El Nido looks like a screensaver come to life – emerald lagoons, sharp limestone cliffs, and beaches so white they seem lit from within. But let’s be real: paradise rarely comes with no strings attached, i.e. other tourists willing to see the exact same spot. By 9am, the most famous lagoons are already swarmed with boats, kayaks, drones and GoPros.
Still, with a few smart choices, you can dodge the crowds, save money, and experience the El Nido you’ve been dreaming about.
Island Hopping in El Nido: Overview
Island hopping is THE thing to do in El Nido, and tours are divided into four categories: A, B, C, and D. Depending on the tour operator, you will see slight differences in places they will bring you too, although most of the times itinerary looks pretty much the same.
Which Island Hopping Tour is the Best: Tour A, B, C, or D?
You are probably wondering (just like I did at the time) which tour is THE ABSOLUTE BEST. And just like I was disappointed back then, I have to do the same to you – there is no straightforward answer, BUT… If you are hesitating about which tour to pick, there are some blog entries I found online where some travellers did all 4 tours and could provide a decent comparison. The universal truth that is common for all these posts is that there is no perfect or best tour and it all depends on what you are looking for. We chose to do Tour D, because it offered lagoons and beaches which were beautiful and yet not crowded like popular tours A and C. We were absolutely happy with our choice, especially when passing by other bays we saw how packed they were, while on our route we were sometimes the only boat(!) or max 2-3 other boats with us at the same time.
El Nido Tour D Experience
If you wonder how to avoid crowds in El Nido – tour D would be a safe bet, while still offering you beautiful views. Since we only did Tour D, I can only speak about this experience. But it might give you a better understanding of what to expect and decide if that is ultimately something for you.
CADLAO LAGOON
Our first stop and the most crowded one. We believe that Cadlao Lagoon was part of other tours on that day which contributed to the crowds.
We were not allowed to go deeper into the lagoon unless we rented a kayak (300-350 PHP) . We decided to go snorkeling outside of the lagoon instead.
SMALL LAGOON
Our group was lucky to arrive to the bay first and we all enjoyed the bay for good 30 mins all to ourselves. Later we shared the bay with one other boat, but that was it. The entrance fee to the Small Lagoon was included into the price of our tour yet here we got an unpleasant surprise: despite the promise that we could just swim to the Small Lagoon, we were stopped by the nature park ranger who demanded we rented a kayak – apparently a new rule and the only possibility to explore the lagoon from the inside.
PASANDIGAN BEACH
This was our lunch stop amongst the tree palms and with the view onto the turquoise waters. There was an ongoing construction of a cute resort at the time but it did not disturb us. For lunch we enjoy a wide variety of dishes with meat, seafood and vegetarian options present on a buffet. Although snorkeling here did not seem promising from the beach due to shallow depth but I gave it a shot and, honestly, it was amazing! Probably the most beautiful corals and biggest amount of fish I saw on this tour.
UNKNOWN BAY (CADLAO ISLAND)
This was one bay West from the Paradise Beach on the Cadlao Island (which I believe was possibly a substitute for the Nat-Nat beach due to the presence of other boats in the latter. Here we had about an hour to swim, chill, walk around and enjoy a cold drink from a small beach bar. Here we also spotted a monkey!
PARADISE BEACH
Our last stop on the island hopping tour – all about snorkeling! We had about 30-40 mins to swim around from the boat, which was anchored out quite far from the shore. You are free to swim wherever you want, as long as you return to the boat on time 🙂
I imagine, it may leave many people disappointed as most of the corals and fish were found at depth of 4-5 meters – was not an issue for us, but most people just swim on the surface and cannot see much this way.
Here we were lucky to spot a turtle which stayed around for quite some time!
Things to Keep in Mind When Booking a Tour
- Weather. If the sea state is too rough or there is a strong wind, the itinerary may be changed on the spot or the whole tour may be cancelled. Check the weather forecast in advance when planning your island hopping trip(s).
- Tour prices are very similar all across the island and are in the range of 1200 PHP to 1500 PHP per tour. When booking a tour make sure you ask what is included in the price, as this ultimately may be a game changer.
