Cheapest1,974 reviews
6–8 hEl Nido: Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches
★ 4.4 · 1 974 reviews
- 6 to 8 hours
- Shared or private boat tour
- Bestseller
- Free cancellation
$23Tour A
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El Nido island hopping
El Nido island hopping gives you a single place to compare every route and price. We compare 12 tours, from $23, with free cancellation, and the top tour rated 4.4 from 1,974 reviews. Bacuit Bay opens up Secret Lagoon and sandy beaches at Shimizu Island.
From, per person
12 trips compared$23
Today's lowest price across all 12 tours
Average rating
All 12 tours45
2,984 verified reviews across 12 tours
Your day
Shortest to longest5–20h
Shortest: Private Paraw Day Sailing
Longest: Day Trip to El Nido
Free cancellation
Reserve now, pay later
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Everything you can book here
Every El Nido island hopping tour, cheapest first
Twelve departures in price order. Use the switch to show only the route you want. Tour A is the lagoons, Tour C is the far beaches, the combined A+C days do both, and the three-day expeditions sail the whole way to Coron.
A + C in a daySpeedboat
7 hEl Nido Tour A & C: Two Iconic Tours in One Day by Speedboat
★ 4.8 · 37 reviews
- Seven hours, by speedboat in El Nido
- Tour A and Tour C
- Lagoons and snorkeling spots
- Free cancellation
$75Tour A + C
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PrivateTour A
8 hEl Nido: Private/Exclusive Island Hopping Tour A BEST PRICE!
★ 4.4 · 82 reviews
- Eight hours
- Private island hopping tour
- Big Lagoon and snorkeling spots
- Free cancellation
$117Tour A
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PrivateBuffet lunch
8 hEL NIDO: Private Island Hopping Tour A with BUFFET LUNCH
★ 4.7 · 15 reviews
- Eight hours
- Private island hopping tour
- Swimming in clear waters
- Free cancellation
$120Tour A
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PrivateTour C
8 hEL NIDO: Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH
★ 4.4 · 17 reviews
- Eight hours
- Private Island Hopping Tour C
- Hidden beaches and coral gardens
- Free cancellation
$122Tour C
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Sailing boatRated 4.8
5 hEl Nido Islands: Private Paraw Day Sailing with Lunch
★ 4.8 · 26 reviews
- Five hours, on a Paraw boat
- Private day cruise
- Ipil Beach and Papaya Beach
- Free cancellation
$146Sailing
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A + C + EntalulaPrivate
7 hEl Nido: Private A+C Highlights + Entalula Escape
★ 4.7 · 49 reviews
- Seven hours, in Big Lagoon
- Private A and C tour
- Hidden beaches and white-sand shores
- Free cancellation
$274Tour A + C
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Our top pick3 days
3 daysEl Nido to Coron: 3-Day 2-Night Island-Hopping Expedition
★ 4.8 · 586 reviews
- Three days, from El Nido to Coron
- Off-grid island expedition
- Remote islands and reefs
- Free cancellation
$275To Coron
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Coron first3 days
3 daysCoron to El Nido: 3-Day 2-Night Island-Hopping Expedition
★ 4.8 · 157 reviews
- Three days, from Coron to El Nido
- Remote islands of northern Palawan
- Multi-day trip
- Free cancellation
$275To Coron
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PrivateLagoons
8 hEl Nido Private Tour A: Best Island Hopping
★ 5.0 · 3 reviews
- Eight hours, across Bacuit Bay
- Big and Secret Lagoons
- Private tour
- Free cancellation
$281Tour A
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From Puerto Princesa20 hours
20 hFrom Puerto Princesa: Day Trip to El Nido and Island Hopping
★ 3.5 · 35 reviews
- 20 hours
- Shared or private day tour
- Longest tour here
- Free cancellation
$313From Puerto Princesa
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Group expedition3 days
3 daysPalawan: El Nido to Coron 3-Day Group Boat Expedition
★ 5.0 · 3 reviews
- Three days, from El Nido to Coron
- Multi-day trip
- Mobile voucher accepted
- Free cancellation
$438To Coron
Check availability→ Two questions
Which El Nido tour is yours?
