El Nido Island Hopping Tours A, B, C & D: Complete 2026 Guide
If you’re planning a trip to El Nido, island hopping is the whole point. The four tour routes, Tour A, B, C, and D, are how you access the lagoons, beaches, and limestone formations that make Bacuit Bay one of the most photographed places in Southeast Asia. But not all tours are created equal, and knowing the difference before you book saves you from ending up on the wrong boat.
I’ve done all four. Here’s the honest breakdown of what each one delivers, who it’s best for, and the tips that actually matter on the water.
How El Nido Island Hopping Tours Work
Tours run daily from the main El Nido beach, departing around 9am and returning around 5pm. Each tour visits 4-5 stops: lagoons, beaches, snorkeling spots, and one lunch stop. The boats are traditional Filipino bangkas (outrigger boats), typically carrying 10-20 people.
The standard price is ₱1,200-₱1,500 per person and includes lunch, snorkeling gear, and an on-board guide. On top of that, each tour route has entry ticket fees: Tour A and C are ₱400 per person, Tour B and D are ₱350 per person. These fees go to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development for environmental conservation.
Book in advance. During peak season (December to April), tour slots fill up, and walking in on arrival means you might wait a day or two. When you book through CMT’s El Nido packages, your tour slots are reserved before you land.
Tour A: The Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon & Secret Lagoon
Tour A is the most popular route, and for good reason. It hits the most iconic spots in El Nido in a single day, including the two lagoons that make the place famous.
What’s Included in Tour A
Big Lagoon is the showstopper. You enter by kayak (rented at the entrance for around ₱200) and paddle through water that shifts from turquoise to deep green depending on the light. The limestone walls rise on all sides. It genuinely looks like a place they invented for a movie.
Small Lagoon is reached by swimming through a low opening in the limestone (or you can take a kayak if the tide is right). Inside, the water is calmer and even more vivid. This is the one on every El Nido postcard.
Secret Lagoon requires a short swim through a rocky passage, and what’s on the other side is a completely enclosed pool of calm, clear water surrounded by cliffs. It’s quieter than the main lagoons.
Shimizu Island is the usual lunch stop, a white sand beach with decent snorkeling on the reef nearby. It gets crowded midday but clears out once lunch is over.
Insider tip: Tour A is busiest from 10am-2pm. If your operator offers an early departure (7-8am start), take it. We arrived at Small Lagoon before the main wave of boats and had it almost to ourselves for 30 minutes. That doesn’t happen at midday.
Tour B: Snake Island, Cathedral Cave & Entalula
Tour B is the least crowded of the four, which makes it a great choice if Tour A feels too busy. It trades the famous lagoons for unique geological features and better snorkeling.
What’s Included in Tour B
Snake Island is a sand bar that zigzags out into the sea like a snake’s body, best visible from the hill above the beach. At low tide, you can walk the length of it, with open water on both sides. It’s genuinely strange and beautiful.
Cathedral Cave is a large sea cave with multiple chambers you explore by boat. The light filters through openings in the rock ceiling and plays on the water. There’s decent snorkeling outside the cave entrance too.
Entalula Beach is one of the more pristine stretches in the area, less visited than the Tour A beaches, with good snorkeling on the surrounding reef.
Pinagbuyutan Island often shows up as a lunch stop on Tour B boats, a small island with a beach and calm water for swimming.
Tour C: Secret Beach, Helicopter Island & Star Beach
Tour C is my personal favorite. The destinations require more effort to access, which keeps the crowds thinner, and Secret Beach is genuinely one of the most memorable spots I’ve visited anywhere in the Philippines.
What’s Included in Tour C
Secret Beach is accessed by swimming through a narrow underwater rock passage, about 3-4 meters long and shallow enough to see through easily. On the other side: a completely enclosed beach, protected on all sides by limestone, with brilliant turquoise water and white sand. You feel like you’ve found something no one else knows about (even though plenty of people know about it by now). Wear reef shoes if you have them, the rocks at the entrance are sharp.
Helicopter Island looks exactly like a helicopter from a distance, which is a genuinely accurate description. The beach wrapping around the base has some of the best snorkeling in the entire Bacuit Bay area, specifically on the coral reef on the eastern side of the island.
