El Nido Island Hopping Price 2026: What Indians Pay
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-18
A standard shared El Nido island hopping tour costs PHP 1,400 per person for the full-day A, B, C, or D route. Lagoon entrance fees, the PHP 200 environmental fee, kayak rentals, and lunch push the real day cost to PHP 2,000 to 2,800 per person. This article breaks down every peso, the bargaining window at Corong-Corong, and what Tour A vs Tour D delivers for first-timers. For related planning, see our guide on Sea Backpacking Hub.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Shared tour (A/B/C/D) | Per person, full day | ₹2,358 (~1,400 PHP or ~$24.91) |
| Private boat (4 pax) | Per boat, full day | ₹11,792-₹15,161 (~7,000-9,000 PHP or ~$124.55-$160.14) |
| Environmental fee | One-time, 10-day validity | ₹337 (~200 PHP or ~$3.56) |
| Big Lagoon entrance | Per person | ₹337 (~200 PHP or ~$3.56) |
| Small Lagoon entrance | Per person | ₹337 (~200 PHP or ~$3.56) |
| Hidden Beach entrance | Per person | ₹168 (~100 PHP or ~$1.78) |
| Kayak rental (Big Lagoon) | Per person, ~30 min | ₹842 (~500 PHP or ~$8.90) |
| Lagoon access via kayak (Small) | Per person | ₹337 (~200 PHP or ~$3.56) |
| Lunch on tour | Included in shared | 0 PHP |
| Verified FX rate | 1 PHP ≈ ₹1.94 | , |
Verified against operator rate sheets from three Corong-Corong boat stations and traveller reports from May 2026. You may also find How to Travel to Philippines Cheap useful for this trip.
What Is El Nido Island Hopping?
El Nido sits on the northern tip of Palawan, about 420 km southwest of Manila. The town is the jump-off for Bacuit Bay, a limestone archipelago of around 50 islands, islets, and lagoons. “Island hopping” here means a full-day boat tour with 4 to 5 stops for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, and beach lunch. The Department of Tourism has formalised four standard routes, called Tour A, Tour B, Tour C, and Tour D. Each one covers a different cluster of islands and is sold as a packaged day trip from the boat stations along Corong-Corong beach. See also: How to Travel Abroad Cheap.
Tour A vs Tour B vs Tour C vs Tour D: What’s Different
| Tour | Best for | Stops | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour A | First-timers, lagoons | Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, 7 Commando Beach | Easy |
| Tour B | Snorkellers, beaches | Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Cathedral Cave, Cudugnon Cave, Entalula Beach | Easy |
| Tour C | Wilder scenery, fewer crowds | Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Hidden Beach, Star Beach, Cadlao Lagoon | Moderate |
| Tour D | Quietest, Cadlao-focused | Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan Beach, Natnat Beach, Bucalogo Beach | Easiest |
Tour A is the headline route. Big Lagoon is the postcard image every El Nido article uses, and for most Indian travellers arriving in Palawan, this is the day. Tour B is the snorkel-heavy day, with clearer water and reef fish. Tour C trades lagoon glamour for dramatic cliffs at Matinloc and a genuinely quiet Hidden Beach. Tour D is the softest, mostly around Cadlao Island, picked by people who want to skip the crowds and aren’t fussed about the famous lagoons. For related planning, see our guide on How to Travel Cheap.
Travellers report Tour A and Tour C are the two you cannot skip. Tour B is the pick if you snorkel well. Tour D is the one to add if you have a spare day.
How Much Each Tour Costs (Shared Boat)
These are the standard shared-boat prices quoted at Corong-Corong boat stations in July 2026.
| Tour | Price (PHP) | Price (INR) | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour A | 1,400 PHP | 2,720 | Boat, guide, lunch, mask/snorkel |
| Tour B | 1,400 PHP | 2,720 | Boat, guide, lunch, mask/snorkel |
| Tour C | 1,400 PHP | 2,720 | Boat, guide, lunch, mask/snorkel |
| Tour D | 1,400 PHP | 2,720 | Boat, guide, lunch, mask/snorkel |
The base price is identical across tours because the boats and crew are the same; only the route changes. Lunch is usually grilled fish, chicken, rice, and fresh fruit, prepared on a beach stop. Vegetarian travellers should flag it the night before; operators will swap fish for tofu and extra vegetables at no charge, but it’s not always automatic.
