El Nido is a small coastal town in the north of Palawan Island, and is one of the best-known and most visited places in the Philippines. Most travellers come here mainly for boat trips amongst the limestone cliffs, turquoise lagoons and secluded beaches. It is the surrounding islands that make El Nido one of the country’s most iconic destinations.
As well as island hopping, you’ll also find beautiful beaches, interesting activities, excellent cuisine and a lively nightlife here. El Nido therefore has everything a tourist could wish for in an exotic destination. In this article, we’ll be looking at island hopping itself. If you’re looking for inspiration on what to do in El Nido apart from boat trips, read our separate article: 8 tips for the best activities.
How to get to El Nido?
The most convenient option is to fly directly to El Nido Airport (Lio Airport), for example from Manila or Cebu. A cheaper alternative is to fly to Puerto Princesa and then take a minibus journey of around five hours from there. If you’re coming from Coron, you can take the ferry or go on a multi-day boat expedition.
Where to stay in El Nido?
If you’re planning to go island hopping, the most convenient option is to stay in El Nido Town, from where you can walk to the harbour. A quieter alternative with quick access to the city centre is Corong Corong. You’ll find more comfortable resorts at Lio Beach and Vanilla Beach.
You can view the current range of accommodation in El Nido via this link.
Island hopping in El Nido: Essential information
Island hopping is undoubtedly one of El Nido’s biggest attractions and, in our opinion, one of the most beautiful experiences you can have in the Philippines. Bacuit Bay is home to dozens of limestone islands, turquoise lagoons, secluded beaches and spots that are ideal for snorkelling. The scenery you’ll see here is, in places, reminiscent of scenes from an adventure film.
Boats set off daily from the harbour in El Nido on several routes labelled A, B, C and D. Each offers a slightly different itinerary, ranging from exploring iconic lagoons and stunning beaches to snorkelling or visiting lesser-known spots. The choice of route therefore depends mainly on what you want to experience during your trip.
As this is one of the most popular activities in the Philippines, you’ll find larger numbers of tourists and boats at the most famous spots during the peak season. If you want to make the most of your trip, it’s worth thinking in advance about which route to choose and who to go with.
In this article, we’ll advise you on which island-hopping tour to choose in El Nido, what each route has to offer, and what to expect.
Koľko stojí island hopping v El Nide
The price of island hopping depends mainly on whether you choose a group tour or a private boat. A group trip costs around 1,300 to 1,400 PHP per person, whilst hiring a private boat costs between 10,000 and 11,000 PHP for the whole boat. The final amount depends on the chosen itinerary and the specific provider. A private boat is particularly worthwhile if you’re travelling in a larger group or want greater flexibility when planning your trip.
What is usually included in the price of the trip
- A buffet lunch, which is usually served on the beach
- Guide services
- Environmental fee: approximately 200 PHP per person
- Life jacket
- Hotel pick-up, if included in the package by the provider
What else should you bear in mind?
- Entry to the lagoons: approximately 200 PHP per person for Tour A and Tour D
- Snorkel and flippers hire: the price depends on the provider
- Kayak hire: around 500 PHP for two people, if you want to explore the lagoons on your own
When making a booking, always check what the specific price includes. Individual agencies may differ not only in price, but also in whether the price includes transport from the hotel, snorkelling equipment or other charges. This way, you’ll avoid any unpleasant surprises on the day of your trip.
Island hopping routes: Tour A, B, C and D
As we’ve already mentioned, you’ll have a choice of four routes labelled Tour A, B, C and D. Tour A and Tour C are generally the most popular, as they include the best-known spots that you’ve probably already seen in more than one video, such as Big Lagoon, Hidden Beach and Helicopter Island. It is on these trips in particular that you should expect to encounter larger numbers of tourists, especially during the peak season from December to April.
Tour A: Big Lagoon a Secret Lagoon (1 300 PHP) ⭐ Most Popular
Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, Seven Commando Beach, Payong Payong Beach
Tour B: Caves and Entalula Beach (1 400 PHP)
Snake Island, Cathedral Cave, Cudugnon Cave, Entalula Beach, Papaya Beach
It is the least popular because it focuses mainly on caves. However, you will find Entalula Beach here, which was named the world’s most beautiful beach for 2026 by the international ranking *The World’s 50 Best Beaches*. It beat, for example, Fteri Beach in Greece and Wharton Beach in Australia.
