Planning a trip to El Nido usually leads to one big question. Do you book Tour A or Tour C? Both routes take you to beautiful places. Both offer clear water and tall rocks, but they give you very different experiences. It is easy to get stuck trying to decide. You only have so much time and money, and you want to make the right choice.

Many people look for Philippines Palawan tour packages just to see these specific spots. This guide breaks down both options for you. It explains what you see on each route, the boat rides, the swimming, and what you actually do at each stop. By the end, you will know which trip fits your travel style.

What to Expect on the Morning of Your Tour

The morning of your boat trip is always busy. You wake up early in El Nido town and usually eat a quick breakfast at your hotel. Then you take a tricycle down to the main beach or booking office. The streets are full of people doing the same thing.

When you reach the beach, there are hundreds of boats lined up in the water. You need to find your tour group, and your guide will take your name. You also pay a local environmental fee before boarding. This fee helps protect marine life and is collected in cash.

Then you wait. The coast guard checks the weather every morning and gives permission for boats to leave. Sometimes this takes time. Once cleared, you walk through shallow water to board the boat. Your feet get wet immediately, and the crew helps you climb aboard. After everyone wears a life jacket, the engine starts and the trip begins.

What to Pack for Your Trip

Packing right makes a huge difference for your day on the water. First, you need a dry bag. Regular backpacks will get completely wet. The floor of the boat is always wet. When you go out to swim, you need a place to leave your things. A waterproof dry bag keeps your phone and money safe.

Second, bring some cash. You need cash to rent kayaks. You need cash to buy a cold drink on the islands. You need cash for the environmental fee. There are no card machines on the islands.

Third, bring reef-safe sunscreen. Regular sunscreen hurts the coral reefs. You will be swimming near fragile marine life. You want to protect it as much as possible.

Finally, wear your water shoes from the start. Flip flops will float away in the ocean. Bare feet will get cut on the rough stones. Water shoes stay on your feet when you swim and protect you when you walk.

Understanding the Boat Trips: Tours A, B, C, and D

Deep Dive into Tour A: The Lagoon Explorer

The Big Lagoon is the absolute star of Tour A. It is a massive waterway surrounded by tall limestone cliffs. When your boat arrives, it cannot go all the way inside. The water at the entrance is too shallow. This means you have to use a kayak. You can rent a kayak right from your boat crew.

Kayaking into the Big Lagoon is memorable. You paddle through a narrow opening. The water here is light blue and very clear. Once you pass the entrance, the lagoon opens up. The water gets deeper and turns a dark, rich emerald green. The cliffs on both sides are huge. It feels very quiet and peaceful inside, even with other tourists around.

You can spend your time paddling near the rock walls. You can look down and see small fish swimming below your kayak. Some people stop and float in the middle just to look up at the sky. It takes some arm strength to paddle, but it is not a race. You can go at your own pace.

2. Squeezing into the Secret Lagoon

The Secret Lagoon is another major stop on this trip. This place is completely enclosed by rock walls. You cannot see it from the ocean at all. To get inside, your boat stops at a nearby beach. You get off the boat and walk through shallow water. Then, you find a small hole in a limestone rock wall. You have to wait in line to go through this hole.

You duck your head and step through the gap. Inside, you find a small pool of water surrounded by high cliffs. The temperature inside drops because the sun barely reaches the water. It feels a bit like a cave with no roof. The water is often cooler here than outside. It is a very unique space. Keep in mind that it can feel crowded inside because the area is small. After you take a look, you climb back out through the same hole.

3. Lunch and Fish at Shimizu Island

Most boats stop at Shimizu Island for lunch. The boat crew usually grills fish, chicken, and pork on the back of the boat while you travel. They set up the food on a small beach or on the boat itself. Shimizu Island has very nice white sand.

This is a good place to use that snorkeling gear you rented in the morning. The water around Shimizu Island is full of coral reefs. You can see many types of colorful fish. Sometimes you might spot a sea turtle if you are lucky. The water is calm, making it easy to float and look around. You can spend an hour here just eating and resting by the water.

4. Relaxing at Seven Commandos Beach

1. Finding the Hidden Beach

Hidden Beach is exactly what it sounds like. It is a beach you cannot see from the outside. Your boat approaches a solid wall of limestone cliffs. The captain drops the anchor in deep water. You have to jump off the boat and swim towards the rocks.