Star Beach is a gorgeous white sand beach good for swimming and relaxing. Less dramatic than the other stops but a welcome break after a morning of swimming through rock passages.
Matinloc Shrine sometimes appears on Tour C routes, an abandoned chapel on a cliff with sweeping views across the bay.
Insider tip: Tour C involves more swimming than the other tours. If you’re not a confident swimmer, bring a life jacket from your hotel or ask your operator. The passage into Secret Beach feels tight if you’re not used to it, but it’s genuinely not difficult once you’ve done it.
Tour D: Cadlao Lagoon & Off-the-Beaten-Path Stops
Tour D is the least-visited route and the best option for anyone who genuinely wants to escape the crowds. The stops are quieter, the scenery is different from the other tours, and you’ll spend more time with just your boat group and fewer tourists around.
What’s Included in Tour D
Cadlao Lagoon is on Cadlao Island, the largest island in Bacuit Bay. The lagoon itself is scenic but less dramatic than Big Lagoon on Tour A. The real appeal is that there are almost always fewer boats here.
Bulalacao Island is a small island with good snorkeling and a relaxed beach stop. Not as photogenic as Tour A or C destinations, but peaceful in a way the more famous spots often aren’t.
Paradise Beach and Nat Nat Beach often appear on Tour D routes depending on the operator, both worth visiting for calm swimming and good reef snorkeling.
Which Tour Should You Do?
| Tour | Best For | Crowd Level | Entry Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour A | First-timers, the iconic experience | Busy | ₱400/pax |
| Tour B | Snorkelers, cave enthusiasts | Moderate | ₱350/pax |
| Tour C | Adventure seekers, strong swimmers | Moderate | ₱400/pax |
| Tour D | Crowd-avoiders, repeat visitors | Quiet | ₱350/pax |
If you only have time for two tours, do Tour A and Tour C. If you’re back for a second trip, do Tour B and D. That covers the full range without repeating similar landscapes.
Practical Tips for El Nido Island Hopping
Bring reef-safe sunscreen only. El Nido enforces a reef-safe sunscreen policy, and rangers at some stops will check. Non-reef-safe sunscreen gets confiscated and you might get a lecture. Save everyone the trouble.
Wear water shoes or sandals you can swim in. Many boat boarding areas are shallow and rocky. Flip-flops fall off.
Bring a dry bag for your phone and anything you don’t want getting wet. The boat decks get splashed and some stop transfers require wading in through surf.
Most tours include basic snorkeling gear, but the quality varies. If you have your own mask and fins, bring them.
The lunch provided on tours is typically grilled fish, rice, and vegetable dishes. It’s good. If you have dietary restrictions, tell your operator in advance.
FAQ: El Nido Island Hopping Tours
Q: Can I do multiple tours in one day?
No, tours are full-day trips. Plan one tour per day. Most El Nido packages include two tours across 3-4 days.
Q: Are entry fees included in the tour price?
Not always. Confirm with your operator. When you book through CMT El Nido packages, entry fees are typically included or clearly listed as add-ons.
Q: Is Tour A worth it despite the crowds?
Yes. The Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon are genuinely extraordinary. Go early to beat the peak crowd hours.
Q: Can I snorkel on all four tours?
All tours include snorkeling stops. Tour B and C typically have the best snorkeling due to reef conditions at Cathedral Cave and Helicopter Island.
Q: How do I book El Nido island hopping tours?
Book through a licensed operator before you arrive. Walk-in booking is possible but risky during peak season when slots fill up. CMT handles tour slot reservations as part of our El Nido packages.
Q: What’s the best month for El Nido island hopping?
December to April for the calmest seas and clearest water. February and March are the peak of the dry season. Avoid June to October when rough weather can cancel tours.
Ready to Book Your El Nido Tours?
CMT’s El Nido island hopping packages include Tour A and one additional tour of your choice, van transfer from Puerto Princesa, accommodation, and daily breakfast. All tour slots are pre-booked so you’re on the water from day one, not waiting around for availability. Check our full package list and find the right fit for your dates.