Tour A covers lagoons, Tour B covers caves and sandbars, and Tour C covers El Nido’s most photographed secluded beaches — a full-day boat trip built around Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Talisay Beach, and Helicopter Island, the four destinations that show up on every operator’s Tour C. A fifth stop — most often Cabagtang Island or the optional Matinloc Shrine viewpoint — rounds out the day and varies by operator.
Quick summary
- Route type: Full-day island hopping, Bacuit Bay
- Core stops (on every operator’s Tour C): Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Talisay Beach, Helicopter Island
- Typical additional stop (varies by operator): Cabagtang Island, or the optional Matinloc Shrine viewpoint (extra entry fee)
- Duration: Roughly 7.5–8 hours, morning pickup (around 8:30–9:00 AM) to mid/late afternoon (around 4:30–5:00 PM)
- Typical price: ₱1,600–₱1,700 per person, base rate
- Not included: environmental/eco fee (~₱400), plus Matinloc Shrine’s optional entry fee (~₱200) if visited — see Fees below
- Departs from: El Nido town
See today’s Tour C operators & prices →
What’s actually on the itinerary
Tour C’s identity is Hidden Beach and Secret Beach — two of El Nido’s most secluded, most photographed stops, both reached through narrow openings in the limestone cliffs rather than a normal shoreline approach. Every operator’s Tour C includes both, along with two more consistent stops:
Hidden Beach — a beach enclosed by cliffs, reached through a narrow gap; also known as a filming location for the TV series Survivor.
Secret Beach — a small cove accessible only through a rock opening, one of Tour C’s most distinctive stops.
Talisay Beach — the lunch stop, with a buffet meal served under coconut trees.
Helicopter Island — a white sand beach stop for swimming, named for its rough outline shape.
Beyond those four, operators typically add one more stop — either Cabagtang Island or the Matinloc Shrine viewpoint, a hilltop shrine with panoramic views that’s usually offered as an optional add-on with its own entry fee rather than a guaranteed inclusion. As with Tours A and B, the exact fifth stop can shift by operator and by day.
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 | Helicopter Island and/or Hidden Beach |
| Late morning | Matinloc Shrine (optional, some operators) |
| Midday | Lunch at Talisay Beach |
| Early afternoon | Secret Beach |
| ~4:30–5:00 PM | Return to town |
What’s included and what isn’t
Inclusions vary slightly by operator, but a standard Tour C 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
- Matinloc Shrine’s entry fee, typically around ₱200 per person, if that stop is offered/chosen
- Optional add-ons: kayak rental, gear rental (water shoes, masks, fins, underwater camera — prices vary more widely on this tour, roughly ₱150–₱1,000 depending on the item), gratuities
Same fee-transparency approach as Tours A and B — standard across El Nido operators generally, not unique to any one company.
Today’s Tour C operators & prices
See today’s Tour C 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 swaps lagoons for sandbars and caves — Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, Entalula Island. Tour C covers the most secluded, most photographed beaches — Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Talisay Beach, Helicopter Island — including the Survivor filming location. Tour D covers a second, quieter set of lagoons — Small Lagoon and Cadlao Lagoon — plus Nat-nat Beach and Pasandigan. Tour C 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 C and Tours A/B?
Tour A centers on lagoons (Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon), Tour B on caves and sandbars (Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave), and Tour C on secluded beaches (Hidden Beach, Secret Beach) plus Helicopter Island. None of the stops overlap between the three.
Is Hidden Beach really where Survivor was filmed?
Yes — Hidden Beach in El Nido has been used as a filming location for the TV series Survivor.
Are the environmental fee and Matinloc Shrine entry included in the price?
No — both are paid separately from the tour price: the environmental fee is typically around ₱400 per person, and Matinloc Shrine’s entry (if that stop is included) is typically around ₱200 per person. Check the specific operator’s listing for current amounts.
Will I definitely visit the same stops every time? The four core stops — Hidden Beach, Secret Beach, Talisay Beach, and Helicopter Island — are on every Tour C. The fifth stop (Cabagtang Island or Matinloc Shrine) 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 — El Nido’s lagoon route
- Tour B — Caves & Sandbars — no overlap with Tour C’s stops
- Tour D — Small Lagoon & Cadlao Lagoon — no thematic overlap with Tour C
- Where to Stay — featured stays with direct-booking discounts