You swim through a narrow opening between two large cliffs. The water moving through this opening can be strong. Once you get past the rocks, the water becomes shallow and calm. You find yourself in a beautiful cove with white sand. The water is perfectly clear. It feels like you discovered a secret island. Swimming through the deep water makes arriving at the beach feel like a real reward. You definitely need water shoes here because there are sharp rocks near the entrance.

2. Discovering the Secret Beach

Secret Beach is similar to Hidden Beach, but it is even harder to get into. Your boat stops in the ocean again. This time, you have to swim through an actual hole in a rock wall while in deep water.

You have to time your swim with the waves. The guides help pull you through the hole. Once inside, you are in a small, enclosed beach. The sand is soft, and the water is warm. High cliffs surround you on all sides. It is an amazing place. However, it can be scary for people who are not confident swimmers. The water outside the hole is deep, and the waves can push you around.

3. Views from Matinloc Shrine

Matinloc Shrine is a very different kind of stop. It is an abandoned religious site built on an island. You get off the boat at a small dock. You can walk around the old, empty buildings. It feels a little strange and quiet.

The real reason to stop here is the view. You can climb up a steep set of stone stairs carved into the cliff. When you reach the top, you get a clear view of the channel between the islands. The water looks like blue glass. You can see the shapes of reefs under the water. It is one of the best places to take a wide picture of the ocean.

4. Snorkeling at Helicopter Island

Helicopter Island gets its name because it looks like a helicopter from far away. Helicopter Island has a long, beautiful beach. The sand is a bit thicker and more yellow than other beaches in the area.

The main activity here is snorkeling. The reef drops off sharply not far from the beach. This drop-off is home to many fish and sometimes small reef sharks or sea turtles. The water can be choppy, but the sea life is very active. It is a great place to use your snorkeling gear and explore underwater. You can also just relax on the beach if you are tired from swimming through holes all day.

Comparing the Two Routes Directly

Now let us look at how they match up against each other.

1. The Scenery Comparison

Tour A wins for dramatic landscapes. The lagoons surrounded by tall limestone cliffs are the classic image of the area. Tour C is still beautiful, but the focus is more on the destination rather than the massive cliffs around it. If you want the most iconic photos to show your friends, go with Tour A.

2. The Water Activities Comparison

Tour A is mostly about kayaking and wading in shallow water. You can rent a kayak and go at your own pace. Tour C is about swimming. You have to jump off the boat and swim into the attractions. If you love snorkeling and swimming in the ocean, Tour C is better. If you prefer to stay on top of the water in a kayak, Tour A is better.

3. The Crowds Comparison

Both tours are busy. This is a very popular travel spot. However, Tour A usually has more boats. The spaces on Tour A, like the lagoons, can feel full of kayaks. Tour C feels a bit more spread out. The locations on Tour C are harder to get into, which naturally limits how many people are there at once.

4. The Travel Conditions Comparison

Tour A stays closer to the main town and stays in protected waters. The boat ride is smooth. Tour C goes out into the open sea. The boat will bounce on the waves. Bad weather can cancel Tour C much more often than Tour A. If the wind is strong, the coast guard will stop Tour C boats from leaving the dock.

How to Make Your Final Choice

Choosing between the two depends entirely on what kind of day you want.

Ask yourself a few simple questions. Do you like kayaking? Are you traveling with small children? Do you want smooth boat rides? Are you mainly looking for great pictures? If you said yes to these, you should book Tour A. It is the easiest and most visually striking day out on the water.

Now ask yourself some different questions. Do you like swimming in deep water? Do you want to see better coral reefs? Do you like the idea of sneaking through holes in rocks to find a beach? Do you not mind a bumpy boat ride? If you said yes to these, Tour C is for you. It is a real adventure that requires some physical effort.

What if You Still Cannot Decide?

Some people try to do both routes. You can book Tour A on your first day and Tour C on your second day. This takes up two full days of your trip. It can also be very tiring. Being on a boat in the sun all day drains your energy. If you plan to do both, you should take a rest day in between.

Another option is to ask around town for a combo tour. Some private boat operators offer a custom trip. They might take you to the Big Lagoon from Tour A and the Hidden Beach from Tour C in one day. This costs more money, but it saves time.

Final Thoughts

You cannot make a wrong choice here. Both trips are amazing. You will see clear water, white sand, and huge rocks on either route. Do not stress too much about missing out. Just pick the trip that matches your comfort level and swimming ability.

Make sure you pack some water, put on sunscreen, and bring a good attitude. The boat trips are a full day of sun and salt water. Whichever route you take, you are going to see some of the most beautiful islands in the world. Just get your gear ready, hop on the boat, and enjoy the ride.