El Nido: Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D

Quiet beaches, clear water, and plenty of time make El Nido Boat Tour D a strong choice for a full day at sea. The route visits Small Lagoon, Cadlao Island, Nat Nat Beach, Paradise Beach, and Bukal Island, with swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking along the way.

I especially like the quieter feel and the generous time at each stop. Guides such as Mark, Arnold, Jordan, and TJ have earned praise for being friendly, helpful, and good at taking photos. The main drawback is the somewhat chaotic meeting point at Marber’s Beach Club, plus extra charges for the environmental fee, lagoon entry, and water equipment.

Key points

• Small Lagoon is the star stop: Expect pale rock walls, emerald water, and a calm setting that is best explored by kayak or swimmer.
• Tour D is often quieter than Tours A and C: Several boats have reached beaches and lagoons with very few other groups around.
• Snorkeling is a real strength: Nat Nat and Paradise Beach can offer shallow water, calm conditions, and plenty of fish.
• Lunch is more than a token meal: The packed spread has included chicken, seafood, and enough food for the group.
• Bring extra cash: The PHP 400 El Nido Tourism Development Fee, Small Lagoon entry, and kayak rentals are not included.
• Expect a relaxed seven-hour pace: You get time to swim, take photos, snorkel, kayak, and enjoy the scenery without racing from stop to stop.

Why Tour D Can Be Better Than the Famous Routes

El Nido’s boat tours are usually grouped into lettered routes, and Tour D is a good pick when you want the classic limestone scenery without spending the whole day in the thick of the crowd. It still delivers the postcard ingredients: sheer rock formations, clear water, sandy beaches, and small lagoons tucked among the islands.

The big appeal is pace. Boats on this route often spend enough time at each stop for you to swim, snorkel, or paddle without checking your watch every few minutes. That matters in El Nido, where a beautiful place loses some charm if you are constantly waiting for space in the water or squeezing around other boats.

I would not call Tour D completely private. It is still a shared boat excursion unless you choose the private group option. But compared with the more heavily visited routes, it has a laid-back feel and a better chance of finding a beach or lagoon with breathing room.

The tour takes about seven hours and returns you to the same meeting area. It is a full day, but not an exhausting one if you enjoy a mix of water activities and relaxed beach time.

Starting at Marber’s Beach Club

The meeting point is Marber’s Beach Club. This is the part of the day that needs the most patience.

The boat departure process can feel disorganized, with unclear instructions about where to wait or which group to join. Some departures have also started late, and one boat reportedly had a technical problem that delayed departure by about an hour. Once you are on the water, the day generally becomes much more orderly, but you should allow extra time at the beginning and listen carefully for your guide.

A short safety briefing comes before the boat leaves. Life vests are included, and the tour is led in English or Tagalog. Guides have been praised for helping people into and out of the boat, taking photos, explaining the stops, and keeping the group in good spirits.

The practical lesson is simple: arrive prepared, keep your booking details handy, and do not expect a polished airport-style check-in. El Nido’s boat departures can be informal. The scenery usually makes up for the rough edges.

Small Lagoon: The Scenic Centerpiece

Small Lagoon is the most memorable stop on this route for many people. The entrance leads you toward dark natural rock, bright green water, and a more enclosed setting than the open beaches. It feels quiet and sheltered, even when the wider bay is busy.

Kayaking is the usual way to explore the lagoon. You can paddle between the rock walls, stop for photographs, and look down into the clear water. Swimming is also possible, although the kayak gives you a better view and lets you move farther into the narrow sections without tiring yourself out.

The tour information lists a PHP 200 entry fee for Small Lagoon, separate from the tour price. Kayak rental is also extra, with the stated cost at about PHP 350 per person per kayak. Actual charges can vary by location or arrangement, so keep enough Philippine pesos in your dry bag.

