Private El Nido Tour A Island Hopping

El Nido looks best from the water. This private Tour A combines Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Payong-Payong Beach, and Seven Commando Beach in a six-to-eight-hour boat day around Palawan. I like the private boat, which gives your group more control over the pace, and I like that lunch, a licensed guide, life vests, and a first aid kit are part of the package. The main drawback is that the inclusions are not perfectly clear: one description says transfers and snorkel gear are included, while the detailed inclusion list says hotel pickup, drop-off, and snorkeling equipment are not included.

The experience is best for a group that wants the classic El Nido sights without sharing a boat with strangers. Vanessa and Eva of Natural Arts Travel and Tours, along with the boat crew, received especially warm praise for their friendly service, local information, and willingness to take photos. You will need to meet at Dayo Cafe on Serena Street, and the advertised $940.28 price is per group of up to eight, not per person, so the value improves sharply when your party is full.

Five useful things to know before you book

• Big Lagoon is the headline stop: You get about 30 minutes at one of El Nido’s best-known natural attractions.
• The route covers five major stops: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach.
• Private means more control: Your group has its own motorized boat and can have a more flexible day than a shared excursion.
• The advertised duration is six to eight hours: The listed stops total about two and a half hours, with the remaining time used for boat travel and moving between sites.
• Check the inclusions before paying: Lunch, life vests, a guide, an ice box, and a first aid kit are listed, but hotel transfers and snorkel equipment are described differently in separate parts of the booking information.
• The meeting point is central and specific: Begin and end at Dayo Cafe El Nido, 59JQ+4G8, Serena Street.

Why Tour A is El Nido’s classic water day

Tour A works because it gives you several different versions of El Nido in one outing. Big Lagoon supplies the grand scenery, Secret Lagoon adds a small-scale adventure, Shimizu Island is tied to swimming and snorkeling, and the beaches provide time to slow down.

That variety matters. A day made only of beaches can feel repetitive, while a day made only of lagoons can leave you wanting a place to stretch out. This route moves between dramatic rock formations, calm water, open sand, and swimming stops.

The private format changes the feel of the trip. You are not simply following a large group from one scheduled stop to the next. Your guide and crew can help your party manage the pace, subject to local conditions and the practical limits of a boat day.

Still, private does not mean empty. These are El Nido’s most popular places, and other boats may be present. Starting promptly gives you the best chance of reaching the main stops before the heaviest crowd.

Big Lagoon: the grand opening

Big Lagoon is the star of the route. It is one of Palawan’s most famous sights, with steep limestone formations enclosing a broad stretch of water. The 30-minute stop is short, so you should arrive ready to look, photograph, and enjoy the setting rather than expect a long, unhurried visit.

This is where a private boat can help. Your group can focus on the view instead of spending time coordinating with a larger party. The guide can also help you understand how to use the stop well, though the exact activity pattern depends on the day’s conditions.

The limitation is time. Thirty minutes passes quickly, especially if you are also arranging photos or moving between the boat and the lagoon area. Keep your essentials close, listen for instructions, and do not assume this stop will function like a full morning at the water.

Big Lagoon is the reason many people choose Tour A, but it should not be the only reason you book. The rest of the route gives the day its balance.

Secret Lagoon: a smaller, more intimate stop

Secret Lagoon offers a different scale from Big Lagoon. Instead of a wide, open body of water, the attraction is centered on a more enclosed setting and the feeling of reaching a tucked-away natural space.

The listed visit is about 30 minutes. That gives you enough time to see the site and enjoy its distinctive character, but not enough for a leisurely stay if there is a queue or if conditions slow access.

This is another place where the private arrangement may be useful. Your own group can stay together and move at a pace that suits you, while the guide and crew help keep the visit orderly.

You should also treat the name as a label, not a promise of solitude. Secret Lagoon is part of a famous El Nido route, so it may be busy. The private boat gives you flexibility, but it cannot remove every other boat from the bay.

Shimizu Island: lunch, water, and a break

Shimizu Island is one of the route’s more relaxed stops. It is associated with white sand, clear coastal water, and snorkeling, making it a natural place for lunch and time in the sea.

Lunch is included, along with an ice box. That is useful on a long boat day, since you do not have to arrange a separate meal while moving between islands. The exact menu is not specified, so you should not book this expecting a particular dish or dietary setup unless you confirm it in advance.

The snorkeling details need special attention. The overview says snorkel gear is included, but the detailed list says use of snorkeling equipment is not included. That is a real inconsistency, not a minor wording issue. Ask Natural Arts Travel and Tours before departure whether masks and snorkels are supplied or whether you should bring or rent them.

Kayak use is also not included. If paddling through a lagoon is important to you, ask about availability and cost rather than assuming it forms part of the private package.

Seven Commando Beach: an easy beach pause

Seven Commando Beach gives the day a welcome change of pace. After visiting enclosed lagoons and rocky coastal sites, you can spend time on white sand and take in the open shoreline.

The planned stop is about 30 minutes. That is enough for a quick swim, a few photos, or a short rest, but it is not a full beach afternoon. You should think of it as a refreshing pause within a larger circuit.

The beach also shows why the private format has limits. Your group may have some say in how long it lingers, but the overall tour still has five scheduled stops and a fixed operating window. If your dream day is lying on one beach for hours, this route is too busy.