Private Boat Pricing
A private boat makes sense if you are 4 or more, want your own pace, or cannot stand the idea of 20 snorkellers elbowing you at Secret Lagoon. Prices below are full-day, including crew, fuel, lunch, and gear.
| Boat Size | Capacity | Price (PHP) | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bangka | 4 pax | 7,000 to 9,000 PHP | 13,600 to 17,500 |
| Medium bangka | 6 to 8 pax | 9,000 to 12,000 PHP | 17,500 to 23,300 |
| Large bangka | 10 to 15 pax | 12,000 to 18,000 PHP | 23,300 to 35,000 |
For a group of 4 friends, private beats shared. The math works out to 2,250 PHP per person on a 9,000 PHP small bangka, and you get your own itinerary. For 2 people, the shared boat usually wins on value.
The Fees Most Articles Forget
The PHP 1,400 tour price is the headline, but it does not cover three things every traveller has to pay on the day. Miss these and your day cost blows up.
Environmental Fee (PHP 200)
Every visitor pays a PHP 200 eco fee at the boat station before boarding. It is separate from the tour price, charged by the municipal government, and not included in any operator’s quote. Keep the receipt: it is valid for 10 days, so if you book Tour A on Monday and Tour C on Thursday, you only pay once.
Lagoon Entrance Fees
Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, and Hidden Beach each have their own access charge collected by boatmen at the lagoon entrance. These are official municipal fees, not tips.
| Lagoon/Beach | Fee (PHP) | Fee (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Lagoon | 200 PHP | 390 |
| Small Lagoon | 200 PHP | 390 |
| Hidden Beach | 100 PHP | 195 |
Small Lagoon is the one most often skipped: the swim-through entrance is shallow and tight, and many tours skip it altogether. Big Lagoon is non-negotiable. Hidden Beach only shows up on Tour C.
Kayak Rental
Big Lagoon is too long to swim end-to-end, and the inner sections are the entire point. Two options: paddle in on a kayak, or hire a small paddler boat. Both are priced per person, per session.
| Option | Price (PHP) | Price (INR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kayak (Big Lagoon, ~30 min) | 500 PHP | 970 | Two-person kayak, same price |
| Paddle boat (Big Lagoon) | 300 to 500 PHP | 580 to 970 | Per boat, ~20 min |
| Kayak entry (Small Lagoon) | 200 PHP | 390 | Cheaper because shorter paddle |
Travellers report the kayak is the single best spend on Tour A. The lagoon stretches over a kilometre, and the inner rock formations are unreachable by boat.
Real Day Cost: What You Pay
Putting it together for a solo traveller doing Tour A on a shared boat:
| Item | Cost (PHP) | Cost (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Tour A (shared) | 1,400 PHP | 2,720 |
| Environmental fee | 200 PHP | 390 |
| Big Lagoon entry | 200 PHP | 390 |
| Small Lagoon entry | 200 PHP | 390 |
| Kayak (Big Lagoon) | 500 PHP | 970 |
| Drinks/snacks on boat | 100 to 200 PHP | 195 to 390 |
| Tip for boat crew | 100 to 200 PHP | 195 to 390 |
| Total | 2,700 to 3,000 PHP | 5,250 to 5,830 |
For Tour C with a private boat for 4:
| Item | Cost (PHP) | Cost (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Private boat (small, split 4 ways) | 2,250 PHP | 4,370 |
| Environmental fee | 200 PHP | 390 |
| Hidden Beach entry | 100 PHP | 195 |
| Lunch upgrade (private boats offer more) | 0 PHP | 0 |
| Drinks/snacks | 100 to 200 PHP | 195 to 390 |
| Tip for crew | 200 to 300 PHP | 390 to 580 |
| Total per person | 2,850 to 3,050 PHP | 5,540 to 5,925 |
A four-tour hop (A, B, C, D) on shared boats for one person, with the eco fee paid once, runs around 7,500 to 9,000 PHP across the four days, or roughly ₹14,500-₹17,500 (~$150.41-$181.53). That is the realistic budget for a week of island hopping.
Step-by-Step: Booking Tour A From El Nido Town
- Decide on a route the night before. Most operators sell out the morning boats by 7 AM. Walk along Corong-Corong beach the evening before, compare two or three, and book in person for cash discounts.
