FROM MY TRAVELS
El Nido: lagoons and island hopping
Last updated: October 2026
Messy hair, don't care was my El Nido caption. The boat and limestone cliffs were doing a much better job of explaining the trip than my hair anyway.
Route overview
Stops are approximate. Dashed lines show the order, not the roads. Optional stops are swaps, not extras.
Select a stop below to locate it. Drag to pan; use the controls or arrow keys to explore.
Before you go
- Carry Philippine pesos for small restaurants, tricycles and local fees. Cards are useful at some hotels and larger businesses, but keep a cash backup for El Nido.
- Agree tricycle or private-transfer fares and the return arrangement before leaving. Island-hopping transport is a separate booking from town travel.
- Confirm whether you fly into El Nido or arrive overland from Puerto Princesa; the onward journey is very different.
- English is widely useful. Save accommodation and pier details offline; ‘salamat’ means thank you.
- Use a registered local SIM or compatible eSIM and check the provider’s visitor requirements. Island and boat coverage can be intermittent.
- Keep the final night ashore before a flight where possible. Weather and boat schedules should not decide whether you reach the airport on time.
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A route for your visit
Times are rough. Allow extra time for getting there, leaving and transfers.
Day 1 · Arrive and organise the boat day
Get all the way to the accommodation, have something to eat and confirm tomorrow's meeting point, inclusions and current operating conditions before settling in for the night. Ask whether pickup is included or if you need to get to a separate departure point. Keep the arrival afternoon free of a boat booking that depends on the flight or road transfer being punctual. A short local walk and dinner are enough once the practical pieces are sorted.
Day 2 · Book for the actual stops
Ask specifically whether Big Lagoon is on the booked route and what its permit, entry and kayak arrangements include. Seven Commandos Beach is a different kind of stop. You get time on the sand instead of paddling between limestone walls. Nacpan Beach is the separate road outing for a spare land day; a tour letter alone doesn’t tell you which of these you will actually visit.
Big Lagoon’s enclosed limestone walls make the water feel different from the open sea outside. Use the full visit time. Every boat stop is different, so don’t treat them all as the same swim.
Nacpan’s broad beach offers a land-based contrast to the lagoon day. Only add it if you have time to enjoy the coast and get back.
Compare El Nido island-hopping options by the actual lagoons and beaches, then confirm fees and the meeting point with the operator.
Day 2 · Leave the rest of the day to the water
Keep the full outing free of a second timed booking. Transfers, boarding, lunch arrangements and the return to town all take time beyond the swimming stops. Follow the crew's safety and site-access instructions, and protect cameras from spray. Finish with dinner near your base. No long drive after the boat gets back.
Day 3 · A beach outing needs a real spare window
Nacpan is an optional land day, not a quick stop automatically attached to departure. Arrange both directions and check how the trip fits luggage collection and the onward journey. If the transfer is early, stay near your base for breakfast and leave. An extra night gives Nacpan its own day and also creates flexibility if the boat trip needs to move because of sea conditions.
What to budget
Prices checked September 2026. These are for the named ticket or service. Check your date and what’s included before you pay.
- Eco-Tourism Development Fee: PHP 400 — Municipal visitor fee; ask the operator to itemise the boat tour, lagoon permits, kayak and other equipment separately. Keep the receipt. Price source
Budget PHP 200–500 per person for a simple meal. That’s a rough guide. Drinks and nicer restaurants cost more. Price transfers separately, especially private drivers, boats and airport trips.
A few photo tips
- In the lagoon, photograph from a stable boat or permitted kayak position, protecting the camera and keeping clear of other paddlers.
- At Nacpan, use the broad curve of the public beach in softer late light, with the return arranged before dark.
If the weather changes
Follow coastguard and operator cancellations, and stay ashore for a town meal or rest day; leave flexibility in the onward transfer.
The final day and your flight
Morning flight: stay within reach of El Nido Airport, or Puerto Princesa if that is your booking the night before, then keep the morning for checkout and the transfer. Allow for the airline’s check-in time as well as the trip.
Afternoon flight: check the actual airport before planning anything: Puerto Princesa requires a substantial road transfer, and even a local flight should not follow a tightly timed island tour. Work out the transfer and bag pickup time before deciding when to finish.
Booking checks
Confirm permits, environmental fees, kayak rental, passenger numbers and weather cancellation terms with the operator. Named tour letters are not sufficient: read the actual stops and inclusions. Keep off coral and follow the crew’s instructions at each stop.
Visitor information and official links
Useful booking links (optional)
Connected, from arrival.
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