El Nido Tour D Stops: Cadlao Lagoon, Small Lagoon, and Pasandigan Beach

On prices: the figures on this page were gathered in September 2026 and are given as bands rather than current quotes. Rates, fees and timetables change every season - check with the operator before you book.

El Nido Tour D Cadlao Lagoon and Small Lagoon Kayaking Route

El Nido Tour D is the Cadlao Island Tour, a 09:00 to 16:00 boat trip from El Nido town pier that covers Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Natnat Beach, Pasandigan Beach, and Bukal Island. Book this tour 1-3 days ahead in peak season from November to May. Its main draw is Cadlao Lagoon, not the Small Lagoon. The boat ride covers 3-5 km across Bacuit Bay, the calmest water among El Nido tours A and D.

Pay the mandatory PHP 200 El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee at the pier. Cash only. This fee is valid for 10 days and covers entry to Paradise Beach, Natnat Beach, Pasandigan Beach, and Bukal Island. It does not cover Cadlao Lagoon. That lagoon charges a separate PHP 200-300 per person, also cash, collected on arrival. Rent a kayak for PHP 200-400 and a snorkel mask set for PHP 100-200. There are no ATMs on the islands and mobile signal is intermittent to none.

Why Tour D Runs When Others Cancel

Tour D has the highest operational likelihood when other tours are cancelled. Cadlao Island shelters the route from open ocean swells. This makes it the best El Nido tour for families with children. Operators consolidate groups onto Tour A and C during the July to October monsoon, so Tour D runs less frequently then. A same-day booking is often possible in low season.

El Nido Tour D Itinerary

A standard El Nido Tour D itinerary starts with a 09:00 departure from El Nido town beach or Corong-Corong beach, depending on the tide. Your bangka, an outrigger banca holding 16-20 passengers on a shared tour, heads directly to Cadlao Lagoon first. This timing matters. Arrive before the Small Lagoon crowds descend at 10:00.

The lunch stop is a beach picnic at Natnat Beach or Pasandigan Beach. Bring your own potable water. None is available on any stop. There are also no restroom facilities beyond bush toilets. The tour returns to El Nido town by 16:00.

Tour D Stop by Stop

Cadlao Lagoon: The brackish water centrepiece of the tour, surrounded by the 609-metre limestone karst of Cadlao Island. Kayak rental is available here to explore the calm waters.

Paradise Beach: A white sand beach stop for swimming. Your environmental fee covers entry.

Natnat Beach: Another white sand beach, often used for the lunch stop.

Pasandigan Beach: A beach with white sand and rocky sections, known for its coral gardens snorkelling site.

Bukal Island: A small limestone islet with a sandbar. Snorkelling here is over coral gardens.

Cadlao Lagoon El Nido

Cadlao Lagoon is the defining feature of El Nido Tour D. A brackish body of water entirely enclosed by the limestone cliffs of Cadlao Island, it sits within the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, established under Presidential Proclamation No. 32 in 1998. The lagoon requires a separate entrance fee of PHP 200-300 per person. Pay cash on arrival.

Kayaking is the primary activity here. Rentals are available at the lagoon entrance. The water is the calmest in Bacuit Bay, so inexperienced kayakers can manage it. Snorkelling is less rewarding here than at the coral gardens off Pasandigan Beach and Bukal Island.

Tour D Small Lagoon Kayak

El Nido Tour D does not include the Small Lagoon with its swim-through gap. That landmark is the centrepiece of Tour A. Tour D is sold as a less crowded alternative that still offers a kayaking experience, but that experience is at Cadlao Lagoon, not Small Lagoon.

Crowd timing depends entirely on your boat's departure hour. If your Tour D bangka leaves at the same time as every Tour A boat, you will experience the same crush of visitors at Cadlao Lagoon. To avoid this, ask your operator if an earlier departure is possible. Most adhere to a strict 09:00 schedule set by the municipal tourism office.

Pasandigan Beach El Nido

Pasandigan Beach is a key swim stop on the El Nido Tour D route. White sand, some rocky sections. Its main attraction is the coral gardens just offshore, among the best snorkelling sites on this tour. The environmental fee you paid at the pier covers your entry here.

This beach is often used as an alternative lunch stop to Natnat Beach. There are no facilities. Your operator will serve a simple beach picnic. The snorkelling is superior to Cadlao Lagoon. Have your mask and snorkel ready.

El Nido Tour D vs Tour a

Choose El Nido Tour D over Tour A if your priority is a calmer kayaking experience at Cadlao Lagoon and quiet swim stops at Natnat Beach and Paradise Beach. Tour D is the better choice for families and anyone who wants the most reliable boat conditions. Tour A is the one to book if you must do the Small Lagoon swim-through.

Crowd levels on Tour D are not inherently lower. They are a function of departure timing. Both tours use the same type of bangka and similar group sizes of 16-20 people for shared trips. The fundamental difference is the itinerary: Tour D trades the famous lagoons of Tour A for the seclusion of Cadlao Island's beaches.

What Makes Tour D Feel Different

Natnat Beach and Paradise Beach are the quiet white sand swim stops that make Tour D feel distinct from Tour A. These are not brief photo ops. You can swim and relax without the intense crowds found at Seven Commando Beach or Shimizu Island on other tours. This is the real value of the Cadlao Island Tour.

Booking and Practical Tips for Tour D

Book your El Nido Tour D through an accredited tour operator in El Nido town. The municipal tourism office requires it. A private boat charter costs more but can accommodate 2-20 passengers and may allow a custom departure time to beat the crowds. Shared tours need a minimum of 6-8 passengers to run.

Bring more small bills than you think you need for the various fees and rentals. Assume all operators are cash-only. Be prepared for a brownout in El Nido town affecting your operator's ability to process bookings or communicate. Download your booking confirmation and a map of the area for offline use before you leave your accommodation.

The single thing that most often goes wrong is a missed connection. Van transfers from Puerto Princesa run on Filipino time. If you are arriving the same day, do not schedule a Tour D booking for the afternoon. Van departures wait until full. A scheduled 09:00 van can leave at 11:00 and destroy your plan.