Twelve departures across the fixed routes of Bacuit Bay. Tour A for the lagoons, Tour C for the far beaches, both in one day by speedboat, or three days all the way to Coron. Pick what matters and the page picks the boat.
See it before you pay for it
What do you actually see on an El Nido island hopping tour?
Three quite different days: the lagoons of Tour A, which you enter by kayak because boats are not allowed inside; the far beaches of Tour C at Matinloc and Tapiutan; or three days of open water on the expedition to Coron.
Side by side
Tour A, B, C or D?
This is the decision everybody arrives with, and the names give nothing away. They are fixed routes, set by the local boat association, each with its own five or six stops. Tour A is the lagoons and the most booked; Tour C is the far beaches and the most weather-dependent; B and D are the quiet ones.
Swipe the table sideways →
| MOST BOOKEDEl Nido: Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches | El Nido: Private/Exclusive Island Hopping Tour A BEST PRICE! | EL NIDO: Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per person | $23 | $117 | $122 |
| Time on the water | 6–8 hours | 8 hours | 8 hours |
| Cost per hour | $3.29 | $14.62 | $15.25 |
| Boat | Shared bangka | Private bangka | Private bangka |
| Route | Tour A, shared | Tour A, private | Tour C, private |
| What you see | Big, Small and Secret lagoons, Shimizu, Seven Commandos | The same five stops, on your own schedule | Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Matinloc, Helicopter Island |
| Stops | Five, fixed order | Five, your order | Five, your order |
| Rating | 4.4 · 1,974 | 4.4 · 82 | 4.4 · 17 |
| Best for | A first day, at the lowest price | Getting to the lagoons first | The far beaches, quieter |
| Book this one→ | Check dates | Check dates |
MOST BOOKED
El Nido: Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches
$23- Time on the water
- 6–8 hours
- Cost per hour
- $3.29
- Boat
- Shared bangka
- Route
- Tour A, shared
- What you see
- Big, Small and Secret lagoons, Shimizu, Seven Commandos
- Rating
- 4.4 · 1,974
- Best for
- A first day, at the lowest price
Free cancellation up to 24 h · Reserve now, pay later
El Nido: Private/Exclusive Island Hopping Tour A BEST PRICE!
$117- Time on the water
- 8 hours
- Cost per hour
- $14.62
- Boat
- Private bangka
- Route
- Tour A, private
- What you see
- The same five stops, on your own schedule
- Rating
- 4.4 · 82
- Best for
- Getting to the lagoons first
EL NIDO: Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH
$122- Time on the water
- 8 hours
- Cost per hour
- $15.25
- Boat
- Private bangka
- Route
- Tour C, private
- What you see
- Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Matinloc, Helicopter Island
- Rating
- 4.4 · 17
- Best for
- The far beaches, quieter
Verdict
Do Tour A, and go early
Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu and Seven Commandos, for the lowest price on this page — and 1,974 ratings behind it, more than everything else here put together. The two things that decide how it goes are the hour you leave and whether you have cash for a kayak at the Big Lagoon.
Check dates and availability→Before you book
Read the review count, not just the score
The shared Tour A carries 1,974 ratings and the Coron expedition 586, while several private boats here carry fewer than twenty between them. That does not make the smaller listings bad — but a 5.0 from three people tells you very little, and 4.4 from nearly two thousand tells you a great deal.
Two-minute check
Which El Nido tour suits you?
Twelve boats across fixed routes that the listings name by letter and never explain. Three answers narrow it to one: which route you want, whether the boat should be yours, and whether you have a day or three.
