Private El Nido Tour A Island Hopping

Go early, and El Nido feels calmer. This private Tour A combines Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach in a six-to-eight-hour boat trip around Palawan’s best-known coastal sights. I like the private format, and I like that lunch, a licensed guide, a motorized boat, life vests, and a first aid kit are part of the package.

The strongest advantages are schedule flexibility and the chance to move ahead of larger group boats. The main caution is that several details need confirmation before you pay: the group limit is described as both eight and ten people, and the information about hotel transfers and snorkel gear is not consistent.

Key points to know before booking

• Five very different stops: Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon provide the dramatic rock scenery, while Shimizu Island and Seven Commando Beach offer time by the water.
• Private means more control: Your group can have a better chance of avoiding the busiest periods, although exact timing still depends on the guide, weather, and local conditions.
• A full half-day out: Plan on roughly six to eight hours, with enough time for sightseeing, lunch, swimming, and snorkeling.
• The price works best for a full group: At $940.28 for up to eight people, the cost is easier to justify when shared among family or friends.
• A few inclusions need checking: Lunch and safety equipment are listed as included, but snorkeling gear and hotel transfers appear differently in different sections.
• Meeting point is central and specific: The tour starts and ends at Dayo Cafe on Serena Street in El Nido.

What this private Tour A actually gives you

El Nido’s Tour A route is popular for good reason. It brings together limestone cliffs, clear water, small beaches, and sheltered lagoons in one outing. You are not choosing between one major attraction and several filler stops. Each place offers a different version of the coast.

The private boat is the key feature. On a standard shared trip, your timing follows the rest of the boat. Here, your group has a better chance to adjust the pace, linger at a favorite stop, or arrive before some of the larger boats. That does not mean you will have every place to yourself. Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon are major El Nido sights, and local traffic and weather still shape the day.

The package is priced at $940.28 per group. The stated group size is up to eight people, which works out to about $117.54 per person if you fill all eight places. That is not a budget outing for a couple, but it can make sense for a family or friend group that values privacy and a less rigid schedule.

One important point: another description gives the maximum as ten people. I would ask Natural Arts Travel and Tours to confirm the exact capacity before booking. The difference matters, especially if you are planning around a larger family or splitting the cost among several people.

Starting at Dayo Cafe in El Nido

The meeting point is Dayo Cafe, at Serena Street in El Nido. The activity ends back at the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate return location within town.

The listed tour duration is approximately six to eight hours. That is a broad window, but it reflects the nature of a boat day. Conditions at sea, time spent at each stop, crowd levels, and the pace of your group can all affect the finish time.

The tour is confirmed at booking, and most people can participate. It is described as a private activity, so only your own group is scheduled to join you. A licensed tour guide accompanies the boat, which is useful for keeping the route organized and helping with the practical parts of the day.

Hotel pickup and drop-off need special attention. One description says transfers are included, while the detailed inclusion list says hotel tour pickup and drop-off are not included. Since the confirmed meeting point is Dayo Cafe, I would plan to get there yourself unless the operator gives you different instructions.

Big Lagoon: the headline stop

Big Lagoon is the star of the route. You enter a narrow opening between tall limestone walls and reach a broad, sheltered body of water. The scale is the point here. The cliffs make the lagoon feel enclosed and dramatic, while the water provides a calm setting for photographs and sightseeing.

The scheduled stop is 30 minutes, with admission included. That is enough to take in the setting and photograph the entrance, but it is not an unlimited stay. A private boat may give you more control over when you arrive, yet the listed itinerary still assigns a fairly short visit.

Kayaking is often associated with lagoon visits, but kayak use is specifically listed as not included. Do not assume one will be waiting for you. If using a kayak is important to your plans, ask the operator whether one can be arranged separately and at what cost.

Big Lagoon is best for scenery rather than a long beach break. Bring a way to protect your phone and camera from splashes, since the route is boat-based and the most memorable views are around the water and cliffs.

Secret Lagoon: a small entrance with a different feel

Secret Lagoon changes the mood. Instead of a wide open setting, you look for a smaller passage through the rock before reaching the enclosed pool. Its appeal comes from the contrast with Big Lagoon. One is broad and grand, the other feels more tucked away and compact.

The planned visit is also 30 minutes, and admission is included. That time can pass quickly if the entrance is busy or if you need to wait your turn. The private boat improves your odds of choosing a useful arrival time, but it cannot guarantee an empty stop.

This is one place where comfortable footwear and care around wet surfaces matter. The supplied details do not specify the exact access conditions on the day, so follow the guide’s instructions rather than rushing through the opening.

Shimizu Island brings the beach and snorkeling time

Shimizu Island provides a more open coastal stop. The itinerary allows 30 minutes, and the island is included among the places where you can enjoy the water and beach scenery. This is a natural point for a short swim or a look below the surface.

The tour includes life vests and a first aid kit. An ice box is also provided, which should help keep drinks and food cool during the day. Lunch is included, so you are not expected to arrange a separate meal while out on the boat.

There is a contradiction about snorkeling equipment. The overview says snorkel gear is included, but the detailed list says use of snorkeling equipment is not included. I would not rely on the gear being supplied until the operator confirms it. If you already own a mask and snorkel, bringing them may be the simplest plan, subject to your own luggage arrangements.

