Small Lagoon
Get your paddles and arm muscles ready as you kayak your way to the peaceful and refreshing Small Lagoon in El Nido, Palawan.
El Nido’s Miniloc Island, located in the middle of Bacuit Bay, has a jagged coastline that’s filled with pockets of paradise – white beaches, lagoons, and caves. And one of these pockets is the Small Lagoon.
The way to the Small Lagoon is already dreamy – with towering limestone cliffs that line up around your boat and crystalline blue waters all around. The adventure doesn’t end here, as soon guests will realize that in order to access Small Lagoon, they have to either swim or kayak their way through a small gap between two giant limestone rocks that seem as if to kiss each other anytime soon. These cliffs, along with the rocks and corals in the shallow part of the area are the ones responsible for maintaining the calmness and serenity of Small Lagoon, protecting it from the occasionally violent open sea.
Location
The Small Lagoon is located in El Nido’s Miniloc Island.
Opening Days and Hours
Tour operations start from 09:00 to 16:00 every day.
Entry Fee and Bookings
Small Lagoon is included in the El Nido Island Hopping Tour A, which is inclusive of boat, lunch, life vest, snorkeling gear, and tour guide fee. Breakdown of costs are:
- El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: PhP 1,200 (USD 23.15) per person
- Eco-Tourism Development Fee: PhP 200 (USD 3.86) – good for 10 days
- Kayak Rental Fee: PhP 700 (USD 13.50) – good for the whole day (within tour operating hours)
Total cost is around PhP 2,100 (USD 41).
How to Get There
- From the country’s capital of Manila, you can get to reach the Puerto Princesa International Airport via a 1-hour flight with your preferred airline company.
- From Palawan’s capital of Puerto Princesa, you can reach El Nido via: van (PhP 550 to 600 or USD 10.61 to 11.57 per person, 5 hours travel time), bus (PhP 385 to 480 or USD 7.43 to 9.26 per person, 6 to 7 hours travel time), or Roro bus (PhP 290 to 380 or USD 5.59 to 7.33 per person, 6 to 7 hours travel time).
- The vans are located at the airport or you can ride a tricycle or multi-cab going to Robinson’s mall where the terminal is located. For the buses and Roro buses, you can take a tricycle at the airport going to Junction 1 (PhP 8 or USD 0.15 per person) and ride a multicab going to San Jose Terminal. You can also opt to hire a tricycle going there for PhP 80 to 100 (USD 1.54 to 1.93).
- Once you reach the El Nido bus terminal, you can take a tricycle going to the town centre or straight to your hotel.
- From either the town centre or along Bacuit Bay, you can then book El Nido’s Island Hopping Tour A.
Suggested For
- Backpackers/solo travelers
- Couples
- Group of friends
- Families
Time to Spend
You can opt to stay 1 to 2 hours swimming and exploring the lagoon.
Popularity and Best Time to Go
The best time to visit and enjoy El Nido is during the months of November to May when the sea is relatively calm and underwater visibility is good.
Activities
- Swimming
- Snorkeling
- Swim to and explore a small water-filled cave located at the other end of the lagoon.
Food
Food is included in the tour package.
Nearby Attractions
- Big Lagoon
- Matinloc Island
- Simizu Island
- Entalula Island
- Secret Lagoon Beach
Stay
Accommodations near Small Lagoon include a number of resorts and inns, such as the El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island, Matinloc Resort, El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island, and MaryGold Beachfront Inn. Prices range from USD 39 to USD 565 per night.
Good to Know
Bring aqua shoes or any protective footwear to protect your feet from sharp rocks and corals. Practice caution and wear a life vest especially if you are not a strong swimmer.
