that it is available as a private group, but people prone to seasickness or with mobility impairments should think carefully before booking.

Key Details Before You Book

• Small Lagoon by kayak: Paddle through clear water and limestone cliffs, with one hour set aside for the visit.
• Cadlao Lagoon by boat and kayak: You get about an hour to enjoy its emerald water and dramatic rock walls.
• Lunch at Paradise Beach: The meal is included, with a full hour scheduled for eating and relaxing.
• Extra water activities: Swimming, snorkeling, and photo stops are built into the route, but kayak hire costs PHP 300 for two people or PHP 350 for three.
• Good value at $24: The core boat trip, crew, guide, safety gear, lunch, and drinking water are included.
• Private option available: This can suit people who prefer a more personal pace than a large shared outing.

Why Tour D Works Well for a Day in El Nido

El Nido is famous for towering limestone cliffs rising from clear water. Tour D gives you several ways to enjoy that scenery without spending the whole day on one beach. You kayak, swim, snorkel, eat lunch, and stop for photographs.

The route lasts six to seven hours, long enough to feel like a full outing but not so long that the day becomes exhausting on paper. The experience begins from either Marber’s or Marbers Beach Club, depending on the option you choose, and finishes at Dockyard.

The strongest part of the plan is its mix. Small Lagoon supplies the dramatic scenery, Cadlao Lagoon brings a quieter water setting, and the beach stops give you time to dry off and slow down. That variety matters in El Nido, where a day spent only aboard a boat can feel repetitive.

The tour is operated by Alexzus Travel and Tours, with a licensed tourist boat, captain, and local English-speaking guide. A private group option is available, which may be especially useful if you want more control over how long you swim, take photographs, or rest.

Small Lagoon: The Main Scenic Moment

Small Lagoon is the tour’s most memorable stop for many people because the setting feels enclosed and dramatic. Limestone cliffs rise around clear water, creating a natural corridor for kayaking and swimming.

Kayak hire is not included. The stated rates are PHP 300 for a two-seater and PHP 350 for a three-seater. That is a modest extra cost, but you should budget for it before setting off, especially if everyone in your party wants a boat.

The scheduled visit lasts about one hour. That gives you time to paddle, look up at the rock walls, swim, and take photographs, though you should not expect an unhurried half-day at the lagoon.

Small Lagoon also has its own user fee of PHP 200 per person for one access. This is separate from the PHP 400 environmental fee, which is valid for five days. If you are spending several days around El Nido, the environmental fee may cover other outings during that period, but Small Lagoon access is charged separately.

Bring a waterproof way to protect your camera and phone. The tour includes a mask, snorkel, and life jacket, but not a towel or water shoes. Water shoes cost PHP 100 per pair if you want them, and a towel costs PHP 100 each.

Cadlao Lagoon and the Island Setting

Cadlao Island receives a full hour for kayaking. The lagoon is described by its emerald-colored water and dramatic rock formations, giving you a different mood from Small Lagoon.

Small Lagoon feels enclosed and active because kayaking is the central activity. Cadlao Lagoon is presented as a more peaceful place to paddle and look around. You can expect time for photographs and a closer look at the natural setting, but the exact balance between kayaking and swimming may depend on weather, water conditions, and the guide.

The Cadlao stop is valuable because it breaks up the day. After the more structured lagoon visit, you have a chance to enjoy open water and island scenery at a slower pace. If you prefer calm surroundings to a packed schedule, this is likely to be one of the better parts of Tour D.

The tour description also refers to Pasandigan Beach and Serenity Beach as peaceful beach stops, while the timed route names Paradise Beach on Cadlao Island and Bukal Island. Since beach names and stop order can vary in the supplied route details, confirm the exact beach sequence with Alexzus Travel and Tours before departure.

Paradise Beach Lunch Stop

Paradise Beach is scheduled for one hour, including lunch. That is enough time to eat without turning the meal into a rushed break, and it gives you a chance to sit on the sand, swim, or simply enjoy the shore.

Lunch is included in the $24 price, along with one bottle of drinking water. Other meals and drinks are not included, so bring snacks and additional water if you normally drink a lot during a day outside.

One practical point: the included meal is useful for keeping the total cost down, but the available information does not specify its menu. If you have dietary restrictions, ask before booking rather than assuming the meal will suit you.

The beach itself is described as having white sand, turquoise water, and green surroundings. I would treat this stop as a reset between lagoon visits. You are not only stopping to eat. You are getting a proper chance to put the camera away, stretch your legs, and enjoy the coast.

Bukal Island: A Relaxed Finish

The final scheduled stop is Bukal Island, with about one hour for photographs, visiting, and swimming. It is described as a calm place with clear water and marine life, making it a natural end to a day built around water.

You can use the stop for a final swim or snorkeling session. The mask and snorkel are included, but you should bring your own towel or budget PHP 100 to rent one. Swimwear and spare clothes are also sensible because you may still be wet when the boat returns to Dockyard.

Bukal Island is not presented as a rushed photo-only stop. The hour allows enough time to swim and relax, though conditions may affect how much time you spend in the water. Follow the guide’s instructions, avoid touching marine life and plants, and keep litter away from the shore.

That last point is more than a polite reminder. El Nido’s clear water and coral areas are part of what makes the trip special, so biodegradable sunscreen and careful behavior help protect the places you came to see.

