Palawan & El Nido

1. ~8:00aTropical breakfast by the sea

   Fresh mango, tropical fruit, and a Filipino breakfast with island coffee, the limestone karsts of Bacuit Bay rising from the water before you.

2. ~9:00aIsland-hopping Tour A: the lagoons

   By bangka boat into Bacuit Bay's famous Big and Small Lagoons — gliding into hidden, cliff-ringed pools of impossibly clear emerald and turquoise water.

3. ~11:00aKayak the Big Lagoon

   Paddle a kayak deep into the Big Lagoon's still, glassy water — the sheer karst walls towering overhead and the bottom visible far below.

4. ~1:00pA beach barbecue lunch

   The classic island-hopping lunch — fresh grilled fish, chicken, rice, and tropical fruit laid out on a deserted beach by the boat crew.

5. ~2:30pSnorkel & beach stops

   Afternoon stops at coral gardens and beaches — snorkeling over reefs full of fish, and swimming off powder-soft sand at hidden cays.

6. ~5:30pSunset over the bay

   Back to base for the sunset — the karst islands silhouetted against a blazing sky, the bay turning gold and pink, a cold San Miguel in hand.

7. 8:00pA fresh seafood dinnerAnchor table

   The day's marquee meal — grilled fresh fish, prawns, and Filipino flavors at a resort restaurant or an El Nido beachfront table.

El Nido's island-hopping is the main event, and Tour A — the cathedral-like Big Lagoon and the hidden Small Lagoon on Miniloc Island — is the iconic one. Go as early as possible (a private boat is worth it) to experience the lagoons in calm, uncrowded water; kayaking into the Big Lagoon is the magical highlight.

1. ~8:30aIsland-hopping Tour C: the outer islands

   Out to Bacuit Bay's wilder western islands — Hidden Beach, Matinloc, and Secret Beach, with dramatic karst cliffs and fewer crowds.

2. ~10:30aSwim into Secret Beach

   Through a hidden crack in a karst wall into Secret Beach — a tiny, magical cove enclosed by towering cliffs, open to the sky above.

3. ~1:00pBeach barbecue lunch

   Another fresh island barbecue on a beautiful beach — grilled seafood, rice, and tropical fruit set out by the crew amid the karst scenery.

4. ~2:30pSnorkel reefs & more beaches

   Afternoon snorkeling over coral gardens and stops at quiet beaches — clear water, vivid fish, and the bay's wild western scenery.

5. ~6:00pSunset & a beach drink

   Back for another glorious Bacuit Bay sunset — the karst islands aglow, a fresh shake or cold beer, the water mirror-calm.

6. ~8:00pDinner in El Nido

   A relaxed beachfront or island dinner — fresh seafood, Filipino flavors, and a tropical drink as the warm island night settles in.

Tour C is the wilder, more adventurous island-hopping route — Hidden Beach, the swim-through to Secret Beach, and dramatic western karst islands, often with fewer crowds than Tour A. Together, Tours A and C cover El Nido's most spectacular lagoons and beaches.

1. ~8:30aNacpan Beach

   North to Nacpan — a glorious 4km curve of golden sand and palms, one of the Philippines' most beautiful beaches, for a slower day off the boats.

2. ~12:30pA beach-shack lunch

   Fresh grilled fish, sinigang, or a coconut at a rustic Nacpan beach bar, sand underfoot and the surf rolling in.

3. ~3:00pDiving, a reef snorkel, or beach time

   Optional afternoon adventure — a dive or snorkel on El Nido's reefs, or simply more time on Nacpan's golden sand.

4. ~5:30pEl Nido town & the waterfront

   Back in the small, lively town — wander the waterfront, browse local shops, and feel the relaxed buzz beneath the towering karst backdrop.

5. ~7:30pA final island dinner

   A last El Nido dinner — fresh seafood, Filipino flavors, and a tropical drink as the warm karst-framed night settles in.

A slower day balances the island-hopping — the glorious 4km golden sweep of Nacpan Beach to the north is among the Philippines' finest, perfect for a relaxed day off the boats, with optional diving or snorkeling on El Nido's rich reefs for those wanting more adventure.