El Nido Tour D Guide 2026: Ipil Beach & Cadlao Lagoon
Tour D is the one people ask about last, if they ask about it at all. Most travelers land in El Nido knowing they want Big Lagoon and Secret Beach (that’s Tour A), and if they’ve got extra days, they’ll usually add Tour B or Tour C before Tour D even comes up. Honestly, that’s a shame, because Tour D quietly rounds out the whole Bacuit Bay experience in a way the busier tours don’t.
Here’s the thing: Tour D covers the beaches and lagoon on Cadlao Island, the biggest island in the bay, plus a scattering of quieter stops closer to town. Fewer crowds, shorter boat rides between some stops, and honestly, a nice change of pace if you’ve already done Tour A and want a slower day. This guide walks through every stop on El Nido Tour D, what to expect at each one, real 2026 pricing in PHP, and a few things we’ve picked up from running this route that don’t show up in the typical brochure.
What Is El Nido Tour D?
El Nido Tour D is the fourth of the four standard island hopping routes in the Bacuit Archipelago (alongside Tours A, B, and C), and it’s generally considered the least crowded. Where Tour A chases the postcard lagoons and Tour B goes exploring caves northwest of town, Tour D sticks closer to El Nido town itself and spends most of the day around Cadlao Island, the largest island in the bay, easily recognizable by its steep, jungle-covered peak.
The pace is noticeably more relaxed. You’re not racing other boats to beat the crowds at a famous lagoon, because most of Tour D’s stops just don’t get that kind of traffic. It’s a good pick for families, older travelers, or anyone who’s already ticked off the big-name spots and wants a day that’s more about swimming, snorkeling, and quiet beaches than checking off bucket list photos.
Boats typically leave from Corong-Corong Beach or the town wharf, usually between 8:30 and 9:00 AM, and you’re back in town by around 4:00 to 5:00 PM. So budget roughly 7 to 8 hours for the full day, similar to Tours A, B, and C.
El Nido Tour D Stops
Ipil Beach
Ipil Beach is usually the first stop, and it’s a good warm-up for the day. It sits close to El Nido town but is only reachable by boat, tucked beneath tall palm trees with calm, clear water right off the sand.
There’s not a ton to “do” here beyond swim and relax, and that’s honestly the point. After the early morning boat briefing and the safety talk about life jackets, Ipil Beach is where everyone loosens up and starts actually enjoying the day.
Insider tip: because it’s the first stop and close to town, ask your boatman if you can arrive right as the boat leaves the dock rather than swinging by other pickup points first. Fifteen extra minutes here in the early morning light, with nobody else around, is worth asking for.
Cadlao Lagoon
This is the highlight of Tour D. Cadlao Lagoon sits on the western side of Cadlao Island (the biggest island in Bacuit Bay, and the dramatic green peak you’ll see looming over El Nido town itself). The lagoon has that same turquoise-water-and-limestone-cliff combination that makes Big Lagoon famous, just with a fraction of the visitors.
Kayaks are usually available to rent so you can paddle further into the lagoon and get close to the rock walls. If you’d rather snorkel, the better coral tends to be just outside the lagoon mouth rather than inside it, so ask your guide to point you toward the entrance channel.
Kayak rental (if not already included in your tour price): approximately ₱150 per person.
Insider tip: Cadlao Lagoon doesn’t get the mid-morning rush that Big Lagoon does, but it can still fill up once two or three boats arrive at once. If your operator can get here early or later in the afternoon, you’ll have noticeably more space to yourselves.
Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach sits on the southeast end of Cadlao Island and gives you one of the better views back toward El Nido town and Bacuit Bay’s limestone skyline. It’s actually more like two connected beaches split by a rock outcrop, both with soft white sand and decent coral just offshore for anyone who packed a snorkel mask.
We’ve had guests skip snorkeling here and just sit on the sand with a coconut instead, and honestly, that’s a completely valid way to spend an hour. And if you do want to snorkel, the shallow reef close to shore is easy enough for beginners.
