El Nido Island Hopping A,B,C or D: Which Tour to Choose?

El Nido is one of the Philippines’ most sought-after destinations, famous for its crystal-clear waters, dramatic limestone cliffs, and pristine beaches. For visitors eager to explore its natural beauty, island-hopping tours are a must-do experience. With several tour options available—Tour A, Tour B, Tour C, and Tour D—each offering a unique glimpse into the Bacuit Archipelago, it can be challenging to decide which one to choose. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a mix of both, this guide will help you compare the tours and determine which one best suits your travel style.

ISLAND HOPPING ‘OPTIONS’ IN EL NIDO

I was lucky enough to experience Tour A, Tour B and Tour C and Tour D. However, don’t stress about which ‘letter tour’ will be the best. It’s El Nido, you are going to be visiting lagoons and beaches that will blow your mind no matter what tour you are on.

• BIG DREAM BOAT MAN TRIP: 3-NIGHT Island Hopping Expedition to all of the top spots on a crossing from El Nido to Coron! I did it and it’s my favorite Palawan experience BY FAR!
• EL NIDO ISLAND HOPPING TOUR A: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Miniloc Island, Shimizu Island, Snorkel with turtles at Seven Commando Beach, BBQ Lunch
• EL NIDO ISLAND HOPPING TOUR B: Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Cudugnon Cave, BBQ Lunch
• EL NIDO ISLAND HOPPING TOUR C: Helicopter Island, Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Talisay Beach, BBQ Lunch
• EL NIDO ISLAND HOPPING TOUR D: Island, Pasandingan Beach, Small Lagoon, Natnat Beach, BBQ Lunch

Things to consider when choosing an island hopping tour in El Nido

When choosing between El Nido’s Tour A, Tour B and Tour C and Tour D, there are several factors to consider to ensure the tour aligns with your interests and preferences. First, think about the types of destinations each tour covers. Tour A is renowned for its beautiful lagoons and secluded beaches, ideal for those who enjoy kayaking and swimming in crystal-clear waters. If you’re more interested in beaches and snorkeling, Tour B is a great choice, as it includes stunning islands like Snake Island and Pinagbuyutan Island. For those who prefer snorkeling and marine life, Tour C is famous for its vibrant coral reefs and hidden beaches, perfect for underwater exploration. Lastly, if you’re looking for a more relaxed experience with fewer crowds, Tour D offers a quieter experience, featuring peaceful islands like Cadlao Lagoon and Paradise Beach.

Another important factor to consider is the type of experience you’re looking for. If you’re seeking a more adventurous day with opportunities for water sports, kayaking, and exploring hidden spots, Tour A or Tour C might be your best bet. On the other hand, if you’d like a day filled with beach lounging and less strenuous activity, When choosing between El Nido’s Tour A, Tour B or Tour D, might be more your style. Additionally, consider the crowd size—some tours, like Tour A, tend to be more popular and can get crowded, while others, like Tour D, offer a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere.

Lastly, think about time. Some tours may last longer or require more energy, while others are shorter and more laid-back. Each tour has its own appeal depending on what you’re hoping to see and do, so choose one that best fits your travel goals and comfort level.

Comparing Tour A,B,C and D

In this section of the blog post, I will give you a breakdown of what each itinerary looks like for each tour so you get a full understanding of what to expect. Then you will have a better chance of picking the tour that will give you the best experience in El Nido based on what types of activities and locations you enjoy the most.

El Nido Island Hopping Tour A

El Nido Island Hopping Tour A is the most popular tour in El Nido. Everyone wants to see the Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon. I don’t blame them they are both epic. This tour is a good mix of snorkeling and sightseeing, hanging on beaches and swimming. It can get crowded but that is the nature of the beast in El Nido. The most beautiful places are the most popular more often than not. Here’s how the day looks:

• Departure from El Nido Town (7:30 AM)
• Small Lagoon
• Big Lagoon
• Secret Lagoon
• Shimizu Island
• 7 Commando Beach
• Return to El Nido (around 4:00 PM)

SEVEN COMMANDO BEACH

Coconut trees lined Seven Commando beach and we, of course, sipped on a few after a quick snorkel. Our boat docked here for a 45-minute chill/exploration session. Many people snorkeled but we just hung out on the beach and had a swim. The rocks in El Nido are incredibly sharp, Seven Commando Beach was no exception. Wear shoes if you are planning on exploring in caves and on rocks like us. On my second visit to Seven Commando Beach, I also did a beach clean-up. El Nido is making great changes but trash on the islands still remains prevalent. This is usually the first stop on Tour A.

