El Nido Tour A vs B vs C vs D: How to Pick Yours
Tour A is lagoons, B is sandbars and caves, C is hidden beaches, D is the slow day. A practical guide to picking the right El Nido island hopping route.
If you've been comparing El Nido tour options, you've probably noticed every operator's poster looks identical — same lagoon photo, same letter system, same vague promises. The four tours really are different though, and which one you book first does matter. Tour A is the lagoon day everyone's seen on Instagram. Tour B is sandbars and caves, with the fewest crowds. Tour C is hidden beaches and the best snorkeling. Tour D is the slow one — pretty but low-key.
This guide is for picking between them quickly so you can book and get on with the trip. The full El Nido guide covers where to stay, transfers, and the rest of the area. This one is just about the tours.
The Quick Answer
If you only have time for one tour, book Tour A. Big Lagoon is the part of El Nido that ends up in most people's "I'm glad I did that" photos.
If you have time for two, book A and C. Different days, different scenery, no overlap.
If you have time for three, add Tour B (not D). B has Pinagbuyutan and Snake Island and feels like a different day from the other two. D's main draw is the lack of crowds, which only matters once you've already done A and B.
Everything below is the longer version of that.
The Four Tours, Side by Side
All four tours are full-day joiner boats leaving El Nido town between 8:30 and 10am and returning around 4-5pm. Group sizes are usually 10-20 people. The boats are open-sided outrigger bangkas — comfortable, not luxurious. Lunch and snorkel gear are included; everything else is extra. If you're traveling alone, you'll be on a boat with strangers — that's normal and usually fine, but worth knowing before you picture an intimate private trip.
Tour A — The Lagoon Day
Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commandos. The classic El Nido day. Big Lagoon is kayak-only now (rental extra, PHP 300-500), which keeps numbers down but adds a step. Most people do this tour first because the lagoon photos are why El Nido is famous in the first place.
Typical spend
PHP 1,400 to 1,800 / person
- Big Lagoon is the headline stop — paddle through limestone walls
- Small Lagoon adds a swim-through under low cliffs
- Shimizu Island is the best snorkel stop on this route
- Seven Commandos closes the day with a relaxed beach stop
Tour B — Sandbars and Caves
Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave (sometimes Pangulasian instead). The quietest of the four standard routes. Snake Island's sandbar is the headline. Pinagbuyutan is often the single prettiest island on any tour. Cudugnon Cave adds variety. Less famous than A and C, which is partly why some travelers end up preferring it.
Typical spend
PHP 1,400 to 1,800 / person
- Snake Island sandbar walk at low tide
- Pinagbuyutan often the most photogenic single stop
- Cudugnon Cave breaks up the swim-snorkel-eat rhythm
- Noticeably fewer boats than Tour A or C
Tour C — Hidden Beaches and Snorkeling
Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Talisay Beach. The most varied of the four — dramatic beach entries through rock gaps, the best reef on any of the standard tours, and Matinloc Shrine as the only viewpoint stop in the lineup. If you're doing two tours, this is the one to pair with Tour A.
Typical spend
PHP 1,500 to 1,900 / person
- Hidden Beach entry is half the experience
- Helicopter Island has the best reef on the standard tours
- Matinloc Shrine gives you a viewpoint, not just sea level
- Secret Beach is a tight rock-gap swim-in — go at low tide
Tour D — The Slow Day
Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan Beach, Natnat Beach, Bukal Beach. The least dramatic and least crowded of the four. Cadlao Lagoon is the reason to book it. The other stops are simple beaches with less to do, which is either the appeal or the problem depending on what kind of day you want.
Typical spend
PHP 1,300 to 1,700 / person
- Cadlao Lagoon is the standout stop
- Closer to El Nido town than the other routes — shorter boat rides
- Usually the quietest of the four
- Not the right pick if it's your only tour
How to Pick If You Only Have One Day
The most common one-day situation is the rushed Palawan stop — one full day in El Nido, fly out the next morning. Book Tour A. Reasons:
- Big Lagoon is the stop people remember from El Nido, and it's only on this tour
- Tour A mixes lagoons, snorkeling, and beach stops, so a single day still feels varied
- If something goes wrong later in the trip (weather cancellation, missed transfer), Tour A is the one you'll be glad you didn't skip
The one exception: if you snorkel often and lagoons aren't why you came, book Tour C instead. Helicopter Island has the best reef on any standard route.
How to Pick If You Have Two Days
The standard two-tour combo is A then C, and it's standard for good reason:
- A is sheltered water, lagoons, paddling
- C is open water, beach entries, snorkeling
Two different days, no overlap, and you've seen both the famous stuff and the underrated stuff.
A then B is the alternative if avoiding crowds matters more than reef time. Pinagbuyutan is one of the prettiest islands in the whole archipelago and Tour B is the only way to see it. Snake Island also photographs well even in flat light, which matters in wet season.
Don't do A then D. Both lean calm-water and Tour D's stops feel thin after you've already done Big Lagoon.
