Båtturer i El Nido - sagolika öar i Palawan, Filippinerna

When visiting Palawan in the Philippines, you don't want to miss out on boat tours in El Nido. The beach in El Nido is home to a wide range of boat tours, and island hopping is perhaps one of the most popular things you can do here.

Table of contents

Making boat trips in El Nido

El Nido is beautiful in its own right, with long, sandy beaches, dramatic mountains and plenty of charming cafes and restaurants. However, the most popular thing here is the boat trips. Around El Nido is a stunning archipelago filled with beautiful islands, dramatic mountains and mysterious lagoons. The fabulous landscape reminds us of Halong Bay in Vietnam or Guilin in China, or perhaps even more about the fantasy film Avatar.

El Nido is located on the northwestern part of the long, narrow island of Palawan in the Philippines. Beyond is the South China Sea, with distant neighbours around it such as Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and China.

Various boat trips in El Nido

There are several different boat tours in El Nido to choose from. For example, it's possible to rent a canoe, go on a speedboat or go on multi-day boat trips, which we met others who had done and were excited about. If you want to do a multi-day tour, you can book via Big Dream Boatman, which offers 3-4 day excursions around El Nido and Coron.

Another option is to take an island hopping day trip, which involves travelling on a Philippine boat for a full day, with five stops at different islands.

Båtturer i El Nido — One of the tour boats for "island hopping", which we travelled on one of the days.

There are four different day tours to choose from, and these four are sold just about everywhere. You can book them at the hotel where you're staying or with one of the many tour vendors - who can be found on just about every street in the centre of El Nido.

Below you can see the tours and which islands, beaches or lagoons are included in each tour. However, you can't be sure that it will be exactly what it says. During virtually every tour, the tour guides replaced some excursion destination with something else, because it may be too crowded with tourists somewhere, or for some other reason. Regardless, it was good and nice every time!

TOUR A - LAGOON & BEACHES

Secret Lagoon
Big Lagoon
Shimizu Island
7 Commando
Payong Payong

Tour b - Caves & coves

Entatula
Cadognon Cave
Cathedral Cave
Snake Island
Pinagbuyutan Island

Tour C - Hidden Beach & Shrine

Secret Beach
Hidden Beach
Matinloc Shrine
Talisay Island
Helicopter Island

Tour D - Beaches & Islands

Small Lagoon
Nat-Nat Beach
Cadlao Lagoon
Pasandigan Cove
Paradise Beach

Båtturer i El Nido - Helicopter Island — Helicopter Island, which is included in one of the tours.

Boat trips in El Nido - how it works

We went on a total of three of the four tours (A, C and D), so now we can say we know how this works. Each tour offers different islands and views, but the layout is pretty much the same no matter which tour you book.

In the morning, at around 8:30am, you will be met at the booking office or picked up at the hotel, depending on what has been agreed. Then you have to expect that, in the relaxed Filipino way, it may take another hour before you can leave. In the meantime, you can rent snorkels and cyclops, if you don't have them with you. Then it's time to board the boat and hit the road!

The beach in El Nido, where the tours start

Helena och Peter FREEDOMtravel — On board one of the excursion boats

It is possible to book a private tour, which is of course more expensive, but otherwise you are travelling with a group of other tourists. The latter is not only more budget-friendly, but can also be very nice. We were joined on all three tours by a very nice South African couple, and now we are invited to visit them in South Africa next winter!

Kanottur — Henri and Michelle from South Africa joined us on all three tours.

In addition to the South Africans, we were joined by tourists from the USA, Morocco, Germany, France, Sweden, Russia, Tajikistan and the Philippines.

Also on board the boat are the captain, tour guide and cooks, who are responsible for preparing the day's lunch. Given the tiny, and very basic, kitchens on board, we have to say that the lunches were impressive! They brought tables and set up buffets with grilled fish, shrimp, crab, mussels, squid, chicken, pork, vegetables, rice, noodles and fresh fruit.

The lunches are not only delicious and beautifully presented, but they are also served in beautiful locations.

In addition, it is good to know that all tours include the possibility of snorkelling, so it is good to bring a snorkel, cyclops and swimming shoes, as there are plenty of sharp rocks and corals.

Snorkling — Peter rented a snorkel and cyclops

All the tours we were on also included the possibility of renting a canoe, which is sometimes a prerequisite for seeing the most beautiful places. Here and there, both on islands and in canoes, you also meet vendors with cold drinks, ice cream and coconuts. Some cash is therefore good to have with you!

Secret Lagoon

We can't show photos from every place we visited, so we'll pick a few places that stood out. Secret Lagoon is a stunningly beautiful place with a fine sandy beach and towering rock formations. Here you can jump in the water and swim to a small entrance, which leads to a "secret" small lagoon.

Big Lagoon

The next place we have to show pictures from is the lagoon named Big Lagoon. When the tour boat stopped outside, our tour guide said "You have two options if you want to discover the lagoon. You can rent a kayak ... or you can rent a kayak." In other words, we rented a kayak...

Paddling around the shimmering green and crystal clear waters is fantastic. Occasionally you'll see fish under the surface, without even having to snorkel.

At one point we could paddle in through a narrow gap between the mountains, and then come out on the other side.

