El Nido Highlights Tour: Big Lagoon & Helicopter Island Lunch

Big Lagoon's cliffs frame the view from inside a kayak, not from the shore.

An eight-hour island-hopping tour in El Nido, Palawan, aboard a private boat with a licensed English-speaking guide, visiting Big Lagoon, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island, Hidden Beach and Seven Commandos Beach. The tour includes hotel pickup within El Nido Town Proper, lunch, bottled water and soft drinks. Kayak use and entrance fees are booked separately at checkout.

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in El Nido Town Proper and heads straight to Big Lagoon, the signature stop on this route. The lagoon sits inside Miniloc Island, ringed by limestone cliffs that rise straight from the water. You enter by boat and can paddle a kayak through the narrow opening to float beneath the rock faces, or stay aboard to take in the formation from the water. The light filtering through gaps in the cliff tops hits the turquoise water in a way that photographs rarely capture from land.

From there the boat moves through Secret Beach, a cove backed by tall limestone cliffs with a cave passage you can swim through, then to Seven Commandos Beach, a white-sand stretch with clear water and a beach bar. Helicopter Island comes next (named for the shape it takes from above), where the sand is pale and the water shallow enough to see the coral and marine life without diving. Hidden Beach, the final stop, sits in a secluded pocket behind towering rock formations, with a peaceful sandy beach and abundant coral just offshore. Lunch is served partway through the day, and the tour wraps by late afternoon.

Your guide is licensed and speaks English throughout. The boat and crew are private to your group, and the operator includes soda, bottled water and lunch in the price. Kayak rental and the Big Lagoon entrance fee are optional add-ons you arrange at checkout. The full day runs eight hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Private boat and crew for your group.
• English-speaking licensed guide.
• hotel pickup within El Nido Town Proper.
• lunch.
• bottled water and soft drinks.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Child (4 to 6 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Live guideEnglish

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 9.37

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by El Nido Adventure Tours

Is this one for you?The eight-hour pace means an early start and a full day on the water, so it suits travelers with a clear block of time and comfort in a boat. If you want to add kayaking or prefer a shorter route, those are separate choices at checkout.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 6 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is Big Lagoon actually like when you get there?

Big Lagoon is a lagoon inside Miniloc Island, enclosed by limestone cliffs that rise from the water. You enter by boat through a narrow opening, and the cliffs frame the view from the water itself. The formation has appeared in films and drone photography for its natural structure, and kayaking through it lets you float directly beneath the rock faces.

Can I swim and snorkel at the stops, or is it just viewing from the boat?

You can swim at the stops. Secret Beach has a cave passage you can swim through, Helicopter Island has shallow water and coral to explore, and Hidden Beach is a sandy beach with coral offshore. Snorkeling gear is not mentioned in the inclusions, so bring your own or ask the operator about rental.

Does the tour include pickup from my hotel?

Pickup is included from hotels within El Nido Town Proper. If you're staying outside the town center (such as in Lio or Nacpan), you can arrange pickup at checkout for an additional fee.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes the private boat and crew, English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, lunch, bottled water and soft drinks. Kayak rental costs 400 pesos per kayak and fits a maximum of two passengers. The Big Lagoon entrance fee is separate. Both are optional and booked at checkout.

How long is the full day, and what time does it end?

The tour runs eight hours from pickup to return. Exact start and end times depend on your hotel location and the operator's schedule. Confirm those details when you book.