This guide contains Klook affiliate links. If you book through them, Best Philippines Travel Guide may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Fees and routes change, so confirm with your tour operator and airline.
El Nido, at the northern tip of Palawan, is famous for limestone lagoons and island hopping on four standard boat routes, Tours A, B, C and D, at about ₱1,200–₱1,800 per person each. Every visitor pays a one-time ₱400 Eco-Tourism Development Fee, plus ₱200 to enter Big Lagoon (Tour A) or Small Lagoon (Tour D). To get there, take a van from Puerto Princesa (about 5–6 hours), or fly into El Nido’s Lio Airport, which since March 2026 is served from Clark, not Manila. Stay 3–4 days and visit in the dry season, roughly November to May.
Book your El Nido island-hopping tours before you arrive; peak-season boats fill up.
El Nido Tours A, B, C and D compared
| Tour | Main stops | Extra fees | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour A | Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commandos Beach | Big Lagoon ₱200, kayak rental | First-timers: the classic lagoon day |
| Tour B | Snake Island sandbar, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave, Pinagbuyutan Island | None usually | Caves, sandbars and views |
| Tour C | Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Helicopter Island, Talisay Beach | Matinloc Shrine about ₱200 | Snorkeling and hidden beaches; farthest route |
| Tour D | Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Cove, Paradise Beach | Small Lagoon ₱200, kayak rental | Quieter lagoons and beaches |
Joiner tours usually run about 9 AM to 4 PM with lunch and snorkel gear included, at about ₱1,200–₱1,800 per person. Exact stops can change with weather and lagoon slots.
Watch: El Nido in under a minute. Open on YouTube.
El Nido fees and costs (2026)
| Item | Approx. cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF) | ₱400 per person | Paid once, usually valid for 10 days; keep the receipt. Raised from ₱200 in 2024 |
| Big Lagoon entrance | ₱200 | Tour A; advance slot required |
| Small Lagoon entrance | ₱200 | Tour D; advance slot required |
| Kayak rental | About ₱150–₱600 | Needed to enter Big and Small Lagoon |
| Joiner island-hopping tour | About ₱1,200–₱1,800 | Per person, per tour, lunch included |
| Van from Puerto Princesa | About ₱600–₱900 | Each way, shared van |
| Lio Airport to town | About ₱200–₱400 | Tricycle or shuttle |
Fees are cash only in most cases and are not included in joiner tour prices. Bring enough pesos, since ATMs can run out. See money in the Philippines.
How to get to El Nido (2026 update)
| Route | How | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Via Puerto Princesa (cheapest) | Fly from Manila or Cebu to Puerto Princesa, then a shared van north | About 5–6 hours by van | Van about ₱600–₱900 |
| Direct flight to Lio | AirSWIFT to El Nido’s Lio Airport, now flying from Clark (not Manila’s NAIA since March 2026), with some flights from Cebu | About 1–1.5 hours | Higher fares; book early |
| From Coron | Fast ferry or multi-day boat expedition | About 4 hours by ferry | Varies |
See our domestic flights guide, the El Nido to Coron boat expedition and our ferry guide.
Things to do beyond the boat tours
- Nacpan Beach A long, quiet golden beach about 45 minutes north of town, with the famous twin-beach viewpoint. See our glamping guide for Nacpan Beach Glamping.
Nacpan Beach, north of El Nido town. - Las Cabañas Beach El Nido’s best sunset spot, with beach bars and a zipline to a small island.
Sunset at Las Cabañas Beach. - Duli Beach A wild, surf-friendly beach farther north, quiet outside peak season.
- Kayaking and paddleboarding Rent a kayak in town to explore nearby coves on your own.
- Diving El Nido’s reefs and walls suit beginners and experienced divers alike, with dive shops in town.
3-day El Nido itinerary
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive, pay the ETDF, then sunset at Las Cabañas Beach. |
| Day 2 | Tour A: Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon and Shimizu Island. |
| Day 3 | Tour C for snorkeling and hidden beaches, or a Nacpan Beach day. |
With a fourth day, add Tour B or D. Continue to Coron for a 7–10 day Palawan trip; see our Philippines itinerary guide.
Best time to visit and where to stay
- Best time: the dry season, roughly November to May, brings calmer seas. Tour C is often canceled in rough weather from June to October.
- El Nido town: the most choices for hotels, restaurants and tour pickups; can be busy and noisy.
- Corong-Corong: quieter, with sunset views near Las Cabañas.
- Nacpan and the north: peaceful beach stays and glamping, farther from tour pickups.
Planning a romantic trip? See our romantic getaways guide.
Add flights or the van, the ETDF, tours, lagoon fees and hotels in our free trip budget calculator.
Book El Nido and Palawan tours
Island hopping and Palawan tours. Klook bookings often include free cancellation.
El Nido travel guide: FAQ
How much is the El Nido environmental fee?
The Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF) is ₱400 per person, paid once and usually valid for 10 days. Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon each charge an extra ₱200 entrance fee.
Which El Nido tour is the best?
Tour A is the best for first-timers, with Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon and Shimizu Island. Tour C is best for snorkeling and hidden beaches, and Tour D is quieter, with Small Lagoon.
Is Small Lagoon included in Tour A?
No. Small Lagoon is now on Tour D, and Big Lagoon is on Tour A. They can’t be visited on the same trip, and both need an advance slot and a ₱200 entrance fee.
Can I fly directly to El Nido from Manila?
Not anymore. Since March 2026, AirSWIFT’s direct flights to El Nido’s Lio Airport depart from Clark instead of Manila’s NAIA. From Manila, most travelers fly to Puerto Princesa and take a 5 to 6 hour van.
How do I get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido?
Shared vans run from Puerto Princesa to El Nido in about 5 to 6 hours, for around ₱600 to ₱900 each way. Private vans and buses are also available.
How many days do you need in El Nido?
Three to four days is ideal: enough for two or three island-hopping tours and a beach day at Nacpan or Las Cabañas.
When is the best time to visit El Nido?
The dry season, roughly November to May, has the calmest seas. From June to October, rough weather can cancel tours, especially Tour C.
How much does an El Nido island-hopping tour cost?
Joiner tours cost about ₱1,200 to ₱1,800 per person, with lunch and snorkel gear included. The ETDF and lagoon or shrine fees are paid separately.
Lagoons, limestone cliffs and white-sand islands. Book your El Nido tours early for peak season.
Cebu-born travel writer raised between Cebu and Dumaguete, now based in Zamboanga del Sur, Mindanao. Gio writes Best Philippines Travel Guide to help travelers plan the islands with confidence.