If you have got landed on this web page, you already know that you’ve 4 choices for island hopping in El Nido – tour A, B, C, or D, and are most likely questioning if tour B is value your time.
El Nido is a well-liked vacation spot, and regardless of which island hopping tour you be part of, you’re sure to share the day with a variety of different individuals. I’m completely satisfied to report that in contrast to the favored tour A and tour C, tour B is a bit on the under-the-radar aspect, and is subsequently your alternative to go on a bunch tour with out the gang.
I visited El Nido in November 2022, and joined tour A, B and C throughout my 5-day keep. Here’s my trustworthy assessment on the tour B that can assist you determine if it’s for you:
How to Book El Nido Tour B:
I booked all of my El Nido excursions by means of Klook, which I extremely suggest, as I didn’t must spend anymore time on the lookout for a bunch tour while on the journey. Because of that, I used to be in a position to plan my days forward of time, and in case you are a Type A like me, you’d respect that, too.
I used to be stunned to see that the tour is marketed at a better value on the island, which, whereas I’m certain is negotiable, I very a lot favor to have had it booked forward on-line. El Nido can be a really money based mostly city, so in the event you guide the tour in particular person, you’re most probably to must pay in money. Speaking of which, come to El Nido with adequate money! Even although there appear to be loads of ATMs on the town, they don’t all the time work. Currency trade charges are very poor – I discovered that the exhausting means.
How Much is El Nido Tour B?
El Nido Tour B itself prices $18.89, and in contrast to tour A & C, didn’t require any extra entrance or kayak rental charges. If you want to hire a snorkel and masks, it’s an extra 150 PHP (about $3). There’s additionally a obligatory environmental charge 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.
It ended up being the most affordable tour I took on El Nido, and although it’s marketed as a 4-5 hour tour on the reserving web site, it ended up taking the entire day from 8:30am – 4:30pm.
El Nido Tour B Itinerary:
Hotel switch isn’t included on this tour. You can prepare for a tricycle trip 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 might depart anytime between immediately to an hour later, relying on the coastal guard clearance. This is the fact of group excursions, don’t let it spoil your day! Once you board the boat, you’re required to placed on a life jacket to ensure that 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: Pinagbuyatan Island (half-hour)
Unfortunately, the day began with fairly a little bit of rain for us, however that didn’t cease me from having enjoyable! Pinagbuyatan is an isle that’s well-known for its limestone formations that had been shaped hundreds of years in the past. I loved swimming within the rain and monkeying all around the limestones by the seashore. We additionally had the seashore all to ourselves for a very good quarter-hour. This is one thing to remember when island hopping – you may’t management the climate, so simply make the perfect out of it, no matter it’s!
Second Stop: Papaya Beach (half-hour)
I’ve to confess that I do not know why is that this seashore named after papaya. The tour information did defined however I used to be too busy placing my water footwear on to leap within the water as a result of fortunate for us, the sky cleared and the solar was out! The seashore presents a mixture of white sand, blue water and plush jungle perfection that appears straight out of a Hollywood film.
Third Stop: Cathedral Cave (quarter-hour)
El Nido Tour B is often known as the Cave Tour because it takes you to 2 completely different caves, and the Cathedral Cave is one in all them. This is a fast cease simply to search for into the cavern-like cave shaped within the cliffside of one of many islands – most tour boats are too massive to enterprise very far inside. We spent about quarter-hour right here for everybody to take flip to get footage earlier than heading to a different cave.
Fourth Stop: Cudugnon Cave (45 minutes)
To get to Cudugnon Cave, it is advisable squeeze by means of a tiny opening into full darkness and do a small climb as much as a well-lit cave. If you’re claustrophobic like me, the doorway may take a little bit of a psychological prep-talk, but it surely was very cool to take a look at the within of those limestone cliffs and get a unique standpoint of El Nido’s islands.
Fifth Stop: Lunch Spot (1 hour)
I didn’t catch the identify of this island, however we solely stopped right here for lunch. It is a longtime spot with bamboo huts and a basketball courtroom, good for lunch break and a fast recreation.
Sixth Stop: Snake Island (1 hour)
I later came upon that that is usually the very first cease for tour B, however I suppose in my case, the tour information needed to attend for the sky to clear to take us right here. Unfortunately, once we arrived at round 1:30pm, the tide was too excessive that the enduring sandbar was barely seen to us. That was simply our luck, however in the event you got here on a very good day, this can positively be the spotlight of the journey.
Snake Island is called for the lengthy sandbar that stretches from the island clear throughout to a different. There’s a fast hike as much as a viewpoint that you may take a bird-eye view of the sandbar from.
Seventh Stop: Snorkeling level (45 minutes)
This was an additional cease that was not included within the itinerary. I’ve a sense that the tour information needed to make it as much as us for the climate situation. We arrived at an exquisite seashore because the solar got here again out, and snorkeled above stunning corals and small fishes.
Is Tour B Worth it?
While I didn’t have the perfect expertise with tour B, it was completely due to the climate situation which is one thing uncontrollable. This tour doesn’t get as a lot love as Tour A or C however for me, it ticked the entire packing containers with sandbars, caves, and uniquely-shaped islands. Best of all, there weren’t as many individuals on Tour B, which was a pleasant distinction to the extra standard Tour A and C.
If you’re planning on doing 2 island hopping excursions on El Nido, I’d suggest selecting one between the favored A and C, and go on tour B for a change of state of affairs, and likewise a quieter expertise.
What to Bring on Your Trip
You will likely be out on the ocean the whole day, so it’s greatest to come back ready! Here’s the whole lot I introduced on my island hopping journey, they usually all match right into a 10L dry bag:
I hope this text offers you a transparent overview of what to anticipate on El Nido Tour B. If you have an interest in testing the opposite group excursions on El Nido, learn these subsequent: