When visiting The Philippines, one of the most popular things to do is to go island hopping.
And which place is perhaps the most famous for island hopping?
That's right, El Nido!
There are 4 tours to choose from, and each of them will require a full day of incredible adventures.
So, if you’re short of time and need to choose only one tour, then Tour A should be your choice!
Why?
Well, below I’ll quickly explain what each of the tours entail, and then we will delve into the details of El Nido Tour A, why you should choose it, and how you can book your tour for a fantastic price!
First up ...
If you’re wondering what exactly your El nido tour A island hopping itinerary will look like then keep reading. Actually it’s only in recent years that they’ve slightly changed the itinerary due to environmental concerns and regulations. So, before you go see both big and small lagoon on the same trip on Tour A, but now it only includes one of them, and I suggest you opt for big lagoon, every time!
It’s important to note that regardless of whether you choose tour A or not, all the tours now include an additional 200 pesos environmental fee which should be paid additionally. This environmental fee lasts 10 days, so you only pay it once, even if you decide to do all the island hopping tours. Just remember to hold onto your receipt/certificate for proof that you’ve already paid.
This is truly one of the most beautiful and epic places in all of Palawan. When you arrive, they set your boat up right beside the lagoon entrance so you can choose to swim there (it’s not too far), or rent a kayak and use it through the lagoon too. This is pretty cool and it’s the option we chose. It’s 250 pesos for a double kayak, and the drone shot with all the yellow kayaks against the blue water makes for an awesome shot!
Read more: Best Travel Drones To Buy
So for me, the secret lagoon is not that exciting, but when we did visit, the tide hadn’t “cleaned” the area yet. Anyway, that doesn’t matter because Miniloc island is absolutely stunning and worth visiting just for that. Just be aware of the little jellyfish that infest the water. You will get little stings, but they’re not painful, just like little nips!
This is the spot for lunch and it’s awesome. It’s a beautiful little island and it’s a brilliant spot for snorkeling. So whilst your delicious Filipino BBQ lunch is being prepared you can snorkel in the water and spot clown fish (nemo!) or sunbathe on the beach. Truly amazing. Then, it’s time for a delicious lunch.
This is usually your last stop on the tour and it’s a good choice...not only is the beach beautiful but there are actually one or two makeshift bars there, so you can enjoy a rum and coke for less than $2, chill on the beach and chat, or play a game of volleyball. You can also explore the beach too, but you’ll probably just want to relax! :P
When it comes to tours, we almost always try and go private when the price isn’t ridiculous. The problem with the island hopping tours in El Nido is that there is a bigggg price jump between group and private, so it's difficult on a budget.
We opted for a group tour and honestly, it was one of the best group tours I’ve ever done. We made friends with a bunch of people, two of whom we ended up having dinner with, then arranging to meet up on another island a couple of weeks later, so that was awesome.
So, based on my experience, and our awesome tour guide, I can say that a group tour was a great option, especially if you want to make new friends and have fun.
OR if you really want to go more private, then go with BigDreamBoatMan as it will take you off the beaten track, and they don't have more than 18 people to a tour, and it's a multi-day tour!
The best time to visit El Nido correlates with the best time to visit The Philippines in general. This is between November to May. We visited in May and the weather was perfect.
If you need help planning your El Nido itinerary, then don’t forget to check out my El Nido itinerary.
It doesn’t make too much difference if I’m honest with you. They are all similar prices, however you will save a little bit of money if you book online. Plus if you just like the convenience of having everything organised, then booking online helps with that too. Also, it is possible in the high season that tours book out, so again, if you book online you can help avoid disappointment.
I’ve listed the links to book your El Nido island hopping tours below…
So there you have it. My guide to all your need to know about El Nido Tour A. Hopefully after reading this you’ve got some insight into what the tour entails and the best time to book it. If you’ve got any questions or comments, then simply drop a comment below.
Happy travels!
For help planning the rest of your trip in El Nido, check out our other guides ...
Leave a comment
Let us know what you think!