How to Pick If You Have Three Days
A, then C, then B. Skip D unless the popular stops have been packed on your dates and you specifically want a quieter day. Three days back-to-back on a boat is a lot — by the fourth morning most people are ready for a mainland day. Build that in if you can.
Prices and Fees, 2026
The headline tour price is rarely the full price. Plan for these on top:
- ETDF (El Nido Tourism Development Fee): PHP 200 one-time, valid 10 days. Pay at the tourism office on Calle Real before your first tour. Operators will check the receipt.
- Snorkel gear rental: PHP 100-200 if you don't bring your own. Quality is hit-or-miss.
- Kayak rental: PHP 300-500 per kayak. Mandatory for Big Lagoon entry on Tour A. Tandem kayaks (PHP 500 total) are the budget move for couples.
- Drinks on the boat: Water is usually free; soda, beer, and snacks are marked up 50-100% over town prices. Buy a few in town if you'll want them.
- Tip for the crew: Not required, appreciated. PHP 100-200 per person if the day went well.
- Cash only. El Nido has a handful of ATMs and they run out, especially on weekends and at the end of long weekends. Operators take cash only. Bring enough pesos from Puerto Princesa or Manila to cover your full stay plus a buffer.
Total realistic cost of one full tour day: PHP 1,800-2,500 per person all-in for the first tour, slightly less for the second (no ETDF).
What a Day on the Boat Actually Looks Like
Most operators run the same rhythm regardless of which letter you booked:
- 7:00-7:30am — Breakfast in town. Operators don't include this.
- 8:30-9:30am — Meet at the operator's office (most don't do hotel pickup) and walk to the launch beach as a group. Life vests on, gear loaded. Boats usually leave from the main town beach, but some operators launch from Corong-Corong (10 minutes south) if you're staying in Lio or Las Cabanas — confirm the meeting point when you book.
- 9:30-10am — Boat leaves the bay. First stop is usually 30-45 minutes out.
- 10am-12:30pm — Two stops, swimming and snorkeling at each.
- 12:30-1:30pm — Lunch at a beach stop. Grilled fish or pork, rice, fruit, vegetables. Usually better than expected. Tell your operator at booking if you're vegetarian, vegan, or have allergies — they can swap the protein if they know in advance.
- 1:30-3:30pm — Two more stops.
- 3:30-4:30pm — Boat back to town, golden hour on the water.
- 4:30-5pm — Drop off at the beach in town.
By the time you've showered, it's 5:30-6pm. Most people head straight to an early dinner. Don't book anything else for the evening of a tour day — you'll be cooked.
A couple of practical things people don't think to ask: boats have a basic onboard toilet (squat, behind a curtain) but most people just use facilities at the beach stops. Phones survive the day in a cheap dry bag (PHP 150-250 in town); without one you're rolling the dice on salt spray.
If you get motion sick, note that Tours A and D stay in calmer sheltered water. Tour C heads further out into open sea and the ride back can be choppy in the afternoon — take something before you board, not after you start feeling bad.
Booking and Practical Tips
Book Tour A First, Tour C Second
If you only have time for one, make it Tour A. The Big and Small Lagoon stops are what most people came to El Nido to see, and skipping them tends to leave a hole in the trip. Tour C is the strongest second-day option — different scenery, better snorkeling, and Helicopter Island as the standout. Tour B and Tour D are good third tours, not great first tours.
Note: If you only have one day on a boat, just pick A. Don't overthink it.
Book Through a Street Operator, Not Your Hotel
Hotel desks add a PHP 200-500 markup for the same joiner boat. The accredited operators on Hama Street and Calle Real charge the published rate. Walk in the afternoon, compare two or three places, book for the next morning. You can also pre-book online through Klook or GetYourGuide if peace of mind matters more than 300 pesos.
Note: Tour office in town opens around 7am for last-minute bookings, but in peak season the good operators are full by then.
Pay the ETDF Once, Not Every Time
The El Nido eco fee (ETDF) is PHP 200 and lasts 10 days. Pay it at the tourism office on Calle Real before your first tour and keep the receipt. Operators will check it, but you don't pay it again for your second or third tour. If they try to charge it again, show the receipt.
Big Lagoon Now Needs a Kayak
As of 2024, Big Lagoon is kayak-only — boats anchor outside and you paddle the last stretch in. Kayak rental is PHP 300-500 from the boat (sometimes split as a tandem). Most operators offer it on the spot but it's not always included in the headline tour price. Confirm before you pay if Big Lagoon is the main reason you booked Tour A.
Note: Tandem kayak for two is usually PHP 500 total — cheapest way to do it if you're traveling with someone.
Aim for the Early Boats
Boats leave town between 8:30 and 10am. The earlier ones get to the headline stops before the rush, which matters most at Big Lagoon (capacity limited), Hidden Beach (tight entry through rocks), and Secret Beach (narrow channel). By 11am the same stops are full of boats and selfie sticks. If your operator offers a 'sunrise' or 'early' departure, take it.