- Confirm inclusions. Shared price includes boat, crew, lunch, mask and snorkel, life vest. It does not include the environmental fee, lagoon fees, or kayaks. Ask explicitly.
- Pay cash in PHP. Cards are accepted at the air-conditioned offices on the main road but you get hit with a 3 to 5 percent surcharge. ATMs in town dispense PHP, and they work with Indian debit cards from HDFC, ICICI, SBI, and Axis without issue.
- Show up at 7:30 AM at the boat station. Boats depart between 8 and 9 AM. Latecomers get left.
- Pay the eco fee at the station counter. PHP 200, cash, keep the receipt.
- Pay lagoon fees at each stop. Boatmen collect at the entrance. Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon are 200 PHP each.
- Hire kayak at Big Lagoon. Park boats tie up at the kayak station, you pay 500 PHP, paddle in for 30 minutes.
- Tip the crew. PHP 100 to 200 per person is standard. They work hard.
Where to Eat (Before and After the Tour)
Breakfast and dinner matter, because the boat lunch is functional, not memorable. These are the spots around El Nido town that Indian travellers consistently rate well. For veg food specifically, see our vegetarian Indian food survival guide.
- Piece of Sky El Nido (rating 4.7): rooftop, best for a proper sit-down dinner with a view after a long boat day. Local Filipino mains, decent veg options.
- Brunch El Nido (rating 4.7): the obvious breakfast stop before the boat. Egg dishes, pancakes, smoothie bowls, coffee.
- Cloud 9 Elnido (rating 4.8): chill café for the post-tour iced coffee and wifi. The view is good enough to sit and do nothing.
- Ver De El Nido (rating 4.8): local cuisine with a view, worth booking for one proper Filipino dinner during your El Nido stay.
- The Funny Lion - El Nido (rating 4.8): upscale Filipino, good for the last-night splurge when you are sunburnt and exhausted.
What to Do on Land (Half-Day or Rest Days)
The tours are full-day. You will have mornings, evenings, and at least one rest day in a 4-tour week. These activities fill that time:
- El Nido Beach (rating 4.4): the main town beach, sunset swim when you have no energy left. Book El Nido Beach tour.
- Buhay Isla Ecotour - El Nido (rating 5): guided eco-tour of El Nido’s natural beauty, the right pick for a half-day inland break. Buhay Isla Ecotour - El Nido tour.
- Osaka Castle El Nido (rating 4.6): historical stop if you have any interest beyond the lagoons. Book Osaka Castle El Nido tour.
- El Nido Zipline eastbound (rating 4.5): the eastbound zipline is the day’s adrenaline hit. El Nido Zipline eastbound tour.
- El Nido Adventures 360° (rating 4.9): 360-degree adventure tours, the right pick if standard boats feel tame. El nido Adventures 360° tour.
- Bacuit Bay Tour Floating Dock 1 (rating 4.7): the actual jump-off dock if you want to see where boats launch. Bacuit Bay Tour Floating Dock 1 tour.
- El Nido, Sibaltan: Local Organic Farm Tour & Product Tasting (rating 4.5): inland day, farm and tasting in Sibaltan. El Nido, Sibaltan: Local Organic Farm Tour & Product Tasting tour.
Common Mistakes Indians Make on El Nido Tours
- Booking online from Manila at inflated rates. Indian travel sites and Airbnb Experiences list Tour A at 2,200 to 2,800 PHP. Walk-in at Corong-Corong is 1,400 PHP. Book on the ground.
- Forgetting the PHP 200 environmental fee. It is not in the tour price and is collected at the boat station. No receipt, no boarding.
- Paying the lagoon fees twice. Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon are separate. If a tour does both, you pay both. Ask before boarding.
- Skipping the kayak at Big Lagoon. The kayak gets you the inner lagoon, which is the entire point. The swim-in alternative is exhausting and most people turn back halfway.
- Not flagging vegetarian diet for lunch. The default lunch is fish and chicken. Vegetarians get either nothing or a sad plate of rice. Tell the operator the night before.
- Carrying heavy luggage on the boat. Small bangka decks are tight. Pack a dry bag with towel, sunscreen, waterproof phone case, and reef shoes. Leave the rest at the hostel.