Tour C: Hidden Beach and Helicopter Island (1 400 PHP) ⭐ Most Popular
Matinloc Shrine, Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island, Talisay Beach
Tour D: Quieter beaches and lagoons (1,300 PHP)
Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Beach, Paradise Beach, Nat Nat Beach
Private tour: A combination of several routes
On private tours, you can plan your own itinerary and combine places from different routes. However, not all routes can be combined with one another, due to the distances between the individual locations. During our trip, we did a combination of Tours A and C, along with Entalula Beach from Route B, which we simply couldn’t miss.
What to pack for island hopping
To help you make the most of your trip, we’ve put together a list of things you should definitely take with you:
- A waterproof bag: definitely the number one item. Put all your kit and money in it, and you can set off for the islets without a care in the world. If you don’t bring it with you from home, you can buy it almost everywhere you go in El Nido.
- Cash: you’ll need it if you want to buy a chilled coconut, a beer or another snack from the small beach stalls.
- Snorkel: if you have your own, be sure to bring it with you. If not, you can hire one directly from the company you’re going on the trip with. Do ask in advance, though – there’s usually an extra charge.
- A waterproof mobile phone case: you can buy one almost anywhere.
- A drone or an underwater camera
- Towel: you’ll need to bring your own on the trip.
- Sun screen: it’s absolutely essential – the sun is extremely strong during the day.
- Water: although water and soft drinks are provided with your lunch, we recommend that you bring your own, as it’s very important to stay hydrated in such hot weather.
How an island-hopping trip works
Departure from the harbour
Island-hopping trips in El Nido start early in the morning. If you opt for a group trip, the departure time depends on the specific operator, but boats usually set off from El Nido Port between 8 and 9 am.
The advantage of a private tour is that you can set off earlier and tailor the entire itinerary so that you arrive at the most famous sights before the group tours have even left the harbour. We set off on a private boat as early as seven in the morning.
Stops and lunch
During the trip, there are around six or seven stops, during which you can go for a swim, enjoy the islands or explore the underwater world whilst snorkelling.
V strede dňa vás čaká jedna dlhšia zastávka na obed, ktorý je v cene výletu. It usually consists of a combination of fresh fish, chicken, rice and vegetables. The price also includes water and soft drinks, such as cola or Sprite. On the small islets, you’ll also find local stalls where you can buy a chilled coconut or other snacks, but you’ll need to bring cash with you.
Kayaking and photography
In some places, such as Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon or Cadlao Lagoon, you can hire a kayak. It is not usually included in the price and is paid for separately from the trip.
All these spots are very photogenic, so be sure to take your camera into the water or bring a drone. We didn’t have any problems during our usual leisure flying.
What if the weather’s bad?
ATTENTION! If conditions are unfavourable – for example, strong winds, rain or high waves – the trips are cancelled for safety reasons. That is precisely why we recommend setting aside several days for El Nido, so that you don’t miss out on the very best sights and experiences the area has to offer because of the weather.
Travel Guide Philippines
If you’d like to find out more about El Nido and are also interested in other places – whether in Palawan or on other islands such as Siargao, Bohol or Coron – buy our e-book, which will ensure you’re perfectly prepared for your holiday. In it, you’ll find unique places, direct contact details for the best companies, discount codes for trips and various itineraries. It will help you plan your trip so that you can enjoy the very best it has to offer, completely stress-free. You can find the ebook here.
In our e-book you will find everything in one place:
- Practical tips for travelling in the Philippines: visas, money, atms, transport, accommodation, drones and other useful information
- 205 unique places well worth visiting, including beaches, waterfalls, viewpoints and walking routes
- Recommendations for our favourite local restaurants, cafés, beach clubs and companies that organise the best excursions
- 12 perfect itineraries for different lengths of stay and types of traveller
- Locations: El Nido, Port Barton, Balabac and Coron in Palawan, El Nido to Coron expedition, Siargao, Bohol and Manila
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* All links in this article, including accommodation via booking, are affiliate links. All in one place. It won’t cost you any extra money or effort, it will make your planning easier and save you time. We would be delighted if you booked your dream holiday through them 🙂
