El Nido Shared Tour Review: Island Hopping Heaven or Tourist Trap?

El Nido, Palawan. The name alone just about conjures up postcard pictures of powder beaches, towering limestone cliffs, and ridiculously turquoise water. I mean, so many people talk about it like your trip won’t be complete until you’ve seen it. To properly soak it all in, more often than not, tourists hop on one of the shared island hopping tours. But is it actually the perfect way to experience El Nido’s natural splendor, or are you more likely going to find yourself fighting crowds and feeling a little bit like a sardine? I’m going to break down what you potentially need to know, what to anticipate, and whether a shared El Nido tour is indeed a good fit for you, that is, you in particular.

What Exactly Is an El Nido Shared Tour, anyway?

Ok, first thing, so El Nido shared tours, well, these are more or less organized boat trips that will usually take you to various islands, beaches, and lagoons surrounding El Nido. Pretty standard stuff, I think. They’re very popular because they are comparatively budget friendly and they make it truly quite easy to see several hotspots in a single day. You’re joining, in effect, a bunch of other travelers, which I suppose might be just your kind of thing if you enjoy meeting new people.

Most tours, by the way, usually follow one of four main routes – Tours A, B, C, and D. Basically, each tour showcases different spots. Tour A is arguably famous for lagoons and snorkeling spots, Tour B usually explores caves and secluded beaches, Tour C often highlights the beaches and snorkeling areas closer to the coast and Tour D is sort of the most remote of the tours but not as picturesque. Each of these has its charm. Generally, tours will provide lunch, but truthfully it is really worth confirming what’s actually included before you go ahead and book. You’d probably rather not find yourself stranded without snacks or water.

Typical Inclusions of an El Nido Shared Tour

Boat transportation, often an outrigger boat
Lunch, usually grilled fish, chicken, rice, and fruit
Snorkeling gear (mask and snorkel)
Life vest
Licensed tour guide
Entrance fees and environmental fees (double check, just to be clear)

My Experience: Tour A, and Quite a Crowd

Personally, that is to say, just so you know, I went on Tour A, which seemingly is the most sought after. The anticipation was that it would be an exploration of breathtaking lagoons and crystal snorkeling locations, a feast, so to speak, for the eyes and spirit. So, you know, waking up early with excitement running wild in my veins, I headed to the rendezvous. I have to admit, though, what I discovered was…well, let’s say a touch different from the picture in my head. There were seriously heaps of people all heading to the same spot; loads of boats lining up, and a real frenzy of activity. A little bit hectic, actually.

Our boat, I think, held maybe about 20 people, who had varying levels of enthusiasm. I quickly found a spot on the edge, really hoping to get those amazing views. And yeah, the views, they actually really did come through, those places seriously are picture-perfect. But, you see, the thing is, at each stop, well, it became this, basically, struggle to get that amazing snapshot without ten other tourists unintentionally posing in the backdrop. That’s quite the thing, seriously. The lagoons, although undoubtedly gorgeous, were usually pretty packed with boats and swimmers.

The Good Bits and the Not-So-Good Bits

What I really liked: The sights really do have a huge impact – Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, all breathtaking, though briefly. The lunch spread they had given us on board actually exceeded all my expectations; fresh seafood that was grilled was, I think, amazing, and the fruit really did taste amazing.
What was not so good: Overcrowding actually dampened a lot of the experience, really, at times, especially at the lagoons. Getting in, getting out of the boat in those tight spots and all the picture-taking became a bit of a scramble. Plus, you see, while the guides tried their very best, the experience sometimes really did feel a bit rushed.

Choosing Your El Nido Shared Tour: Making It Really Worth It

Right then, how to make it a decent experience? Good thing to consider. Let’s look at stuff to bear in mind to increase your chances of a brilliant trip:

Go during the low season: If you’re actually able to travel during the off-peak months, you know, like June to September (keep in mind that these are typhoon months), you’re far more likely going to encounter lesser crowds. That makes quite the impact, seriously.
Pick your tour quite wisely: Some tours often become less crowded than the rest. Tour D, actually, for example, which goes further away from El Nido, is usually that little bit less busy than Tours A and C. Plus you see, there are actually specific companies known for handling bigger or smaller groups. Find them!
See if you can go early or late: Speak with your tour company, just see if they will consider starting just a little bit earlier or perhaps later than most. Actually, this just might assist you to stay clear of some of the bigger crowds in certain spots.
Think about going private, if that works: Ok, so this is the one thing that would really improve everything. Seriously. For those that really value having more peace, space, and more control over their schedule, a private tour probably is very worth considering. Obviously, you’re going to have to cough up some more money. But I believe it is very much well worth it.
Make time to talk with people on the tour: You may meet great people on your tour! Maybe that could be the beginning of friendships or romances. Who knows? But if you don’t talk with other people, that’s one of the advantages you are losing out on!

Are El Nido Shared Tours a Great Bet, generally?

Actually, so, the real question! The El Nido shared tours. So, what can be said? They have a lot of ups and downs, but it really depends a great deal on just what you value when you travel. Ok, you see the views that actually take your breath away – these, I think, are totally beyond question. Palawan truly really lives up to its hype in a big way, actually, offering up sceneries that can make your heart almost ache with beauty. Yet, in a way, sharing these viewpoints with such lots of people does just take away from that magical feel. A real buzzkill, in a way, right?

When it comes to spending, without question, the shared tours provide a very budget friendly route of really seeing lots of places. In contrast, a little tip; if you can actually justify the money, and I mean, genuinely, just splurge on a private tour; you very likely can craft an experience that fits just you, maybe skipping those overly crowded locations, perhaps spending way more time in that hidden cove that genuinely calls out to you.

Therefore, it might be a good question to pose to yourself what you genuinely seek in El Nido. Are you actually there basically for those perfect social media pictures, even when that comes at the price of some hefty crowds? Maybe those shared tours work out. But if, basically, you find yourself daydreaming of peaceful moments in nature, then truthfully, maybe, you should think about those quieter alternatives. Or just go during the low season! Anyway, either way, Palawan almost certainly will not fail to make an impact. That place is heaven.

Quick Pointers for Your El Nido Adventure:

Timing is pretty important: Seriously think about seeing if you can travel during the off-season.
Really explore the choices for your tour; not all tours get created equal.
You see, a private tour actually can make a great amount of difference in having some peace.
Simply remember that, sometimes, expectations versus reality will be two totally unique experiences, ok?

#ElNido #Palawan #Philippines #IslandHopping #TravelTips #SoutheastAsia #AdventureTravel