El Nido Tour D Full Day w/ Beach Lunch

El Nido Tour D takes you through a fine set of limestone islands, with Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon providing the most dramatic scenery. Between the cliffs, you get clear water, beach time, snorkeling, and lunch served on the sand.

I like the strong mix of scenery and free time. I also like that the $44 price includes a beach lunch, drinks, lagoon admission, the environmental fee, and pickup within El Nido Town. The main catch is the shared boat format: group size can reach 50, and one boat used for this tour carried about 30 people.

Key points at a glance

• Two striking lagoons: Small Lagoon has a narrow blue passage between dark limestone walls, while Cadlao Lagoon opens into a more spacious cove beneath tall rock formations.
• Five stops in one day: You visit Small Lagoon, Nat Nat Beach, Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Cove, and Paradise Beach.
• Beach lunch included: Your midday meal is served on the beach, with drinking water or soda provided.
• Kayaking costs extra: Kayak rental is ₱400 per person, and some lagoon access may require a kayak rather than swimming.
• Snorkeling gear is optional: Equipment rental costs ₱100 per person, useful at Nat Nat Beach.
• Best for a flexible group: Town pickup is included, but larger shared groups can make the boat feel busy.

What a full day on Tour D feels like

This is a classic island-hopping day built around short boat rides, limestone scenery, swimming, and stops of roughly 90 minutes each. The total duration is about seven to eight hours, so you get a broad sample of El Nido rather than a slow, private outing at one beach.

The schedule gives each place enough time to look around, swim, or take photos. Still, 90 minutes passes quickly once you account for getting off the boat, arranging a kayak, snorkeling, and returning before departure.

The boat is shared. The maximum group size is 50, though the actual number depends on the boat used. One reported experience had 30 people on board, while another group had 12. That difference matters: a 12-person group can feel fairly manageable, but 30 or more people means more waiting and less room to spread out.

Pickup is offered within El Nido Town at no extra charge. If you stay outside the town center, an additional pickup charge applies. Check this before booking, since a low headline price can change once transport is added.

Small Lagoon and its narrow blue passage

Small Lagoon is likely to be the visual highlight of the day. Dark limestone cliffs close in around a narrow waterway, with bright blue water creating a sharp contrast against the rock.

The stop lasts about 90 minutes. The lagoon entrance is included, with a stated value of ₱200 per person. That helps the $44 price feel more reasonable, especially when paired with the other included items.

The practical issue is access. Kayak rental costs ₱400 per person, and the experience information notes that some activities must be done by kayak. A French-speaking participant specifically found that kayaking was required at several points, with swimming into those areas not allowed.

So, budget for a kayak if you want to enter the lagoon rather than simply admire it from the boat. At ₱400, this is a sizeable add-on compared with the tour price. Ask at the start how many stops require a kayak, because renting one at every possible point could change the final cost.

Small Lagoon is not just a quick photo stop. You have time to paddle, look up at the cliffs, and enjoy the still water. But it is also one of the places where a large group is most noticeable, since several boats and kayaks can make a narrow passage feel crowded.

Nat Nat Beach and the best case for extra gear

Nat Nat Beach is described as a place for clear water and underwater scenery. This is the stop where snorkeling gear makes the most sense, particularly if you want to look beneath the surface rather than spend the whole visit on the sand.

Snorkeling equipment costs ₱100 per person. That is a modest extra fee, but bring the cost into your planning if swimming and marine life are central to your day.

The stop lasts around 90 minutes, giving you a useful block of time for both water and beach. You can choose how active you want to be, though the tour does not promise a private beach or a quiet setting.

This is a good example of the tour’s overall appeal: you are not locked into one activity. You can snorkel, swim, sit on the sand, or simply enjoy the island view. The tradeoff is that the boat must keep moving, so you cannot stay longer if conditions are especially good.

Cadlao Lagoon beneath tall limestone walls

Cadlao Lagoon sits on the western side of Cadlao Island, in Ubugon Cove. Tall limestone rocks surround the water, giving this stop a more enclosed, dramatic feel than an open beach.

The lagoon entrance is included. That is useful because you are not paying an admission fee at every stop, and it gives the tour another major scenery point after Small Lagoon.

Allow roughly 90 minutes here. As with Small Lagoon, access may involve a kayak, so the ₱400 rental is worth keeping in mind. The provided information does not say that kayaking is included, and it specifically lists kayak hire as an extra.

Cadlao Lagoon should suit you if your priority is El Nido’s rock formations and calm water. If your priority is a long, uninterrupted swim, the fixed stop length and possible kayak rules may feel limiting.

Pasandigan Cove and emerald water

Pasandigan Cove brings another version of the El Nido formula: limestone formations, clear emerald water, coves, and open time at the shore. The stop lasts about 90 minutes and has no separate entrance charge listed.

This part of the day helps break up the lagoons. You move from narrow, cliff-lined water to a more open cove, with room for swimming, sitting, and taking in the surrounding rock.

The wording for this stop emphasizes scenery more than a specific activity, so I would treat it as a flexible pause rather than count on a particular attraction. You might find it most enjoyable after the busier lagoon visits, when a simpler beach stop gives you time to slow down.

The same group-size issue applies here. A shared beach can be enjoyable, but you should not expect the privacy of a chartered boat. If you want more control over where you stop and how long you stay, this is not the right format.

