El Nido Tour C and the Open-Sea Route to Secret Beach
El Nido Tour C takes you to Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine, and Helicopter Island on the most weather-exposed island-hopping route in Bacuit Bay.
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 C Itinerary
The bangka engine cuts as you drift towards a solid limestone wall. Your guide points to a slit in the rock, barely two metres wide, and tells you to swim for it. This is Secret Beach, the headline act of El Nido Tour C. It demands a leap of faith into deep water. Tour C, officially the Beaches and Shrine Tour, trades the sheltered lagoons of Tour A for a crossing of Bacuit Bay's open water to photograph a helicopter-shaped island and explore an abandoned religious site.
Book Tour C for its stark geological drama and eerie history, not for the reef life. The crossing to Tapiutan Island is the most exposed of any El Nido tour, a 30-kilometre round trip that you feel in every bone when the monsoon swell kicks up. This itinerary covers five stops in the order you visit them, with precise instructions on what you actually do at each one.
Tour C Secret Beach
Your third stop is Secret Beach, reached by swimming through a keyhole opening in a limestone cliff. The water depth at the entry point ranges from two to five metres, depending on the tide. Inside, you emerge into a completely enclosed cove with a small pocket of fine white sand, hemmed in by cliffs with no land exit.
This is a geological spectacle, not a place for reef viewing. The water is calm but holds little marine life. The experience is the reveal: swimming from open sea into a hidden chamber. Non-swimmers should not attempt this stop. There is no alternative access, and the swim back to the boat can be punishing if the current is running.
Matinloc Shrine El Nido
Your second stop is Matinloc Shrine on Matinloc Island, a derelict complex built in 1982 by the Philippine Tourism Authority. You climb a steep staircase to reach the main viewpoint high above the sea. The reward is a panoramic sweep of Bacuit Bay's limestone karsts.
Bring 100 Philippine pesos in cash for the separate entrance fee, collected by a local caretaker on site and not included in your tour cost. The shrine itself is abandoned: concrete structures and a non-functioning chapel with a haunting atmosphere. Do not attempt the climb if you have mobility problems or knee trouble.
Helicopter Island El Nido
The first stop on your Tour C route is Helicopter Island, formally Dilumacad Island, named for a silhouette that resembles a helicopter from the sea. Your boat anchors offshore and you wade onto its long stretch of white sand beach. You get roughly 45 minutes here.
Head to the northern and eastern sides of the island, where moderate coral gardens and reef fish hold. The reef quality is decent but not as lively as what you find on Tour A. This is also your best angle for photographs of the island's distinctive shape from the waterline.
The Full El Nido Tour C Route
Departure from El Nido town or Corong-Corong beach happens between 08:30 and 09:30. Your outrigger banca carries 12 to 24 passengers, and the tour needs a minimum of four to six booked guests to proceed. The Philippine Coast Guard station in El Nido must clear the daily passenger manifest and weather conditions before departure.
Stop 1: Helicopter Island
Swim the coral gardens on the island's north and east sides. Photograph the limestone cliff formation from the beach.
Stop 2: Matinloc Shrine
Climb the staircase to the viewpoint. Photograph the abandoned structures and the panoramic seascape. Pay the 100 PHP cash entrance fee.
Stop 3: Secret Beach
Swim through the narrow rock keyhole into the enclosed beach. Wade and photograph the completely hidden cove.
Lunch And The Final Stops
Your included lunch is a beach picnic, served at Talisay Beach or a sheltered cove near Matinloc. The meal is grilled seafood, meat, rice, salad, and fruit. Tell your operator about dietary needs when you book, not on the day.
Stop 4 is Talisay Beach. Wade ashore to white sand shaded by talisay trees. Swim over seagrass beds and scattered coral patches. Stop 5 is Hidden Beach. Wade or swim from your anchored boat through a gap in a limestone wall to reach another secluded beach. The shallow, lagoon-like water is better for wading than for serious reef exploration.
Return to El Nido town is scheduled for 16:30 to 17:30, but weather or group pace often delays it. The El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee is paid separately in town and is valid for four days across all tours.
| Feature | Tour C: Beaches and Shrine | Tour A: Lagoon Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Beaches, photography, abandoned structures | Snorkelling, kayaking, lagoons |
| Reef Quality | Moderate; varied topography | High; lively reefs |
| Crowd Level | Lower at beaches, high at Matinloc stairs | Extremely high at Small and Secret Lagoons |
| Open Sea Exposure | Highest; long, exposed crossing | Lower; more sheltered routes |
| Physical Demand | High; swimming entry and stair climb | Moderate; some kayaking and swimming |
| Weather Cancellation Risk | Highest; first tour suspended in rough seas | Moderate; runs in lighter swell |
El Nido Tour C Booking and Weather
Book Tour C directly with an operator in El Nido town or through your accommodation. A private charter is available from most operators if you want to skip the group. The dry season from March to May gives you the lowest cancellation rate and the calmest seas for the long crossing.
From June through November, the southwest monsoon brings rough seas that frequently cancel Tour C. It is the first tour suspended when the Philippine Coast Guard issues a strong wind warning. Do not plan your whole itinerary around a single tour day. Have a backup plan for land-based activities, like a trip to Nacpan Beach, if the boats are grounded.
Your environmental fee is included in the El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee, which you pay once at the tourism office. Mask and snorkel are provided, but fins are not always available. Kayaks are not a standard inclusion on this route.
Who Should Skip El Nido Tour C
Tour C is the wrong choice for anyone who prioritises reef life above all else; book Tour A instead. Families with very young children or travellers with mobility issues should avoid this route. The swim-through entry to Secret Beach and the steep climb at Matinloc Shrine are non-negotiable physical demands.
If you are on a tight schedule with only a few days in El Nido, the high cancellation risk of Tour C makes it a volatile centrepiece for your plans. The boat ride to Tapiutan Island is punishing in late shoulder season, even on days when other tours are running. For every person captivated by the shrine's decay and Secret Beach's reveal, another finds the long, rough crossing for fewer standout stops not worth the effort.
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