Things to Do in El Nido 2026: 12 That Are Actually Worth Your Time
Here’s the thing about El Nido: the list of things to do is short, but every item on it takes a whole day. Island hopping isn’t a two-hour excursion. It’s 9am to 4pm on a boat.
Nacpan Beach isn’t a quick stop. You’ll sit there for hours without noticing. So the real question isn’t “what is there to do” but “which of these deserve my limited days?”
This guide covers the best things to do in El Nido as they actually run in 2026, including a few rule changes that older blogs still get wrong.
First, the 2026 Rules That Change Your Plans
Three changes trip up almost everyone who plans from an old itinerary.
Combination tours are gone. You can’t do “Tour A and C in one day” anymore. Each lettered tour is its own full day.
Small Lagoon moved to Tour D. Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon can no longer be visited on the same trip, so Tour A now covers Big Lagoon and Tour D covers Small Lagoon. If Small Lagoon is on your list (and it should be), you need Tour D.
The eco fee is ₱400, not ₱200. El Nido’s Eco-Tourism Development Fee went up on June 1, 2024 under Municipal Ordinance 01, Series of 2024. It’s paid once and valid for 10 days, so schedule all your tours inside that window. Lagoon entrance fees (around ₱200) and kayak rentals are extra and cash-only.
1. Tour A: Big Lagoon and the Greatest Hits
If you only have one boat day, make it Tour A. The stops are Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Inadawan (sometimes called Inatula) and Seven Commandos Beach, all in sheltered water. That makes it the easiest tour for nervous swimmers and families.
Big Lagoon is the reason people fly to Palawan. You enter through a shallow channel into jade water walled in by limestone, and you get roughly 45 minutes to an hour inside. Rent a kayak (around ₱300) and paddle to the far end. The crowd bunches up near the entrance, and the back of the lagoon is noticeably quieter.
Honest opinion? Secret Lagoon is the weakest stop. You squeeze through a small hole in the rock one at a time into a shallow pool, and the queue can eat most of your time there. Read our El Nido Tour A guide for the stop-by-stop breakdown.
2. Tour C: Hidden Beaches and the Best Snorkeling
Tour C is the one a lot of people end up calling their favorite. The stops are Helicopter Island (officially Dilumacad), Hidden Beach, Talisay Beach, Secret Beach and Matinloc Shrine. The snorkeling is the best of the four tours, and the channel between Matinloc and Tapiutan islands is stunning.
Secret Beach is the highlight: you swim through a narrow slot in the rock and a hidden pocket of beach opens up on the other side. Hidden Beach works the same way, tucked behind the cliffs where you’d never spot it from the boat.
The trade-off is open water. Tour C is the first route to get shortened or rerouted when the wind picks up, so book it on your calmest forecast day. Our Tour C guide and Secret Beach guide cover what to expect.
3. Tour D: Small Lagoon Without the Crowds
Tour D used to be the leftover tour. Not anymore. With Small Lagoon now on this route, it’s arguably the best-value day on the water. The stops center on Cadlao Island (the big island you see from town): Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Cove, Paradise Beach and a quiet lunch beach.
Small Lagoon is reached by kayaking through a narrow gap in the rock into a still, enclosed pool. Cadlao Lagoon is rare in that it has its own beach, so you can paddle, then pull up on the sand. Budget for kayak rental at both lagoons. See the Tour D guide for details.
4. Tour B: Snake Island and the Quiet South
Tour B heads south to Snake Island, Entalula Beach, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave and Pinagbuyutan Island. It’s the least crowded route. Snake Island is the star: an S-shaped sandbar you can walk at low tide, with a short climb for the view from above.
One warning so you’re not disappointed. You can’t go inside Cathedral Cave anymore, so the boat stops at the mouth for photos. If you only have three boat days, most people drop Tour B first. The Tour B guide helps you decide.
Which tours to pick by number of days
| Boat days | Book these | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tour A | Big Lagoon, calm water, the classic El Nido day |
| 2 | Tour A + Tour C | Lagoons one day, hidden beaches and snorkeling the next |
| 3 | A + C + D | Adds Small Lagoon and the quiet Cadlao beaches |
| 4 | All four | Spread them out; the beaches start to blur back to back |
5. Nacpan Beach
Nacpan is roughly 4 kilometers of pale sand north of town, and it’s the best beach you can reach without a boat. Getting there takes about 45 minutes by tricycle or scooter. Agree on a round-trip price with your tricycle driver before you leave, or rent a scooter in town if you’re comfortable riding one.
