El Nido, Palawan, is known for its stunning limestone cliffs, crystal-clear waters, and island-hopping tours. However, El Nido island hopping: the truth about its dying reefs is becoming impossible to ignore. The coral reefs, once teeming with marine life, are rapidly deteriorating due to mass tourism. As boats anchor on fragile ecosystems and snorkellers unknowingly damage coral, the impact is visible at every stop.
El Nido, Palawan a dream destination
El Nido, Palawan, is a dream destination—crystal-clear waters, hidden lagoons, towering limestone cliffs, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The best way to experience this paradise? Island hopping.
Most visitors join one of four standard boat tours: Tour A, B, C, or D. These take you to iconic spots in Bacuit Bay, promising snorkelling, kayaking, and breathtaking views.
But beneath the surface of this paradise lies a grim reality: mass tourism is killing the reefs. What was once a thriving underwater world is now mostly dead coral, trampled by tourists and damaged by the very boats that bring people here. We saw it happening in real-time.
This blog is a breakdown of the four tours—what you’ll see, what to expect, and the devastating environmental cost.
The Four El Nido Island Hopping Tours (A, B, C, D)
Each tour follows a set route and lasts about 7 hours (but expect delays).
The Classic Highlights – Tour A
- Destinations: Big Lagoon (or Small Lagoon), Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Seven Commandos Beach
- Price (2025): ₱1,300 – ₱1,500 per person
- Extras: Kayak rental at Big Lagoon (~₱300)
- What to Expect: Big Lagoon is breathtaking but crowded. Snorkelling stops reveal mostly dead coral.
Caves and Sandbars –Tour B
- Destinations: Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Cathedral Cave, Cudugnon Cave
- Price (2025): ₱1,300 – ₱1,500 per person
- What to Expect: Fewer crowds than Tour A, some stunning sandbars, but snorkelling is disappointing due to coral degradation.
The Adventurer’s Choice –Tour C
- Destinations: Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Star Beach, Helicopter Island
- Price (2025): ₱1,400 – ₱1,600 per person
- Extras: Kayak rental at Secret Beach (~₱300)
- What to Expect: Hidden Beach is stunning but challenging to reach due to currents. Helicopter Island has some surviving coral, but it’s disappearing fast.
Remote Beaches –Tour D
- Destinations: Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach, Pasandigan Beach, Bukal Beach, Natnat Beach
- Price (2025): ₱1,200 – ₱1,400 per person
- What to Expect: The most peaceful of the four tours, but the marine ecosystem is struggling.
What It’s Like to Join a Tour
We are picked up at 9 AM and walk two minutes to the beach. This is where the reality of mass tourism hits.
Sheer Numbers
On the beach, 80–100 boats are waiting. Each holds 16–20 people. That means over 1,500 tourists stand on the sand, into groups (A, B, C, D), as we wait to board our boats.
It’s not chaotic. It’s organised, efficient—but horrifying. Seeing that many people going out daily, it’s no wonder the reefs are gone.
Loading the Boats
Before guests board, crew members load provisions using sit-on-top kayaks—food, water, serving supplies—all paddled out to the boats. Then the guests wade out. You have to walk through waist-deep water (if you’re tall—chest-deep if you’re shorter), carrying all your belongings in a dry bag (not included).
Our Tour Experience
El Nido Island Hopping: The Truth About Its Dying Reefs
We didn’t actually get onto our boat until after 10 AM—a full hour after arriving—because of the sheer number of boats trying to take their turn.
When we finally set off, our first stop is full with other boats—at least 20 others trying to get into the same small area. The guides decided to swap stops to avoid the congestion.
Killing Nemo Incident
The ‘Finding Nemo’ Incident
At Hidden Beach, a local guide pointed out a tiny patch of reef—the last bit of living coral—where clownfish (Finding Nemo fish) still lived. He told us if we wanted to see them, we should follow a particular snorkelling guide.
What we saw next was gut-wrenching.
A couple is obsessed with getting the perfect photo of the little clownfish. They swim down repeatedly, kick at the coral, stand on it, stomp as they try to pose for their shot.
The little clownfish was desperately darting between the last bit of reef it called home—and these people almost crushed it, multiple times.
I couldn’t watch. It was unbearable.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. At every snorkelling stop, we saw people standing on coral, chasing fish, and generally treating the ocean like a theme park.
The Coral is Already Dead—And It’s Getting Worse
At one snorkelling stop, we saw something that really shocked us:
Our own tour boat tied its rope directly to a living reef.
It wasn’t just other boats. Our boat. Our guide. They knew better, but they did it anyway.
The reef is barely alive as it is—and to watch it get further destroyed, right in front of us, breaks our hearts.
Fish life is still here, but give it five years, and it too will be gone.
The Environmental Cost of Mass Tourism
El Nido Island Hopping: The Truth About Its Dying Reefs
Despite paying a ₱400 environmental fee, nothing is being done to protect the reefs.
Here’s what’s killing El Nido’s marine ecosystem:
- Tourists standing on coral – Guides tell people not to, but no one enforces it.
- Boats anchoring on reefs – We saw it with our own eyes.
- Sheer numbers of people – The reefs can’t recover from the constant onslaught.
- Chasing marine life – Tourists harass fish for the perfect Instagram shot.
How We Can Be Better Travellers
If you’re visiting El Nido, you can make a difference:
- NEVER stand on coral – Even the lightest touch can kill it.✅
- Use reef-safe sunscreen – Regular sunscreen is toxic to marine life. ✅
- Respect marine life – Don’t chase or harass fish.✅
- Choose a responsible tour operator – Some companies offer small-group, low-impact tours.✅
- Speak up – If you see your boat tying to a reef, say something. ✅
Real Change Needs to Happen
- Tourist numbers should be limited ✅
- Guides need to actively enforce conservation rules ✅
- Some areas need to be closed off for recovery ✅
Final Thoughts
El Nido is still beautiful, but it’s dying before our eyes.
Coral reefs that took centuries to form are now barely clinging to life; meanwhile, the fish are disappearing. The water is still crystal clear, but beneath it, there’s almost nothing left.
We are loving this place to death.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Tourism can be a force for good if we travel responsibly. We can do better; therefore, we must do better.
If we don’t, in a few years, there will be nothing left to see.