View full blog post: Seven Commando Beach

BIG LAGOON EL NIDO

Cruising up the lagoon was our first real look at how dramatic the cliffs and landscape was in El Nido. The lagoon has a narrow and the boats manage to navigate alongside each other as everyone on board arches their necks checking out the intense cliffs. The boat glides across the glassy water, almost crystal as the narrow entrance finally opens up into a giant lagoon. The boat did a slow circle in the lagoon letting us take in the sights before heading back out the narrow stretch. This is arguably the highlight of Tour A.

View full blog post: Big Lagoon in El Nido

LUNCH AT SHIMIZU ISLAND EL NIDO

Our guides had been cooking on the grill all morning as we cruised around from island to island. It was time to see what they had produced. It was an absolute feast.

I’ll be honest I’ve been on some tours where you get a cruddy sandwich and a bag of chips. This blew it out of the water. Grilled pork and chicken, fresh grilled fish and fruits and of course an abundance of rice.

There was plenty for everyone as we sat around on the logs watching monitor lizards amongst the trees. A bit of exploration post-lunch never hurts and we found a very shallow spot for a couple of jumps.

SECRET LAGOON EL NIDO

This spot was amazing but probably my least favorite as there were more than fifty tourists crammed into a tiny lagoon at once. We had to swim to a small hole and clamber through.

One through sun shone down into a tennis court-sized lagoon, totally enclosed by sharp cliffs. It was a great spot but a little bit of an anti-climax. However, the beach around the corner once back out of the lagoon was really cool.

The landscape here was by far my favorite spot of the day and I camped on my favorite spot at the front of the tour boat as we left snapping a few shots to capture the entire scene. I have never seen anything like it before in my life.

The second time I visited Secret Lagoon in El Nido on Tour A, I was armed with a drone. It gave me a whole new perspective on the lagoon and the scale of the beach. I’ve added those photos below.

Full blog post: Secret Lagoon in El Nido

SMALL LAGOON EL NIDO

Our last stop of the day would be the small lagoon. By now I had become a bit desensitized to the majestic beauty all around me. But the small lagoon hit another chord.

We were offered kayaks as we arrived but also given the option to swim. Being the cheap guys Jorden and I were of course we swam. It wasn’t too far just a few hundred yards both ways.

Swimming through this lagoon was beautiful, calming and a great way to end the day. We went as far in as we could and just spend a while floating on our backs taking in everything around us.

The second time I visited Small Lagoon was actually with the Red Bull Cliff Diving team, which was a whole new experience. They had set up ladders to a platform and were jumping from 21m and 27m for their competition. I’ve put the video below about this epic experience.

View full blog post: Small Lagoon in El Nido

El Nido Island Hopping Tour B

Tour B in El Nido is like uncovering a hidden treasure chest of adventure and beauty. Known for its quieter vibe compared to the other island-hopping tours, this trip takes you to secret beaches, mysterious caves, and stunning sandbars that feel like they belong to another world. It’s perfect for those who want a mix of exploration and relaxation, with plenty of opportunities to snorkel, swim, or just soak up the tropical vibes. Whether you’re paddling into hidden lagoons or walking along pristine shores, Tour B is your ticket to discovering the quieter, more enchanting side of El Nido.

