El Nido Boat Tour: Private Tour A
Boat tours
There are many companies that operate boat tours in the area. We went with Ape Tours and spoiler alert, it was one of the greatest experiences of our lives. They aren’t paying us to say this but it’s safe to say that we HIGHLY recommend Ape Tours, but if you use another service you will likely have a similar experience.
El Nido has many small islands with pristine beaches and incredible lagoons. It’s impossible to see all of them in one day, so you will have to choose a tour that fits your preferences. All companies offer four options with a variety of schedules. We chose tour A which focuses on lagoons, beaches, and snorkeling. Other tours focus on coves, caves, and island shrines. Regardless it’s impossible to have a bad time.
A typical El Nido boat tour lasts most of the day so do not plan any activities until late evening. Ours started at 9 am and we didn’t get back until after 4 pm. Ape Tours provides a large lunch, and free drinks throughout the day. They also provided a few guides that had cameras and go pros to take photos of us all day, many of which you’re seeing in this blog. The guides not only helped with kayaking, snorkeling, and lunch, but they also came along to tell us about the history, nature, and preservation of the area. They were all so nice and very knowledgeable and did an amazing job helping us. The boats have toilets and provide towels and snorkels (though you might want to bring your own if you’re worried about sharing).
TIP: Be sure to bring a USB so they can transfer the pictures to you at the end!
Private or standard
Standard boat tours have about 15 people, which can comfortably fit on the large boats. The cost is about ₱1,600 per person, which is about 30 USD. For an all-day tour with food, guides, and equipment, we think this is a total steal. It would be a bit silly NOT to go on such an amazing experience if you’re already in the area.
You can do a private boat tour and get everything to yourself. The offerings are the same, but of course, you get to decide when to come and go from destinations. You also get all of the food to yourself, and exclusive access to the guide for information and pictures. The cost is much higher at ₱16,000 which is 270 USD. It’s definitely pricier, but considering it is all day and can cover however many people are in your group, it’s likely you would spend a similar amount on a normal vacation day anyway.
There are genuine benefits to booking standard and private tours. Of course, the cost difference is large. If you’re seriously stretched on money this splurge probably isn’t worth it because the standard tour is already so great. Public tours also allow you to meet new people and share the experience, which can really enhance tours like this. That being said, having an entire boat to yourself with its crew focused only on you is a luxury experience. Because we were celebrating our engagement from the day before we chose to book a private tour.
Big Lagoon
Our first stop on the tour was Big Lagoon. This is a world-famous lagoon with massive sheer cliffs and incredible kayaking. Big lagoon is the most common El Nido boat tour stop, and for good reason. The water here is clear and warm, making it perfect for swimming. The entrance to the lagoon has a shallow sand bar where people wade and enter kayaks, and the inside has deep beautiful water with mangroves, coves, and rocky caves.
As soon as we entered we were blown away. The limestone cliffs tower into the sky like nothing I have ever seen before. Ape Tours provided us with kayaks and life jackets, and our guides accompanied us to take pics and vids as we spent a few hours exploring the lagoon. Our tour guide told us the 2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series was held here due to the perfect weather and water conditions.
As we went along we entered tight ravines with amazing rock formations. We also got an up-close look at a mangrove forest where our guide explained the importance they play for the ecosystem. At the other end of the lagoon is Small Lagoon, where we saw a rare endangered Blacktip Reef Shark, whose population has been falling in recent years. We were struck by the sheer beauty of Big Lagoon, it was more than we expected. If the tour ended here we’d be happy, but we were just getting started.
Secret Lagoon
Next was Secret Lagoon. You’ll never guess what makes this spot special. When we came up to the lagoon we were met with a sheer cliff and nothing else. As we waded closer, a very small crevice revealed itself, which our tour guide slipped inside. We swam through up to our neck in water and found ourselves on the other side with the most spectacular 360 views we’ve ever seen.
I shouldn’t have to explain why this is so awesome. We swam around in shock, and suddenly it started to pour rain. We had just entered so we didn’t want to leave, but everyone else quickly left. As quickly as it came the rain subsided and we found ourselves completely alone in one of the most iconic lagoons in the Philippines. We jumped from rocks into the ocean and had an amazing time swimming around enjoying the peaceful nature until the rest of the groups returned to the lagoon.
Shimizu Island
Shimizu Island is a normal island compared to the last two. It’s a small forested island with a secluded beach on the east side facing the main island. What makes this place special is LUNCH! We booked a private tour, meaning we had the lunch all to ourselves. They started cooking it on the boat while we were at Secret Lagoon, and kept cooking for several hours. We were simply not prepared for what they presented us with.
It was a legendary feast. Fish, shrimp, squid, chicken adobo, sisig, spring rolls, apples, pineapple, watermelon, and oranges. We could hardly believe our eyes. After hours of swimming and kayaking, you can not understand how incredible this tasted. Everything was perfectly delicious, and we had really worked for it, so it was one of the most memorable meals of our lives. The “cherry on top” was the message “thank you maam sir” on the pineapple. I can’t believe they prepared such an amazing meal on a boat!
Snorkeling at Payong Payong Beach
After refueling our bodies we made our way to Payong Payong beach. Around the beach (and really everywhere in this region) are massive reefs with lots of wildlife to see. They gave us snorkels and we set off for the next few hours. We saw everything you can imagine from sea stars to anemones, parrotfish, and clownfish.
I’m not a great underwater photographer so you’ll have to excuse the mediocre pics, but believe me when I tell you this was an unforgettable experience. There were fish and sea life at every turn, and if you’re experienced enough to go deeper (we highly recommend you bring flippers!) you can see even more massive fish colonies and coral towers. It’s just something you have to experience yourself to understand
Seven Commandos Beach
To end the tour we stopped at Seven Commandos Beach. Most of the El Nido boat tour options stop here to end the day. While not the most striking nature, this is definitely the best beach on the tour. With perfect swimming conditions, lots of shady palms, and tons of white sand stretching for hundreds of yards, it was the perfect way to end the trip. We played a pickup game of volleyball with some locals, and our tour guide joined in as well.
On clear days this would be the perfect way to watch the sun set at the end of the tour, however, some rain clouds rolled in and a storm surged and pounded the beach. In places like this, rain comes and goes frequently so we expected it to quickly disperse, however, it never stopped. We realized that we would have to leave and we were getting quite cold in the rain, so our guide recommended we get in the warm water while we waited for the boat to come. I will never forget bobbing up and down in the rain storm, getting even more wet to stay warm. When our boat arrived we enjoyed one last epic ride through the storm as we made our way back to shore.
Final Thoughts
If you haven’t guessed already, this is one of the best excursions we’ve ever done. Every aspect was handled perfectly and professionally, and we had more fun than thought possible. We loved Ape tours, and our guide was amazing. He even took me into town on his motorcycle in the pouring rain to find an ATM after we realized we were short on cash. We can’t recommend doing an El Nido boat tour enough!
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