Which route do you want?They are fixed, with their own stops
What are you willing to spend?Per person; the eco fee is separate
Own boat, or share?The lagoons are busy by mid-morning
Answer the three questions above
You'll get the boat that fits your answers, the thing about it that catches people out, and an honest word about how much evidence its rating rests on.
Six kinds of day
2,984 reviews across twelve El Nido tours
Ratings are the operators’ own numbers on GetYourGuide, shown exactly as published. We do not write reviews and we do not average other people’s into a score of our own. The shared Tour A carries nearly two thousand ratings on its own; several private boats carry fewer than twenty, and we say which is which.
4.5
★★★★★
Based on 2,984
verified reviews
5 ★86%
4 ★10%
3 ★3%
2 ★1%
1 ★0%
All twelve trips on this page, rated by the people who took them on GetYourGuide.
Read all 2,984→🗺
El Nido to Coron: 3-Day 2-Night Island-Hopping Expedition
From $275 · 586 reviews
★★★★★
The one that crosses Palawan
Three days and two nights sailing from El Nido to Coron, sleeping on remote beaches between them. 586 reviews at 4.8, which is the strongest evidence behind any multi-day trip here.
💶
El Nido: Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches
From $23 · cheapest here
★★★★★
The one that costs least
The shared Tour A: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu and Seven Commandos, for the lowest price on this page. 1,974 reviews at 4.4 — more than anything else here.
⛵
El Nido Tour A & C: Two Iconic Tours in One Day by Speedboat
From $75 · rated 4.8
★★★★★
The one that does A and C in a day
A speedboat rather than a bangka, which is how it fits the lagoons of Tour A and the far beaches of Tour C into seven hours instead of two separate days. Rated 4.8.
🏖
El Nido: Private/Exclusive Island Hopping Tour A BEST PRICE!
From $117 · 8 hours
★★★★★
The one with the boat to yourselves
Tour A with your own bangka, which matters here more than almost anywhere: the Big Lagoon is busy by mid-morning and a private boat is how you arrive before it. 82 reviews at 4.4.
🏝
EL NIDO: Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH
From $122 · Tour C
★★★★★
The one that goes far out
Tour C privately: Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine and Helicopter Island, which sit further out in the bay and are the first stops cancelled when the sea gets up.
⛵
El Nido Islands: Private Paraw Day Sailing with Lunch
From $146 · rated 4.8
★★★★★
The one under sail
A traditional paraw — a Philippine outrigger sailing boat — rather than a motor bangka. Five hours, lunch included, and a completely different sound to the day.
What it really costs
How much is island hopping in El Nido?
From $23 a person for a shared Tour A, to $438 for a three-day group expedition to Coron. On top of any of them sits the Eco-Tourism Development Fee — 400 pesos a person in 2026, paid once and valid for ten days.
Swipe sideways →
| What you are paying for | Price | What you get | Cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A shared day tour | $23–$75 | Tour A, or Tour A and C combined in one day by speedboat | Free cancellation 24 h |
| A private day tour | $117–$281 | Your own boat, your own pace, lunch on a beach | Free cancellation 24 h |
| The three-day expedition to Coron | $275–$438 | Two nights on remote beaches, and you end up in a different town | Free cancellation 24 h |
What the listing doesn’t show you
- That the letters are routes. Tour A, B, C and D have their own fixed stops and no ranking between them.
- The eco-tourism fee. 400 pesos a person in 2026, paid separately in cash.
- That the Big Lagoon needs a kayak. Boats are not allowed inside, and the rental is extra again.
- How busy the lagoons are by mid-morning. The hour you leave changes the day more than the boat does.
What is genuinely included
- Five hours to three days on the water, depending on which trip you book
- Lunch on a beach — grilled fish and rice — on almost every listing here
- Snorkelling gear and life jackets
- Accommodation and all meals on the three-day expeditions
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, on all twelve trips
The honest answer
Is El Nido island hopping worth it?