The El Nido Tour B itinerary is designed for adventurers who love exploring hidden gems and unique coastal features. Here’s what you can typically expect:

1. Snake Island – Famous for its long, curving sandbar that connects the island to the mainland at low tide. It’s a perfect spot for walking, taking photos, and enjoying panoramic views.
2. Cudugnon Cave – A historical and cultural site where you can explore a fascinating cave once used as a hideout by locals during World War II.
3. Cathedral Cave – A majestic limestone cave with towering ceilings, resembling a cathedral. It’s often viewed from the boat due to the narrow entrance.
4. Pinagbuyutan Island – A peaceful island with white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and stunning limestone formations, perfect for relaxing or snorkeling.
5. Pangalusian or Lagen Beach (depending on the tour operator) – A serene beach stop to end the day with some quiet time and breathtaking scenery.

PINAGBUYUTAN ISLAND

Pinagbuyutan Island is probably my favorite island in El Nido. It has huge towering cliffs that shoot straight down dramatically over the small stretches of the beach below. There’s nothing more than a shack and coconut trees on this desolate island. When we rolled in there was just one local selling coconuts and no other tourists. It stayed that way for most of our visit.

It’s a small, uninhabited island located in the Bacuit Archipelago of El Nido, Palawan, Philippines. The island is known for its striking limestone karst formations, which rise dramatically from the sea, making it incredibly picturesque and popular spot for photography. The island’s white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters make it ideal for various water activities, such as snorkeling, swimming, and kayaking. The surrounding coral reefs are rich in marine biodiversity, attracting divers and snorkelers. Pinagbuyutan is part of the protected area of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, ensuring its natural beauty remains preserved.

We walked around the edges of the island in between the tall grass and scattered palms. This is how island hopping is supposed to be. Quiet, relaxing and away from the crowds. Luckily for us, we were in no rush and actually spent several hours at Pinagbuyutan Island. There are also some great snorkeling spots just off the shore with beautiful reefs waiting to be discovered below the surface. Pinagbuyutan is the highlight of Tour B in my opinion.

Full blog post: Pinagbuyutan Island in El Nido

ENTALULUA BEACH OR PAPAYA BEACH

One of the stops on Tour B in El Nido will be Entalula or Papaya Beach. Both are awesome and we hung out at Papaya Beach. It is quite similar to Seven Commando Beach, which you will find on Tour A. Beautiful clear water, a nice sandy beach with a backdrop of coconut trees. 

This is a great stop to relax and chill on the beach with your friends. There aren’t too many activities here other than just hanging out and maybe sipping on a coconut from the local stand. 

We did a beach clean-up at this stop and collected several large bags of trash. El Nido is making great changes but trash on the islands still remains prevalent. I have posted the video of the cleanup below.

SNAKE ISLAND 

Snake Island is an epic spot, one I didn’t even know about until we arrived. So often in El Nido, all of the focus is on lagoons and secret beaches that anything else is almost pushed to the side. Anywhere else in the world and Snake Island would be the number one attraction.

This beautiful island arcs out into a sandbar that connects to the mainland at low tide. This area reminded me of a mini French Polynesia with the steep, green hills as a backdrop to the cerulean blue water. 

Snake Island is one of the most unique spots in El Nido as it connects the mainland to an island at low tide while at low tide it is a sandbar two feet under water. Officially known as Vigan Island, Snake Island has become one of the top locations to visit in El Nido. The island’s name was unofficially changed from Vigan Island to Snake Island due to the unique ‘S’ shape of the sandbar. It’s best to visit at low tide when the sandbar is most exposed and can be explored by foot.

I really enjoyed this spot and flying the drone here was so much fun with something to look at in all directions. Snake Island was a great surprise and not a spot I had seen before so it was great to be exploring something a little different in El Nido on Tour B.

CUDUGNON CAVE

On Tour B there are two caving opportunities. The first cave is Cudugnon Cave, which was actually super cool. The boat parks on the beach and then you crawl through a little hole into a hidden area inside the cliffs.

Here there are amazing rock formations and you can actually keep climbing up pretty high. It was remarkable that this cave exists hidden inside the cliff walls, out of view from passing boats. 

CATHEDRAL CAVE

The second cave was pretty wild. Cathedral Cave was incredible and one of my favorite caves I’ve visited in the Philippines.You jump off the boat and either swim or kayak in. We swam inside despite our guide saying there were snakes. I’m still not sure if he was serious or not!

