El Nido Island Hopping Tour B with Snake Island and Caves

Bacuit Bay and the Tour B route

El Nido sits at the northern tip of mainland Palawan, facing Bacuit Bay, a protected seascape of jagged limestone islands, white beaches and clear green water. To manage visitors, the local government organises island hopping into lettered routes, and Tour B covers the southern and eastern part of the bay with more caves and long beaches than lagoons. Boats leave from the beach of El Nido town in the morning and are back by mid-afternoon.

Because most first-time visitors choose Tours A or C, Tour B is usually less crowded, which makes it a good second day in El Nido. Is El Nido Tour B worth it? If you like beaches with space around you, a little exploring on foot and a cave or two, it is one of the most rewarding days in the bay. The name El Nido means the nest in Spanish, after the swiftlet nests found high in these cliffs.

Snake Island

Snake Island is the star of Tour B. A long, curving sandbar winds from the island across the shallow water towards the mainland, looking like a snake from above. At low tide you can walk along it with turquoise water on both sides; at high tide parts of it are covered and you wade through warm, knee-deep water. Bring water shoes if you have them.

A short path of about ten minutes climbs the small hill on the island to a viewpoint where you see the full shape of the sandbar, the mangroves of the mainland coast and the islands of the bay behind. It is the best photo of the day, so take your time. Allow about an hour here for the walk, the climb and a swim from the beach.

Cudugnon Cave

Cudugnon Cave lies near the shore of the Palawan mainland, close to a quiet beach where the boat anchors. You enter through a low, narrow opening, crouching or crawling for a short stretch, before the passage opens into a cool chamber with rock formations and light filtering in from above. Archaeological finds made in the area show that these caves were used by people for a very long time.

The visit takes about thirty to forty-five minutes including the beach. The rocks can be slippery, so wear water shoes and move slowly; the guide will help you through the entrance. If you prefer not to crawl, you can relax on the beach instead. This stop gives Tour B its sense of adventure and is a favourite with older children.

Cathedral Cave on Pinasil Island

Cathedral Cave is on Pinasil Island, a tall limestone rock rising straight from the sea. The cave opens at water level, and on calm days the boat or a small paddle boat slips inside a vast chamber whose high walls and pointed ceiling recall the vault of a church, which gives the cave its name. Swiftlets nest in the cracks above, as in many of El Nido's cliffs.

Whether you enter depends on the tide and the swell; on rougher days the crew shows you the entrance from outside. Either way the cliffs of Pinasil are one of the most dramatic sights in Bacuit Bay. The best time to visit El Nido for this stop is the dry season from December to May, when the sea is calm in the morning.

Entalula Island and Popolkan Beach

Entalula Island has one of the finest beaches in the bay, a strip of soft white sand backed by limestone cliffs, with clear water and coral close to the shore for snorkelling. It is often where the crew sets up lunch: grilled fish or chicken, rice, vegetables and fresh fruit, served on tables in the shade. If you need halal or vegetarian food, tell us when booking; halal choices are limited in Palawan, but seafood and vegetables are easy.

Popolkan Beach is another relaxed stop, with gentle water and striking rock formations along the shore. Expect about an hour at each beach, with time to swim, snorkel or simply rest. These beach hours are why many travellers choose Tour B for a calmer day among the islands of the archipelago.