Paradise Beach and the final stretch

Paradise Beach rounds out the day with white sand and the familiar El Nido mix of clear water, cliffs, and marine scenery. The stop lasts around 90 minutes, enough for a final swim or a quiet hour by the shore.

It is a sensible final stop because the day has already included two lagoons and a snorkeling beach. You get one more chance to enjoy a straightforward beach setting without an entrance fee listed.

Do not judge the stop only by its name. The supplied information describes it as a tropical beach with El Nido’s natural features, but it does not promise a private beach, special facilities, or a particular water activity. Go for the setting and the chance to relax, not for a guaranteed exclusive experience.

By this point, you may appreciate the fixed schedule. It keeps the day moving and ensures you see all five locations. You may also feel ready for the return trip after seven or eight hours in the sun.

Lunch on the beach, plus what is included

Lunch is served on the beach, which is one of the more appealing parts of the package. A meal between swimming and sightseeing saves you from arranging food separately and makes the day feel like a complete island outing.

Drinking water or soda is included. Those small inclusions matter in a hot coastal setting, especially when you are paying for optional equipment and possible transport charges.

The environmental fee is ₱400 per person and is valid for 14 days. Since this fee is included, you do not need to treat it as a surprise cost at the start of the day. The lagoon entrance fee of ₱200 per person is also included.

The advertised price is $44 per person. On value, that is fair if you use the included lunch, drinks, environmental fee, lagoon admission, and town pickup. It becomes less attractive if you add ₱400 for a kayak, ₱100 for snorkeling equipment, and a possible fee for pickup outside El Nido Town Center.

There is also a clear warning about comparing prices. One booking was made for two people at about €80, while the same person saw other participants paying less than €20 each. The difference appears to relate to booking price and not to a private boat or smaller group. Compare the final price carefully, and do not assume a higher payment means a four-person boat.

Shared boats and the group-size question

This is a group tour, not a private charter. The maximum is 50 people, and the operator may use a boat carrying around 30 people depending on the vessel.

That can be perfectly acceptable if your goal is to reach the islands at a low price. The tour covers five stops and includes several costs that you would otherwise pay separately. A smaller group of 12 can also provide a more comfortable day.

The downside is control. You may wait for other people to board kayaks, gather at the beach, or return to the boat. The most attractive areas can also feel less peaceful when many boats arrive at once.

I would choose this tour if you are comfortable trading privacy for price. I would not choose it if you want a quiet boat, a custom route, or the freedom to stay at one cove until sunset.

Timing, pickup, and what to budget

Plan on seven to eight hours from start to finish. The day includes five stops of about 90 minutes each, plus the time required to travel between islands and organize the group.

Free pickup is limited to El Nido Town. Staying elsewhere does not automatically mean you are excluded, but extra charges apply. Ask for the exact fee before confirming your plans.

Your realistic budget should include:

• The $44 tour price
• ₱400 for the environmental fee, already included
• ₱200 lagoon admission, already included
• Lunch, already included
• Water or soda, already included
• ₱400 kayak rental per person, if needed
• ₱100 snorkeling equipment per person, if needed
• Extra pickup cost, if you are outside El Nido Town Center

Confirmation is provided when you book. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but the kayaking requirement and full day on the water mean you should consider your own comfort with swimming and boat transfers.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the day, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. For a full refund when you cancel yourself, do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made later are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this El Nido day trip

I would point this tour toward first-time El Nido visitors who want to see several famous natural settings without arranging a private boat. The five-stop plan gives you a strong overview in one day, and the included fees reduce the amount of planning.

It also suits couples, friends, and solo visitors who do not mind sharing space. The beach lunch and town pickup make the day simple, while the optional kayak and snorkeling rentals let you decide how much extra activity you want.

Families may appreciate the variety, but check whether everyone is comfortable with the boat, the beach stops, and possible kayak-only access. The tour can include up to 50 people, so it is not designed around a quiet family pace.

I would be more cautious if you dislike crowds or want a private experience. In that case, paying more for a private boat may offer better value because you gain control over timing and stops, even though the base price will be higher.

Is Tour D worth your money?

At $44 per person, this is a reasonably priced way to see five El Nido sites in one long day. The value is strongest because lunch, drinks, environmental fees, lagoon admission, and town pickup are already covered.

The decision turns on two points: the group size and the add-ons. A large boat can make the day feel organized rather than intimate, and kayaking may add ₱400 per person at several stops. Snorkeling gear adds another ₱100 if you do not bring or rent it elsewhere.

Book it if you want variety, clear water, limestone cliffs, beach time, and a straightforward shared outing. Skip it if your main goal is solitude, a private boat, or a flexible schedule. For the right expectations, Tour D offers a full and active day at a sensible starting price.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour D last?

The tour lasts approximately seven to eight hours.

Which places does the tour visit?

The stops are Small Lagoon, Nat Nat Beach, Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Cove, and Paradise Beach.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served on the beach, and drinking water or soda is included.

Is kayak rental included?

No. Kayak rental costs ₱400 per person.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Snorkeling equipment rental costs ₱100 per person.

Is pickup included?

Free pickup is offered within El Nido Town. Pickup outside El Nido Town Center has an additional charge.

How large can the group be?

The tour can have a maximum of 50 participants. The actual boat size may vary, and one boat used for the tour carried about 30 people.