El Nido Islands & Cave Tour: Cathedral Cave, Snake Island & more

Cathedral Cave's light-filled chamber and four island stops in one morning boat run

A private nine-hour island-hopping tour from El Nido covering Snake Island, Cathedral Cave, Cudugnon Cave and Entalula Island, with stops at Lagen and Pinagbuyutan islands en route. Hotel pickup at 8:30 am, all entrance fees, bottled water, and an English-speaking guide are included. Vegetarian and vegan meals available on request.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Snake Island2h 30m · entry included
2. Cathedral Cave1h 30m · entry included
3. Entalula Island2h · entry included

El Nido island and cave exploration

• Hotel pickup at 8:30 am
• Trek on Snake Island
• Explore Cathedral Cave
• Visit Cudugnon Cave
• Relax on Entalula Island beach
• Pass by Lagen Island
• Pass by Pinagbuyutan Island
• Relax on Papaya Island

The experience

The boat leaves your hotel at 8:30 am and heads first to Snake Island, where you trek across a narrow strip of sand connecting two rocky outcrops. From there the route moves to Cathedral Cave, where the boat enters a chamber carved into limestone cliffs and light reflects off the water to create the cave's namesake effect. The afternoon takes you to Cudugnon Cave, an archaeological site with geological formations, then to Entalula Island for swimming and beach time on powder-fine sand.

The tour passes Lagen Island, recognizable by its steep limestone cliffs and resort nestled into the forest, and Pinagbuyutan Island, whose tall cliffs rise dramatically from the sea covered in greenery. You finish at Papaya Island to watch the day wind down. The whole route covers the Bacuit Archipelago's mix of inhabited and uninhabited islands, with snorkeling in clear water and time to move between stops without rushing.

Private transportation means the boat and guide are yours alone, and pickup from your hotel is included. You choose your departure point at checkout (Nacpan Beach, Puerto Princesa, or El Nido itself), so the route adapts to where you're staying. The nine-hour span gives the tour room to linger at each stop without cutting the day short.

What’s included

• All entrance fees to the islands and caves.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• private round-trip hotel pickup at 8:30 am.
• English-speaking tour guide for the full nine hours.
• vegetarian and vegan meals on request.

Options for this experience

3 options

El Nido Islands & Cave Tour - Tour B (Private and All-Inclusive)Guide in English · 08:30Pickup is included

Pickup at Nacpan BeachGuide in English · 08:30Includes pickup from Nacpan Beach

Pickup from Puerto PrincesaGuide in English · 08:30Includes pickup from Puerto Princesa

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ForeverVacation

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a private boat and guide for the day, since the fixed route covers four major stops and two scenic island passes in a single nine-hour run without the pace of a larger group.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Cathedral Cave like when you get there?

Cathedral Cave is a chamber inside limestone cliffs where the boat enters the water and light bounces off reflective surfaces to create a serene, cathedral-like atmosphere inside the cave.

Can I swim and snorkel on this tour?

Yes. You dive into clear waters and snorkel among marine life at multiple stops, with time to swim at Entalula Island's beaches.

Does the tour include meals?

Bottled water is included throughout the day. Vegetarian and vegan meals can be arranged on request. Other food is not mentioned in the standard package.

Where does the boat pick me up?

You choose your pickup point at checkout: Nacpan Beach, Puerto Princesa, or El Nido. The boat collects you at 8:30 am and returns you to the same location after nine hours.

What is Cudugnon Cave?

Cudugnon Cave is an archaeological site with significant anthropological interest, known for its geological formations and prehistoric intrigue.