El Nido Tour A takes you into the Big Lagoon and the Secret Lagoon, two of the most beautiful places in the Philippines. Here’s every stop, what it costs, the fees on top and how to make the most of the day.
If you only do one island-hopping trip in El Nido, make it Tour A. It’s the most popular of the four El Nido tours, and it’s built around the sight that made El Nido famous: the Big Lagoon, a hidden bowl of turquoise water ringed by sheer limestone walls, which you explore by kayak.
Tour A was my first day out in El Nido, at the end of May, and it set the bar for the rest of my time in the Philippines. I kayaked through the Big Lagoon and found a secret tunnel in the rocks, was slid on my back through a gap in a cliff into the Secret Lagoon, snorkelled over coral and ended the day on a palm-fringed beach. This guide covers each stop on El Nido Tour A, the costs and fees, and what I’d do differently.
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Tour A at a glance
- Stops: The Big Lagoon, the Secret Lagoon, snorkelling at Shimizu Island and Seven Commandos Beach.
- Length: A full day, meeting between 8 and 9am and back in the late afternoon.
- Price: Around ₱1,200 to ₱1,500 for a shared tour, with lunch, snorkel gear and a life jacket.
- Fees on top: The ₱400 environmental fee, a ₱200 Big Lagoon fee and ₱300 to ₱500 for a kayak, all in cash.
- Best for: First-time visitors and anyone who loves lagoons. It’s also the tour most likely to run in rough weather.
The Big Lagoon
The Big Lagoon is the reason Tour A sells out, and it’s even better than the photos. It sits inside Miniloc Island, behind a narrow entrance in the cliffs. Boats can’t go in, so they anchor at the mouth and you continue by kayak or swim.
On my tour, getting in was the hard part. The water at the entrance was choppy, and I helped paddle our kayak through it. Then the lagoon opened up, calm and glassy, in a colour that totally doesn’t look real. Grey limestone walls rise straight out of the water on every side, with trees clinging to the ledges, and the light bounces off the sandy bottom so the whole lagoon glows.
We paddled around in the sun and found a secret little tunnel through the rocks, a narrow slot between two walls just wide enough for a kayak, which was absolutely beautiful. “This place is paradise” was genuinely what came out of my mouth.
Top tip
Rent a kayak rather than swimming in. It costs ₱300 to ₱500, but it lets you paddle away from the boats to the quieter corners at the back of the lagoon, where the tunnels and the best views are.
Visitor numbers in the Big Lagoon are limited, and operators book slots in advance, which is one reason to book your tour at least a day ahead. Arrive with the first boats if you can, as the lagoon is quieter early in the day.
Snorkelling at Shimizu Island
After the Big Lagoon, the boat moved on to Shimizu Island, just off Miniloc, to snorkel. I jumped off the side of the boat into the water, which was refreshing after the heat but quite choppy, and saw lovely fish and some nice coral. After about half an hour I started to feel seasick while swimming (a late night didn’t help).
A second spot, a little calmer, had even better coral and tons of fish, and I could snorkel for much longer. The stops can vary with the conditions, so don’t worry if your boat goes somewhere different.
The Secret Lagoon
The Secret Lagoon is one of the quirkiest experiences in El Nido. It’s hidden behind a wall of rock, and from the boat you’d never know it was there. You swim over to a tiny opening at the base of the cliff, lie flat on your back in your life jacket, and the guides glide you through the gap, a bit like being posted through a letterbox.
On the other side is a small pool, completely surrounded by rock and tucked away from the main bay. It’s absolutely beautiful. The swim over from the boat was rough on my tour, and I’ll admit I hate swimming in a life jacket, but it was worth it.
Seven Commandos Beach
Tour A ends at Seven Commandos Beach, a long stretch of white sand backed by coconut palms and cliffs. The water is clear and shallow, and you get about an hour to swim and relax before heading back to town.
It’s beautiful, but it’s also the busiest beach of the day, as most Tour A boats finish here, so don’t come expecting it to be quiet. On my tour it started raining the moment we landed, which I took personally, and then the sun came out and the water turned an incredible colour. I got my drone up, and it was absolutely worth it.
Top tip
Take your hat and cover-up ashore at Seven Commandos. I left mine on the boat, and once the sun came out I was roasting within minutes.
How to book El Nido Tour A
You can book Tour A at any agency in El Nido town or through your hotel, often the night before, but in peak season it’s worth booking a few days ahead, as the Big Lagoon slots fill up. I booked mine in advance through GetYourGuide with Corazon Travel and Tours, a local operator accredited by the Department of Tourism, and they were excellent. We met at Jarace Grill in town, and after a wait while the guide sorted out the permits and coastguard clearance, we were on our way.
Do
Book the shared El Nido Tour A with Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon, the tour I did. Hotel transfers aren’t included, but the meeting point is in the centre of town.
If you’d rather avoid the crowds, a private boat lets you leave earlier and spend longer at each stop, for around ₱6,000 to ₱14,000 a day depending on the boat and group size.
What to bring on Tour A
- Cash for the environmental fee, the Big Lagoon fee and kayak hire.
- Photo ID, as the guide registers everyone before departure.
- Water shoes, for wet landings and the rocks in the lagoons.
- A dry bag for your phone and money, and a change of clothes.
- Reef-safe sun cream, a hat and a cover-up. There’s very little shade.
- Seasickness tablets, if you’re prone. The open water between stops can be choppy.
Tour A or Tour C?
Tour A and Tour C are the two most recommended El Nido tours, and I did both on consecutive days. They’re completely different: Tour A is all about the lagoons and stays in sheltered water, while Tour C goes out to the open sea for beaches, snorkelling and Helicopter Island. If you have the time, do both. If you only have one day, do Tour A, as it’s the one most likely to run in bad weather and the Big Lagoon is the sight you’ll remember.
My verdict on Tour A: it was amazing, and El Nido over-delivered on its promises from the very first stop.
Map
Read next
- El Nido island hopping: Tours A, B, C and D compared
- El Nido travel guide
- The perfect 3-week Philippines itinerary
- Philippines packing list
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