It’s solely pure to count on a vacation spot to vary, particularly if acquired extra standard and the inevitable growth creeps in. El Nido is a kind of locations the place I’ve seen change since visiting the place a number of occasions since early 2000 and even lived briefly as a neighborhood. Just lately, I used to be capable of return as quickly because the pandemic restrictions began easing. Except for doing the El Nido Cover Stroll, I used to be capable of be a part of the El Nido Island Hopping Tour A. I observed and noticed some minor adjustments in how they do the excursions lately since I final visited.
El Nido Island Hopping Excursions
There are 4 El Nido Island Hopping Excursions accessible and every of them had a set of highlights. These are the up to date ones from my final go to within the final quarter of 2022.
- Tour A: Huge Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, 7 Commandos Seaside (Worth – P1,200)
- Tour B: Pangulasian Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave (Worth P1,300)
- Tour C: Helicopter Island, Secret Seaside, Hidden Seaside, Matinloc Shrine, Star Seaside (Worth P1,400)
- Tour D: Small Lagoon, Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Cove, Nat Nat Seaside, Bucan Seaside, Paradise Seaside (P1,200)
Whereas these are the usual excursions, it’s potential to mix excursions for the day.
One main change from my final tour right here is that they separated the entry to the Huge and Small Lagoons. Earlier than you’ll be able to entry each lagoons in Tour A. Now the Small lagoon is included in Tour D.
Stunning to see Pangulasian island in Tour B. Earlier than, they not enable the general public on this non-public resort island. I wasn’t capable of take tour B so I wasn’t positive if they permit vacationers to land on the island or simply snorkel alongside its waters.
Except for the tour charges, there’s a P200 environmental price for every customer to El Nido.
All excursions at the moment are launched on the port in Barangay Buena Suerte. They use a floating dock system right here for the boats. I believe it is a welcome change and extra organized. Earlier than, guests board boats from the primary seaside or close to the resorts the place they’re billeted. Coastguards are additionally strict in checking the variety of individuals on the boats and carrying life vests.
The Guides
Essentially the most important change I observed right here is the guides and boatmen. I suppose loads of them went via “Tour Information Coaching” right here as they now have set scripts. That’s one other welcome growth as they brush up their information of the islands and share it with guests. Their photographic expertise are leveled-up too. At the very least now they know easy methods to take respectable vacationer photographs and trick pictures. Although a bit of draw back right here is the advised experiences on a number of the websites which I’ll element later.
El Nido Island Hopping Tour A Websites
I gained’t delve a lot into the main points of the excursions as I had extensively shared them earlier than however will simply share what adjustments or what I observed from the tour.
Seven Commandos Seaside
The Seven Commandos Seaside was the primary cease of the tour. We got here simply in time and we had this good stretch of seaside all to ourselves. It’s nonetheless spectacular with an exquisite backdrop of the Taraw Cliffs. I observed there have been cottages on what appeared to be a personal resort. There have been additionally some “photographic set-ups” there for vacationers.
I used to be additionally glad to see various the endemic Palawan Hornbills and Slender-billed Crows close to the rock face. The few individuals there don’t appear to note them and I suppose are oblivious to their significance.
Shimizu Island
Our lunch and snorkeling cease is at Shimizu Island. Lunch on these journeys was at all times a deal with as boatmen and their cooks can get inventive with the presentation of their meals. These guys didn’t disappoint.
What I loved most was the snorkeling and freediving as I used to be with a bunch of freedivers. We had period of time underwater.
Secret Lagoon
There’s a substantial quantity of crowd throughout our island hopping day. I observed it extra after we visited the Secret Lagoon as we needed to wait some time to get contained in the lagoon. It’s the identical outdated lagoon however made extra “thrilling” because the guides added actions for vacationers. Guests have been requested to create a circle and do a round group swim whereas the information takes a photograph and video from a excessive perch on the limestone rocks.
Huge Lagoon
One of many important adjustments right here, as I discussed earlier, is the non-inclusion of the Small Lagoon on this tour. One other is that outriggers or tour boats are not allowed to go inside the large lagoon. That’s one other welcome growth for me. This fashion, it lessens the influence on this waterway.
As a substitute of bringing the boats in, there at the moment are rental kayaks simply on the entrance of the lagoon passage. I had been seeing the kayak leases throughout my final go to however now they carried out the leases because the obligatory means to discover the lagoon. Rental is P300 per kayak which will be shared by two.
Since I take pleasure in kayaking, I preferred that they supplied this selection for guests. It permits guests to discover the large lagoon at their very own tempo and time.
Island Hopping Suggestions
The EL Nido Island Hopping tour lasted round 7–8 hours. We have been again earlier than 5 PM within the afternoon. Some ideas earlier than becoming a member of the tour:
- Waterproof your stuff. Finest to make use of a dry bag when island hopping because the experience will be splashy at occasions.
- Convey solely what you want like sunblock, devices, energy financial institution, shades, hat, and so forth
- Convey some snacks and additional water. Whereas a meal and snacks are supplied on tour, it might be good to have snacks that you simply wish to nibble on between island journeys.
Ferdz Decena is an award-winning journey photographer, author and blogger. His works has discovered print in publications equivalent to Singapore Airways’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airways’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has additionally lent his experience to varied organizations just like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Basis, Save the Kids and World Imaginative and prescient, contributing high quality photographs for his or her advertising supplies.