Inside huge stalagmites and stalactites hang from the roof and grow from the floor. It is mindblowing to look around at the rock formations inside this sea cave. Under the surface, the water has a luminescent glow so definitely bring your snorkel to enjoy this cave.

We explored it all the way to the back where things get quite creepy and gross but it is here that you can see the luminescent glow of the blue water on the walls. Make sure you go all the way to the back of the cave to look back towards the entrance to check that out.

El Nido Island Hopping Tour C

Tour C in El Nido is the second most popular of the island-hopping tours, offering a mix of dramatic limestone formations, pristine beaches, and vibrant snorkeling spots. This tour is perfect for travelers looking to explore El Nido’s hidden treasures, including secluded coves and stunning underwater ecosystems. With stops like the famous Hidden and Secret Beaches, the historical Matinloc Shrine, and the vibrant marine life around Star Beach, Tour C combines adventure, relaxation, and breathtaking scenery.

The El Nido Tour C itinerary is designed for adventurers who love exploring hidden gems and beaches. Here’s what you can typically expect:

• Departure from El Nido Town (7:30 AM)
• Hidden Beach
• Secret Beach
• Matinloc Shrine
• Star Beach
• Helicopter Island
• Lunch Break
• Return to El Nido (around 4:00 PM)

Tour C in El Nido is probably the second-most popular tour behind Tour A. Everyone flocks to Tour A for the big and small lagoons but Tour C has epic snorkeling and a couple of secret beaches!

HELICOPTER ISLAND

The first island on the itinerary of Tour C in El Nido is the famous Helicopter Island. It isn’t hard to figure out how this island earned it’s name with a distinctive helicopter shape, visible from a side profile. It is incredibly busy… always but you can still have a great time here. You can hang out here on the beach or go for a bit of a walk but the best way to explore Helicopter Island is with your snorkel and mask.

When your boat docks walk down towards the left (while facing the island) and then snorkel around the corner. Here you will get away from the crowds and be able to explore some beautiful coral. There are also some unique shelves and rock formations under the cliffs if you go far enough.

MATINLOC SHRINE (OR NEARBY BEACHES)

Matinloc Shrine is a bit of a weird stop on an island hopping tour and it is probably the least impressive thing to do on Tour C. It is essentially an abandoned shrine.

Your captain will likely ask if you do indeed want to visit or just go snorkeling/visit another beach. I believe it costs extra to visit as well. All you do is get off and go look inside the abandoned building. Bit of a waste of time when there are beautiful beaches, reefs, and turtles nearby!

We chose to visit a nearby beach instead (no extra fee) and went snorkeling and exploring. The beauty of the area near Matinloc Shrine is that there are lots of different beaches, coves, and snorkel spots so your captain should be able to pick a  spot that isn’t crazy crowded!

LUNCH SPOT

Our captain took us to an amazing snorkel spot and beach but we just hung out on the boat and ate there. We snorkeled after but there was no need to get out and unpack the food we just ate it straight on the boat. I can’t remember the name of this spot for the life of me but most of the tours will choose lunch at one of a few spots.

HIDDEN BEACH

Hidden Beach is a cool little cove hiding behind the karst limestone cliffs. Your boat will drop you at the entrance and you swim/wade through the water until you make your way into the cove after about 200m. It is usually very crowded in here although it is incredibly beautiful. If this cove was empty it would be one of my favorite places in El Nido but both times it has been full of life jackets and hundreds of people so it is often a bit more manic than magic.

Nonetheless, I’ve always enjoyed sitting on the sand here and admiring the jagged cliffs and the beautiful scenery. 

On my second visit to Hidden Beach, we did a cleanup and carried out 1.5 bags of trash and even swam out with it. It’s great to leave places better than when you found them and added a challenge to our Hidden Beach experience.

SNORKEL SPOT (TURTLES!)

Our final stop of the day was right next to Matinloc Shrine again where our captain told us there was a great reef. He wasn’t wrong and our guides even spotted a couple of turtles for us to swim with. There was a huge drop-off and it was an epic spot for free-diving and getting a closer look at the coral below.

