El Nido Island Hopping Tours A and C in One Day by Speedboat

Big Lagoon and Secret Lagoon

Miniloc Island holds two of El Nido's most famous sights. Big Lagoon is a wide emerald basin enclosed by sheer limestone cliffs, explored by kayak since engines are not allowed inside; kayaks can be rented on site. Nearby, Secret Lagoon is a small pool of calm water hidden behind the rock face, reached by squeezing through a low opening in the cliff, a favourite moment for photos.

Entry to Big Lagoon follows time slots and a fee paid locally, and Secret Lagoon is an optional stop on this route. Expect about an hour at Big Lagoon and thirty minutes at Secret Lagoon. Is Big Lagoon worth visiting? It is the defining image of El Nido, and the speedboat helps you reach it earlier than most traditional boats.

Hidden Beach and Secret Beach on Matinloc

Matinloc Island, on the western edge of Bacuit Bay, is the heart of El Nido Tour C. Hidden Beach is a cove of white sand and green water tucked between towering limestone walls, reached by wading through a gap in the rocks; it is excellent for snorkelling at the entrance. Secret Beach lies behind a narrow opening in the cliff, and you swim through it to find a small enclosed beach, possible only when the sea is calm.

Expect about forty minutes at Hidden Beach and thirty minutes at Secret Beach. Matinloc Shrine, a hilltop chapel with a viewpoint over the sea, can be visited on request with a fee paid locally. Water shoes are helpful on the sharp rocks, and the crew always helps guests through the openings.

Helicopter Island

Helicopter Island, properly called Dilumacad Island, earned its nickname from its outline, which looks like a helicopter when seen from El Nido town. It has a long white-sand beach backed by limestone and a reef just offshore with corals, giant clams and plenty of reef fish, making it one of the most popular swimming and snorkelling stops of Tour C.

You spend about thirty minutes here, enough for a swim, a snorkel and photos of the island's cliffs. Please do not touch or stand on the corals and use reef-safe sunscreen. The best time to visit El Nido for clear water at Helicopter Island is the dry season from December to May, when the bay is usually calm and the visibility excellent.

Seven Commandos Beach

Seven Commandos Beach is a broad stretch of soft sand lined with coconut palms on the coast of Bacuit Bay, with shallow, calm water and limestone cliffs rising behind. Its gentle slope makes it perfect for children and relaxed swimmers, and it is a pleasant place to end the day with an hour of swimming and lounging in the shade.

Lunch is served earlier at a secret stop chosen by the crew: a freshly prepared island lunch of grilled fish or chicken, rice, vegetables and fruit. Halal food is limited in El Nido, but fish and vegetable meals are easy; tell us your needs when booking. From the beach you also have a fine view back across the bay towards the islands visited during the day.

Why a speedboat for El Nido island hopping

Traditional El Nido tours use wooden outrigger boats and cover one lettered route per day. A speedboat moves much faster between islands, so you see the highlights of Tours A and C in about seven hours, with more time in the water and less on the boat. Fuel and docking fees, a passenger manifest and trip clearance are handled by the crew.

The shared speedboat leaves once a day at 8:00 and you travel with other guests; the private option gives your group the whole boat and earlier start times. The ride can be bumpy in choppy water, so it is not recommended for people prone to seasickness. From June to November the Coast Guard may suspend trips for safety; we move your date if that happens.