El Nido Big & Small Lagoon

Big Lagoon / Small Lagoon, Miniloc Island

Two emerald lagoons enclosed by limestone cliffs on Miniloc Island. Paddle through a narrow gap into waters as still as a mirror. This is the heart of El Nido's Island Hopping Tour A and the most classic view in the Philippines.

The Big and Small Lagoons lie on Miniloc Island, about 30 minutes by boat west of El Nido town, and are the most famous sights among the limestone islands of Bacuit Bay. The Big Lagoon is a wide body of water surrounded on three sides by cliffs about 100 meters high. Its entrance is shallow and broad, so outrigger boats can only park at the mouth of the lagoon. Visitors transfer to kayaks (about ₱300–400 per kayak, seating 2, life jackets provided) and paddle in. The water shifts from emerald green in the shallows to deep ink blue, the sandy bottom is white, and vines and stalactites hang from the cliff walls. The only sounds are paddle strokes and echoes. The entrance to the Small Lagoon is a crack in the cliff wide enough for just one kayak to pass (at high tide you have to duck to get through). Inside is a more enclosed and quiet emerald pool, where you can swim and snorkel among small fish, and at the far end is a small cave. Because of overcrowding, the El Nido local government has limited visitor numbers to both lagoons since 2018: about 400 people per lagoon each day, with entry in time slots. You can book through a tour operator as part of Island Hopping Tour A (which includes Seven Commandos Beach, Shimizu Island and Secret Lagoon, about ₱1,200–1,500 per person including lunch), or charter a boat for ₱4,000–6,000 and arrange your own visit. The two lagoons are usually not on the same day in standard routes: the Big Lagoon is on Tour A and the Small Lagoon is on some combination tours, so if you want to see both, tell your operator in advance. There is also an Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF) of ₱400, valid for 10 days. Notes: ordinary sunscreen is banned inside the lagoons, and you may not use fins to kick over coral. In peak season from December to April, book 2–7 days in advance. Those who cannot swim can paddle in a kayak wearing a life jacket but should not get in the water. When the waves are high, boats do not stop, so itineraries may change at short notice. The coordinates are approximate for Miniloc Island.

El Nido Big & Small Lagoon

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