Island Hopping in El Nido Tour C - Adventuring on Palawan
Island hopping is the most popular activity in El Nido on Palawan Island in the Philippines. Read our guide on what you can expect on boat tour C. Tour C is by many considered the best island hopping tour in the area, and it is for sure a thing you can't miss when in El Nido.
We said that many times and would say it again and again. El Nido on Palawan Island in the Philippines has its rightful place among one of the most beautiful places in the world. Although this country has so many (thousands actually) islands to visit, this destination stands out just as omnipresent limestone cliffs towering from the water.
One of the best ways how to see the most what El Nido has to offer is island hopping.
There are several tours combining the most beautiful spots in the area, named A, B, and C, and it is hard to choose only one as all of them offer a place which will make you want to visit it. Tour C belong among the by far most popular tours, and although the Philippines as a country suffer at some areas from over tourism, we cannot keep this natural gem for ourselves.
It is anyway no secret anymore that island hopping tour A, tour B and C are a must-do activity, something you can't miss by no means when in El Nido.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO ON ‘C’ TOUR
Island hopping tour C offers an amazing mixture of beautiful sandy beaches, superb snorkeling, and pretty islands, so no wonder why this tour is one of the best things you can experience on this island.
Here you can read about all the places you will visit on tour C, and decide whether it is worth your precious time.
HELICOPTER ISLAND
Right the first stop (or the last) on tour C is the most famous one.
Helicopter Island earned its typical name because it resembles the shape of a helicopter you can best admire from the side when arriving on a boat. But it is not only the shape what makes from Helicopter Island such a unique stop. It is mainly the stunning beach where you can laze around and crystal clear water where it would be a shame not to enjoy exceptional snorkeling.
MATINLOC SHRINE
On this stop, you will visit an abandoned shrine with a few statues which is not very impressive, but you should also have time to climb a bit to a viewpoint with a vista we would die for. There are many spooky stories and legends about Matinloc Shrine, ask your guide if he can share more with you.
HIDDEN BEACH
It is hard not to fall in love with Hidden Beach, even though there were more people than we found comfortable.
It is one of the nicest spots in El Nido, but you need to swim to get there through the stone entrance, and you will emerge in a shallow little cove. Take your snorkeling set. The only disadvantage is that everyone wants to see Hidden Beach, even non-swimmers, so the place is full of people with lifejackets or people holding a rope.
TAPIUTAN ISLAND
Tapuitan Island serves as a lunch spot, but it is yet another pristine beach where you can chill out, hide in a shade and relax, sunbathe or snorkel.
STAR BEACH
Star Beach is a perfect snorkeling spot with a great reef to see fish and corals. Overall, we were surprised by how wonderful snorkeling in El Nido was, despite so many tourists. It was one of the best underwater experiences we've ever had.
HOW TO BOOK 'C' ISLAND HOPPING TOUR
Tour C is similarly popular as tour A, so be ready that many people have it on the Philippines itinerary. That's being said, we believe you should be able to secure your spot on a boat even only one day before departure day. Shop around El Nido and choose whichever travel office is likable for you as all agencies offer similar services and same program.
In case you want to arrange everything for your holiday in advance, you can do it via this link.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
HOW MUCH 'C' ISLAND HOPPING TOUR COST
The C island hopping tour is a bit specific, as distances between places are bit longer, so you will spend a bit more time on a boat, and this fact must be projected in the rate. This is the reason why you need to pay a bit more for this tour, 1400 PHP per person.
Lately, the government has set fixed prices, and every agency in town should offer the same price (or at least not lower price).
You also need to pay the additional environmental fee 200 PHP per person which is usually not included in the price offered on the streets or online, but you pay it only once, and you can use it for any other tour within ten days.
FOOD ON 'C' TOUR
No matter what tour you choose, one thing is sure - you won't be hungry.
Lunch is usually composed of fish, pork or chicken, mussels, vegetables, fruit, and rice. Everything is prepared fresh on the boat, and the combination of great food and picturesque settings (we usually ate on very charming islands), is unforgettable.
Drinking water is usually included but ask in the office when booking the tour to make sure you don't need to bring your own.
GROUP TOURS VERSUS PRIVATE TOURS
It is never easy to decide whether it's worth paying three or four times more for a private tour, or if it is sufficient to take a regular group tour.
In the case of island hopping in El Nido, from our point of view, we advise you to save money here and splurge on something else. Private tour C cost anything between 5000 PHP to 6500 PHP, but what we see as a problem is a fact, that even you are alone on the boat (or it is you and your friends or family), you will be always following the same schedule as other groups.
You might be able to ask the boat captain to do the tour in reverse order or to stay at some places a bit longer than at others, but you will be still meeting other boats, and we think the risk that your tour won't be exactly private is high.
WHERE TO STAY IN EL NIDO
El Nido was once a small fishing village, but the word about its beauty has already spread out. Nowadays, almost no Philippines itinerary is complete without visiting Palawan and El Nido, that's why you can find here many hotels and hostels for every budget trying to satisfy the high demand.
Budget | ElBimbo Travellers Lodge - If you are looking for a clean private room with private bathroom and traveling on a budget, this is the place to go. Wifi also works well, which you should not take for granted in this part of the world.
Mid-range | Amakan - Bed | Bunk | Breakfast - Centrally located hotel offers a wide range of accommodation, great breakfast, air-conditioning, comfortable beds, and helpful staff. Best value for your money in El Nido.
Luxury | Panorama Resort - Excellent rooms set on a private beach are the main reason why to spend your time in this resort. This place has a modern look, offers an outdoor swimming pool and great food as well.
Alternatively, search for your accommodation via Hostelworld.
WHAT TO PACK FOR EL NIDO ISLAND HOPPING
You don't need to bring much for island hopping near El Nido, but here are a couple of things we think are essential to pack as the tour lasts 8 hours.
Waterproof Bag | This is our favorite water-resistant bag we use to protect our electronics during water activities.
Snorkel Mask & Fins | You can rent snorkeling gear for 150 PHP, but we think it pays off to have own not only because it is more hygienic, but also rented equipment is not often in the best quality.
Water Bottle | El Nido works to cut down on single plastic use, but ask your tour operator if drinking water is included. If yes, take your own reusable water bottle.
Phone Waterproof Case | We don't know anyone who leaves the phone on the room when setting off for a day trip, so buy a waterproof case to protect your phone.
GoPro | Adventure underwater camera is perfect when traveling around the Philippines as snorkeling is perfect here.
Sunscreen | Sun is way too strong in Asia, especially when you spend all day in the water, so having a quality sunscreen is a must.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