No separate entrance fee. It’s included as part of the standard Tour D route.
Afternoon Beach Stops: Pasandigan, Natnat, or Bukal
After lunch, most Tour D operators add one or two more relaxed beach stops, typically chosen from Pasandigan Beach (sometimes called Pasandigan Cove), Natnat Beach, or Bukal Beach. Which ones you get depends on your operator, the tide, and honestly sometimes just what the boatman feels like doing that day.
Pasandigan is a cluster of small coves with good snorkeling and dramatic cliff views, popular with anyone bringing a drone. Natnat and Bukal are calmer, simpler stops, closer in feel to a quiet neighborhood beach than a headline attraction, good for swimming, floating around, and not much else. None of the three see anywhere near the crowds of 7 Commandos on Tour A.
No separate entrance fee for any of these stops at most operators.
Lunch on Tour D: What Actually Happens
A quick note here because it trips up a lot of first-timers: as of a 2023 municipal directive, El Nido tightened the rules around food preparation on tour boats after a string of reported stomach illnesses linked to onboard cooking. In practice, this means some operators shifted away from grilling fresh fish on the boat and now serve a pre-packed lunch instead, while others still cook shore-side at a stop with proper facilities. Either way, always confirm exactly what “lunch included” means when you book, since it varies by operator far more than it used to. Our El Nido Tour D package includes a full lunch in the tour price, prepared according to current municipal food safety rules, no surprises at the pier.
El Nido Tour D Price 2026
Here’s the honest breakdown of what a day on Tour D costs:
| Item | Cost (PHP) |
|---|---|
| Group Tour D (shared bangka) | ₱1,200 – ₱1,500/person |
| Private Tour D (boat for your group) | ₱4,500 – ₱6,000/boat |
| Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF) | ₱400/person (non-Palawan resident rate, valid 10 days across all El Nido tourism sites) |
| Kayak rental at Cadlao Lagoon (if not included) | ₱150/person |
| Snorkeling gear (if not included) | ₱150 – ₱200 |
The ETDF is a municipal government fee, not something operators set themselves, and it went up from the old ₱200 rate to ₱400 for non-resident tourists under a 2024 ordinance. It’s a one-time fee valid for 10 days across every tourism site in El Nido, so if you’ve already paid it for an earlier tour this trip, you won’t pay it again. Our El Nido Tour D package makes clear upfront whether the ETDF is included or collected separately, so you know exactly what to expect at the pier.
Tour D vs Tour A vs Tour B vs Tour C: Which Should You Pick?
If this is your only tour in El Nido, start with our El Nido Tour A guide for Big Lagoon and Secret Beach, the two spots most people have already seen on Instagram. If you want caves and a sandbar island instead, our El Nido Tour B guide covers that quieter northwest route. Our El Nido Tour C guide is the one for Helicopter Island and the more remote northern stops.
Tour D fits best as a second or third tour, once you’ve already done the bucket-list stops and want a slower, less crowded day. It’s also a solid pick for families with young kids or older travelers, since the pace is gentler and there’s less swimming through narrow rock channels than Tour A or Tour B require. For a full side-by-side of all four routes, see our complete El Nido island hopping tours guide.
Can you combine Tour D with another tour in one day? Some operators offer combo packages, but we’d steer you toward doing them on separate days if your schedule allows. You’ll actually get to enjoy each stop instead of rushing the boat schedule.
What to Bring on El Nido Tour D
- Reef-safe sunscreen: required at most stops since Bacuit Bay is a protected marine area. Bring mineral or biodegradable sunscreen only.
- A dry bag: for your phone, wallet, and anything else you don’t want soaked during the boat rides.
- Snorkel mask: bring your own if you have one, especially for Cadlao Lagoon’s entrance channel and Paradise Beach’s reef.
- ₱500 to ₱1,000 in cash: for the ETDF if not pre-paid, kayak rental, drinks, and tips for your boatman and guide (₱100 to ₱200 per person is customary).