There were some really cool table corals and lots of fish in this area. We were the only tourists enjoying this spot, which is what I liked about Tour C in El Nido. It seemed a bit more flexible than Tour A, which was all about the lagoons. Tour C was a bit easier to change depending on what you were interested in.

El Nido Island Hopping Tour D

El Nido’s Tour D is perfect for those who prefer a more relaxed island-hopping experience, with stunning lagoons, beaches, and scenic views. Here’s a typical itinerary for Tour D:

Morning:

• Pick-up and Departure: Your tour will usually start around 9:00 AM with pick-up from your hotel in El Nido town. Afterward, you’ll board a boat and head toward your first stop.
• Cadlao Lagoon: The first destination on Tour D is Cadlao Lagoon, known for its emerald green waters surrounded by towering limestone cliffs. You’ll have the chance to swim, kayak, or simply enjoy the picturesque surroundings. The lagoon is quieter than some of the more popular spots, making it perfect for a peaceful start to your day.
• Paradise Beach: After spending time at Cadlao Lagoon, your boat will head to Paradise Beach. A tranquil stretch of soft sand with clear waters, this is an ideal spot for a swim, sunbathing, or simply unwinding. It’s one of the quieter beaches in the area, offering a peaceful atmosphere.

WHERE TO STAY IN EL NIDO

• (Value) Spin Designer Hostel: Let’s go for Spin! This rad hostel is located at the bustling town of El Nido. This property is highly recommended by many travelers as the service is superb. Spin Designer Hostel also provides a shared kitchen with a barbecue facility. It is value for money and very close to shops and beach. If you stay here you will make friends with like-minded strangers and be in the prime location for the nightlife, island hopping and hiking Taraw Peak. The beach literally steps away.
• (Most Insta-worthy) Panorama Resort: Panorama Resort is an exotic boutique resort tucked between Corong-Corong Beach and Maremigmeg Beach, is a 3-star property that features a panoramic view of the mountains in El Nido. The resort is very insta-worthy and has a lot of amenities including a private beach, outdoor and indoor swimming pool, and free WiFi. It offers an amazing sunset view and chill vibe to guests.
• (Luxury Resort) Las Cabanas Beach Resort: This incredible beach resort is situated perfectly on the shore of Las Cabanas beach in El Nido. It offers a peaceful sanctuary from the harsh realities of the outside world. The resort is picturesque and provides easy access to island hopping and other activities.  It has rooms with sea and garden views, and the beachfront cottages are single standalone units.

ARE YOU KEEPING UP WITH MY EL NIDO SERIES?

You want to go island-hopping in El Nido but aren’t sure whether TOUR A,B,C or D will be better? Take a look at my El Nido Island Hopping Guide that compares all of the four tours to help you pick the best one for you. One of the best ways to explore Palawan is with Big Dream Boat Man on their 3-night Island-Hopping Tour to avoid the crowds and visit all the best spots between El Nido and Coron. I’ve done it and loved it!

Wondering what there is to do in El Nido? I’ve been twice and spent almost 30 days in El Nido so I’ve got some great recommendations for you in my Travel Guide to El Nido: 20 Awesome Things To Do

Which region will you choose for your accommodation in El Nido? I’ve broken each region down and given you suggestions for budget, value and luxury in El Nido Town, Lio Beach and Las Cabanas Beach in this guide: Where to stay in El Nido or check out my Guide to the 16 Best El Nido Resorts or for some luxury the 13 Best Overwater Bungalows in The Philippines.

Of course, everyone loves the island hopping in El Nido, but it can be hard to figure out which tour is best for you. I’ve done a full review about each tour.

• My review and photos of: Island Hopping Tour A
• My review and photos of: Island Hopping Tour B
• My review and photos of: Island Hopping Tour C
• My review and photos of: Island Hopping Tour D

If you are considering which island to visit in Palawan, here is a helpful Guide Comparing El Nido vs Coron or you can visit El Nido and then take the ferry to Coron.