If you want a broad sample of El Nido instead, Seven Commando adds useful variety. It lets you experience the region as more than a series of rock walls and lagoons.

Payong-Payong Beach and its umbrella-shaped rock

Payong-Payong Beach is the route’s final listed stop. Its memorable feature is an umbrella-like rock formation, which gives the place a clear visual identity and a good photo subject.

The stop is scheduled for about 30 minutes. That short visit works well as part of a scenic circuit, especially if your group enjoys unusual rock shapes and brief beach breaks.

Because the stop is described around the umbrella rock formation, do not expect a long list of organized activities here. Its value is visual and atmospheric. You get another coastal setting before the boat returns to the meeting point.

Together, Seven Commando and Payong-Payong keep the second half of the day from feeling like a repeat of the lagoons. They are shorter, simpler stops, but that can be exactly what you need after a morning focused on major attractions.

What the private boat adds

The private boat is the core advantage of this experience. Only your group participates, and the boat is motorized, so you can cover the route within the stated six-to-eight-hour window.

A private group is especially useful for families, couples traveling together, or friends with different energy levels. Some people may want more time for photos, while others may be eager to swim or return to town. A shared boat usually requires everyone to follow the same rhythm. Here, you have more room to discuss the pace with the guide.

The package also includes a licensed tour guide, life vests, a first aid kit, and an ice box. Those items are practical rather than glamorous, but they matter on a full day around open water. A life vest is provided for safety, and the first aid kit gives the crew basic support if a minor problem occurs.

The praise directed toward Vanessa, Eva, and the boat crew is worth noting. Their strengths were described as friendliness, useful information about the islands, and a willingness to take photos. That last point can make a difference when you are traveling as a couple or group and do not want every picture to be a selfie.

The real cost at $940.28 per group

At $940.28, this is expensive if only two people are going. It becomes more reasonable as the group fills the boat, since the price is charged per group of up to eight rather than per person.

For eight people, the simple split is about $117.54 per person. For four people, it is about $235.07 each. For two people, it is about $470.14 each. Those figures do not include airfare or accommodation, and they should not be used until you confirm the transfer and snorkeling details.

The value comes from privacy, the full route, a guide, lunch, safety equipment, and the convenience of one organized day. If you would otherwise book several separate activities, the private format may be worth the premium.

The value is weaker if you are a solo visitor or a very small party that does not care about having a private boat. In that case, a shared tour may cost less, though it would not offer the same control over the day.

The booking information says the experience is often reserved about 40 days ahead. That suggests you should not wait until the last moment if your dates are fixed, particularly if you want a private boat for a larger group.

Meeting point, duration, and practical planning

The tour begins and ends at Dayo Cafe El Nido on Serena Street. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included in the detailed list, despite another description indicating that transfers are part of the package. Plan around the stated meeting point unless the operator confirms a different arrangement in writing.

The experience lasts approximately six to eight hours. The five stops are each listed at 30 minutes, which adds up to two and a half hours. The rest of the time is not wasted. It covers boat travel, loading and unloading, moving between bays, lunch, and the natural delays that come with a water-based excursion.

Confirmation is provided at booking. The activity is near public transportation, and most people can participate. It is still a boat outing, so you should be comfortable spending much of the day on the water and following the crew’s safety instructions.

Good weather is required. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. For a full refund when you cancel yourself, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Late cancellations and changes are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this El Nido day most

I would choose this tour for a group that values privacy and wants El Nido’s famous highlights in one day. It suits friends, families, and couples who want their own boat and the chance to discuss the pace with a guide.

It is also a good fit if you want a mixture of scenery. Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon provide the signature rock-and-water views, while Shimizu Island, Seven Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach offer swimming, sand, lunch, and memorable coastal shapes.

I would be more cautious if your priority is a slow beach day, long snorkeling sessions, or kayaking. The schedule covers five stops, each with about 30 minutes allocated, and kayaking is not included.

I would also pause before booking if you are traveling as only one or two people. The group price can still make sense for a special occasion, but the cost per person is high unless privacy is central to your plans.

Should you book Private El Nido Tour A?

Book it if you have a group of up to eight, want the classic El Nido route, and place real value on a private boat. The strongest reasons are the broad mix of stops, the flexible format, the included lunch and safety gear, and the attentive service associated with Vanessa, Eva, and the crew.

Before paying, settle two points: whether transfers are included and whether snorkeling equipment is supplied. Those details change the practical value of the package.

If your group is large and you want an organized day without strangers on board, this is a strong choice. If you want the lowest price, extended time at one beach, or guaranteed snorkeling and kayaking equipment, compare other options first.

FAQ

How long does the private El Nido Tour A last?

The tour lasts approximately six to eight hours.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Dayo Cafe El Nido, located at 59JQ+4G8, Serena Street, El Nido, Palawan. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How many people can join the private tour?

The advertised price is for a private group of up to eight people. Another description refers to up to 10 travelers, so confirm the maximum group size with the operator before booking.

What stops are included?

The route includes Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is listed as included, along with an ice box.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

The information is inconsistent. The overview says snorkel gear is included, while the detailed list says snorkeling equipment is not included. Confirm this directly with Natural Arts Travel and Tours before the tour.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.