- Extra fees. You also need to pay an environmental fee of 400 PHP, which is valid for 5 days. So if you are planning to do several tours, it is highly recommended to do them one after the other (or do combined tours) in order to avoid paying the environmental fee twice. Some tour operators already include extra fees in the total price and others don’t (e.g. entrance to Big/Small Lagoon, rental of equipment, environmental fee etc.).
- Kayak rental. In some of the sights you will also be able to rent a kayak (300-350 PHP). Be aware, that in Big Lagoon, and since recently, also in Small Lagoon, as well as in Cadlao Lagoon, you actually HAVE TO rent a kayak if you want to check out the lagoons, as you are not allowed to swim in the area otherwise. You are, however, allowed to swim close to the boat or just stay on the boat to enjoy the views if you don’t want to pay extra.
- Ask for tour offers at your accommodation. It is worth checking with your accommodation first before you start asking in town. They may offer you a discount (which was the case with our hotel) and on top of that it makes it easier for the pickup as you start straight from the hotel.
- Clarify departure time. Some tour operators depart earlier than others (as they all normally follow the same route), which means you have a higher chance to arrive to the sights without crowds.
- Ask about the group size. Tours A and C normally have bigger boats, thus, more people travelling with you. But even there there are boat for 25 people and those for 50 – worth checking how many people signed up at the time of your booking. Also, the more people, the more waiting time might be involved for the departure as the operators often pick-up guests in different locations.
What to Pack With You?
So you know booked your El Nido tour (maybe it’s your first boat trip ever and you feel clueless?) and now you are wondering: ‘What should I bring with me for the island hopping trip?’. I got you! Here is what you should pack with you:
- Sunscreen / UV clothing. For the bugger part of the day you will be in the sun and it does get intense. Make sure you protect your skin from sunburn. Try to use coral-friendly sunscreen not only to take care of yourself but also of the environment.
- A hat. Sun stroke is no joke. Just make sure you hold your hat tight during the boat rides 😀
- Sunglasses. Ideally you want to have polarising UV sunglasses – the colours of the water really pop with those! Plus, they protect your eyes on the water even better.
- Cash. On some of the beaches you can buy drinks and snacks – so make sure you have money on you. Kayak rentals can also only be paid cash.
- Snorkel equipment. Ideally, bring your own mask (I am personally not a fan of renting this piece). You can also rent fins, but it wasn’t an issue to snorkel without them.
- Underwater camera / dive case & your smartphone. You will want to take a lot of footage!
- A small microfiber towel. It dries quickly and can be very handy.
- Dry bag. You want to keep your stuff dry! Be ready for a brief swim with your things in hand during the boarding / embarkation.
- Coral shoes / sandals / flip-flops. Something comfy yet something you are not afraid of making wet. You might want to walk around to check out the area. If you have coral shoes on while swimming – do not stand on the corals in the water! I know the name may be misleading but by doing so, you will destroy the corals, and that’s not what you want to do, right?
Is El Nido Worth Visiting?
Most of the locals I’ve met during our journey in the Philippines referred to El Nido as the absolute best. However, I also heard a lot of feedbacks from foreigners that would call it a super touristy place. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect so I decided to just have absolutely no expectations and let the place win over my heart.
My opinion – the town itself is very busy and very touristy (yet I was surprise that the prices in bars and restaurants were not over the roof, offering a wide range of excellent choices). It did have a certain charm though. It was clear there would be many boats going out for the tour, but it still felt a bit overwhelming. When we arrived to the first spot (Cadlao Lagoon), which was quite crowded, I had a bit of a shock moment. The views were stunning yet the crowds around made it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. However, when we went off to less crowded areas it was a real game changer and I started to truly falling in love with this place.
I would definitely recommend visiting El Nido. However, if you are not a fan of crowds and touristy places, you may want to limit your stay here. Pick your tours wisely, especially if you have a possibility to do only one. Define what is most important for you – seeing a particular lagoon or having an overall great experience with no crowds? Do the crowds bother you at all? Make it less about checking boxes and more about the quiet pauses that stay with you.