Eat Breakfast in Town, Pack Snacks
Lunch on the boat is fine — grilled fish or pork, rice, fruit, often a vegetable. It's served around 12:30-1pm at a beach stop. That's a long stretch from a 7am hotel breakfast. Grab a pandesal or coffee in town before pickup and throw a snack bar in your dry bag. The boat doesn't sell anything except water at marked-up prices.
Reef-Safe Sunscreen Only — They Actually Check
Several stops (Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Big Lagoon among them) enforce a reef-safe sunscreen policy, and rangers will ask to see your bottle. Stuff with oxybenzone or octinoxate gets confiscated or you don't enter. Pick up a reef-safe bottle in town (PHP 400-600) or bring one from home. Long-sleeve UV shirt is a cheaper solution than buying sunscreen in El Nido.
Build in a Boat-Free Day
Two tours back-to-back is about the limit before everything blurs together. If you have three or four days in El Nido, use one for the mainland — Nacpan Beach (PHP 300 round-trip tricycle, an hour each way, much better beach than anything in town), Las Cabanas for sunset, or just a slow day in Corong-Corong. You'll enjoy the second tour more.
Note: Nacpan is also your backup if tours get weather-cancelled — it's mainland, so it runs anyway.
No Single-Use Plastic Bottles on Boats
El Nido bans single-use plastic bottles on tour boats and there are fines on the operators if they catch you. Bring a refillable bottle (any local store sells them for PHP 150-300) and fill up at your hotel before the boat. Most operators provide a refill jug onboard. Same goes for plastic straws and plastic bags — they'll politely confiscate them.
Drones Are Restricted in the Bay
Most of Bacuit Bay falls inside a protected area and drone flights are restricted or banned depending on the spot. Big Lagoon, Hidden Beach, and Matinloc Shrine are explicit no-fly zones. Some operators have been known to confiscate drones launched without permission. If you really want aerial shots, apply for a permit through the El Nido tourism office before your tour day or skip it.
What's Not on the Standard Tours
If you've done El Nido before, the four standard tours start to feel repetitive. The alternatives:
- Private boat with a custom route. PHP 12,000-25,000 for the day. Lets you skip the busy stops, stay longer at the good ones, or visit places not on any letter route (parts of Bacuit Bay outside the usual circuits). Best split across a group of 4-6.
- Coron expedition (3-4 day boat trip). Tao Philippines and a few other operators run multi-day camping trips from El Nido to Coron. Sleeping on remote islands, no wifi, much closer to what El Nido was 15 years ago. PHP 25,000-45,000 all-in. Not a budget option but probably the most memorable thing you can do in Palawan.
- Fast ferry to Coron. If you want to see both ends of Bacuit Bay without committing to multi-day camping, the fast ferry to Coron is PHP 1,800-2,500 and runs daily in calm season. Coron's tours feel different — clearer water, more shipwrecks, more dramatic limestone.
- Inland day trips. Nacpan Beach (tricycle, about an hour each way), Las Cabanas for sunset, or just renting a motorbike and riding the coastal road south toward Corong-Corong and Lio. All cheaper than tours and a good break from the boat routine.
Best Time to Book the Tours
- December to early May (peak): Boats run daily. Big Lagoon often hits its visitor cap by mid-morning. Book the day before for guaranteed slots, or pre-book through Klook / GetYourGuide if your dates are tight.
- Late May to October (shoulder/wet): Tours run but get cancelled some days for weather. Operators usually rebook you for the next day or refund. Build a buffer day into the El Nido leg.
- November: Transitional. Some great days, some washouts. Cheaper rates and quieter boats when conditions cooperate.
If your trip falls in peak weeks (Holy Week, Christmas, Chinese New Year), book tours when you book your flights. The good operators are full a month out.
A Word on the Crowds
The bay is busier than it was a few years ago, and the lagoon stops in particular have a different feel from the early Instagram era of El Nido. Visitor caps at Big Lagoon and Hidden Beach were brought in because the spots were getting overrun. They've helped — the experience is better than it was at peak chaos — but they also mean some days the headline stop is just full and your operator subs in an alternative.
If pristine and empty is what you want, El Nido in 2026 isn't going to deliver it. Tour B and Tour D are the quieter options within the standard four, and getting on the earliest boat helps everywhere. For quieter water, look at Coron or one of the Tao expeditions instead.
FAQ
Which El Nido tour is best for first-timers?
Is Tour C better than Tour A?
What makes Tour B different from the others?
Is Tour D worth booking?
How much does El Nido island hopping cost in 2026?
Do I need to book El Nido tours in advance?
Are the tour stops always the same?
Which tour has the best snorkeling?
Is Big Lagoon worth the kayak rental fee?
Can I do two tours in one trip to El Nido?
What should I bring on the boat?
If you're still figuring out where to stay, how long to budget for Palawan, or whether to add Coron, the El Nido and Palawan guides cover the rest of the trip. For multi-stop route planning across the country, the Philippines on a Budget guide includes a Palawan loop you can plug straight in.
