El Nido Snorkeling Tour: Secret, Hidden & Helicopter Islands

Limestone cliffs frame turquoise lagoons you reach through rock openings and narrow passages.

Tour C in El Nido is an 8-hour snorkeling and island-hopping day with a local guide, covering five stops: Helicopter Island for coral and marine life, Matinloc Shrine for cliffside views, Hidden Beach accessible through a small rock opening, Star Beach for calm waters, and Secret Beach tucked behind limestone cliffs. Hotel pickup and drop-off within El Nido town, buffet lunch on an island, life vest, and all entrance permits are included. The tour suits strong swimmers seeking secluded spots off the main routes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Matinloc Island40m · entry included
2. Star Beach40m · entry included
3. Hidden Beach40m · entry included

Explore El Nido's hidden beaches and snorkeling

• Visit Helicopter Island for snorkeling
• Explore Matinloc Shrine and cliff views
• Discover Hidden Beach lagoon
• Enjoy buffet lunch on the beach
• Relax and snorkel at Star Beach

The experience

Snorkeling in El Nido means moving between limestone islands, and Tour C strings together five of them in a single day. You start with Helicopter Island, a white-sand beach where the water is clear enough to see the coral gardens below. Matinloc Shrine sits on a cliff above turquoise shallows, mixing spiritual history with the view. Hidden Beach is the one you have to work for. A small rock opening is the only way through, and once you're inside, the lagoon is ringed by towering cliffs and nearly empty. Star Beach has the vibrant reef, thick with fish and coral. Secret Beach is the quiet end, a crescent of powdery sand tucked behind the cliffs where most boats don't go.

The boat carries small groups and the guide is a licensed local who knows where the fish are and how to read the tides. You get a life vest at no extra cost and can use it the whole day. Lunch is a buffet set up on one of the islands: local dishes, nothing fancy, but it arrives hot and there's enough of it. The 8 hours includes travel between stops, time in the water, and the meal. You're back in El Nido town by late afternoon.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you book the shared option. The private version lets you choose your own meeting point. Either way, you're not arranging transport separately or paying entrance fees at each island. Those are wrapped in.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within El Nido town.
• a licensed local guide.
• free life vest for the day.
• snorkeling at Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Hidden Beach, Star Beach and Secret Beach.
• buffet lunch on an island.
• all entrance fees, taxes and permits.

Options for this experience

2 options

El Nido Tour C including lunch and transfersGuide in English · 08:00Includes pickup

Private tour: El Nido Tour CGuide in English · 08:00Private tour: El Nido Tour C, pickup is included

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 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (3 to 80 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 6.34

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by PSALMS TRAVEL SERVICES

Is this one for you?Book the shared option if you're comfortable meeting other travelers and want the standard price. Choose the private tour if your group prefers its own guide and flexibility on timing. Both cover the same five islands and include lunch. The difference is who's on the boat with you.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3).

What's the water like for snorkeling at Helicopter Island?

Helicopter Island has crystal-clear water and coral gardens, making it one of the top snorkeling spots on the tour. The reef is accessible from the white-sand beach in shallow water, so you can spend as much time as you want underwater.

Can I visit Hidden Beach if I'm not a strong swimmer?

Hidden Beach is reachable through a small rock opening, and the lagoon inside is calm and shallow. A life vest is free with the tour, and the guide is there the whole time. The operator notes the tour suits strong swimmers, so check your comfort level with confined passages and swimming in open water before booking.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Lunch is a buffet set up on an island and features local delicacies. It's included in the price, and the boat stops at one of the islands so you eat on the beach.

How many people are usually on the boat?

The tour runs with small groups. The shared option keeps numbers manageable. The private option is just your party and the guide.

What time does the tour start and end?

The full day is 8 hours of exploration and relaxation. Hotel pickup happens in the morning, and you're back in El Nido town by late afternoon. Exact times depend on your hotel and the day's schedule. Confirm with the operator after booking.