- A change of clothes: the ride back to town is a lot more comfortable dry.
- Your own packed lunch or snacks as backup: given the food prep rules mentioned above, it doesn’t hurt to bring a few snack bars just in case your operator’s included lunch is lighter than you expected.
Best Time to Do El Nido Tour D
November through May is peak season in El Nido, with calmer seas and clearer water in the lagoon, which matters most at Cadlao Lagoon since visibility drops noticeably when the water gets churned up. According to PAGASA, the Philippines’ national weather bureau, Palawan generally sits outside the main typhoon corridor, but the June to October wet season still brings rougher seas and a higher chance of last-minute tour changes.
Because Tour D’s stops are mostly sheltered coves and beaches rather than exposed lagoon entrances, it tends to hold up reasonably well even in shoulder season, but always confirm with your operator the night before if you’re traveling outside November to May. For a month-by-month breakdown, see our best time to visit El Nido guide.
If you’re flying directly into El Nido rather than transferring from Puerto Princesa, AirSWIFT runs direct flights into El Nido’s airport, which saves you several hours compared to the van transfer and gives you more time for island hopping. Cebu Pacific also flies into El Nido on certain routes, worth comparing if AirSWIFT is sold out for your dates.
How to Book El Nido Tour D
You can book through your accommodation, an operator booth in town, or directly with a local operator like us on Facebook Messenger. Prices are broadly similar across booking channels, but what varies is group size, whether the ETDF and lunch are actually included, and how flexible the operator is with departure timing.
Things worth confirming before you pay:
- Is the ETDF already included, or collected separately at the pier?
- What does “lunch included” actually mean given the current food prep rules?
- Is kayak rental at Cadlao Lagoon included or an add-on?
- How many people will be on the boat?
Our El Nido Tour D package keeps groups small, is upfront about every fee, and we’re happy to arrange early departures if you want first access to Cadlao Lagoon before the crowds show up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stops are included in El Nido Tour D?
The standard stops are Ipil Beach, Cadlao Lagoon, and Paradise Beach, plus one or two afternoon beach stops chosen from Pasandigan Beach, Natnat Beach, or Bukal Beach depending on your operator.
How much does El Nido Tour D cost in 2026?
Shared group tours run around ₱1,200 to ₱1,500 per person, plus the ₱400 Eco-Tourism Development Fee (valid for 10 days across all El Nido tours). Private boats typically run ₱4,500 to ₱6,000 for the whole boat, split among your group.
Is Tour D worth doing if I’ve already done Tour A?
Yes, especially if you want a quieter, slower day. Tour D doesn’t overlap with Tour A’s stops at all, and Cadlao Lagoon holds its own against Big Lagoon in terms of scenery, just with far fewer people.
Is El Nido Tour D suitable for kids and non-swimmers?
Yes. Tour D is generally considered the most relaxed of the four tours, with calmer beaches and no tight cave swims or rock scrambling required. Life jackets are provided throughout.
Does Tour D include lunch?
Most operators include lunch in the tour price, though what’s actually served has changed since a 2023 municipal directive tightened food preparation rules on tour boats. Always confirm exactly what’s included when you book.
How long does El Nido Tour D take?
Around 7 to 8 hours, typically departing between 8:30 and 9:00 AM and returning to town by 4:00 to 5:00 PM.
What’s the difference between Tour D and Tour C?
Tour C runs north to more remote islands like Helicopter Island and Matinloc Shrine, and tends to involve longer boat rides. Tour D stays closer to town and centers on Cadlao Island, making for a shorter, more relaxed day overall.
Book El Nido Tour D with CMT
Tour D is the route we recommend to guests who want a calmer, less crowded day on the water, especially after already doing Tour A or Tour B. Our El Nido Tour D package includes the ETDF, lunch, snorkeling gear, and small group sizes, with no surprise charges at the pier.
Book El Nido Tour D here or message us on Facebook Messenger to check today’s availability and ask about early departure slots for Cadlao Lagoon.