Island Hopping Tour A

Tour A is the El Nido classic — five stops on a full-day boat trip covering Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and 7 Commando Beach. It's the tour most first-time visitors do, and for good reason.

Boats leave around 9 AM and return around 4 PM. Lunch (usually fish, rice, fruit) is grilled on one of the beaches. The cost is typically PHP 1,400-2,200 per person depending on the operator.

The downside: Tour A's popularity means crowds at every stop. Big Lagoon at midday can have 20+ boats. Choosing a smaller operator that starts an hour earlier than competitors dramatically improves the experience.

If you have time, do Tour C the next day — Hidden Beach and the Matinloc Shrine are visually different from Tour A's lagoons and the combination gives you the full El Nido visual range. Many shops sell discounted Tour A+C packages.