Shimizu Island is likely to suit you if you want a short water break without giving up the rest of the route. If snorkeling is your main goal, ask how much time is normally allocated for it, since each listed stop is only 30 minutes.

Seven Commando Beach: the easiest place to slow down

Seven Commando Beach is the route’s classic white sand beach stop. After the cliffs and enclosed lagoons, it gives you a more relaxed stretch of coast. The planned visit lasts 30 minutes, enough for a quick swim, a walk along the sand, or a few photographs.

I would treat this as a short beach pause rather than a full afternoon at the shore. Five stops are packed into one outing, and the boat must keep moving if you want to reach them all.

This beach is also a useful place to decide what kind of day you prefer. If you want steady sightseeing and several famous locations, the schedule works well. If you prefer to spend hours in one place, the route may feel rushed, even with a private boat.

Payong-Payong Beach and its umbrella-shaped rock

Payong-Payong Beach adds one of the route’s more distinctive visual details: an umbrella-shaped rock formation. It is a small but worthwhile stop because it breaks up the better-known lagoon and beach sequence.

The planned time is 30 minutes. Use it for photographs and a short pause rather than expecting a long list of activities. The appeal is the rock formation and the surrounding coastal setting, not a packed program.

This stop also shows why the full duration can stretch toward eight hours. Five half-hour visits already account for two and a half hours, before boat travel, lunch, boarding, and movement between locations. The route covers a lot in one day.

Lunch, safety gear, and what you should bring

Lunch is included, which adds real value to a long boat outing. You do not have to leave the route to find food, and the ice box should help with cold drinks and storage. The supplied information does not specify the menu, so ask about food preferences or restrictions before departure if that affects your planning.

The boat carries life vests, a first aid kit, and an ice box. Those are practical inclusions, not decorative extras. A life vest is especially useful when moving between the boat and the water or when conditions change.

The inclusion list does not name towels, drinks, sunscreen, dry bags, or personal snorkeling equipment. Since those items are not confirmed, you should ask what to bring and protect electronics from water. Do not expect the package to cover every small beach-day need.

The boat is motorized, and the experience is led by a licensed guide. That combination makes the route practical for seeing several places in one day, but a motorized boat also means the journey itself is part of the schedule. You will spend time moving between stops, not only at the beaches and lagoons.

The crew and guide service

The provider is Natural Arts Travel and Tours. The named contacts connected with the experience are Vanessa and Eva, and the boat crew received strong praise for being friendly, helpful, and willing to take photographs.

That last detail matters more than it may sound. On a private boat day, the crew can make the difference between a smooth outing and a disorganized one. Help with photos is particularly useful when your whole group wants to appear in the picture, not just the person holding the phone.

The service also includes a licensed guide, which gives you a point of contact for timing, safety, and the sequence of stops. The details do not promise a particular language, menu, or special activity, so ask directly if you have a specific need.

Weather, cancellations, and practical planning

This experience depends on good weather. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy is useful in Palawan, where a boat trip can be affected by sea conditions.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted, so watch the local cut-off time.

The tour is booked, on average, about 40 days ahead. That suggests planning early is sensible, especially if you have a fixed El Nido schedule or need a particular date. The private format is most valuable when you can use it to arrange a time that suits your group, so do not leave the decision until the last moment.

Who should book this private boat day?

I would recommend it most strongly to families, couples traveling with friends, and groups that can share the $940.28 cost. It is also a good match for anyone who dislikes being locked into a large group’s pace.

The tour suits you if your priorities are the famous El Nido sights, a private boat, lunch, and a full day of varied stops. It is less suitable if you want a cheap excursion, long uninterrupted beach time, or a dedicated snorkeling trip.

You should also be comfortable with several details that are not fully settled in the supplied information. Confirm the maximum group size, hotel transport, and snorkeling equipment before booking. Those questions are easy to ask and could change the real value of the package.

Should you book El Nido Private Tour A?

Book it if you have a full group, want the classic Tour A route, and value privacy more than the lowest possible price. Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach give you a strong sample of El Nido in one day, while the private format offers more control than a shared boat.

I would hesitate if you are only two people, since the flat price becomes much harder to justify. I would also wait for written confirmation about the eight-person limit, hotel transfers, and snorkeling gear.

For a group that fills the boat, the price can be fair. The best part is not simply having a private vessel. It is having a better chance to shape the day, work with the guide and crew, and avoid the most crowded timing at El Nido’s headline stops.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at Dayo Cafe El Nido on Serena Street and ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately six to eight hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price is listed for a group of up to eight people. Another description mentions up to ten, so you should confirm the exact limit with Natural Arts Travel and Tours before booking.

Which locations are included?

The route includes Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commando Beach, and Payong-Payong Beach.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is listed as included, along with a motorized boat, licensed tour guide, life vest, first aid kit, and ice box.

Are snorkeling equipment and hotel transfers included?

The information is inconsistent. One description says snorkel gear and transfers are included, while the detailed lists say snorkeling equipment and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Confirm both points before departure.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather.