El Nido Island Hopping (Tour C)

Let the Palaweña Explorer take you on a virtual tour on the islands of El Nido----Island Hopping Package TOUR C! :)

Come on Vamonos, let's explore the Tour C group of islands of EL Nido, Palawan.


The tour C group of islands is composed of interesting islands and beaches. 

Usually, the island tour package adventures start at 9 in the morning and end at 4 in the afternoon. But if you will be having a private island hopping tour, just like what we did, the time is yours to manage. The time you will spend on each of your destination is in your hands and you can go to anywhere you want (of course that depends on your agreement with your boat operator).

If you will join a package tour, the tour package for the tour C group of islands costs P1,400 per person and that will allow you to be able to visit 5 destinations. Lunch, mask and snorkel, life vests and assisting guides are all part of the tour package. You might also need to bring your own water and towel but it depends on your tour operator if that will be included in your package or not.

Here's a virtual tour of the destinations under the Tour C Group of Islands in EL NIDO, PALAWAN.

For more pictures and a more detailed write-up, just click on the names of the islands hyperlinked to its full article. :)

Our first destination is my favorite island in EL Nido: it is the top 1 island in my list of the most beautiful islands in EL Nido, Palawan.

 

MATINLOC ISLAND

A heart-shaped island filled with a lot of interesting stories and beautiful scenery is home to the abandoned mansion of the Fernandez's which also served as a former retreat house. It is also in this island that the Feast of Our Lady of Matinloc is being celebrated at every 31st of May. It is a must-visit island.

One of the most breath taking views that I''ve seen is also from here. The island has a very nice view deck where you can see the most breath-taking view I've ever seen in my entire life! The underwater landscape in front of the island is also very beautiful! It is an almost perfect island. So far this island tops my list; for me this is the most beautiful island in EL Nido, Palawan.

(Matinloc Island, El Nido Palawan Philippines, May 2013)

Entrance fee: None.

Things to do: Swimming, snorkeling, fish feeding, exploring the abandoned mansion and the whole property, climbing up the view deck and picture taking.


STAR BEACH which is just located in front of the Matinloc Island is also part of the TOUR C Group of El Nido Islands but it's usually skipped in the tour as there's nothing much to see/do in that island. It was called star beach because of the sparkling and glimmering sand that the island has.

  Our next stop, the

SECRET BEACH

The SPECTACULAR UNDERWATER VIEW offered by this Island is one of the most interesting underwater views I've seen. I feel like a mermaid while swimming outside of the secret beach near its entrance.

From the underwater caves to the variety of fishes, everything that you will find in this island is just extremely awesome. The Secret beach is on my top 3 favorite islands in El Nido; Among the 11 islands in El Nido that I've visited, so far, this one ranks 3rd.

(Entrance to the Secret Lagoon)

Entrance fee: None.

Things to do: Swimming, snorkeling, exploring the limestone formations.

Our third destination is the

HELICOPTER ISLAND

One of the nearest islands in the town of El Nido is the Dilumacad Island, also known as The Helicopter Island.

 By just looking at its shape, you will already know why it's called the Helicopter Island. It looks like a helicopter without its propellers. But for me, the Island looks more of a turtle than a helicopter. Most foreigners, according to our boatman, also say that the island looks more of like a half-submerged (chicken) drumstick or a turtle than a helicopter too.

(Helicopter Island a.k.a Dilumacad Island)

Entrance fee: None.

Things to do: Swimming, soaking up the sun and snorkeling.

Our fourth and final stop, the

HIDDEN BEACH

Hidden between two rocks is a strip of white sand beach.The beach is really hidden, that you can't see it unless you go further in between these two towering lime stones. It was named hidden beach, simply because it is a beach hidden between two rocks.

It looks like a dead end, but it's just an illusion. There really is a way in between those rocks that will lead you to a small strip of white sand beach, and there is also an exit at the end turning right.


Entrance fee: None.

Things to do: Swimming, snorkeling, fish feeding, having picnic lunch, exploring the limestone formations.

(The entrance to the Hidden Beach)

The next time you visit EL Nido, see to it that you visit the above destinations. They're waiting to amaze you!

You might notice that not a single island in El Nido has an entrance fee. Only a 200 pesos ETDF (Eco-Tourism Development Fee) per person is being collected before the start of the island hopping tour. This fee is good for up to 10 days of your stay in El Nido. The accumulated fund is used by the government to maintain the islands and manage the tour operations in the municipality.

And that's all folks, that's the end of our virtual island hopping tour in the TOUR C Group of El Nido Islands. Come and experience the beauty of El Nido, the most beautiful island in the world!

ADIOS!


-The Palaweña Explorer :)