El Nido: Secret Lagoon Island Hopping with Lunch

Bring a wet bag for this island-hopping day. For $34, you get a six-hour boat trip through some of El Nido’s most famous scenery, with Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commandos Beach on the plan. A licensed English-speaking guide, boat transfers, life vest, and picnic lunch are included, which makes the price attractive.

I like the mix of postcard views and water time, especially the limestone cliffs around Big Lagoon and the coral areas near Shimizu Island. I also like that lunch is handled on one of the islands, so you can spend less time sorting out food and more time enjoying the coast. The main catch is practical: you may wade waist-deep to reach the boat or step into the water at some stops, and the popular sites can be busy.

Key points to know before you book

• Big Lagoon may require extra fees and a kayak: Entry costs Php 200, and kayak rental is separate if you want to paddle through the lagoon.
• The Secret Lagoon is not truly secluded: Its narrow entrance and cliffs are striking, but you should expect other groups at this well-known stop.
• Snorkeling gear is not included: Bring or arrange your own mask, snorkel, and flippers.
• The $34 price is not the final cost: Add the Php 400 environmental fee and Php 200 Big Lagoon entry fee per person.
• Boat access can mean wading: A life vest is provided, but comfortable water entry is important for this outing.
• Big Lagoon access is controlled: If tickets are no longer available, the crew will take you to another location.

Why this six-hour boat trip is worth considering

El Nido is famous for its tall limestone walls, clear water, and small beaches scattered around Bacuit Bay. This tour gives you a compact way to see several of those sights without arranging separate boats, meals, and guides.

The route has a good rhythm. You begin with a dramatic lagoon, move into snorkeling time, visit the unusual Secret Lagoon, and finish with a broad white-sand beach. That variety matters. You are not spending the whole day looking at cliffs from a boat, and you are not spending every stop trying to swim.

At $34 per person, the included boat transport and lunch make the outing good value. Still, think of the advertised price as the starting point. The El Nido environmental fee is Php 400 per person, and Big Lagoon entry adds Php 200. Kayaks, mask and snorkel sets, flippers, water shoes, and hotel transfers cost extra or must be arranged separately.

The route begins and ends at either Jarace Grill or Marber’s Restaurant, depending on the option you select. Both are downtown meeting points, so you need to reach the departure location yourself. This is not a hotel pickup service.

Big Lagoon and its towering limestone walls

Big Lagoon is the visual centerpiece of the day. The boat enters a calm stretch of water framed by steep limestone cliffs, giving you the classic El Nido scene seen in many photographs.

You can take a guided look around the lagoon, swim, or rent a kayak to paddle farther through the quiet water. Kayaking gives you more control over your pace and lets you get a closer view of the cliff walls, but it can be tiring. One visitor found the kayaking fun yet hard because he was doing all the paddling alone.

That is useful advice if you are traveling with someone who may not paddle. The kayak fee is not included, and a solo paddler should expect some physical effort. If you prefer an easier morning, staying with the boat and taking in the views may suit you better.

Big Lagoon access is limited. The local authorities may stop selling or assigning entry during busy periods. If that happens, the tour substitutes another location, so do not book this outing solely for a guaranteed visit to Big Lagoon.

The Php 200 entry fee is collected on site. Ask for clear instructions from the crew, and keep your environmental-fee QR code ready before departure. You cannot board without proof that the environmental fee has been paid.

Shimizu Island brings the first snorkeling stop

Shimizu Island shifts the focus from cliffs to the water below. It is used as a snorkeling stop, with coral areas and tropical fish close to the island.

Your guide leads the visit, but the tour does not include masks, snorkels, or flippers. That is one of the most important details to sort out before leaving. If you already own snorkeling equipment, pack it. Otherwise, ask in advance where you can rent or buy what you need.

The supplied life vest is useful even for confident swimmers. It gives you support while you look down at the reef and helps conserve energy in open water. If you are not a strong swimmer, tell the guide before entering the water and stay within the area that feels comfortable.

The snorkeling is a major part of the tour’s appeal, but conditions can vary. Water visibility, waves, and the number of boats can affect how peaceful the stop feels. The promise here is access to coral gardens and fish, not a private reef session.

A second snorkeling area adds more water time

After Shimizu Island, the boat visits another snorkeling location. The supplied details do not name this spot, but the goal is clear: more time around coral, tropical fish, and the chance to see a sea turtle.

This second stop gives the day better value for people who enjoy being in the water. You have another chance to see marine life even if the first site is crowded or the visibility is less than ideal.

Keep your phone and camera protected. You may need to wade through the water when leaving the boat, and equipment left in an ordinary bag can quickly get soaked. A waterproof pouch or dry bag is a smart purchase before the tour, especially if you want photos from the beaches and lagoons.

Do not assume that the boat’s life vests replace personal snorkeling equipment. The included vest is listed separately from masks, snorkels, and flippers, all of which are excluded.

Entering Secret Lagoon through the rock

Secret Lagoon is the day’s most playful stop. A small opening in the limestone leads into a contained lagoon surrounded by rock walls. Reaching the entrance and getting through it gives the visit more character than simply stepping off at a beach.

The space is compact, and the entrance can require care. You may need to enter the water from the boat and move through the opening with other people. The life vest helps, but this is not the easiest part of the route for anyone with limited mobility.

The name can set the wrong expectation. Secret Lagoon is scenic, but it is a popular stop rather than a private hideaway. You will likely share the entrance and lagoon with other groups. Go for the unusual rock passage and enclosed setting, not for complete quiet.