Bargaining at the Boat Station
Boat station prices are softer than they look. Three honest rules from traveller reports:
- Group up to 4 and ask for a private bangka rate. A 4-person private small bangka is 7,000 to 9,000 PHP, which works out cheaper per person than 4 shared tickets, and you skip the crowds. Most operators will match 8,000 PHP on the spot for a confirmed group of 4.
- Book 3 or more tours in one go. Operators will knock 100 to 200 PHP off per tour if you commit to A, B, C, or A, C, D as a package.
- Pay full cash up front. The 3 to 5 percent card surcharge disappears if you hand over PHP for the whole package.
What is not negotiable: the environmental fee (PHP 200, fixed by the municipality) and the lagoon fees (200 PHP each, also fixed). Skip trying to bargain on these; the boatman collecting them is doing a job for the LGU.
Getting Connected in El Nido
El Nido town has Globe and Smart signal on most of the main road, but signal drops to zero the moment you leave the bay. On Tour A, you will have no signal from 9 AM to 4 PM. The boat crews carry a working phone for emergencies.
For the town itself, pick up a Globe or Smart tourist SIM at Lio Airport on arrival. The 7-day tourist SIM runs PHP 50 for the SIM plus PHP 100 for a 5 GB data pack, valid for 7 days. If you would rather skip the airport counter, Get Nomad eSIM and activate before you fly in. Signal strength in El Nido town is similar between the two.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Buy a Globe SIM, not Smart, if you are doing day tours. Globe has better signal in the Bacuit Bay lagoon stops. Travellers report Smart dropping to G on Shimizu Island while Globe holds 4G.
Visa for Indians
Indians are visa-free for 30 days in the Philippines. The stay is extendable at any Bureau of Immigration office for PHP 3,030 per month. There is also a separate airport terminal fee of PHP 550 to 850 payable on departure from Manila or Cebu international terminals; this is not part of the visa and applies to all foreign passport holders.
Safety Notes
El Nido is one of the safer Philippine destinations for first-time visitors. Petty theft on boats is rare. The main safety issues are operational: weather (tours get cancelled in heavy southwest monsoon, June to September), jellyfish at certain beach stops (Matinloc Shrine beach on Tour C is the known one), and sun exposure on bangka decks with no shade.
⚠️ Safety Alert: The southwest monsoon (habagat) runs June to September. Tours C and D in particular get cancelled on bad-weather days, and boats can be rough. Book Tour A and Tour B first, leave C and D for later in your stay so you have flexibility. Check the Indian MEA travel advisory before you fly.
FAQ
Is El Nido island hopping worth the price?
Yes. The four tours are the only way to see Bacuit Bay, and the PHP 1,400 shared price is hard to beat for a full-day experience with boat, crew, and lunch. Tour A alone is worth the trip.
What is the cheapest El Nido tour?
Tour D on a shared boat, 1,400 PHP. It covers Cadlao Lagoon and the quiet beaches, all within 20 minutes of town, so fuel cost is lower, but operators charge the same as the other tours.
Can I do Tour A and Tour C on the same day?
No. Both are full-day routes departing at 8 AM. You need a separate day for each.
Should I book a private boat or shared?
For solo or pairs, shared is the better deal. For 4 or more, private is comparable in price and far better in experience.
What is the best El Nido tour for first-timers?
Tour A. Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and 7 Commando Beach in one day. It is the postcard route.
Do I need to print my booking confirmation?
No. Operators write your name on a list. A photo of the confirmation on your phone is enough.
Are the lagoon fees official?
Yes. Big Lagoon (200 PHP), Small Lagoon (200 PHP), and Hidden Beach (100 PHP) are municipal fees, not tips. Keep the receipts if asked.
Subodh’s Take
El Nido island hopping prices in 2026 are honest, predictable, and almost identical across operators. The headline PHP 1,400 tour price has not moved much in two years; what has changed is the long tail of small fees (eco fee, lagoon fees, kayak) that quietly add another 600 to 800 PHP to your day. Budget for 2,700 to 3,000 PHP per day on a shared boat and you will not be surprised at the counter. The only real move is bargaining at Corong-Corong the night before, in cash, for a multi-tour package or a private boat at 4-up. Do that, and you save 10 to 15 percent across the week without any extra effort.
