El Nido Tour D, Shared or Private

Tour D loops the beaches around Cadlao Island, the big green mass you see from town: the sheltered Cadlao Lagoon, a quiet snorkelling cove at Pasandigan Beach, lunch grilled on the sand at Ipil Beach, and short hops between the nearby coves all afternoon. The first stop is minutes from the dock rather than an hour away, so nobody has to rush.

Who It Suits

It is the least sold and least crowded of the four letters, and the sand at these stops is often shared with nobody. Short, calm runs make it the gentlest day for families with small children, for nervous swimmers, and for anyone whose fourth day in El Nido should not feel like an expedition. It will not amaze you the way the lagoons of Tour A do — but on a quiet afternoon with Cadlao Lagoon to yourselves, it quietly outperforms its billing.

The Weather Insurance

Because the runs are so short, Tour D is the letter most likely to still run on a marginal day when the outer-island tours are grounded. If a swell cancels your Tour C, this is usually the day still on the table — worth knowing when you are building an itinerary around one week of weather.

Joining Boat or Private

The shared Tour D, from around ₱1,550 per person, leaves at 9:00 AM and is back at El Nido Beach Boat Dock around 5:00 PM, with the boat and crew, the grilled beach lunch, life vests and hotel pickup within the pickup area included. The private outrigger, from around ₱15,500 for two guests and around ₱1,800 for each additional person, ties with Tour A as the least expensive private boat of the four letters and lets your group stay as long as it likes at whichever cove wins the day.

Before You Book

The ₱400 El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee is collected in cash at the stops, and hotel drop-off is not included — tricycles wait at the dock. Bring sunscreen, a towel and water shoes. Travelling with children? Our guide to Palawan with kids covers which boat tours actually work, and the Tours A, B, C and D comparison puts this letter in context. Every shared departure is listed on the joining boat tours hub.