This submit was written by Ashley Yap, BMTM’s Director of Brand Relations.
Planning an island hopping tour on El Nido may be pretty easy – you simply want to select one of many 4 that’s provided everywhere in the island. Each itinerary affords one thing a little bit totally different – tour A takes you to the well-known Big Lagoon, tour B to the Snake Island, tour C to the Helicopter Island and tour D, to the Cadlao Lagoon. I visited El Nido in November 2022, and joined tour A, B and C throughout my 5-day keep on the island. Here’s my trustworthy overview on the tour A that will help you determine if it’s for you:
How to Book El Nido Tour A:
I booked all of my El Nido excursions by Klook, which I extremely suggest, as I didn’t should spend any extra time on the lookout for a gaggle tour while on the island. Because of that, I used to be in a position to plan my days on the island forward of time, and in case you are a Type A like me, you’d respect that, too.
I used to be shocked to see that the tour is marketed at a better worth on the island, which, whereas I’m certain it’s negotiable, I very a lot desire to have had it booked on-line. El Nido can also be a really cash-based island, so in case you e book the tour in individual, you’ll probably should pay in money. Speaking of which, come to the island with enough money! Even although there appear to be loads of ATMs on the island, they don’t all the time work. Currency alternate charges are very poor… I realized that the onerous manner.
How Much is El Nido Tour A?
El Nido Tour A prices $18.55 on Klook, which is reasonably priced contemplating the lagoons and seashores you go to, in addition to a buffet lunch with extra dishes than you may think about. However, do word that you’ll want to pay an entrance price to the Big Lagoon (200 PHP or about $4), and a rental price for a 2-person kayak (300 PHP or about $5). If you need to hire a masks and snorkel set, it’s one other 150 PHP (or about $3). There’s additionally a obligatory environmental price to pay at 200 PHP, which is legitimate for 10 days and can be utilized for different excursions. These charges are collected in money solely. Definitely take these charges into consideration when planning your journey.
El Nido Tour A Itinerary:
Hotel switch is just not included on this tour. You can prepare for a tricycle journey for about 300 PHP to the meetup level, which is Klook’s counter at Jhanna’s Inn, earlier than 8:30am. Then, relying in your luck, your group could depart anytime between instantly to an hour later, relying on the coastal guard clearance. This is the truth of group excursions, so don’t let it spoil your day! Once you board the boat, you need to placed on a life jacket for the boat to depart. The tour information launched himself and the remainder of the boat crew, which include a prepare dinner, a captain, and two boatmen.
First Stop: Seven Commando Beach (1 hour)
I LOVED this seashore! Even although it was a crowded morning, the seashore was large enough to accommodate everybody. This lengthy white sand seashore encompasses a small bar that gives refreshing drinks and cocktails. I loved swimming within the glistening water and people-watching on the seashore. This space is thought for sea turtles, although I didn’t see any.
Second Stop: Shimizu Island (45 minutes)
Shimizu Island affords untouched pure magnificence nestled within the waters. Here is one other nice alternative for snorkeling, seeing beautiful corals and marine life, or simply kicking again and enjoyable on the white sand seashore. This island is a pure illustration of El Nido’s geological magnificence, boasting limestone cliffs lined with vegetation.
We had our buffet lunch served on this island. It consisted of two massive fish, prawns, scallops, pork, greens, and rice. There’s a little bit stall promoting recent coconuts and snacks in case you want any extras.
Third Stop: The Big Lagoon (1 hour)
The tour’s spotlight is the notorious Big Lagoon, which is characterised by stunningly deep blue water and large limestone cliff partitions. I rented a kayak and received a good exercise from paddling. The “entrance” waterway was jam-packed with individuals, however when you crossed over, wonderful cliffs encircling turquoise blue water await. You can get off the kayak and swim in it, too. Just be careful for sea urchins, that are often tucked in rocks. Definitely pile on sunscreen earlier than kayaking as a result of there isn’t a lot shade.
Final Stop: Secret Lagoon (half-hour)
The Secret Lagoon is not any secret in any respect, but it surely nonetheless made an attention-grabbing cease. You should duck and climb by a small opening right into a secluded lagoon virtually completely sealed off. The water in there was COLD! One can think about if mermaids hand around in such locations, although I have to admit that I used to be additionally questioning if anybody peed in there…
The boat then took us again to the pier, and it was a soothing journey watching the solar set as we made our manner again.
Book El Nido Tour A right here
Is Tour A Worth it?
Considering the itinerary, period, and meals, I’d say that tour A is completely value it. If I used to be touring with a gaggle of buddies, I’d have most positively organized a personal tour and cut up the price. However, that was not the case for me as a solo feminine traveler; due to this fact, becoming a member of a gaggle tour was the most cost effective technique to go to these locations. Obviously, customization is not possible with group excursions like this, however I totally loved all stops with this tour and wouldn’t have modified something. If you’re solely doing one island hopping tour on El Nido, I’d suggest this one, as you get a style of all the things, from seashores to lagoons.
It is the preferred itinerary among the many 4, so count on the boat to be fairly crowded. In my case, there have been 22 individuals on the boat. I didn’t thoughts it in any respect and loved assembly international and native vacationers. Please keep in mind your boat identify and board the boat on time after your time at every cease is up!
What to Bring on Your Trip
You can be out on the ocean the whole day, so it’s finest to return ready! Here’s all the things I introduced on my island hopping journey, and so they all match right into a 10L dry bag:
I hope this text provides you a transparent overview of what to anticipate on El Nido Tour A. If you have an interest in trying out the opposite group excursions on El Nido, learn these subsequent:
- El Nido Tour B overview (group tour)
- El Nido Tour C overview (group tour)
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