El Nido Tour C, Three Ways

Tour C runs further out than the other letters and gets rewarded for it: snorkelling off Helicopter Island, Hidden Beach behind its karst curtain, lunch on the sand at Star Beach, the eerie abandoned Matinloc Shrine with the short climb to its ridge viewpoint, and the swim-through entrance of Secret Beach. If you have two boat days, this is the second one.

What the Distance Means

The stops are spread along the outer islands, so the runs between them are the longest of the four letters and the water can be sportier. That is also why Tour C is the first tour suspended when the swell picks up, and why Secret Beach is entered only when the sea state allows it. Plan it for the middle of your stay rather than your last day, so a cancelled tour can be rebooked.

Joining Boat

The shared Tour C, from around ₱1,700 per person, departs at 9:00 AM sharp — the day runs further, so it starts on time — and is back at the dock around 5:00 PM, with the boat, crew, grilled beach lunch, life vests and pickup within the pickup area included.

Private Outrigger and Speed Boat

The private outrigger, from around ₱17,000 for two guests and around ₱2,000 per additional person, lets the crew reorder the outer stops around the conditions on the day — genuinely useful this far out. The speed boat, from around ₱27,000 for two, turns the long haul to the outer islands into a short one: snorkelling starts early, the boat takes a maximum of eight guests, and you are back at the dock around 3:00 PM.

Before You Book

Everyone pays the ₱400 El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee in cash at the stops — Tour C has no lagoon stop, so no lagoon entrance fee. Hotel drop-off is not included. If the swell grounds your Tour C day, Tour D near Cadlao is usually still running. Our comparison of Tours A, B, C and D sets out which pair to book, and Palawan month by month explains when the sea behaves. Every charter option is on the private boat tours hub.