El Nido lagoons feel like a moving postcard. This whole-day island hopping route strings together the classic sights, from Big Lagoon to Shimizu Island and Payong-Payong Beach. You get a mix of calm lagoons, dramatic limestone, and swim time built into a tight boat schedule.

Two things I really like: the licensed tour guide and the included picnic-style lunch with drinking water. And you’re not going in blind either, because the day’s stops are clearly structured and the team hands out a vest for the ride.

One thing to consider: this is a shared, joiner format with up to 25 people, so you may run into crowds at the most popular water spots, and some key fees are not included.

Key Highlights You’ll Care About

• Big Lagoon first for the widest view and the best chance at clear photos
• Secret Lagoon for a shorter, calmer stop inside rock formations
• Seven Commando Beach with real hang-time on white sand and turquoise water
• Shimizu Island snorkeling focus at a spot described as best for snorkeling
• Price value with essentials included like boat transfer, lunch, guide, and vests
• Bring a plan for extra fees since lagoon and eco fees are not included

A 7-Hour Island Hopping Day That Packs the Classics

This is a full day on the water, roughly 9:00am to 4:00pm once you get moving. Pickup typically lands in the 8:30am to 9:00am window, then the boat run handles the rest.

What makes this route work is the mix. You spend time in big, showy water like Big Lagoon, then you get smaller, more tucked-away scenery at Secret Lagoon. After that, the day swings to beach time, with longer stretches at Seven Commando Beach and short but scenic swims at Shimizu Island and Payong-Payong Beach.

It also helps that you’re not doing a private, slow-and-luxury style day. This is built to keep the schedule moving, so you see a lot without feeling like you’re stuck on the boat the whole time.

Price and What You Actually Get for $23.50

At $23.50 per person, the headline price is hard to beat, especially because you’re not just paying for a boat. The tour includes boat transfer, a picnic-style lunch with drinking water, a licensed tour guide, and a vest. There’s also free pickup within town proper, plus a mobile ticket.

Now the important part: the price does not cover lagoon fees. You’ll need to plan extra money for lagoon fee and eco tourism development fee, and those costs can change your final “out the door” total.

Also note what you may pay for separately. Snorkeling gears are not included, and towels are explicitly a bring-your-own item. Kayak and aqua shoes can be rented optionally, which is a nice add-on if your feet or your hands need help during the day.

One more logistics detail that hits your budget, even if it’s not a fee: the tour ends back at the meeting point, not at your hotel. So you’ll want a plan for getting home after the ride.

Meet Point, Pickup Timing, and How to Plan Your Return

The day starts with a clear meeting setup. You meet at Meet Up Point Cafe Elena Suites, 1st Floor, Bgy. Corong-Corong, El Nido. The activity start time is listed as 8:00am, but pickup commonly happens between 8:30am and 9:00am, at least within town proper.

That pickup offer is one of the practical perks here. If you’re staying in the town area, it lowers the friction, and you do not have to figure out an early transfer on your own.

The biggest “plan ahead” point is the end of the tour. After the island hopping, there is no drop off to your hotel. Instead, it ends back at the meeting point. I treat this like a mini mission: I line up how I’ll get back before I even board the boat.

Big Lagoon: Best Views, Shallow Entrance, and the Fee Factor

Big Lagoon is the stop most people remember, and it’s easy to see why. You get around two hours there, with the lagoon described as having a giant dotted water view framed by dark limestone cliffs. The water entrance is shallow, and the color shift matters: it signals where the deeper areas are.

Two hours is a good length. Long enough to swim, pause for photos, and still have time if the group moves a bit slowly. It also means you’re not forced to rush at the first stop of the day, which helps when you’re sharing the tour with up to 25 people.

One practical caution: admission ticket is not included for Big Lagoon. So if you want to keep your day smooth, have cash ready or ask ahead what’s needed for the lagoon fee.

Also, expect the water and scenery to be the main draw. This is not the kind of stop where you’re hunting for a long walk. It’s about staying in the lagoon, watching the cliffs, and making the most of your swim time.

Secret Lagoon: A Short Stop With Big Rock Drama

Secret Lagoon is shorter at about one hour. The appeal is the setting: it’s described as a small pool of water hidden within impressive rock formations.

This is the stop that often feels most special because it’s more enclosed than the larger lagoons. Even if you’re not into rocks as a hobby, you can appreciate the way the formations frame the water.

Because the timing is tight, I treat Secret Lagoon like a “get in, enjoy, get out” moment. You’ll want to be ready when your group is called, and you’ll want to have your swim basics handled quickly.

The fee part is also different here. Secret Lagoon lists admission as free, which helps keep your extra costs focused on the stops that charge lagoon fees.

Seven Commando Beach: Real Beach Time and Limestone With Coconut Trees

Seven Commando Beach gives you the most stretch of beach time after Big Lagoon, with two hours allocated. The description is classic El Nido: white sands, turquoise waters, dramatic limestone, and coconut trees.

That blend matters. The limestone gives you the photo backdrop. The sand and water give you the actual downtime. And the coconut trees add shade and a bit of that postcard beach feeling that many tours promise but do not deliver.

What I like about this stop is the pacing balance. After lagoons, it feels like a reset. You can move around more freely, take a breather, and get away from the “boat to water to boat” rhythm.

Admission is listed as free here, so you’re mainly paying for time on the sand and a chance to soak up the beach atmosphere without extra entry hassles.

