If Tour A is El Nido’s lagoon route, Tour B is the caves-and-sandbar route — a full-day boat trip built around Snake Island’s sandbar, Cudugnon Cave, and a lunch stop at Entalula Island, the three destinations that show up on every operator’s Tour B. One or two additional stops — most often a second cave or a snorkeling stop — round out the day and vary by operator.
Quick summary
- Route type: Full-day island hopping, Bacuit Bay
- Core stops (on every operator’s Tour B): Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, Entalula Island
- Typical additional stops (varies by operator/day): Cathedral Cave (viewed from the boat) and/or a coral-garden snorkeling stop
- Duration: Roughly 7.5–8.5 hours, morning pickup (around 8:30–9:00 AM) to mid/late afternoon (around 4:30–5:00 PM)
- Typical price: ₱1,600 per person, base rate (more uniform across operators than Tour A’s ₱1,500–1,600 range)
- Not included: environmental/eco fee (~₱400), paid separately — see Fees below
- Departs from: El Nido town
See today’s Tour B operators & prices →
What’s actually on the itinerary
Tour B’s identity is Snake Island — a long, narrow sandbar that appears at low tide, connecting to a small island, and one of the most photographed spots in El Nido. Every operator’s Tour B includes it, along with two other consistent stops:
Snake Island — walk the sandbar out to the island; swimming and photos.
Cudugnon Cave — a limestone cave with archaeological significance, explored on foot.
Entalula Island — the lunch stop, with a buffet-style meal and free time to swim.
Beyond those three, operators typically add a second cave stop — most often Cathedral Cave, a set of towering limestone formations usually viewed from the boat rather than entered — and/or a snorkeling stop over coral gardens later in the day. As with Tour A, exactly which extra stop you get can shift day to day, so treat it as “one of the above,” not a fixed guarantee.
A typical day looks like this:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| ~8:30–9:00 AM | Pickup or meetup in town |
| ~9:00–9:15 AM | Depart by boat |
| Mid-morning | Snake Island |
| Late morning | Cudugnon Cave, plus Cathedral Cave (boat view) |
| Midday | Lunch and swim break at Entalula Island |
| Afternoon | Snorkeling stop (on some operators’ itineraries) |
| ~4:30–5:00 PM | Return to town |
What’s included and what isn’t
Inclusions vary slightly by operator, but a standard Tour B booking covers:
- Boat and licensed boat crew/guide
- Life vest
- Lunch (buffet-style on most listings)
- Drinking water
- Basic snorkeling gear on most listings
Not included, and worth budgeting for separately:
- An environmental/eco fee, typically around ₱400 per person
- Optional add-ons: kayak rental (typically ₱300 where not already included), aqua shoes/fins/gear rental, gratuities
Same fee structure as Tour A — this is standard across El Nido operators generally, not unique to any one company, and worth stating plainly for the same trust reasons.
Today’s Tour B operators & prices
See today’s Tour B operators & prices →
Choosing between Tour A, B, C, and D
Tour A is El Nido’s original lagoon route — Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon. Tour B is the caves-and-sandbar route — Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, Entalula Island. Tour C covers the most secluded, most photographed beaches — Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Talisay Beach, Helicopter Island. Tour D covers a second, quieter set of lagoons — Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon — plus Nat-nat Beach and Pasandigan. Tour B has no thematic overlap with any of the other three — the closest thing to a repeat among the four is Tours A and D both including a lagoon, though different specific ones.
FAQ
What’s the difference between Tour B and Tour A?
Tour A is built around Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and Secret Lagoon. Tour B is built around Snake Island’s sandbar, Cudugnon Cave, and Entalula Island — caves and sandbars rather than lagoons.
Is the environmental fee included in the price?
No — it’s paid separately from the tour price, typically around ₱400 per person. Check the specific operator’s listing for their current amount.
Do I need to be able to swim or hike for Tour B?
Snake Island and Entalula Island involve walking on sand and light swimming; Cudugnon Cave involves walking through a cave interior on foot. Cathedral Cave, when included, is usually viewed from the boat rather than entered.
Will I definitely visit the same stops every time?
The three core stops — Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, and Entalula Island — are on every Tour B. The extra stop (often Cathedral Cave or a snorkeling break) can vary by operator and by day.
Can I cancel?
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure on every tour listed here. If the coastguard suspends sailing, you are refunded in full or moved to another day.
What if my tour is cancelled?
The coastguard suspends sailing when the sea is rough. You are refunded in full or moved to another day, your choice.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Tour A — Lagoons & Beaches — the other half of a natural two-day pairing
- Tour C — Hidden Beach & Secret Beach — also non-overlapping with Tour B
- Tour D — Small Lagoon & Cadlao Lagoon — no thematic overlap with Tour B
- Where to Stay — featured stays with direct-booking discounts
- Getting to El Nido — flights, Cherry Bus, and transfers
