Siargao Tri-Island with Drone & Mermaid Tail

Three islands, one full day. I like this tour for its free drone footage and its generous boodle fight lunch, two extras that make a basic boat trip feel more special. The stops at Naked, Guyam, and Daku Islands give you a good mix of sandbar swimming, beach time, food, and photographs.

The main caution is the early start and open-water travel. The boat engine can be noisy, departure may run late, and this trip is not suitable for non-swimmers or people prone to seasickness. Still, at $35 per person, it offers a lot for the money, especially if your priority is a social day at sea rather than a quiet private cruise.

Key points to know before booking

• Free drone footage adds real value: You can take home aerial images of your island stops without paying an extra photography fee.
• Daku Island is the main base: The schedule allows about three hours there for lunch, swimming, photos, and free time.
• The boodle fight is a highlight: Food is laid out for everyone to share, giving the meal a relaxed local feel.
• The route includes a tide-dependent stop: Secret Island may be visited after lunch, but it is not guaranteed.
• Bring your own snorkeling gear: Equipment is not included, even though snorkeling spots may be part of the day.
• Expect a group atmosphere: The tour is designed for shared fun, with English-speaking guides and a full-day boat schedule.

Why this $35 boat trip offers good value

Siargao island hopping is one of those activities where the cost can rise quickly. Boat fees, island entrance charges, lunch, guide service, and transport can become separate expenses. This tour bundles the main costs into one $35 price, which makes it easy to budget.

You receive a full-day group trip, boat and entrance fees, an accredited guide, lunch, mermaid tail use, and drone footage. That is a strong package for the price. You do not need to arrange an extra boat for each island or hunt for a lunch stop after arriving at Daku.

The tour also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those policies are useful if your Siargao plans depend on weather, ferry schedules, or flight changes. Check the voucher carefully after booking, since it contains the meeting instructions.

This is not a luxury yacht outing. You should expect a shared boat, a fixed route, and a day shaped by the sea and the group. One passenger reported that the engine was extremely noisy, although headphones were available. Another mentioned a delay of about 30 minutes at the start. These are minor issues for some people, but they matter if you want a polished, tightly timed excursion.

Meeting at General Luna Port before 8 AM

Registration begins at 7:30 AM, with departure planned for 8:00 AM from General Luna Port. The meeting point is Maricel Tours, beside Wang’s Bakery across from the church. This is the kind of location where it pays to arrive early, check the voucher, and confirm where your group is gathering.

The planned return is around 4:00 PM, giving you about eight hours from registration through the ride back. That timing leaves most of the day for the islands, but it also means you should not schedule a late-afternoon activity that cannot tolerate a delay.

Some bookings may include pickup and drop-off from a hotel in General Luna, but the supplied tour details do not list hotel transportation as a standard inclusion. If you need a transfer, confirm it with Maricel Tour Services rather than assuming it is included.

Start with sunscreen, water, a towel, swimwear, a hat, and a camera. A dry bag would be sensible for phones and small electronics, although it is not listed as an included item. Alcohol, drugs, weapons, and sharp objects are not allowed.

Naked Island gives you the classic sandbar stop

Naked Island is the first major stop in the published schedule, with about one hour for a guided visit. The appeal is simple: a small, largely bare sandbar surrounded by clear water, with little to distract you from swimming, walking, and taking photographs.

The name tells you what to expect. There is very little shade or built-up shelter, so a hat and sunscreen are more than packing suggestions here. If the sun is strong, you may prefer spending your time in the water rather than standing on the exposed sand.

This is also a good place to use the mermaid tail activity. The tour provides free use of mermaid tails, which can make fun photographs, especially when paired with the drone service. Ask the crew how the aerial footage will be delivered and when to expect it, since the supplied information does not specify the format or timing.

Naked Island is best treated as a short, scenic opening stop rather than a place for a long beach day. The clear water and clean lines of sand are the draw. The lack of shade is the tradeoff.

Guyam Island brings the prettiest beach scenery

Guyam Island is scheduled for about an hour of free time. It is small, attractive, and more traditionally beach-like than Naked Island. One strong account of the trip called Guyam the prettiest of the three islands, which makes this stop especially appealing for photographs.

You can swim, walk along the beach, relax, or use the mermaid tail here if conditions and timing allow. Shops are reported on each island, so you may find a chance to buy small refreshments or souvenirs, but you should still carry your own water.

The one-hour stay is long enough to enjoy Guyam without letting a single stop consume the day. If you prefer slow beach time, it may feel brief. If you want to see all three islands, the shorter stop keeps the route moving.

The boat rides between islands were described as roughly 15 to 20 minutes in one detailed account. That is useful context. You spend enough time at sea to enjoy the views, but not so much that the day becomes a long transfer broken up by short stops.

The tide-dependent island stop keeps the route flexible

After the main island visits, the schedule allows about 30 minutes for a smaller stop described as Secret Island. It can include a photo stop, swimming, a short guided visit, and a break.

This stop depends on the tide. That matters because the appearance and accessibility of shallow island areas can change during the day. If sea conditions or the tide do not cooperate, you should not count on this as a guaranteed fourth island.

Treat it as a bonus rather than the central reason to book. The three main islands and the lunch at Daku make up the reliable core of the day. The tide-dependent stop adds variety when conditions are right.

Daku Island is where the day slows down

Daku Island receives about three hours in the schedule, making it the main stop. It is the largest of the three islands and the place where you can combine lunch, swimming, photos, sightseeing, and free time.

