El Nido, Philippines: island hopping Tours A and C
What the combined A + C tour in El Nido includes, which stops it makes, what lunch is like and which sunscreen to bring.
If one day sums up why everyone talks about El Nido, it's the island-hopping day. There are several tours and choosing well matters, because much of the experience depends on it. We did the combination of Tours A and C, and this is what it includes.
What the A + C combination is
It's the most complete tour in the area: a full day that merges the stops of two routes into one, with lagoons, hidden beaches and snorkeling in crystal-clear water. You leave by boat from the main port, and you get from the hotel to the port by scooter.
The stops
Among the stops are Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island and quite a few more. You sail between islands, swim in turquoise water and snorkel on reefs full of life, with scenery and white-sand beaches that look unreal.
Lunch
Lunch is usually included. In our case there was a stop at Secret Lagoon for a buffet of typical Filipino food prepared by local people, and the rest of the day is spent moving between islands.
Sunscreen: an important detail
Bring biodegradable sunscreen. At several stops on the tour they don't allow conventional sunscreen, to protect the reef.
Choose the combined tour rather than a single one. The difference in scenery and stops is huge.
How to plan the day
It's a full day, so don't plan anything for the afternoon. When you get back, the best thing is to wander through town, have an ice cream or a drink and eat dinner at a relaxed pace; there are hundreds of restaurants, many with live music. This is day four of our route, after arriving in El Nido from Manila.
Our recommendation
Book the A + C, bring cash and biodegradable sunscreen, and set out expecting to spend the whole day on the water. You'll find the complete route in our 14-day Philippines itinerary and what it costs in how much it costs to travel to the Philippines.
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