Yes, and the cheapest trip here is the proof: a shared Tour A costs $23 and carries 1,974 reviews at 4.4. Bacuit Bay is more than forty limestone islands, and the lagoons of Tour A are the reason people come to Palawan at all.
What makes it worth it
- A shared Tour A costs $23 and carries 1,974 reviews
- Bacuit Bay is more than forty limestone islands, most of them uninhabited
- Boats are not allowed inside the Big Lagoon — you paddle in by kayak
- Every trip on this page can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before
- The three-day expedition ends in a different town, so it doubles as transport
Keep in mind
- Tours A, B, C and D are fixed routes with set stops, not grades of quality
- The eco-tourism fee is 400 pesos a person in 2026 and is paid separately
- Kayak rental at the Big Lagoon is extra again, in cash
- The lagoons are busy by mid-morning in the dry season
- Several private boats here carry fewer than twenty ratings each
The day, hour by hour
What happens on an El Nido island hopping day
Meet on the beach
Boats leave off the sand in El Nido town, not from a pier. Bring the eco-tourism fee receipt if you already have one; otherwise you buy it here.
Out into Bacuit Bay
Wooden bangkas with outriggers, and limestone islands standing out of the water within minutes of leaving the beach.
The first lagoon
On Tour A this is usually the Big Lagoon. Boats wait outside; you go in by kayak, which costs extra and is paid in cash at the entrance.
The Small and Secret lagoons
Narrow entrances through the rock, and the Secret Lagoon is reached through a gap you swim or wade.
Lunch on a beach
Grilled fish, rice and fruit laid out on the sand. This is included on almost every trip here.
Shimizu and Seven Commandos
Snorkelling, then a wide beach with shade and a bar. The last stop before turning for home.
Back to El Nido
Six to eight hours in total on a day tour. The expeditions carry on and anchor for the night.
The one decision that matters
Get to the lagoons first, whatever it takes
Everything else on this page is a preference. This one decides what your photographs look like. In the dry season the Big Lagoon has a line of bangkas at its entrance by mid-morning and thirty kayaks inside it, and the difference between arriving at half past seven and arriving at ten is the difference between an empty limestone amphitheatre and a queue. A private boat at $117 is not about cushions — it is about leaving when you choose. And bring cash for the kayak: boats are not allowed inside, so if you cannot rent one you look at the most famous place in El Nido from the entrance.
Four of the stops
What you actually see, in order
Big Lagoon
Boats are not allowed inside, so you paddle in.
Secret Lagoon
Reached through a gap in the rock you swim or wade.
Hidden Beach
On Tour C, behind a wall of rock on Matinloc island.
Seven Commandos
The wide beach that usually closes a Tour A day.
Start here
What does El Nido island hopping actually buy you?
Start with the thing every listing assumes you already know and none of them explains: Tour A, Tour B, Tour C and Tour D are four fixed routes, not four grades of the same trip. They were set by the local boat association, each has its own five or six stops, and the letters carry no ranking at all. Booking «the best one» is not a question with an answer until you know what is on each.
Tour A is the lagoons. Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island and Seven Commandos Beach. It is the most booked route by a wide margin, and the shared version on this page carries 1,974 reviews — more than everything else here put together.
Tour C is the far beaches. Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Hidden Beach and Tapiutan. These sit further out in the bay, which makes them quieter, more dramatic and the first stops cancelled when the sea gets up.
Tour B and Tour D are the quiet ones. B takes in Snake Island with its sandbar, Pinagbuyutan, Entalula and two caves; D covers Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan and Natnat. Fewer boats go, and people who have already done A and C often rate them higher for exactly that reason.
The Big Lagoon has a rule worth knowing before you book. Boats are no longer allowed inside. The bangka waits at the entrance and you paddle in by kayak, rented there for a few hundred pesos in cash. If nobody in your group wants to paddle, the single most famous stop in El Nido is something you look at from outside.