The Quieter Beaches on the Route

The experience description includes Pasandigan Beach and Serenity Beach as calm coastal stops. Pasandigan is described as a peaceful beach with white sand, turquoise water, and lush surroundings. Serenity Beach is presented as a place for gentle waves, quiet time, and a break from busier areas.

The timed itinerary does not assign separate durations to both names. Instead, it lists a secret stop for 40 minutes, followed by Cadlao Island, Paradise Beach, Small Lagoon, and Bukal Island. The most useful advice is to ask for the confirmed route and beach names when you book.

The secret stop is scheduled for a photo stop and guided visit. At 40 minutes, it is shorter than the lagoon and beach sessions, but it adds another change of scene early in the day. This part may appeal to you if you like varied viewpoints rather than staying in one place.

Do not book Tour D expecting every beach mentioned in the description to receive a long, separate stay. The route is still a full day of stops, but the schedule gives the clearest detail for Paradise Beach, Small Lagoon, Bukal Island, and Cadlao Island.

What the $24 Price Really Covers

At $24 per person, Tour D is priced attractively for a boat outing that lasts six to seven hours. The included items cover many of the costs that can make an island day more expensive:

• Licensed tourist boat
• Licensed boat captain
• Licensed local tour guide
• Lunch
• One bottle of drinking water
• Mask and snorkel
• Life jacket

The extra fees matter. Add PHP 400 per person for the environmental fee, PHP 200 per person for Small Lagoon access, and kayak hire at PHP 300 for two people or PHP 350 for three. Optional water shoes and towels cost PHP 100 each.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You must also pay for meals not specifically included, plus any extra drinks or snacks. The low headline price is therefore a good starting value, but not the final cost of the day.

Even with those additions, the package is appealing if you want boat transport, crew, safety equipment, lunch, and several major stops in one booking. I would compare the final total with other El Nido outings rather than comparing only the advertised base price.

Boat Comfort, Weather, and Physical Demands

This is a water-based outing, not a sightseeing trip from dry land. You will board a boat, kayak, swim, and move between beaches and lagoons. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and anyone prone to seasickness should consider that limitation seriously.

Bring swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, a camera, snacks, water, and a towel. Comfortable swimwear and a change of clothes are especially useful because the itinerary includes several water stops.

The operator supplies a life jacket, but you should still listen carefully to the guide. Smoking, alcohol, drugs, littering, touching marine life, and touching plants are not allowed.

The tour is conducted in English. A live local guide is included, which helps with the route and the rules around the natural areas. The actual guide’s name is not provided, so you cannot request a named guide from the information available.

Weather and sea conditions can shape the experience. The published timing is a useful guide, not a promise that every stop will feel identical on every day. Keep your valuables protected, and avoid packing anything you cannot risk getting wet.

What the Ratings Suggest

The experience carries a 4.9 rating from eight reviews, with the highest praise centered on the scenery, relaxed pace, food, and crew. Ingrid from Brazil described the outing as beautiful and incredible and strongly recommended it. A German booking simply rated it very good.

Roman from Switzerland offered the most useful detail for decision-making: the day felt relaxed, was not overcrowded, included good lunch, and had a nice crew. Those points match the design of a private or smaller group outing, where the day can feel less hurried than a large boat schedule.

The small number of reviews means I would not treat the rating as a guarantee. Still, the repeated positive points are practical ones. A good crew, manageable pace, and decent lunch can make a major difference when you spend most of a day outdoors.

Who Should Book Tour D?

I would recommend this tour if you want several kinds of scenery in one day and enjoy active stops. It suits you if kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, and photography all sound appealing.

It is also a good fit if you want the option of a private group. That arrangement may make the day more comfortable for couples, families, or friends who prefer time together rather than being placed in a large crowd.

You may want to choose another activity if you dislike boats, feel sick at sea, or have difficulty getting in and out of a kayak. The route includes quiet beach time, but it is still physically active and water focused.

The tour also works best for people willing to manage a few add-on costs. If you want a single all-inclusive price with no separate lagoon, environmental, or kayak fees, the final budget may feel less simple than the $24 headline suggests.

Should You Book El Nido Tour D?

Book it if you want a reasonably priced, full-day introduction to El Nido’s lagoons and beaches, especially if you value a relaxed pace, included lunch, and the possibility of a private group.

Small Lagoon is the key reason to go, while Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, and Bukal Island give the day enough variety. Just confirm the exact beach stops, budget the PHP 400 environmental fee and PHP 200 Small Lagoon fee, and arrange your own way to the meeting point.

For a first El Nido boat day, this is a sensible choice. It offers strong basic value, good water activities, and a route that does not rely on one attraction alone.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour D last?

The tour lasts approximately six to seven hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $24 per person.

Where does the tour start?

There are two possible starting locations: Marber’s or Marbers Beach Club. The meeting point depends on the option booked.

Where does the tour finish?

The scheduled finish point is Dockyard.

Is kayaking included?

Kayaking is not included in the base price. A two-seater kayak costs PHP 300, and a three-seater costs PHP 350.

Are the environmental and Small Lagoon fees included?

No. The environmental fee is PHP 400 per person and is valid for five days. Small Lagoon access costs PHP 200 per person for one entry.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, along with one bottle of drinking water. Other meals are not included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. A mask and snorkel are included. A life jacket is also provided.

Is the tour private?

A private group option is available. The exact meeting point and arrangement depend on the option booked.

Is the tour suitable for people prone to seasickness or with mobility impairments?

No. The experience is not suitable for people prone to seasickness or people with mobility impairments.