El Nido 5-Day — All Four Tours, Nacpan & Taraw Cliff

Activities

1. 11:00 Arrive in El Nido (Lio Airport or Puerto Princesa van) 1h

   If you fly AirSWIFT to Lio Airport (ENI), it's a 10-minute drive into town. If you come from Puerto Princesa (PPS), the shared van is a 5-6 hour ride north — tiring and winding, so plan a relaxed afternoon.

   Cost: AirSWIFT $100-180 / van PHP 700-900 TIP: The van road is bumpy and vans drive fast — take a motion-sickness tablet and sit near the front. Withdraw plenty of pesos before arriving; El Nido's ATMs are unreliable. Book your inbound flight or van early in peak season.
2. 12:30 Hotel check-in + lunch in town 1h30

   Check in (town grid, Corong-Corong, or Las Cabanas) and grab lunch at a local grill. Maa's Grill does honest Filipino home cooking — adobo, sisig, grilled fish — at good value.

   Cost: Lunch $4-9 TIP: Confirm your hotel has a backup generator — brownouts are common. Drink only bottled water. Carry a power bank. Town is walkable in 15-20 minutes; tricycles cover anything farther.
3. 14:30 Book tomorrow's tour + walk the town 1h30

   Stop by your hotel desk or a town tour office to book Tour A for the next day, pay the one-time Eco-Tourism Development Fee (PHP 200, valid 10 days), and wander the small grid of shops, cafés, and the pier.

   Cost: ETDF PHP 200 + tour PHP 1,200-1,800 TIP: Book a day ahead — daily tourist numbers are capped and popular dates fill up. Keep the ETDF receipt for all your tours. Bring a dry bag, reef-safe sunscreen, and reef shoes for tomorrow.
4. 16:30 Las Cabanas Beach + sunset + zipline 2h

   Tricycle south to Las Cabanas Beach, El Nido's best sunset stretch — nicer sand than the town beach, casual beach bars, and a zipline running over the water. Settle in for the sunset over Bacuit Bay.

   Cost: Tricycle PHP 150-300 + drinks; zipline extra TIP: Arrive 45 minutes before sunset for a good spot. Agree your tricycle return fare and waiting time first. The zipline is a separate fee. A San Miguel or cocktail in the sand is the classic move.
5. 19:00 Dinner — Sea Slugs or Trattoria Altrove 1h30

   Back in town, choose Sea Slugs for grilled-in-the-sand seafood, or Trattoria Altrove for the town's best Neapolitan wood-fired pizza near the pier (expect a wait at peak times).

   Cost: $8-22 per person TIP: At Sea Slugs, seafood is by weight — confirm the price before grilling. Trattoria Altrove fills up fast, so go early. Cash is safest. Verify hours ahead, as they shift seasonally.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Boat departure for Tour A 30min

   Tour A is the classic, most-popular route. Boats gather at the town beach and head out to the Bacuit Archipelago's signature lagoons. Pickup is usually mid-morning after the fee check at the pier.

   Cost: Included in tour TIP: Take the earliest boat you can to beat the crowds at the Big Lagoon. Wear a rash guard and reef-safe sunscreen. Keep electronics in a dry bag. Life vests are provided and often required.
2. 09:30 Big Lagoon — kayak through the karst walls 1h30

   The iconic stop: kayak (or wade at low tide) into the Big Lagoon, where sheer limestone cliffs rise from shallow emerald water. The most photographed spot in El Nido.

   Cost: Lagoon fee PHP 200 + kayak ~PHP 150 TIP: In peak season (Mar-May) it gets very crowded with boats — an early start helps a lot. Kayak rental and the lagoon entrance are small extra fees. Conditions change with the tide; follow your guide.
3. 11:30 Secret Lagoon + Shimizu Island lunch 2h

   Squeeze through a small opening into the enclosed Secret Lagoon, then stop at Shimizu Island for the included beach barbecue lunch — grilled fish, chicken, rice, and fresh fruit.

   Cost: Lunch included TIP: The Secret Lagoon entrance is a low gap in the rock — easy with care. Tell your guide in advance if you're vegetarian. Snorkel the reef off Shimizu while lunch is prepared.
4. 14:00 Small Lagoon + Seven Commandos Beach 2h30

   Snorkel and kayak the Small Lagoon, then finish at Seven Commandos Beach — a long white-sand stretch with palm trees and a coconut stand — before heading back.

   Cost: Included in tour TIP: Small Lagoon is best explored by kayak. Seven Commandos is a relaxed finale — grab a fresh coconut. The boat usually returns to town by late afternoon (16:00-17:00).
5. 18:30 Sunset drink + dinner in town 2h30

   Rinse off, then a sunset cocktail at Republica Sunset Bar on Corong-Corong, followed by dinner. Happiness Beach Bar is great for a Mediterranean change of pace.

   Cost: $10-25 per person TIP: Republica is a short tricycle south of town — arrive before sunset. Happiness Beach Bar is strong for vegetarian/vegan. Verify hours ahead. Cash is safest.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Boat departure for Tour C 30min

   Tour C is the most scenic and adventurous route, reaching beaches tucked behind the karst and the best snorkeling stops of the four tours.