Walk to the far end and up the small hill. From there you see Nacpan and neighboring Calitang side by side, which is why people call them the twin beaches. Mornings are calmer for swimming, and by afternoon the wind and waves pick up. Our Nacpan Beach guide covers the route and where to eat.
6. Sunset at Corong-Corong
Corong-Corong is a short tricycle ride south of town, and its beach faces west toward the sunset with Cadlao Island and the Bacuit Bay islands in silhouette. There’s no entrance fee. A few beachfront bars put out chairs in the late afternoon. Honestly, it’s the easiest good evening you’ll have in El Nido.
7. Snorkeling Beyond the Tour Stops
Every tour includes snorkel stops, but the quality varies. Tour C is best for snorkelers, and Shimizu on Tour A is a solid lunch-stop snorkel. Bring your own mask if you have one, since rental masks are hit and miss.
Reef-safe sunscreen matters here because you’re swimming over live coral all day. Our El Nido snorkeling guide and reef-safe sunscreen guide go deeper.
8. Scuba Diving
El Nido has several dive shops running fun dives and courses around Bacuit Bay. The diving is good, not legendary. If wrecks are your thing, Coron’s World War II Japanese shipwrecks are the stronger draw, and the PADI site lists certified centers in both towns. Visibility is generally best in the dry season, roughly December to May.
9. A Private Boat Day
If you’re a group of four or more, price a private charter. You get the same lettered routes but can set your own pace and run the route in reverse to hit the headline stops before the joiner boats arrive. The same rules still apply, so no combos and no Big and Small Lagoon on one day. Ask us for a quote through our El Nido tour packages page.
10. El Nido Town at Night
The town is small, walkable and relaxed after dark. Expect beach bars, live acoustic sets and fresh grilled seafood rather than big clubs. It’s worth one slow evening of wandering. For specific spots, see our El Nido nightlife guide.
11. Stargazing
This one doesn’t show up on tour menus. Away from the town lights, especially at Nacpan on a moonless night, the sky is properly dark. If you’ve grown up under Metro Manila’s glow, the first clear view of the Milky Way is a genuine surprise. (Bring mosquito repellent. Trust me on this one.)
12. Continue North to Coron by Fast Ferry
Many travelers finish El Nido and head to Coron instead of backtracking. Fast ferries run by Jomalia, Montenegro Lines and Atienza cross in roughly 3.5 to 5 hours depending on the sea, with one-way fares around ₱2,800 to ₱3,000. Sailings can be cancelled in rough weather, so don’t book a same-day flight out of Coron. Our El Nido to Coron boat guide has the details.
Getting to El Nido in 2026
A quick note, because this changed. Since March 29, 2026 there are no direct flights from Manila’s NAIA to El Nido. Turboprop flights to El Nido now depart from Clark International Airport in Pampanga, according to the Cebu Pacific travel advisory. The alternative is flying NAIA to Puerto Princesa, then a van of about 5 to 6 hours north.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the number one thing to do in El Nido?
Tour A, for Big Lagoon. If you have a second day, add Tour C for the hidden beaches and snorkeling.
Can I do Tour A and Tour C in one day?
No. Combination tours are no longer allowed in El Nido. Each lettered tour is a separate full day.
Which tour has Small Lagoon now?
Tour D. Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon can’t be visited on the same day anymore, so Small Lagoon moved from Tour A to Tour D.
How much is the El Nido eco fee in 2026?
₱400 for regular tourists, with discounts for Palawan residents, students, seniors and PWDs. It’s valid for 10 days, so one payment covers every tour in that window.
How much does an El Nido island hopping tour cost?
Joiner tours generally run around ₱1,200 to ₱1,800 per person, plus the eco fee and small cash fees for lagoon entrances and kayaks. Private boats cost more but can work out similar per head for larger groups.
What time do El Nido island hopping tours leave?
Joiner boats usually leave around 9am and return around 4 to 5pm. Private charters have more flexibility on timing.
Helpful External Resources
Want the island hopping sorted before you land? Browse our El Nido tour packages or message CMT with your dates, and we’ll match the right tours to how many days you have. You can also reach us on Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp.