Good morning El Nido!
Just like the day before, we started the day early since our call time for the island hopping was 6 am. As early as 5:30 am, we went outside the hotel to look for a place where we can have breakfast.
El Nido Skyline Grill and Restaurant.
It was drizzling when we set forth. Supposedly, tourists who will engage in island hopping activities will be asked to pay 200php each for the environmental fee. Good thing, since we started early, the people in charge of collecting is not yet around (sleeping maybe..hehe) hence we were exempted.haha
They say your vacation in El Nido wouldn’t be complete without trying these island hopping tours:
Tour Package A- Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commandos Island
Tour Package B- Pangalusian Island, Pinagbuyatan Island, Vigan and Snake Island, Cadugnon Point and Cave, Pinasil Island and Cathedral Cave
Tour Package C- Hidden Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Talisay Island, Secret Beach, Helicopter Island
We chose tour package A for 1000php/each.
And they were absolutely right! We were all in awe!
SMALL LAGOON
Seeing the outside of the lagoon was exhilarating! I never thought we had this in the Philippines!
To enter the lagoon, one has too get inside a small opening (a crack on a rock) and has to swim underwater for a few meters. The package tours include snorkeling gears and a life vest so you don’t have to worry swimming underwater.
The lagoon was a beauty. Its pristine waters are enclosed by towering limestone karst. Very few marine life can be found including a territorial fish which bit my mom.hehe
BIG LAGOON
The Big Lagoon is literally bigger and deeper than the small lagoon. Snorkeling and kayaking activities are available but we gave it a pass.
SNORKELING AND FISH FEEDING
Our next stop was supposed to be the Secret Lagoon but unfortunately it was a high tide (the lagoon can be accessed by creeping thru a small hole on a low tide and swimming thru the hole on a high tide), we took a pass for I didn’t know how to swim.hehe. Instead, we did snorkeling and fish feeding off the torquise waters of El Nido.
On a feeding frenzy
LUNCH AT SHIMIZU ISLAND
Lunch is included on the tour packages which are usually in this island. It boasts of towering limestone cliffs scattered throughout. The guides prepared our meals while we enjoy swimming and taking pictures.
SEVEN COMMANDOS ISLAND
Named after the seven Japanese soldiers who took refuge in this island during the war, the island is the last stop for Package Tour A. Here, tourists can have some rest and relaxation. Reclining chairs and cottages are located just along the shore. A small store is also available in the island.
I really enjoyed my time in the island bumming at the beach.
And it was time for us to head back.
One day isn’t enough to exhaust the beauty of El Nido. If given the chance, I would definitely come back and stay here for like a week or two and explore everything it has to offer.
wooow 🙂 cool blog. from my research, other tour companies charged 1200. 🙂 great bargaining skills 🙂