There is a fee on top of every trip. The Eco-Tourism Development Fee is 400 pesos a person in 2026. You pay it once, it is valid for ten days, and it covers all the island tours — but it is not in the price you paid online, and it is collected in cash.
And the last thing, which decides more than the route does: the lagoons are busy by mid-morning in the dry season. A private bangka is not about comfort here; it is about leaving early enough to be in the Big Lagoon before eight boats arrive behind you.
If one day is not enough
Three longer trips, and what the extra days buy
A day tour brings you back to El Nido for dinner. These three do not: the three-day expedition sails all the way to Coron and leaves you there, the reverse run does the same in the other direction, and the group version is the biggest boat of the three.
Practical
Plan the day properly
Five things decide how it goes: which route you booked, whether the boat is yours, the eco-tourism fee, the kayak rental at Big Lagoon, and the fact that the wet season here runs roughly June to November.
Tour A — the lagoons
Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu, Seven Commandos. From $23 shared.
Tour B — the quiet one
Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan, Entalula, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave.
Tour C — the far beaches
Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Tapiutan.
Tour D — the near one
Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan, Natnat, Bukal, Ipil.
A and C in one day
By speedboat rather than bangka, in about seven hours.
The Coron expedition
Three days and two nights all the way across to Coron, from $275.
Big Lagoon
Entered by kayak only — boats are not allowed inside. Rental is extra, in cash.
Small Lagoon
A narrow entrance into a pool ringed by limestone; also usually by kayak.
Secret Lagoon
Reached through a gap in the rock that you swim or wade through.
Hidden Beach
On Tour C, behind a wall of rock on Matinloc island.
Seven Commandos
A wide beach with shade and a bar, and the usual last stop on Tour A.
Bacuit Bay
More than forty limestone islands, most of them uninhabited.
The eco fee is separate
400 pesos a person in 2026, paid once, valid ten days, cash.
Kayaks at the Big Lagoon cost extra
A few hundred pesos, also cash, paid at the entrance.
Boats leave off the beach
No pier; you wade the last couple of metres.
Lunch is included on almost everything
Grilled fish and rice on a beach.
Bring a dry bag
Spray on a bangka and wet landings at every stop.
There is little shade
Bangkas have a partial roof and the beaches are bright.
Free cancellation to 24 hours
Standard on all twelve trips on this page.
Go early if you want the lagoons quiet
They fill by mid-morning in the dry season.
Private beats joiner if you can afford it
It buys the hour, not the comfort.
Check which route, not which letter sounds best
A, B, C and D are routes rather than grades.
December to April is the dry season
The calmest sea and the most reliable boat days.
Read the review count
The shared Tour A has 1,974; several private boats have under twenty.
Best time
When is the best time for island hopping in El Nido?
December to April is the dry season and the reliable window. Outside it, boats still go on good days, but Tour C is the first route cancelled because its stops are the most exposed.
Dec – Feb
The best window
The dry season at its most settled, with the calmest sea and the clearest water of the year. It is also the busiest: the lagoons are full by mid-morning, so private boats and early starts are worth the money.
Mar – May
Hot, and still good
Still dry, getting very hot, and the water is at its warmest. Crowds thin after the February peak. April and May are a good compromise.
Jun – Aug
Wet season, but workable
Rain comes in bursts rather than all day, and the near stops usually still run. Tour C is cancelled more often because it is the most exposed route. Prices drop.
Sep – Nov
The wettest
The roughest sea and the most cancellations, particularly for the Coron expeditions. Boats go on good days, prices are lowest, and a flexible plan is essential.
Worth knowing
Six things that aren't in the listing
01
The letters are routes, not rankings. Tour A is the lagoons, Tour C is the far beaches, B and D are the quiet ones. Read the stop list before you read the price.
02
Boats cannot enter the Big Lagoon. You paddle in by kayak, rented at the entrance for a few hundred pesos in cash. If nobody in your group will paddle, you will see the most famous place in El Nido from outside.
