El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beach through the cliffs

Swim through cliff passages to reach Hidden Beach and four more islands in one morning and afternoon

Island hopping tour in El Nido, Palawan, aboard a traditional Filipino outrigger boat (bangka), with a live English or Filipino-speaking guide. The tour visits five stops in eight hours: a beach shaped like a helicopter, Hidden Beach (reachable by swimming through cliffs), a limestone cove with underwater passages, Talisay Beach for lunch and snorkeling, and Matinloc Island's abandoned shrine complex with a 10-minute viewpoint hike. Lunch and park fees are included. Children from age 1 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Hidden Beach45m · entry included
2. Talisay Beach45m · entry included
3. Matinloc Island45m · entry included

Island hopping and snorkeling tour

• Visit sandy beach with cliff silhouette
• Swim through cliffs to Hidden Beach
• Swim through limestone crevice to secluded cove
• Snorkel at Talisay Beach and have lunch
• Explore abandoned shrine and viewpoint hike

The experience

You arrive in El Nido with a free day and no plan to rent a boat or navigate the Bacuit Archipelago on your own. This tour solves that: a guide meets you, takes you out on a bangka with a small group, and moves through five distinct stops (each one a different kind of island experience) without you having to arrange transport between them or figure out where to go. The boat does the work. You swim, snorkel, hike and eat.

The signature moment is Hidden Beach, reachable only by swimming through a narrow passage cut into the limestone cliffs. The itinerary also includes a beach whose silhouette resembles a helicopter (locals debate whether it looks more like a camel or a dolphin), a secluded cove with calm water and underwater swim-throughs, and Talisay Beach, where the group stops for lunch and snorkeling among colorful reefs. Matinloc Island rounds out the day: an abandoned shrine complex (a former convent and school) sits on the island with ghost stories attached, and a 10-minute hike leads to a viewpoint overlooking the archipelago.

The guide speaks English or Filipino, so you can follow the commentary and ask about what you're seeing. Lunch is included, as are the park entrance fees (ETDF and lagoon access). The tour runs eight hours, which means an early start and a full afternoon of water and island time. Snorkeling gear and swimming ability matter here. The caves and passages are the draw, but they require comfort in the water.

What’s included

• Lunch at Talisay Beach.
• park entrance fees (ETDF and lagoon access).
• transport by traditional outrigger boat (bangka).
• live guide in English or Filipino.
• five island stops including Hidden Beach, Matinloc Island's abandoned shrine, and snorkeling at Talisay Beach.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to14h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 75 years) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Filipino

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Elsa's Isle Travel and Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Filipino, so language is not a barrier to following the commentary and learning about each stop. The tour suits anyone comfortable swimming through narrow cliff passages and snorkeling, regardless of fitness level. Children from age 1 can join, though older children and adults should be at ease in the water.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Filipino.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years); Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Hidden Beach like when you swim through to reach it?

Hidden Beach is a tranquil cove reachable only by swimming through a limestone cliff passage, making it less crowded than typical island stops. The operator describes it as a photographer's dream, with calm water and a secluded setting.

What happens at Matinloc Island during the tour?

Matinloc Island holds an abandoned shrine complex (a former convent and school) with local ghost stories. A 10-minute hike leads to a viewpoint offering sweeping views across the islands.

What is included in the tour price?

Lunch and all park fees (the Eco-Tourism Development Fee and lagoon entrance fee) are included. Transport by bangka and guide commentary in English or Filipino are part of the booking.