The famous Big Lagoon El Nido seems to be at the top of everyone’s Philippines Bucket List and it’s easy to see why. I can tell you now that it’s every bit impressive and I highly recommend adding Big Lagoon to your list of places to see in Palawan!
I have put together this complete guide of El Nido Big Lagoon including how to get there and what to expect when you arrive.
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HOW TO GET TO BIG LAGOON EL NIDO?
El Nido Big Lagoon can only be accessed by boat on one of the El Nido Island Hopping Tours. More specifically, El Nido Tour A is the only boat tour that operates trips to Big Lagoon Palawan.
I personally booked El Nido Tour A online in advance with Klook and it couldn’t have been easier!
El Nido Tour A is the most top-rated El Nido Island Hopping Tour with great reviews and thousands of bookings.
Tour A includes a full day of island hopping on an outrigger boat to Seven Commandos Beach, Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and a BBQ lunch on the boat. All this for just $18 USD.
Book Now → El Nido Tour A
El Nido Tour A
BIG LAGOON EL NIDO
Big Lagoon El Nido is located on Miniloc Island and it’s typically the second stop on El Nido Tour A. When we arrived on the boat I could finally see why El Nido Big Lagoon was at the top of everyone’s list of things to in El Nido!
The towering limestone cliffs of Miniloc Island are other-worldly and the deep blue-colored waters inside Big Lagoon El Nido are too inviting not to go for a swim!
One of the best activities to do when you arrive is to rent a kayak and paddle your way through the opening of the lagoon and explore the deep blue waters inside. The cost to rent a kayak is an additional 250 pesos which is worth every cent.
RELATED ARTICLE → 3 WEEK PHILIPPINES ITINERARY
Big Lagoon El Nido
Kayaking in the lagoon
EXPLORING EL NIDO BIG LAGOON
If you choose not to go kayaking in Big Lagoon El Nido, it’s possible to swim from the boat into the opening of the lagoon where the water is quite shallow. From here you can walk around beneath the curving limestone cliffs and take a moment to let the phenomenality of this place soak in!
I decided to fly my DJI Mavic Drone to capture the beauty of it all from a birds-eye perspective. Safe to say these were my favorite photos I took on the El Nido island-hopping tour!
You’ll have around 1 hour – 1.5 hours to enjoy your time inside the Big Lagoon El Nido before heading off to the next stop of El Nido Tour A which is Secret Lagoon!
Full Blog Post → El Nido Island Hopping
Big Lagoon Palawan
PIN LOCATION BIG LAGOON EL NIDO
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WHERE TO STAY IN EL NIDO
El Nido has hundreds of accommodation options to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay to fit the needs of budget backpackers, luxury travelers, and everyone in between.
See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:
Luxury: Lagùn Hotel
Lagùn Hotel is one of the best and most modern hotels in El Nido featuring an outdoor swimming pool, terrace, restaurant, bar, and free wifi throughout the property. The rooms are fitted with a flat-screen tv, wardrobe, work desk, fridge, kettle, private bathroom and some with a balcony. A buffet breakfast is also included for all guests. Recommended for couples, families, and friends.
Mid Range: Sea Cocoon Hotel
I personally stayed at Sea Cocoon Hotel and can’t recommend this place enough! Located right in the heart of El Nido and just minutes walk to the beach. Sea Cocoon Hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, terrace, restaurant, bar, and a shared lounge. The rooms are spacious and modern with air-conditioning, large comfy beds, wardrobe, balcony, and private bathroom. A buffet breakfast is also included for all guests. Affordable place to stay for couples, families, and friends!
Budget: One Hostel El Nido
One Hostel is one of the best budget accommodations in El Nido with great reviews! Centrally located and within walking distance to the bus terminal, shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, and beaches. There are dorm rooms, double rooms, and quadruple rooms available with air-conditioning. The Hostel also has free wifi and a shared lounge area for guests to hang out. Perfect place to stay in El Nido for solo travelers, couples, and friends!
FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY IN EL NIDO, SEARCH ON AGODA OR SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM
BEST EL NIDO TOURS
AIRBNB EL NIDO
Another option for accommodation in El Nido is to stay at an Airbnb, which generally has some great deals.
Use the search box below to find all available Airbnb’s in El Nido.
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LONELY PLANET PHILIPPINES
One of the best books to take on your trip is the Lonely Planet Philippines Travel Guide!
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MORE PHILIPPINES TRAVEL GUIDES
- Philippines Guide: 3 WEEK PHILIPPINES ITINERARY
- Cebu: 15 Things To Do In Cebu
- Bohol: 31 Epic Things To Do In Bohol
- Siargao: 15 Things To Do In Siargao
- El Nido: El Nido Island Hopping
- Coron: Coron Island Hopping
- Boracay: 15 Things To Do In Boracay
- Siquijor: 3 Day Siquijor Itinerary
- Bantayan: 15 Things To Do In Bantayan
- Malapascua: 11 Things To Do In Malapascua
- Camiguin: 13 Best Camiguin Tourist Spots
- Romblon: 12 Epic Things To Do In Romblon
- Tablas: 10 Things To Do In Tablas
- Carabao: 7 Best Things To Do In Carabao
- Dumaguete: Best Dumaguete Tourist Spots
- Sumilon Island: Sumilon Island Itinerary
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MY SHOP
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FINAL THOUGHTS
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions at all about El Nido Big Lagoon, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Happy Travels!
Hey, I’m Jonny – surfer, skater, photographer, and coffee-lover from Australia!
With a burning passion for travel and the outdoors, I launched this Adventure Travel Blog in 2017, and I’ve been exploring the world ever since!
My little corner of the interwebs is a space where I love to share all of my epic adventures, cultural experiences, and captivating photos from around the globe with the ultimate goal to inspire and motivate other like-minded travelers to explore this wonderful earth too!