This longer stay is important. Island hopping can feel rushed when every stop lasts only 30 minutes. Daku gives you room to eat without hurrying, swim afterward, dry off, and enjoy the beach before returning to the boat.

The central meal is an iconic boodle fight lunch. Food is spread out for the group to share, creating a communal meal rather than a restaurant-style service. The exact dishes are not specified, but the meal is described as a generous spread of local food, and several strong accounts praised its flavor and presentation.

I would not think of this as just a convenient lunch included in the price. It is part of the local character of the day. You sit down with the group, share dishes, and eat in a setting that feels tied to the island rather than a standard city café.

Food quality can vary with preparation and the day’s logistics, but the meal received some of the warmest praise in the available comments. One person called it very delicious and well presented. Another described it as tasty and a major part of the trip’s value.

Bring water and manage your sun exposure. Three hours on a bright beach can be tiring, especially after swimming. The long stop is a benefit, but you need to use it sensibly.

Snorkeling may be part of the fun, but gear is extra

Snorkeling was praised as one of the best parts of the day, with clear-water spots included in the route or nearby conditions. The exact snorkeling location is not fixed in the supplied details, so the experience may depend on weather, tide, and the guide’s judgment.

The important practical point is that snorkeling gear is not included. Bring your own mask, snorkel, and fins if you want to take part without arranging equipment separately. The tour is still suitable for swimming and beach time without snorkeling, but the water stops will be more rewarding if you come prepared.

The tour is not suitable for non-swimmers. Even strong swimmers should remember that this is an open-water boat outing, not a supervised pool session. Follow the guide’s instructions and use caution when entering the water.

If you are prone to seasickness, think carefully before booking. The boat rides between islands are not especially long according to the available timing, but the vessel can still move with the sea. Take any usual precautions before leaving, and avoid arriving hungry or dehydrated.

Drone footage and mermaid tails make the photos different

Many island-hopping trips leave you with phone snapshots taken from the beach. This one adds two playful photo features: mermaid tails and free drone footage.

The mermaid tail activity is best for anyone who wants a memorable, slightly silly photo rather than a standard swim picture. You may need to share the available tails with other people in the group, and the time for using them will depend on the schedule.

The drone footage is the more valuable extra. Aerial views can show the shape of Naked Island, the color of the water around Daku, and the small scale of Guyam in a way that a beach-level photo cannot. Several people singled out the drone clips as a welcome addition.

Ask the crew for clear instructions on the filming process. You will want to know where to stand, how footage will be sent, and if the operator needs your phone or contact details. Those specifics are not provided in advance, so a quick question on the boat can prevent confusion later.

The crew and group mood shape the experience

The strongest praise goes to the crew. The guides were repeatedly described as friendly, helpful, accommodating, and professional. One guide named Erwin was praised for taking care of the group, while Trench and his crew were credited with looking after people from snorkeling through the drone photos. Maria and her team also received thanks for helping with pictures and keeping the day enjoyable.

That attention matters on a group boat. The crew does more than point out islands. They help coordinate lunch, water activities, photographs, and movement between stops. A friendly guide can also make the shared nature of the tour feel like part of the fun rather than a limitation.

The atmosphere is social. The best fit is someone who enjoys meeting people, sharing a boat, and joining a group meal. If you want silence, privacy, or control over every stop, a private charter would suit you better, though it would likely cost more.

The operation is not flawless. The start can be somewhat unorganized, and one boat was reported to have a very loud engine. Another person experienced a late pickup, though it did not spoil the day. Keep a little flexibility in your morning, and bring headphones if boat noise bothers you.

Who should book this Siargao island tour?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want the famous three-island route without paying private-boat prices. It is also a good match for couples, friends, and solo visitors who like an easy social setting and want photos to remember the day.

Families with older children may enjoy the beaches and mermaid tail activity, but the tour is not suitable for babies under one year. People over 95 are also excluded, and anyone with serious swimming concerns or seasickness should choose a land-based activity instead.

The tour works particularly well if you value included extras. The meal, entrance fees, guide, drone footage, and mermaid tails remove several small costs that can otherwise add up. The inclusion of snorkeling gear would improve the package, but that is the main extra you need to arrange yourself.

Should you book Maricel Tour Services?

Book this tour if you want a lively, good-value day covering Naked, Guyam, and Daku Islands, with a substantial lunch and memorable photos. The $35 price is especially fair when you use the drone service and take advantage of the long Daku stop.

Skip it if you need a quiet private boat, strict departure timing, guaranteed snorkeling equipment, or protection from open-water motion. For everyone else, this is a practical way to see Siargao’s best-known island trio in one day. Arrive early, pack water and snorkeling gear, expect some boat noise, and leave room in your schedule for the sea to set the pace.

FAQ

Where does the Siargao Tri-Island tour meet?

Meet at Maricel Tours, right beside Wang’s Bakery across from the church. Registration begins at 7:30 AM.

What time does the boat leave?

Departure is planned for 8:00 AM from General Luna Port. The expected return is around 4:00 PM.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, including the boat rides and island visits.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The main route includes Naked Island, Guyam Island, and Daku Island. Secret Island may be added after lunch if the tide allows.

Is lunch included?

Yes. An iconic boodle fight lunch with a spread of local food is included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Snorkeling gear is not included, so bring your own if you want to snorkel.

Are mermaid tails and drone photos included?

Yes. The tour includes free use of mermaid tails and free drone footage.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.