03
The eco-tourism fee is extra and is paid in cash. 400 pesos a person in 2026, once, valid for ten days across all the island tours. Keep the receipt.
04
Go early or pay for a private boat. In the dry season the lagoons are full by mid-morning. The whole value of a private bangka here is the first hour of the day.
05
Tour C is the first thing cancelled. Its stops are furthest out in the bay. If the forecast is marginal, book it early in your stay so there is room to try again.
06
Read the review count as well as the score. The shared Tour A carries 1,974 ratings. Several private boats here carry fewer than twenty, and a 5.0 from three people is not the same evidence as 4.4 from two thousand.
Round out the trip
Booked alongside
Go deeper
More on island hopping in El Nido
Common questions
El Nido island hopping, answered
How much is island hopping in El Nido?
From $23 a person for a shared Tour A, up to $438 for a three-day group expedition to Coron. The Eco-Tourism Development Fee of 400 pesos a person is separate.
What is the difference between Tour A, B, C and D in El Nido?
They are four fixed routes with their own stops, not four grades. Tour A has the lagoons (Big, Small and Secret) plus Shimizu and Seven Commandos. Tour B has Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan, Entalula and two caves. Tour C has Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach and Hidden Beach. Tour D has Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan and Natnat.
Which El Nido tour is the best?
Tour A is the most booked and the most reviewed — the shared version here carries 1,974 ratings. Tour C is the one people who have already done A tend to prefer, because the stops are further out and quieter.
Can you do Tour A and Tour C in one day?
Yes, by speedboat rather than bangka. That trip is $75 and takes about seven hours.
What is the El Nido environmental fee?
The Eco-Tourism Development Fee, 400 pesos a person in 2026. It is paid once, valid for ten days, covers all the island tours, and is collected in cash rather than included in your online booking.
Can boats go inside the Big Lagoon?
No. Boats wait at the entrance and you paddle in by kayak, which is rented there for a few hundred pesos in cash.
Is the El Nido to Coron expedition worth it?
It carries 586 reviews at 4.8, which is strong evidence. It is three days and two nights sleeping on remote beaches, and it doubles as transport because you end up in a different town.
When is the best time to go island hopping in El Nido?
December to April, the dry season, which has the calmest sea and the most reliable boat days. The wet season runs roughly June to November.
Free · no account needed
Every El Nido tour, on one sheet
One PDF: all twelve trips by route, hours and price, Tours A, B, C and D set out stop by stop, and the year month by month.
- Every trip ranked by dollars per hour on the water
- Tours A, B, C and D, every stop listed
- The day hour by hour, from the beach to the lagoons and back
- Month by month: the wet season, crowds and which routes still run
Check your inbox
The plan is on its way. If it isn't there in a minute, look in Promotions.
Why trust this page
How we put this together
Checked, not guessed
Durations, prices and ratings are read off the live listings rather than copied from other affiliate pages. The heights, distances and place names come from the published record.
We print the route
Every trip here is sold by a letter that means nothing on its own. We put the route on every card and the stops in the guides, because that is what separates them and what the listings bury.
We say when a rating is thin
A 5.0 from two reviews is not the same evidence as 4.8 from two thousand, and we label it that way rather than sorting everything by score.
Nobody pays to be featured
Twelve trips, ordered by price, ranked on which route they sail and how much evidence stands behind the rating. We earn a commission when you book, and it does not change what we recommend.
The answer
Do Tour A early, and add Tour C if you have a second day
If you are doing one boat day in El Nido, do Tour A. The shared version at $23 carries 1,974 reviews, and the lagoons are why people come to Palawan at all — just go as early as you can, and bring cash for the kayak. If you have a second day, Tour C at $122 takes you further out to Hidden Beach and Matinloc, where the boats thin out. And if you are travelling on to Coron anyway, the three-day expedition replaces the ferry with the best part of the trip.
Check dates and availability→ Free cancellation up to 24 hours · Reserve now, pay later