I was going through different brochures I got from my trip in El Nido, Palawan when I came across a brochure that has private tours/boat for hire. This hit me with the idea that this may be the answer to have a cheaper Island Hopping experience in El Nido. That’s why I called the operator, asked for some details and made an analysis.
7 Commando Beach
Let’s say you are travelling to El Nido and will doing the Island Hopping Tour A (P700/pax) and Tour C (P900/pax). That would give you a total of P1,600/pax budget. Quite expensive for a budget traveller like me.
There’s still a way to make the trip become cheaper, that is to travel with friends and hire private boats to tour you on the different Island Hopping spots.
Assuming that you are 6 in your group.
Tour A
Places to Visit: Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Simizu Island, Secret Lagoon and 7 Commando Beach
| Per Person | Private Boat Hire |
| P700 per pax with lunch |
P2,800 per boat Boat can accommodate up to 10 pax no lunch This will make the boat fee P466.67/paxP100 Food budget per pax* |
| P4,200 per 6 pax P700 per pax |
P3,400 per 6 pax P566.67 per pax |
| Optimum Number of Pax: 10 pax Budget per pax including food: P380 per pax Budget per group of 10: P3,800 per 10 pax |
Tour B
Places to Visit: Cathedral Cave, Codugnon Cave, Panggalusian Island, Snake Island and Pinagbuyutan Island
| Per person | Private Boat Hire |
| P800 per pax with lunch |
P3,200 per boat Boat can accommodate up to 10 pax no lunch This will make the boat fee P500/paxP100 Food budget per pax* |
| P4,800 per 6 pax P800 per pax |
P3,600 per 6 pax P600 per pax |
| Optimum Number of Pax: 10 pax Budget per pax including food: P400 per pax Budget per group of 10: P4,000 per 10 pax |
Tour C
Places to Visit: Hidden Beach, Shrine, Secret Beach, Talisay and Helicopter Island
| Per person | Private Boat Hire |
| P900 per pax with lunch |
P3,500 per boat Boat can accommodate up to 10 pax no lunch This will make the boat fee P583.33/paxP100 Food budget per pax* |
| P5,400 per 6 pax P900 per pax |
P4,100 per 6 pax P683.33 per pax |
| Optimum Number of Pax: 10 pax Budget per pax including food: P450 per pax Budget per group of 10: P4,500 per 10 pax |
Tour D
Places to Visit: Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Beach, Paradise Beach, Natnat Beach and Bukal Island
| Per person | Private Boat Hire |
| P700 per pax with lunch |
P2,800 per boat Boat can accommodate up to 10 pax no lunch This will make the boat fee P466.67/paxP100 Food budget per pax* |
| P4,200 per 6 pax P700 per pax |
P3,400 per 6 pax P566.67 per pax |
| Optimum Number of Pax: 10 Budget per pax including food: P380 per pax Budget per group of 10: P3,800 per 10 pax |
Let’s compute again since you are now travelling with 5 of your friends. If you’re going to do Tour A (P566.67/pax) and Tour C (P683.33/pax) that would cost you about P1,250/pax! P350 cheaper than when you take the tour per person package (P1,650/pax). Personally, it’s not that big of a difference unless your group reaches 7 or more people.
Travel with friends. It’s cheaper and challenging.
Food Comments
The prices above for boat hire does not include food. You have three (3) choices
- Bring the food cooked so you do not have to cook.
- Bring the ingredients and cook survivor mode. (Don’t forget to buy gas from the market to fuel your charcoal.)
- Ask the tour operator on how much would be the additional if their guides would do the marketing and cooking. I think this is still cheaper than when you take the per person tours. Trust me, they know how to cook good food.
Author’s Notes
- I’ve tried computing for different number of people. The fee goes to be cheaper at 5 pax, but the difference was not worth it so I computed for 6 pax. Still the optimum and cheapest would be for 10 pax.
- The most recommended Island Hopping Tours in El Nido, Palawan are Tour A then Tour C.
- If you’re travelling alone or with a group of 5 pax you could try going directly to the tour operator and ask for a discount. I’ve heard a lot of stories that they
- Learn how to cook food, it’s a basic survival skill that can be improved to dating skills.
Recommended Tour Operators
Clydenike and Guenkean
Contact No.: 0912-406-8874
Servant Tours
Contact No.: 0918-661-3590 or 0915-415-7245.
Follow my El Nido, Palawan Series
- How much did I spend on my 4th time in El Nido (4th Visit Expense Report)
- My El Nido, Palawan Budget (1st Visit Expense Report)
- The Cheapest Lodging in El Nido, Palawan (Helpful)
- El Nido Island Hopping Combination Tour A and C (Helpful)
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour B
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour C
- Nacpan and Calitang Twin Beach (Must See!)
- Sunset at Corong-Corong Beach (Must See!)
- El Nido, Palawan 3D2N Budget and Itinerary (Helpful)
- El Nido, Palawan 4D3N Budget and Itinerary (Helpful)
- El Nido, Palawan 4D3N Alternative Budget and Itinerary (Helpful)
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- Palawan Lexus Shuttle Service
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A travel blog by Josiah Sicad that aims to make Filipinos Travel Responsibly and observe the unique culture of the Philippines. 
if you do it in groups talagang cheaper noh?
Yup! Cheaper kapag may grupo kasi pwede makihati sa mga expenses. Pero maschallenging sa planning and inviting stages.
sir. Which tour agency provides private boat hire?
Upon inquiring with Ricsons, mas mahal yung private tour nila eh which is a certain amount for 2 pax plus additional per pax.
