El Nido Island Hopping Tours A, B, C & D: Which One Should You Book?
When you arrive in El Nido and ask about island hopping, every tour operator will hand you a menu with four options: Tour A, Tour B, Tour C, and Tour D. And if this is your first time, the question of which one to pick can feel surprisingly confusing.
Here’s the honest breakdown of all four, what’s on each route, who each one is best for, and exactly which combination to book if you only have a few days.
How El Nido Island Hopping Works
El Nido’s island hopping operates across Bacuit Bay, a protected marine area with more than 45 islands and islets. The tours are standardized routes licensed by the local government. Every operator runs the same four routes, the stops are fixed, the boats are traditional wooden bangkas, and lunch is included.
What’s included in all tours:
- Traditional bangka boat (shared or private charter)
- Snorkeling gear (basic, bring your own mask for better fit)
- Lunch prepared on board (usually grilled fish, vegetables, and rice)
- Life jackets and safety equipment
- Guide
Typical schedule: Tours depart 8-9am and return around 4:30-5pm.
Cost: Approximately ₱1,200-₱1,500 per person for a shared boat tour. Private charters run ₱5,000-₱8,000 per boat per day (good for groups of 4-8 people).
Booking: You must book in advance. CMT’s El Nido packages include pre-arranged island hopping so you don’t waste your first morning chasing availability.
Tour A: The Lagoons Classic
Best for: First-timers. Non-negotiable.
Stops:
- Big Lagoon, wide, navigable lagoon encircled by limestone cliffs, stunning for kayaking
- Small Lagoon, narrow, turquoise, enclosed, the most photographed spot in all of El Nido
- Secret Lagoon, swim through a gap in the cliff to a hidden circular pool
- Shimizu Island, great snorkeling, coral and reef fish, comfortable beach for lunch
What makes it special: The Small Lagoon. The moment you paddle or swim into it and see that impossibly blue water surrounded by towering rock walls, that’s the image people associate with El Nido worldwide. If you only do one tour, do Tour A.
Honest note: Tour A is the most popular, which means the Small Lagoon gets crowded by mid-morning. Go on the earliest boat you can book, ideally departing before 8:30am.
Insider tip: Rent a kayak at the Small Lagoon entrance (₱200 extra) rather than swimming through. The kayak gives you more time inside and better photo angles.
Tour B: The Beach & Snorkeling Route
Best for: Snorkeling enthusiasts and beach lovers who want fewer crowds.
Stops:
- Entalula Beach, long, white, and relatively uncrowded
- Snake Island, a long sandbar that connects two landmasses at low tide, creating an “S” shape visible from above
- Pinagbuyutan Island, excellent snorkeling, dense coral, more marine life than Tour A stops
- Cathedral Cave, a dramatic sea cave with soaring natural rock vaulting
What makes it special: Pinagbuyutan Island’s snorkeling is genuinely excellent, some of the best in the entire El Nido area.
Insider tip: Snake Island’s sandbar is only visible at low tide. Check the tide table before you book, ask your operator what time you’ll be at Snake Island to ensure conditions are right.
Tour C: The Hidden Coves Route
Best for: Adventurers and returning visitors who’ve already done Tour A.
Stops:
- Secret Beach, swim through an underwater cave opening to reach a completely hidden cove. Arguably El Nido’s most dramatic single experience.
- Helicopter Island, named for its shape from above; long white beach with excellent reef snorkeling along the edge
- Star Beach, quiet, calm, and less visited
- Matinloc Shrine, optional stop; a small chapel on a hilltop with coastal views
What makes it special: Secret Beach. You swim from the boat to the cliff face, then through a narrow submerged passage to emerge into a completely enclosed white sand cove with towering rock walls. No photos prepare you for the moment of coming through that tunnel and finding the beach on the other side.
Insider tip: Visit Secret Beach early in the morning, it can only hold about 20 people comfortably and gets crowded when multiple boats arrive at the same time.
Tour D: The Hidden Gems Route
Best for: Travelers seeking peace, quiet, and fewer tourists.
Stops:
- Cadlao Lagoon, a calmer, less-visited lagoon alternative to Tour A’s famous spots
- Paradise Beach, softer water and white sand, rarely crowded
- Bulalacao Island, remote, pristine, almost always uncrowded
- Nat-nat Beach, a local favorite, beautiful and quiet
What makes it special: The near-complete absence of crowds. Tour D is the road less traveled of El Nido island hopping.
Honest note: If this is your only day of island hopping in El Nido, Tour D alone won’t give you the iconic El Nido experience most people come for. It’s best combined with Tour A or Tour C.
Which Tours Should You Book?
| Your situation | Recommended tours |
|---|---|
| First-timer, 1 day only | Tour A (non-negotiable) |
| First-timer, 2 days | Tour A + Tour C |
| First-timer, 3 days | Tour A + Tour C + Tour B |
| Returning visitor | Tour C or Tour D |
| Snorkeling focus | Tour B + Tour C |
| Crowd avoider | Tour D + Tour C |
| Doing all four | A → C → B → D (in this order) |
Private vs. Shared Tours
Shared tours (₱1,200-₱1,500/person): The standard option. You’ll share the boat with 10-15 other people. The downside: fixed schedule and you can’t always spend extra time at your favorite stop.
Private tours (₱5,000-₱8,000/boat): Best for families or groups of 4-8. You set the pace, choose when to linger, and can request slight route modifications.
CMT offers both options, check our El Nido packages to find the right fit.
FAQ: El Nido Island Hopping Tours
Q: Which El Nido tour is the most popular?
Tour A. It covers the Small Lagoon and Big Lagoon, El Nido’s most iconic sites. Book it as early in your trip as possible.
Q: Is Tour A or Tour C better?
Both are excellent and cover completely different sites. Tour A has the Small Lagoon (the classic El Nido image). Tour C has Secret Beach (the most adventurous and surprising experience). Do both if you have two days.
Q: Do I need to be a strong swimmer for El Nido island hopping?
No, life jackets are available on all tours. But Tour C’s Secret Beach requires swimming through an underwater passage (about 5 meters) and is unsuitable for non-swimmers.
Q: What time do El Nido tours depart?
Most shared tours depart at 8-9am from El Nido town pier. Aim for the earliest slot to avoid crowds at popular spots, especially the Small Lagoon.
Q: Can I do all four El Nido tours?
Yes, over four separate days. Many dedicated island hoppers do exactly this. Tours A and C are the best starting points; B and D can follow in any order.
Q: Are meals included in El Nido island hopping tours?
Yes, lunch is included in all standard El Nido tours. The crew prepares grilled fish, rice, and vegetables at a designated beach stop.
Book Your El Nido Island Hopping with CMT
Stop second-guessing and just book. CMT arranges all four El Nido island hopping tours with pre-reserved spots, so your first morning in El Nido starts on the water, not hunting for availability.