Choosing a tour
El Nido Tour A vs B vs C vs D: which should you choose?
By the El Nido Private Tours team
Updated:
7 min read
Short answer
| Tour | Typical stops | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tour A | Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commando Beach | First visits, lagoon scenery |
| Tour B | Snake Island, Cathedral Cave, Cudugnon Cave, Entalula, Pinagbuyutan | A quieter day, caves and a sandbar |
| Tour C | Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Helicopter Island | Beaches and snorkelling |
| Tour D | Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan, Natnat | A slower pace and calm water |
Tour A: the lagoons
Tour A holds the images most people associate with El Nido. You kayak into Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon (which one depends on the day), slip into the tiny Secret Lagoon, snorkel at Shimizu Island and finish on the long sand of Seven Commando Beach. It is the natural first day.
Tour B: caves and a sandbar
Tour B runs south to Snake Island, a curving sandbar that shows at lower tides, then on to Cathedral Cave, Cudugnon Cave and the beaches of Entalula and Pinagbuyutan. It is usually the least crowded route, and good for a second or third day.
Tour C: hidden beaches
Tour C goes furthest, to Matinloc on the western edge of the bay. Hidden Beach and Secret Beach are reached by swimming through gaps in the rock, the snorkelling is excellent, and Helicopter Island makes a fine last stop. It is also the most weather-dependent route.
Tour D: a slower day near town
Tour D stays close to town around Cadlao. It is built around the calm water of Cadlao Lagoon and soft beaches like Paradise Beach, Pasandigan and Natnat. Short crossings make it gentle for young children.
Which tours for how many days
| Days on the water | Suggested tours |
|---|---|
| One | Tour A, or a private A + C combination |
| Two | Tour A, then Tour C |
| Three | A and C, plus B for caves or D for a gentler day |
| Four | All four, with a rest day between if you can |
How a private boat changes the choice
On a shared tour you pick a letter and follow its schedule. On a private boat the letters become a starting point: you can combine favourite stops, start earlier, or spend the afternoon at the one beach you loved. That is why combination days like Tour A + C only really work privately.
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