🚐 Morning Pick-Up
Your day starts with a hotel or designated meet-up point pick-up in El Nido town or nearby areas. You’ll be taken to the tour operator's office or the beachfront for registration. Here, you’ll settle the environmental fee (if not already paid), pick up your snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, life vest), and receive a short safety briefing.
Stop 1: Snake Island
First stop is the famous Snake Island, named for its winding sandbar that connects the island to the mainland during low tide. You can walk along this natural S-shaped path surrounded by shallow turquoise water. There's a short hike to a viewpoint offering panoramic views of the bay. Great for photos and relaxing in shallow waters.
Stop 2: Cathedral Cave
Next, you'll visit the mysterious Cathedral Cave, a large, open chamber inside a limestone cliff with high ceilings and cathedral-like rock formations. You can't always enter the cave (depending on tide and sea conditions), but boats can get close, and sometimes you can swim near the entrance to marvel at the cavernous interior. The deep blue water here is striking and often teeming with small fish.
Stop 3: Cudugnon Cave
Then head to Cudugnon Cave, a historically significant site believed to have been used as a burial site during the Neolithic period. You’ll crawl through a narrow opening to enter a limestone chamber filled with fascinating rock formations and cool air. This is both a cultural and natural experience—part cave exploration, part time-travel.
Lunch Stop: Pinagbuyutan Island
Next, enjoy a relaxing lunch at Pinagbuyutan Island, one of the most photogenic islands in El Nido, with dramatic limestone cliffs and swaying palm trees. The beach is long, quiet, and perfect for lounging or swimming while the boat crew prepares a fresh island-style lunch (usually grilled seafood, meats, rice, fruits, and vegetables). There’s also great snorkeling in the nearby reef.
Final Stop: Entalula or Tupulkan Beach
Your final beach stop will be either Entalula Beach or Tupulkan Beach, depending on conditions and tour routing:
- Entalula Beach: A small, pristine beach with white sand, clear waters, and dramatic limestone formations. Ideal for swimming, relaxing, or taking iconic postcard-style photos.
- Tupulkan Beach: A lesser-known alternative, peaceful and quiet, with powdery sand and shallow water. Great for solitude and last dips in the sea.
Return to El Nido
In the late afternoon, the boat returns to El Nido town. You’ll be dropped off at the beach or the tour operator’s base. From there, transfers back to your hotel are usually available, or you can stroll around town for a post-tour snack or massage.