That distinction is important across El Nido. The famous stops are famous because they are beautiful, so other boats come for the same reason. A busy visit does not erase the scenery, but it changes the mood from solitary escape to shared sightseeing.

Seven Commandos Beach is the relaxed finale

Seven Commandos Beach offers a gentler finish after the lagoon and snorkeling stops. Its white sand, coconut trees, and open shoreline give you room to swim, relax, or play beach volleyball.

This is a useful final stop because it lets you choose your own pace. You can cool off in the water, stretch out on the sand, or simply enjoy the view without a required activity. If you are tired from kayaking or snorkeling, the beach is an easy place to slow down.

The shore can still be physically demanding for some people. One older participant found getting to the shore and eating there challenging. That is a reminder to consider the boat-to-beach transfer, uneven entry, and time spent standing or wading.

Bring comfortable clothing that dries reasonably well, and pack water-friendly footwear if you have it. Water shoes are not included, but they can help with rocky or shallow entries. The tour information says comfortable clothes are required, and that advice is more useful here than dressing for a normal land excursion.

Lunch on an island, with a few practical limits

A picnic lunch is included and served on one of the islands. This keeps the schedule moving and gives you a chance to eat in the setting you came to see.

Do not expect a long restaurant meal with extensive choices. The supplied information describes a picnic lunch and local flavors, so the meal is best viewed as convenient fuel between stops. If you have dietary needs, confirm them before booking because no special meal details are provided.

Eating at the shore can be awkward if you are older, have balance problems, or dislike getting wet before a meal. You may be moving between boat, beach, and table areas, so keep your belongings in a waterproof bag and avoid bringing anything you cannot risk damaging.

Boat transfers, meeting points, and timing

The tour lasts six hours, though the exact start time depends on availability. It starts at either Jarace Grill or Marber’s Restaurant and returns to one of those same downtown locations.

Hotel transfers are not included. Plan enough time to reach the correct restaurant and confirm which starting point applies to your booking. The meeting point can vary with the option selected, so do not rely on a single location without checking.

The tour is offered with a live English-speaking guide. A private group option is also available, although the supplied details do not state the private-group price or size. If a quieter, more personal pace matters to you, ask for those details before paying.

Boat travel makes the day efficient, but it also means you are tied to the group’s schedule. You cannot decide to stay an extra hour at Seven Commandos Beach or skip a snorkeling stop without affecting the route. That structure works well if you want several major sights in one morning and afternoon, less so if you prefer an unhurried beach day.

The real cost of the $34 outing

The base price is attractive because it includes the main pieces that are expensive or inconvenient to arrange separately: boat transport, a licensed guide, lunch, and life vests.

Budget for these additional charges:

• El Nido environmental fee: Php 400 per person
• Big Lagoon entry: Php 200 per person
• Kayak rental at Big Lagoon
• Mask and snorkel rental, if needed
• Flippers, if needed
• Water shoes, if needed
• Transport to and from the downtown meeting point

At the published price, the tour is strongest for someone who wants a simple, organized day and does not need private transport. It is less of a bargain if you must rent every piece of water equipment and pay for several people’s extra fees.

The flexible booking terms help. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and reserve now while paying later. Still, treat the environmental-fee requirement seriously. You must arrange that fee in advance through the transport terminal, hotel, or municipal hall, keep the QR code, and show it before boarding.

Who should book this El Nido tour?

I would choose this tour if you want the classic El Nido combination: dramatic cliffs, lagoon water, snorkeling, a small beach, and lunch in one six-hour outing.

It suits:

• First-time visitors with limited time
• Couples and friends who want a mix of swimming and sightseeing
• People who prefer a guide and arranged boat transport
• Swimmers who are comfortable entering the water from a boat
• Visitors who value several stops more than a slow beach day

I would think twice if you have limited mobility, dislike wading, or need a fully dry and easy route from boat to shore. The tour is specifically not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and the boat-to-water transfers are a real part of the day.

I would also avoid booking it without planning for equipment. The tour description emphasizes snorkeling, but the mask, snorkel, and flippers are not included. That mismatch is easy to overlook.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a well-priced introduction to El Nido’s famous island scenery and you are comfortable with wet transfers, shared stops, and extra site fees. The highly praised parts are the beautiful locations and helpful boat crew, while the main complaints are not about the scenery but about the physical access and the lack of advance warning about wading.

Bring a waterproof bag, confirm your meeting point, arrange the environmental fee, and decide in advance how you will handle snorkeling gear and the Big Lagoon kayak. With those details sorted, the day gives you a lot for the money.

FAQ

How long does the El Nido Secret Lagoon island-hopping tour last?

The tour lasts six hours. Starting times depend on availability.

What locations does the tour visit?

The planned stops are Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon, and Seven Commandos Beach. Big Lagoon may be replaced by another location if entry is no longer available.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic lunch is included and served on one of the islands.

Are snorkeling masks and flippers included?

No. Masks, snorkels, and flippers are not included. You need to bring or arrange them separately.

Do I need to pay extra to enter Big Lagoon?

Yes. Big Lagoon entry costs Php 200 per person and is collected on site. Kayak rental is also separate.

What environmental fee must I pay?

The El Nido Environmental Fee is Php 400 per person. You must arrange it through the transport terminal, hotel, or municipal hall and keep the QR code for verification before boarding.

Are hotel transfers included?

No. You must make your own way to the assigned meeting point at Jarace Grill or Marber’s Restaurant in downtown El Nido.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. You may need to wade through the water to reach the boat or enter and leave the boat at some stops.