{"id":14198,"date":"2020-03-14T17:00:24","date_gmt":"2020-03-14T09:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/?p=14198"},"modified":"2020-03-27T14:41:28","modified_gmt":"2020-03-27T06:41:28","slug":"a-guide-to-el-nido-island-hopping-tours-fees-and-everything-in-between","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/2020\/03\/14\/a-guide-to-el-nido-island-hopping-tours-fees-and-everything-in-between\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to El Nido Island Hopping: Tours, Fees, and Everything in Between"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the many islands that make up the famed destination that is El Nido<\/strong>, Palawan<\/strong>, one can\u2019t simply visit everything in a span of a day\u2014no matter how quick you stay in each of them (which will not allow you to fully enjoy them too!).<\/p>\n

To create a systematic island hopping experience, the most prominent ones are grouped into four separate tours:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tour A<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Big Lagoon (top photos); Secret Lagoon (bottom left photo); Papaya Beach (bottom right photo)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Spots:
\n\u2022 Big Lagoon\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u2022 Secret Lagoon\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u2022 Papaya Beach
\n\u2022 Shimizu Island<\/span><\/p>\n

Other possible spots:\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Seven Commandos Beach in place of Papaya Beach, and\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Payong-Payong Beach in place of Shimizu Island\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Tour B<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Cudugnon Cave (top left photo); Cathedral Cave (top right photo); Pinagbuyutan Island (bottom left photo); Snake Island (bottom right photo)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Spots:
\n\u2022 Cudugnon Cave
\n\u2022 Cathedral Cave
\n\u2022 Pinagbuyutan Island
\n\u2022 Snake Island (lunch spot)
\n\u2022 Entalula Island
\n\u2022 Popolkan Island<\/span><\/p>\n

Tour C<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Hidden Beach (top left photo); Helicopter Island (top right photo); Talisay Beach (bottom left and right photos)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Spots:
\n\u2022 Hidden Beach
\n\u2022 Helicopter Island
\n\u2022 Talisay Beach (lunch spot)
\n\u2022 Secret Beach
\n\u2022 Matinloc Shrine
\n\u2022 Star Beach<\/span><\/p>\n

Tour D<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Small Lagoon (top left and right photos); Cadlao Lagoon (bottom left photo); Ipil Beach 2 (bottom right photo)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Spots:
\n\u2022 Small Lagoon
\n\u2022 Cadlao Lagoon
\n\u2022 Ipil Beach 2
\n\u2022 Nat-Nat Beach
\n\u2022 Pasandigan Beach
\n\u2022 Paradise Beach
\n\u2022 Bukal Beach<\/span><\/p>\n

Years ago, tourists can do a combination tour per day such as Tours A and C<\/strong> and Tours B and D<\/strong>. However, in order to protect the islands amid the influx of tourists all over the world showering El Nido with appreciation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has implemented a policy banning the previously-applicable combination tours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is particularly to limit the number of people visiting the Big Lagoon<\/strong> and Small Lagoon<\/strong> that are considered as premium spots (and soon, the Secret Beach too). Now, you may only embark on one tour per day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Pre-registration is now also required when visiting the premium spots, wherein an environmental fee for each is priced at Php 200. An Eco-Tourism Development Fee is also to be collected by the Municipal Government of El Nido, priced at Php 200 and is valid for 10 days. If you\u2019re under a tour provider, they will be the ones handling it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Island Hopping Tour<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The tour usually starts from <\/span>9 a.m.<\/b> (pick-up from hotel) and ends at <\/span>4 p.m.<\/b> (departure back to land). One of the usual docking areas is Corong Corong Beach near El Nido town proper. And since tours usually last for almost one whole day, with each destination allowing up to one hour stay, you have no other choice but to be one with the water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some things to consider in order to prepare yourself:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Either you fully clothe yourself and save yourself from the very potential burning and darkening of the skin, or you wear swimsuits\/swim trunks and achieve a good tan\u2014otherwise, you\u2019ll leave with crystal clear tan lines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Most boatmen have first aid kits to readily attend to small injuries such as grazes and cuts, but you can bring your own waterproof band aids just to be prepared.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Applying sunscreen ahead of each tour is not enough; apply a good amount of it every time you are about to dive into the water.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Bring at least two towels: one to somehow protect yourself from the big splashes of waves, and one that you can keep in the boat\u2019s storage area and use thereafter to dry yourself at the end of the day.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Bring water tumblers; bottled waters are strictly not allowed in the islands.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Bring extra cash (and put it in a waterproof case) for activities and extra snacks. Kayaking fees (Php 200 to Php 350\/4 pax) for the lagoons are not included in the tour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Rent aqua shoes and snorkeling gear.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Always wear your life vest!<\/span><\/p>\n

Booking Your El Nido Island Hopping Tour<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike most travels that can be survived and enjoyed well even without planning ahead, going on an El Nido island hopping tour is not as carefree\u2014because you have to book your tour in advance, no excuses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, there are readily available methods by which you can take care of your tour without going through so much hassle. A little tip, though: be careful in choosing your tour provider, because you would not want to spoil your trip.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Booking online<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

There are a handful of websites where you can book your tour, and these would normally require the number of people availing it; personal details including name, age, and nationality that are vital to acquiring permits and entrance tickets; the preferred date among the non-fully booked ones; and of course the payment to secure your slot\u2014although some accept deposits for doing so.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You may also indicate if you wish to rent aqua shoes and snorkeling gear so they can prepare them in advance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Booking through a travel agency<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

As El Nido consistently receives attention from tourists, a number of travel agencies that are directly based in Palawan have been popping up in the hopes of catering to everyone, with each offering exclusive promos and their own take on the staple services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Among these is <\/span>Corazon Travel and Tours<\/b>, a duly-licensed travel and tour operator operating in Puerto Princesa that links their services to<\/span> a network of trusted partners and suppliers in various parts of Palawan.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/a>When you book with them, identify how many of you will join and then choose between a joiners tour and private tour. Like doing so online, you will also need to indicate your name, nationality, and preferred tour dates. You may also include your flight details if you wish to have them pick you up at the airport.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Each tour package is inclusive of service of a tour guide, boat transfers, picnic lunch, entrance fees, and pick up at hotels within El Nido Town proper and Corong-Corong Area.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From the tours to their fees, we break down the things that entail an El Nido island hopping tour.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[70,2984,71,342,1422,3031],"tags":[152,366,2985],"class_list":["post-14198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-palawan","category-el-nido","category-tourist-spot","category-travel-guide","category-tours","category-el-nido-spot-2020","tag-palawan","tag-el-nido","tag-el-nido-island-hopping"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14198"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14216,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14198\/revisions\/14216"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}