El Nido Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes
El Nido’s Bacuit Archipelago is best explored at a leisurely pace, with short hops between islands and plenty of time in the water. The itineraries below cover the archipelago’s highlights across different durations and are designed to be extended with a passage to Coron for guests seeking a longer voyage.
Day Charter Routes from El Nido
Lagoon Discovery
Depart El Nido early and kayak into the Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon on Miniloc Island before the day-trip boats arrive. Swim through the cliff gap into the Secret Lagoon, then snorkel the coral gardens off Shimizu Island. Lunch on the aft deck, then walk the Snake Island sandbar as the tide drops. Return to El Nido by late afternoon. The ultimate El Nido highlights reel in a single day.
Outer Islands Explorer
Head east to Helicopter Island for beach time and snorkelling, then north to Matinloc Island for the Shrine and Secret Beach. Cruise through the Tapiutan Strait (dramatic cliff faces dropping into deep water) and anchor off Star Beach for a final snorkel. Return to El Nido as the sun begins to drop. This route covers the quieter, more remote side of the archipelago.
3-Day El Nido Yacht Charter Itinerary: The Bacuit Archipelago
Day 1: Lagoons and Inner Islands
Board at El Nido and cruise to Miniloc Island. Kayak the Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon in the early morning calm, then swim into the Secret Lagoon. Lunch on the aft deck beside the limestone towers, then snorkel Shimizu Island’s gardens. Anchor overnight off Cadlao Island – sunset dinner with the karst silhouettes turning black against a tangerine sky.
Day 2: Beaches, Sandbars and Coral
Morning at Helicopter Island: beach time on the 300-metre white-sand crescent and snorkelling off the western rocks (sea turtles, giant clams, reef squid). After lunch, walk the Snake Island sandbar and swim in the shallow turquoise waters on either side. Anchor near Pangulasian Island for a beach barbecue dinner – grilled seafood, garlic rice and cold San Miguel under the Milky Way.
Day 3: Matinloc, Tapiutan and Star Beach
Explore the abandoned Matinloc Shrine and swim through the limestone wall to Secret Beach. Cruise through the Tapiutan Strait – cliffs rising vertically from water so deep it appears black. A final snorkel at Star Beach for hard-coral gardens, then return to El Nido by late afternoon. Guests extending to a 7-day charter can depart directly for Coron (50 nautical miles north, roughly three hours) to begin the 4-day Coron itinerary, creating a week-long Palawan voyage without repeating a single stop.
4-Day El Nido Yacht Charter Itinerary: Bacuit Archipelago and Linapacan
Day 1: Lagoons and Shimizu Island
Full day in the inner Bacuit Archipelago: Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon and Shimizu Island. Overnight at anchor off Cadlao Island.
Day 2: Helicopter Island and Snake Island
Beach time and snorkelling at Helicopter Island, then the Snake Island sandbar in the afternoon. Beach barbecue dinner near Pangulasian Island.
Day 3: Matinloc and Departure North
Morning at Matinloc’s Secret Beach and the Tapiutan Strait. After lunch, depart north towards the Linapacan Islands (roughly 25 nautical miles from the outer Bacuit islands). Anchor off a deserted Linapacan beach for the night – the water clarity here is legendary, and the solitude is absolute.
Day 4: Linapacan and Onward to Coron
Spend the morning snorkelling the pristine reefs of the Linapacan group, then cruise north to Coron (roughly 25 nautical miles from Linapacan). Arrive in Coron Bay by mid-afternoon. This 4-day route pairs naturally with a 3–4 day Coron itinerary for a 7–8 day grand Palawan charter.