Shimizu Island for Snorkeling-Friendly Water and Tall Dark Limestone

Next comes Shimizu Island. In the description, it’s called out as tall and black limestone, and it’s labeled as best for a snorkeling spot. There’s also a beach component, described as beautiful with crystal clear water, with about one hour here.

This is the stop where your gear situation matters most, because snorkeling gears are listed as not included. If you snorkel, plan around that. If you don’t, the clear water and the scenic beach can still be the main payoff.

One hour is not a lot, but it’s enough for a try if you’re prepared. I like this structure because it keeps the day from ballooning into a long underwater session where you lose track of everything else.

Also, admission is free at this stop, which is good. The main “cost” here is your attention. Go in ready, keep things simple, and make the most of that one hour.

Payong-Payong Beach: Miniloc White Sand and Rock Walls Around the Water

Payong-Payong Beach is one hour and is described as one of the picturesque white sand beaches on Miniloc Island. The detail I’d bookmark is the setting, the small beach surrounded by mountain rock formations.

This kind of “rock around the beach” scene is why El Nido looks so different from other Philippine coastlines. The rocks create a sense of enclosure, and that can make the water feel calmer and more scenic.

It’s not the longest stop, but it’s well matched to a day that already includes longer blocks at Big Lagoon and Seven Commando Beach. Think of it as your payoff beach for the final stretch, somewhere you can lie back, walk the shoreline, and enjoy the water.

Admission is listed as free here, so again, your extra costs are more about earlier lagoon fees than about this finish.

Included Lunch, Vests, and Why the Guide Matters

You’re fed, which sounds small until you’re on a full-day boat tour. The tour includes a picnic-style lunch with drinking water. I value that because it removes a whole decision, where to eat, what to pay, and how long it takes.

You also get a vest. That’s included, so you’re not hunting for rental items that pop up on a later page.

The tour is led by a licensed tour guide, and the overall impression from the experience is that the crew is friendly and helpful. That matters more than people think. When you’re in a shared setup, the guide is the one who keeps the group moving, answers questions, and helps you feel confident when you’re waiting at the next boat or stop.

In a day where everything is scheduled, a calm, clear guide can be the difference between you having fun or you being annoyed.

Small-Group Reality: Shared Tour Energy and How to Enjoy It

Even though the tour caps at 25 travelers, it is still a joiner tour, meaning it’s not private. That’s why you can feel the crowd at the most popular water points.

Here’s how I handle this kind of day. First, I accept that the scenery will be shared. You’re not going for solitude. You’re going for variety, and you’re going for timing.

Second, I use the stop lengths to my advantage. Two-hour lagoons and beach blocks are enough to get your moment without being stuck behind the same group the whole time. Short stops like Secret Lagoon and Payong-Payong Beach move fast, so you’ll want to keep your expectations simple, enjoy what’s in front of you, and then shift focus quickly.

Third, I go with a flexible mood. The best view does not always mean the best timing for your photos, and that’s okay. Your job is to enjoy the water and not stage-manage every minute.

Budget for Lagoon Fees, Eco Fees, and Optional Rentals

Some of the most important money details are straightforward.

Not included:

• lagoon fee
• eco tourism development fee
• snorkeling gears
• towel (bring your own)
• kayak (optional rental mentioned, so not part of the base)

Optional:

• rental aqua shoes
• rental kayak

So, your “true cost” isn’t just the $23.50. It’s the base price plus lagoon-related fees plus whatever comfort rentals you choose to make the day easier.

If you get aqua shoes, it’s usually about comfort during the boat-to-water parts and time on the sand. If you want a kayak, treat it as an add-on rather than a guaranteed part of the route.

And keep one weather note in mind. The experience requires good weather, so conditions can affect whether you’ll sail that day. If weather forces a change, you’re offered a different date or a full refund.

Should You Book This El Nido Island Hopping Tour?

I’d book this if you want the core El Nido highlights in one organized, full-day format, and you like the idea of a small-group tour without paying private-tour prices. The value is strong because the essentials are included: boat transfer, guide, lunch, and vests.

I’d think twice if you hate crowds and you need your beach time to be quiet. It’s a shared day, and the big lagoons can feel busy. I’d also plan carefully if you strongly prefer everything included, because lagoon and eco fees are not part of the base rate, and snorkeling gear and towels are your responsibility.

If you’re flexible, you come prepared for the add-on fees, and you’re happy to follow a tight boat schedule, this is a smart way to spend a day in El Nido. You’ll leave with that mix of lagoon views and beach time that makes island hopping worth the effort.

FAQ

What is the duration of the El Nido island hopping tour?

The tour runs for about 7 hours (approx.).

What time does pickup and the island hopping start?

Pickup time is listed as 8:30am to 9:00am (free pick up within town proper). The island hopping tour runs from about 9:00am to 4:00pm.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at Meet Up Point Cafe Elena Suites, 1st Floor, Bgy. Corong-Corong, El Nido, 5313 Palawan, Philippines.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The tour includes a picnic-style lunch with drinking water.

Are lagoon fees included in the price?

No. Lagoon fee and eco tourism development fee are not included.

Is snorkeling gear or a towel included?

Snorkeling gears are not included, and you should bring your own towel. Kayak and towel are also not listed as included.

Does the tour drop you back at your hotel?

No. After the tour, there is no drop off to your hotel. It ends back at the meeting point.