El Nido Island Hopping: My Honest Review of Island Hopping Tour A (2025)

Since the El Nido island hopping tours are pretty much the biggest highlight in Palawan, I figured I had to write a quick review of the ones I did, along with my honest opinion and experience.

El Nido is one of the most popular places to visit in the Philippines, and the main reason is the incredible scenery. Here I saw some of the most beautiful limestone cliffs, hidden beaches, crystal-clear lagoons, it was basically postcard perfection.

Of course, during my time in El Nido, I had to try a couple of the famous island hopping tours to see what all the fuss was about. In this little travel guide, I’ll give you a full review of Tour A (probably the most popular one of the four: A, B, C, and D), and share exactly what the experience was like as well as some extra tips.

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El Nido Island Hopping: My Honest Review of Island Hopping Tour A (2025)

El Nido Island Hopping – My Experience

On my very first day in El Nido, I jumped straight into one of the famous island hopping tours. I booked it the night before on GetYourGuide and honestly, it was all pretty straightforward.

In the morning, we met up at the beach in El Nido town and were led to our boat and crew for the day. It was a bit chaotic at first, there must’ve been a hundred boats leaving the bay, all doing different tours.

From there, the experience was kind of a rollercoaster in terms of how I felt about it. The boat itself was great, the guides and crew were super friendly, and lunch was surprisingly amazing, probably some of the best Filipino food I had in my entire three months in the Philippines.

I loved all the stops. The beaches, lagoons, snorkeling spots, everything was stunning. It really was beautiful and absolutely worth doing. That’s something I want to be clear about: even if I mention anything negative in this review, I still think this is a must-do experience.

The only thing that threw me off a bit was the sheer amount of tourism. It definitely needs better regulation. There were boats everywhere. At each stop, there were already 20 other boats and hundreds of tourists. The “Secret Lagoon” was packed, and the Big Lagoon was absolutely flooded with kayaks, it was honestly kind of wild.

So just adjust your expectations. This won’t be some serene, untouched adventure. It’s crowded, it’s busy, but the scenery is so ridiculously beautiful that I still had a great time.

Book Here: El Nido Island Hopping Tour A

This is the Exact Island Hopping Tour I Did!

What to Expect at Tour A & Itinerary

Tour A, like most of the island hopping tours in El Nido, takes you around on a traditional Filipino banca (pump boat). The boats are pretty basic with wooden benches, no bathrooms etc, but they do the job.

Most tours include a snorkel mask and a big shared lunch, but weirdly, we had to pay extra to rent a kayak at one of the lagoons. I didn’t love that, because if you don’t get a kayak, you’re basically just sitting on the boat doing nothing. You kind of have to get one, so why not just include it in the price? But anyway.

The guides were lovely and really tried to make sure everyone had a good time, and like I said before, the lunch was seriously some of the best Filipino food I had in my three months in the country.

Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, your swim gear, a towel, sunglasses, a hat, basically anything you’d bring for a full day on a boat and at the beach.

Here’s a rough idea of what the typical Tour A itinerary includes:

Big Lagoon: Iconic blue water, surrounded by limestone cliffs. You’ll likely need to rent a kayak here but we had so much fun paddling around. A little tip from me: Paddle through the canyon until you can turn left, take the turn paddle a little further and on the left hand side there is a really cool cave you can enter on your kayak!
Secret Lagoon: A hidden little pool you access through a narrow rock opening. Not very secret anymore, but still cool. The amount of people inside the ‘Secret Lagoon’ was actually a joke.
Shimizu Island: Great for snorkeling and usually where you’ll stop for lunch. The beach was too busy with other boats so we had lunch on the boat which actually was amazing since afterwards we could jump off the side of the boat and have a little fun diving and jumping in.
Payong-Payong Beach: A nice beach stop, sometimes swapped with other nearby beaches.
Seven Commandos Beach: This is the final stop. It’s a stunning beach with a little beach bar. We bought a couple watermelon juices and we also got some of the banana fritters they sell there and wow, they were actually so tasty.

The two pictures at the bottom are a great example of how busy our tour was, we still had a good time though!

Which El Nido Tour is the Best?

I’m probably not the best person to ask this question, because I didn’t get around to doing Tour B or Tour D. From what I’ve heard (and read), those two tours are generally considered less impressive than Tour A and Tour C, which is exactly why I skipped them. That, and I just didn’t have time to do all four.

The pros and cons are pretty clear. Tour A and Tour C, from my experience, are absolutely stunning when it comes to scenery. The water was glowing in more shades of blue than I even thought possible, and the beaches and limestone cliffs were incredible. It felt unique and special, but also very busy and definitely the most touristy.

Tours B and D are meant to be quieter and more laid-back, but from what I gathered, the islands and stops just aren’t quite as impressive. So that’s the trade-off: less crowds, but also less wow factor.

From my own experience, I’d say Tour A is the best. It really hits all the highlights and has some of the most beautiful spots I saw in the Philippines.

Cost of Island Hopping Tours in El Nido

Honestly, for Southeast Asia, and even compared to other places in the Philippines, I think the value for money here is actually amazing.

The standard tours cost around $25 USD for a full day of island hopping, which includes snorkeling, lunch, and stops at some of the most beautiful beaches, lagoons, and snorkeling spots I’ve ever seen. For that price, it’s kind of a steal.

That said, most tours don’t include the national park fee, which everyone has to pay, plus there’s usually an extra charge if you want to go to the Big Lagoon or rent a kayak.

I know, the pricing structure is a bit annoying and unnecessarily complicated. But from my experience, it’s just easier to go with it rather than stress about every little add-on.

All in, you’ll probably end up spending closer to $35 USD total, which I still think is a decent deal for a full-day tour in a place this beautiful.

FAQs About El Nido Island Hopping Tours

Is El Nido worth visiting?

Absolutely, 100%. Yes, it’s touristy, I’ve said that a few times, but it’s touristy for a reason. It’s honestly one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines. I think it deserves a spot on every Philippines itinerary.

What’s better, El Nido or Siargao?

It really depends on what kind of trip you’re after. If you’re into surfing, laid-back island life, and just relaxing, then Siargao might be more your vibe. But if you’re on a 10–14 day vacation and want to see stunning landscapes, lagoons, and beaches, then El Nido might be the better call.

What’s better: Tour A or Tour C?

Both are 100% worth doing, and I genuinely think you’ll enjoy either one. But if I had to pick just one, I’d probably go with Tour A, the stops were just a bit more iconic.

When is the best time to visit El Nido?

Definitely during the dry season, which runs from December to May. But avoid visiting over public holidays, trust me on this one. I learned the hard way: domestic tourism spikes big time during those dates and everything gets really crowded.

How to get to El Nido, Palawan?

Most people, myself included, fly into Puerto Princesa and then take a van or bus to El Nido. It took me around five hours and honestly wasn’t too bad. That said, you can also fly directly from Manila into El Nido’s small airport if you want to save time (and are okay spending a bit more).

Final Thoughts on El Nido Boat Tours

To sum it up, I definitely think doing the El Nido Island Hopping Tour A is 100% worth it. Yes, it’s busy and yes, it’s full of tourists, but are you really going to skip one of the most beautiful places in the country just because other people are there too? Probably not.

The limestone cliffs, turquoise water, snorkeling, lagoons, beaches, it’s all just paradise. I’d honestly never seen anything quite like it before.

That said, I think the key is adjusting your expectations. Just know going in that it will be busy. And if you expect that from the start, you’ll probably enjoy it way more (unlike me, who may have been slightly shocked by the crowds).