Peter also took up his drone, directly from the kayak, and then we got to see the whole landscape from above ...

Small Lagoon

Last but not least, we want to show pictures from the lagoon called Small Lagoon. This is indeed a bit smaller than the Big Lagoon, but just as nice.

Kajak i Small Lagoon — Helena and Peter in Small Lagoon. Photo: Henri and Michelle from South Africa

Here we found an entrance to a small, small cave that you could paddle into.

Films from all boat trips in El Nido

Where to stay in El Nido?

There are lots of different accommodation options in El Nido, both in and out of town, and you can choose from everything from basic accommodation to luxury resorts. We stayed at a relatively simple, but nice little place in the centre of town called Ashoka Homestay. From here we were close to everything, and the owners are fantastically nice and helpful, no matter what.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

If you want to see the surroundings, you can rent a moped and go to Nacpan Beach or one of the many waterfalls nearby. While you're in Palawan, you won't want to miss out on seeing the underground river in Puerto Princesa, a Unesco World Heritage Site, as well as the beautiful Coron. If you click on the image below, you will find even more tips for the Philippines.

Have you done boat trips in El Nido?

Have you visited El Nido on Palawan, or would you like to? Have you perhaps also done boat trips in El Nido? Please tell us!

Facts about boat trips in El Nido

Location: El Nido, Palawan, Philippines. The boat trips start from the pier or beach in the centre of El Nido. Meeting point is by appointment, for example at the hotel or at the booking office.
Booking: The day tours can be booked from any hotel or tour operator - they are on every street in El Nido. We booked with El Moment Travel & Tours, and were very pleased. It is possible to book the day before departure. Multi-day tours can be booked via Big Dream Boatman.
Price: The day tours cost between 1200 and 1400 pesos/person (around 220-260 kronor) if travelling in a group, depending on which tour you choose (2023).
Included in the price: Boat trip, guide, towel (at least where we booked), life jacket and lunch.
Not included in the price: Snorkels and cyclops are not included, nor is canoe hire. A small entry fee/environmental fee may also be added at the time of booking.
Get dressed: Swimwear, light summer clothes and preferably flip-flops (flip-flops can work, but flip-flops are more difficult because of sharp rocks etc.)
Take it with you: Mobile phone or camera and preferably an underwater camera or a waterproof case for your mobile phone. Possibly sunscreen and a sun hat. Cash for canoe hire and to buy drinks or ice cream. Preferably a waterproof bag to carry things in.

7 Comments

Add yours →

bmlarstravellingblog says:

We really understand that you almost went through the whole range of boat trips, such beautiful views in the great outdoors.
It was also nice to meet the couple from South Africa and see if there can be further meetings.

25 April 2023 - 10:33

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, boat trips are clearly the best thing in El Nido! Then there was a day of carpet rides and a work day too 😉 And yes, we hope we can realise a meeting with Henri and Michelle in South Africa next winter! 🙂
  
  26 April 2023 - 7:15
  
I Monica says:

Unbelievable how much there is to see and experience. What a journey you have made! Think it will be a book😉.

And it seems so well organised and functional, good people! And the food looks delicious, although the husband thought my banana pancakes were now completely okay😄, became very good for the coffee with berries and cream.

Read by so many who do and I don't like bananas particularly but it was good with the oatmeal version and spices. There are lots of different recipes.

Wish you a nice trip home and unfortunately it is raining and grey again but we hope for more spring.

25 April 2023 - 18:09

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Haha yes, but it almost becomes a "book" here at FREEDOMtravel ... 😉 Agree that most things in the Philippines are usually well organised (albeit not as punctual as in Sweden but a little more relaxed, hehe). Banana pancakes sound good! We actually got that here in the Philippines once too. And thank you!!!
  
  26 April 2023 - 7:17
  
BP says:

What a fairytale landscape. Absolutely marvellous. So heavenly good that Peter has the drone with him, because you get a completely different overall impression when you see the islands and lagoons from above. The food - yummy! What luxury food considering how affordable the tours are.
Fun with the couple from South Africa. There are a few things to see there too:-)

25 April 2023 - 20:05

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The drone gives a different perspective, for sure! Of course, you don't have the top-down perspective when doing the boat trip, but you still perceive the views better than what we manage to capture with a regular mobile phone camera (as we often get too close). And yes, great to see Henri and Michelle from South Africa. We hope there can be a follow-up next year! 🙂
  
  26 April 2023 - 7:21
  
Lena - good for the soul says:

It looks absolutely magical! And what a cruelly impressive lunch with those conditions! Fun if there is a trip to South Africa in the future then!

Hug Lena

27 April 2023 - 14:24

Boat trips in El Nido - fabulous islands in Palawan, Philippines

Making boat trips in El Nido

Various boat trips in El Nido

TOUR A - LAGOON & BEACHES

Tour b - Caves & coves

Tour C - Hidden Beach & Shrine

Tour D - Beaches & Islands

Boat trips in El Nido - how it works

Secret Lagoon

Big Lagoon

Small Lagoon

Films from all boat trips in El Nido

Where to stay in El Nido?

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Have you done boat trips in El Nido?

Facts about boat trips in El Nido

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7 Comments

bmlarstravellingblog says:

Helena says:

I Monica says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

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