If you search “What to do in the Philippines?”, island hopping tours appear on almost every website. And for a good reason.
Quick disclaimer: I haven’t done one myself (our Balabac tour was cancelled due to a typhoon), but I’ve heard amazing things from friends who have.
The 2 most popular multi-day island hopping tours are:
– El Nido to Coron (or the reverse route)
– Balabac tour, in the far south of Palawan
Both tours offer a similar experience: breathtaking beaches, nights spent in tents or simple huts on remote islands, sunsets from the boat, and plenty of snorkeling with marine life. The El Nido to Coron route is the more famous option and slightly easier to organize. However, if you have a bit more time, I would recommend choosing Balabac. The price is usually similar, but Balabac is far less touristy and takes you to the southernmost part of Palawan, where you’ll find even more untouched beaches and quiet islands.
What about day-trip island hopping in El Nido? 🏝️
Because our travel plans changed, we ended up staying longer in El Nido than expected. So instead, we joined a day-trip island hopping tour in El Nido. There are several options, usually called Tour A, B, C, and D. Tour A and Tour C are the most popular, visiting iconic spots like Big Lagoon. That said, as El Nido becomes more popular, the island tours are getting more crowded too. You should expect to share those beautiful views with many other travelers. What made me a bit sad was seeing people who couldn’t swim stepping on corals to reach the beach, sometimes even just for photos. For that reason, I personally wouldn’t repeat the standard group tour. If you really want to do it, it might be more enjoyable and more responsible to book a private boat.