adventureFull day (7-8 hours)
Tour A: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon & Shimizu Island
The most popular island-hopping route in El Nido, Tour A takes you through the iconic Big Lagoon - a vast emerald-green pool enclosed by towering limestone walls - and the intimate Small Lagoon, accessible by kayaking through a narrow gap in the rock. The tour includes snorkelling at Shimizu Island and a visit to Secret Lagoon, a hidden tidal pool behind a beach. Lunch is included.
adventureFull day (7-8 hours)
Tour C: Hidden Beach, Secret Beach & Matinloc Shrine
Tour C is considered the most scenic of El Nido's four routes, visiting Hidden Beach (a helicopter-shaped cove on Matinloc Island), Secret Beach (accessible only by swimming through a hole in a limestone wall), and the abandoned Matinloc Shrine - a concrete chapel built on a cliff face in the 1980s. The tour also stops at Helicopter Island for snorkelling and Star Beach.
adventure2-3 hours
Kayaking Through the Big and Small Lagoons
Rent a kayak at the Big Lagoon entrance and paddle through the narrow limestone corridors connecting the Big and Small Lagoons of Miniloc Island. The calm, crystal-clear water inside the lagoons reveals coral gardens, schools of tropical fish, and occasional sea turtles below. The Small Lagoon is enclosed almost entirely by sheer cliff walls, creating one of the most dramatic natural amphitheatres in the Philippines.
adventureFull day (7-8 hours)
Tour B: Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan Island & Cathedral Cave
Tour B focuses on beaches and caves, visiting Snake Island (named for the S-shaped sandbar connecting it to the mainland at low tide), the pristine shores of Pinagbuyutan Island, and the enormous Cathedral Cave with its soaring interior. This tour tends to be less crowded than Tour A, making it a good option for travellers seeking a quieter experience.
adventureFull day (7-8 hours)
Tour D: Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Beach & Nat-Nat Beach
The least-visited of the four standard tours, Tour D explores the waters around Cadlao Island - the largest in the Bacuit Archipelago. Highlights include Cadlao Lagoon (a secluded swimming spot ringed by mangroves and karst), Pasandigan Beach with its waterfall during the rainy season, and the remote Nat-Nat Beach. Tour D appeals to repeat visitors who have already completed the other routes.
adventure2-3 hours (round trip)
Taraw Cliff Climb
A challenging scramble up razor-sharp limestone to the summit of Taraw Cliff, the dramatic karst peak that towers behind El Nido town. The climb has no safety rails or maintained path - you pull yourself up using exposed rock, tree roots, and rope sections. The reward is an unobstructed 360-degree panorama of the Bacuit Archipelago, Cadlao Island, and the surrounding islands. A local guide is mandatory.
beachHalf day to full day
Nacpan Beach Day Trip
A visit to Nacpan Beach, a 4-kilometre stretch of golden sand about 45 minutes north of El Nido town. Nacpan is consistently rated among the Philippines' most beautiful beaches - far quieter than the town beach, with coconut palms, warm shallow water, and local vendors selling fresh coconut and grilled seafood. At the far end, the twin beaches of Nacpan and Calitang meet at a sandy peninsula with views in both directions.
adventure1-2 hours (as part of Tour C)
Swimming Through Secret Beach
Secret Beach on Matinloc Island is one of El Nido's most extraordinary natural sites - a hidden cove accessible only by swimming through a small opening in a limestone wall. Inside, you emerge into a sheltered lagoon with a tiny beach, towering karst walls on all sides, and crystal-clear water. The swim through is short (about 3 metres) but requires confidence in the water. Usually visited as part of Tour C.
adventureHalf day (2 dives)
Scuba Diving in Bacuit Bay
El Nido offers world-class diving with over 30 dive sites in and around the Bacuit Archipelago. Popular spots include South Miniloc (a wall dive with sea fans and turtles), Dilumacad Island (a tunnel dive through a limestone passage), and North Rock (a pinnacle attracting barracuda and jacks). Visibility ranges from 10-30 metres depending on the season. Multiple PADI dive shops in town offer courses from Open Water to advanced specialties.
adventure5-6 hours (round trip including boat transfer)
Cadlao Island Summit Trek
A challenging half-day hike to the summit of Cadlao Island, the largest island in the Bacuit Archipelago, through virgin tropical forest with no maintained trail. The trek passes through dense jungle, across rocky ridgelines, and up steep inclines before reaching the peak at approximately 600 metres. Views from the top encompass the entire archipelago and the open South China Sea beyond. A local guide is essential.
nature1.5-2 hours
Sunset Kayaking at Corong-Corong Beach
Paddle a kayak from Corong-Corong Beach as the sun sets behind Cadlao Island and the limestone formations of the Bacuit Archipelago, painting the sky and water in shades of orange, pink, and purple. Corong-Corong faces due west, making it one of the best sunset vantage points in El Nido. Several operators offer guided sunset kayaking tours that include a beachside drink upon return.
nature2-3 hours (evening)
Bioluminescent Plankton Night Tour
A night excursion to lagoons and bays where seasonal bioluminescent dinoflagellates emit blue-green light when disturbed by movement in the water. The phenomenon is best observed from March to June on darker nights (no full moon). Tours typically involve night kayaking or swimming in designated areas. Sightings are not guaranteed as they depend on water conditions and plankton populations, but when they occur, the experience is unforgettable.