   Cost: PHP 1,400-1,800 + small site fees TIP: Quieter than Tour A. Bring reef shoes for the sharp limestone and a dry bag. Reef-safe sunscreen is essential. Life vests provided.
2. 10:00 Hidden Beach + Secret Beach 2h

   Both beaches are reached through narrow gaps in the rock — sometimes a short swim through an opening, tide-dependent. Dramatic, enclosed, and far quieter than Tour A's lagoons.

   Cost: Included TIP: Access depends on the tide — follow your guide through the rock openings. Strong snorkeling along the way. Don't touch the coral.
3. 12:30 Matinloc Shrine + Helicopter Island lunch 2h30

   Climb to the Matinloc Shrine viewpoint (small fee) for a panorama, then a beach barbecue lunch and snorkeling around Helicopter Island.

   Cost: Lunch included; shrine small fee TIP: The shrine viewpoint is a short, rewarding climb. Helicopter Island snorkeling is among the trip's best. Tell the crew if you're vegetarian.
4. 15:30 Return + rest + town evening 3h

   Back to town late afternoon. Rest, then dinner in town — Gusto Grill for a seafood platter or Trattoria Altrove for pizza.

   Cost: $8-22 per person TIP: A lower-key evening after two boat days. Verify restaurant hours ahead. Rehydrate well after a full day in the sun and salt water.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 05:30 Optional: Taraw Cliff sunrise scramble 2h30

   For the fit and adventurous, an early guided scramble up Taraw Cliff above town for a panorama over El Nido and Bacuit Bay. Sharp limestone requires a guide, gloves, and sturdy shoes.

   Cost: Guide PHP 500-800 TIP: Go with a guide — it's a real scramble, not a walk, and risky alone. Skip it if wet (slippery and dangerous). Gloves and grippy shoes essential. Start before dawn to beat the heat.
2. 09:30 Tricycle to Nacpan Beach 1h

   Tricycle (or scooter) about 45 minutes north to Nacpan Beach — a 4km stretch of golden sand that's far quieter than the lagoons. A relaxed beach day after the boats.

   Cost: Tricycle PHP 1,000-1,500 RT TIP: Agree the tricycle fare and waiting time first. The road is rough and partly unpaved. Bring cash, water, and sunscreen — facilities are basic.
3. 11:00 Swim, relax + Twin Beaches viewpoint 3h

   Swim and laze on the golden sand, then walk up to the Twin Beaches viewpoint where Nacpan meets the neighboring cove — a classic photo spot.

   Cost: Free TIP: Nacpan is the antidote to busy island-hopping. The Twin Beaches hike is short and worth it. Watch for currents when swimming.
4. 14:00 Beach-shack lunch + sunset 3h

   Lunch at a beach shack (grilled fish, fresh fruit), then linger for the late-afternoon light before heading back, or stay for the sunset if you arranged a later return.

   Cost: $5-12 TIP: Nacpan sunsets are lovely and uncrowded — but confirm your tricycle will wait, as it's dark and remote after sundown. Bring a flashlight.
5. 19:00 Dinner in town 1h30

   Back in town, a relaxed dinner — Sea Slugs for grilled seafood in the sand or Happiness Beach Bar for Mediterranean.

   Cost: $6-16 per person TIP: Verify hours ahead. Cash is safest. A quieter night to recover before tomorrow's tour or departure.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Tour B, Tour D, or a dive day 30min

   Round out the archipelago with Tour B (Snake Island sandbar, Cudugnon Cave, Entalula Beach) or Tour D (Cadlao Lagoon and beaches) — both quieter than A and C — or book a dive trip if you're certified.

   Cost: PHP 1,200-1,500 / dive $40-60 TIP: Tour B's Snake Island sandbar is a highlight at low tide. Tour D is the most relaxed. Choose based on what you've missed. Confirm your departure timing leaves a buffer.
2. 10:00 Island stops + snorkeling + lunch 4h

   Cruise the quieter corners of Bacuit Bay — sandbars, caves, and calmer beaches — with snorkeling and an included beach barbecue lunch.

   Cost: Lunch included TIP: These tours are mellower and less crowded — a relaxed finish. Tell the crew if you're vegetarian. Keep an eye on the time if departing today.
3. 15:00 Return + pack + souvenirs 1h30

   Back to town mid-afternoon. Last-minute souvenirs, a mango shake, and packing.

   Cost: $3-10 TIP: Confirm your transfer to Lio Airport or the van to Puerto Princesa. Keep pesos for the ride. Build in extra time — schedules run on island time.
4. 17:00 Departure (Lio Airport or PPS van) 1h30

   Fly out from Lio Airport (10-minute drive) or take the van back to Puerto Princesa (5-6 hours) for an onward flight.

   Cost: AirSWIFT $100-180 / van PHP 700-900 TIP: For a PPS connection, only attempt a same-day onward flight if it's well into the evening, given the long road. AirSWIFT from Lio is the low-stress option.

Meal Recommendations