Upon your arrival to El Nido Island in Palawan Philippines, you will be faced with a tough decision. You and your travel companions will have to decide whether to take Tour A, Tour B, Tour C or Tour D. All the companies offer these same tour options with similar itineraries. But in this article, I'll be detailing why you should choose Tour A for your El Nido adventure!
Reason 1: The best beaches
In the video below, you will see the stunning white sands, clear waters and fabulous snorkeling that you will encounter on your Tour A adventure!
Seven Commando Island
Tour A starts with a bang by bringing you to one of Palawan's most picturesque beaches, Seven Commando Beach. Your boat will anchor on a long stretch of sand adorned by coconut trees and topped with the classic limestone mountains that the Philippines are famous for! You get 45 minutes at this location to use your free mask and snorkels (included in your tour) to observe the life underwater, as well as the life above! On the beach, a few friendly stray dogs will say hello to you as you sip your fresh coconut juice - or harder drink - which are both available to enjoy for about $1 USD!
This is also enough time to wait in line for the beach swing! This attraction is free, but donations are accepted by the locals for their assistance in getting you into the swing, which starts high in a tree! Both my husband and I participated in this swing and it was blast!
There are many theories as to where this beach got its name: some say it's after seven soldiers who were stranded on the island during WWII, others say it's named after a fishing vessel that was called Seven Commando that got left in El Nido waters. Whatever the reason, it's a gorgeous beach island paradise that should be on your bucket list!
Shimizu Island
Shimizu beach is usually one of the middle stops in Tour A because this is where the free included homemade buffet lunch is served. While the local guides cook freshly caught fish on their boats, you have some time to explore! This island is not as large as Seven Commando, but it has some of the most beautiful corals and fish you will see on this tour! My husband and I had a great time interacting with the tiny curious fish that said hello to us as we floated with ease on the warm salt waters.
After some swimming and tanning, your epic meal will be served! We received a custom fruit platter (with "El Nido" inscribed in watermelon), fresh crab, fish, mussels, shrimp, greens, potatoes, rice and more! Just the meal alone would be worth the price of the whole tour, which is only about $20 USD per person! WOW!
Reason 2: The best lagoons
In my previous blog article and previous Lagoon YouTube Video, I discuss the amazing lagoons that you see on your Tour A adventure. The Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon are the most famous Instagram hotspots in all of Palawan! This is due to the fact that you can kayak through the lagoons, which allows for some amazing photography in between the majestic limestone mountains. Read the blog article to learn all about these famous lagoons that are the star of Tour A.
Reason 3: It's the most popular tour
We've all heard the phrase "if all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?" Usually the answer would be no, but in this case, your friend's are all jumping off of, snorkeling in, and swimming through the most beautiful cliffs in the world! Sometimes popularity is frowned upon because "everyone's doing it," so that in turn makes it invalid. BUT I believe that if it's not broke, don't fix it! If many travelers have done the same research as you and most have come to the conclusion of choosing Tour A, then don't reinvent the wheel! Give yourself a break and go with the crowd, just this once!
El Nido Tour A Information:
Schedule:
9am - 4pm
Itinerary:
Seven Commando Island, Shimizu Island, Miniloc Island, Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon (The order of destinations depends on the weather and route your tour guides take)
Cost:
1200 PHP or about $20 USD per person
What's Included:
Masks and Snorkels, Towels, Buffet Lunch, Water
What's NOT Included:
Water shoes, alcohol or other beach drinks, kayak rentals
What to Bring:
A dry bag, a waterproof camera, and extra cash! Click here for my Amazon packing list for this excursion.
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