This is one place where arriving at the right moment matters. Several departures have reached Small Lagoon with few boats present, which changes the whole mood. If the lagoon is crowded, you may spend more time waiting for clear photo angles and less time enjoying the water.

Bring a waterproof phone case if you plan to photograph the rock walls from a kayak. The boat crew may also take photos for you, but you should not rely on that as your only way to protect your camera or phone.

Cadlao Island and Its Calm Lagoon

Cadlao Island brings more open scenery and another chance to get into the water. The island is one of El Nido’s signature backdrops, with tall rock formations rising from clear sea.

The route includes time at a lagoon near Cadlao, where kayaking and swimming are both possible. The water is often calm enough for beginners, and the setting is less about checking off a single famous sight than enjoying the island from the water.

If you are not keen on kayaking, you can ask whether swimming or snorkeling is possible at that stop. One useful feature of this tour is that you are not forced to spend every lagoon stop in a kayak. Some people have skipped the rental and swum or snorkeled instead, finding good marine life in the water.

The amount of time here can feel generous. That is good if you like taking photos, paddling slowly, or sitting in the water. If you prefer a fast-moving itinerary with many short stops, you might find the schedule a little slow.

Nat Nat Beach: Shallow Water and Fish

Nat Nat Beach is one of the quieter beach stops on the route. Its shallow water and calmer waves make it suitable for people who want to swim without heading straight into deep water.

This is a good place to use your mask and snorkel. Marine life is one of the tour’s strongest features, especially for people who enjoy looking around rather than simply posing on the sand. The water conditions will vary, but the stop is designed for swimming and snorkeling, not just a quick photo.

You may also appreciate the lack of pressure here. A beach with fewer boats lets you settle into the water, walk along the sand, or find a shady pause between activities. El Nido is full of dramatic scenery, but quieter stops often become the most enjoyable part of the day.

Do not expect a resort beach with facilities and services. This is a nature stop, so bring the basics with you and keep your belongings compact.

Paradise Beach: A Strong Snorkeling Stop

Paradise Beach is another calm, sandy stop with shallow water. It is particularly appealing if you are new to snorkeling or prefer gentle conditions.

The beach gives you a chance to do a little of everything: swim, float, snorkel, photograph the rock formations, or simply sit on the sand. The snorkeling can be rewarding, with fish visible in the water. The beach is also a useful contrast to the enclosed lagoons, since you get a wider view and more room to spread out.

The tour crew usually serves lunch during the day, and the meal has received especially strong praise. Expect a packed spread that may include chicken and seafood, with portions described as generous. Do not expect a restaurant setting or a complicated menu. The value is having a filling meal ready while you are out among the islands.

If you have dietary restrictions, the available information does not promise special meals, so ask before booking rather than assuming.

Bukal Island and the Flexible Final Stops

Bukal Island is included among the route’s island-hopping stops. Like the other beach locations, it gives you time to swim, snorkel, and enjoy the scenery away from El Nido town.

The exact order and feel of the day can change with weather, sea conditions, boat timing, and local operations. Some departures have included other beach or lagoon names during the day, so you should treat the listed route as a guide rather than a minute-by-minute promise.

That flexibility can work in your favor. A late departure, changing boat traffic, or a passing rain shower may shift the schedule, but the crew can sometimes reach a stop when other boats have moved on. One delayed departure ended up creating a quieter visit at several locations.

At the same time, a flexible schedule means the tour may feel less like a tightly scripted guided excursion. One person found the English explanations limited, and the day more improvised than expected. If you want detailed commentary at every stop, this may not be the best match. If you mainly want scenery, water time, and a relaxed crew, it works well.

What You Get for $23

At about $23 per person, Tour D offers very good value for a seven-hour island day. The price includes the boat, licensed guide, life vest, entry fees listed as included, and packed lunch.

You are paying for access to several major natural sites in one day without arranging separate boats or negotiating each stop yourself. The lunch also helps, since you do not need to buy a meal while offshore.

The price is not all-inclusive. Budget separately for:

• PHP 400 El Nido Tourism Development Fee
• PHP 200 Small Lagoon entry fee
• Kayak rental at Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon, listed at about PHP 350 per person per kayak
• Aqua shoes, fins, or other equipment rentals

Bring cash. One practical point deserves extra attention: people have encountered different kayak charges at different locations, including amounts around PHP 200 at individual stops. Keep more than the bare minimum so an equipment fee does not catch you off guard.

You also need to pay the environmental fee before boarding unless you already have a receipt. If you paid it earlier, show the receipt to the guide so you are not charged again.

What to Pack for a Comfortable Day

Pack light. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, and plastic bottles are also listed as prohibited. A small dry bag is the sensible choice for your phone, cash, towel, and personal items.

Bring swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat. Cash is essential for the extra fees and rentals. Aqua shoes can be useful around rocky entries, though they are not included and may need to be rented.

Fins and kayaks are available at an extra charge. You may not need every item, but a mask and snorkel are worth considering if you care about seeing fish at Nat Nat or Paradise Beach.

The boat has limited room, so avoid bringing anything you would dislike getting wet. Keep your phone protected even if the guide offers to take photographs.

Who Will Enjoy This Boat Tour Most

Tour D suits you if you want a balanced day rather than a pure beach visit. You can kayak in two lagoon areas, swim at quiet beaches, snorkel with fish, eat lunch, and take photographs of the rock formations.

It is especially good for:

• First-time visitors who want several classic El Nido settings in one day
• Couples looking for a quieter route
• Swimmers and beginner snorkelers
• People who enjoy a relaxed pace
• Anyone comparing several El Nido routes and wanting fewer crowds
• Visitors who want strong scenery without paying for a private boat

It is less suitable if you need wheelchair access, have limited mobility, or are pregnant. The tour is not designed for wheelchair users, and getting on and off the boat and moving between water activities requires physical effort.

It may also disappoint you if you expect a formal lecture at every site. The guide’s main role is practical help, safety, timing, and making the day enjoyable. The amount of historical or natural explanation can vary.

Should You Book El Nido Tour D?

I would book Tour D if your main goal is to see El Nido’s rock scenery and lagoons while avoiding some of the busiest stops. The combination of Small Lagoon, Cadlao Island, calm beaches, snorkeling, and lunch gives you a lot for $23.

Choose it with realistic expectations. The meeting point can be chaotic, departure times may slip, and the extra fees add to the advertised price. The tour also relies on the natural conditions of the day, so the exact timing and crowd level are never fully under your control.

Still, the route has the right mix. You get the remarkable setting of Small Lagoon, proper swimming time at Nat Nat and Paradise Beach, and a crew that has often been praised for good photos, friendly help, and a relaxed attitude. If you want the quieter side of El Nido and do not mind carrying extra cash for kayaks and fees, Tour D is one of the better-value choices in town.

FAQ

How long does El Nido Tour D last?

The tour lasts about seven hours, including the boat trip and stops for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and lunch.

Where is the meeting point?

The meeting point is Marber’s Beach Club in El Nido.

Which places does Tour D visit?

The advertised route includes Small Lagoon, Cadlao Island, Nat Nat Beach, Paradise Beach, and Bukal Island. The order may vary.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A packed lunch is included, and it may include chicken, seafood, and other food for the group.

Is kayaking included in the price?

No. Kayak rental is extra. The listed estimate is about PHP 350 per person per kayak at Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon.

Is the Small Lagoon entry fee included?

No. Small Lagoon has a separate entry fee of PHP 200.

Do I need to pay an environmental fee?

Yes. The El Nido Tourism Development Fee is PHP 400 and must be paid before boarding unless you already have proof of payment.

What languages does the guide speak?

Guides operate in Tagalog and English.

Can I cancel the tour for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users, pregnant women, or people with mobility impairments.