Secret Lagoon, Hidden Beach & Secret Beach El Nido: Which Tours Visit Them?

El Nido does not make things easy for first-time visitors. There is a Secret Lagoon, a Secret Beach and a Hidden Beach. All three are real places, all three are reached on island-hopping tours, and they are not on the same standard tour.

The easiest way to remember it:

• Secret Lagoon is on Tour A
• Secret Beach is on Tour C
• Hidden Beach is on Tour C

That one distinction can save you from booking the wrong El Nido tour. Current published routes, including the GetYourGuide listings we checked in October 2026, place Secret Lagoon on Tour A, while Secret Beach and Hidden Beach are both standard Tour C stops.

Secret Beach and Hidden Beach are the two stops most people searching these names are trying to book, and they are both on Tour C. Check dates and current prices for your travel day below.

Quick comparison

If you’re trying to choose between the three, you are deciding between Tour A and Tour C.

For most first-time visitors: Tour A first, Tour C second.

Why are the names so confusing?

Because El Nido’s tourism vocabulary has grown up around the same few themes:

• hidden places;
• limestone walls;
• enclosed beaches;
• secret entrances;
• lagoons concealed from open water.

So the names are descriptive, but not much help when planning. A traveller may hear:

“Secret Beach is on Tour A, right?”

No. Or:

“Is Hidden Beach the same as Secret Beach?”

Also no. Treat them as three separate attractions.

Other experiences you might enjoy

Around El Nido town and Bacuit Bay there is plenty more to book besides these three stops: Big Lagoon and Shimizu Island on Tour A, Helicopter Island and Matinloc Shrine on Tour C, Snake Island and Cudugnon Cave on Tour B, and Cadlao Lagoon and Small Lagoon on Tour D. Farther north, Coron adds Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon and Barracuda Lake. Browse more Palawan tours below.

Secret Lagoon: the Tour A stop

Secret Lagoon is part of El Nido Tour A, the classic first-time island-hopping route.

Current Tour A listings include:

• Big Lagoon;
• Secret Lagoon;
• Seven Commandos Beach;
• Shimizu Island;

with operators varying the exact order and occasionally changing stops because of conditions. The Tour A listing we recommend runs 6 to 8 hours with lunch included, and many operators publish a similar full day.

What is Secret Lagoon?

Secret Lagoon is a small enclosed lagoon surrounded by limestone, reached through a small opening in the rock.

It is not the enormous open kayaking environment of Big Lagoon, and that difference matters.

Big Lagoon feels:

• expansive;
• dramatic;
• open to kayaking;
• like a landscape you move through.

Secret Lagoon feels:

• smaller;
• enclosed;
• more like discovering a hidden chamber within the limestone.

If you expect another Big Lagoon, you may be disappointed. If you treat it as one short, unusual stop within a broader Tour A day, it makes much more sense.

Is Secret Lagoon the main reason to book Tour A?

No. For most travellers, Big Lagoon is the headline attraction, and Secret Lagoon is a supporting stop.

That doesn’t make it uninteresting. But I would not choose Tour A over Tour C purely because Secret Lagoon is included. The bigger reason to choose Tour A is the lagoon-focused itinerary as a whole.

Choose Tour A for:

• Big Lagoon;
• kayaking;
• first-time El Nido scenery;
• the classic Miniloc Island landscapes.

Secret Lagoon adds a second, smaller enclosed-lagoon experience to that day. Our El Nido Tour A guide walks through the whole route.

How crowded is Secret Lagoon?

Potentially busy. Tour A is the most popular first-time route, and several operators follow broadly similar itineraries.

Because Secret Lagoon is small, crowding feels more obvious than it does on a large beach. The experience depends heavily on:

• arrival time;
• how many boats arrive together;
• weather;
• the order the operator runs the stops in.

This is another reason not to judge a stop purely from empty promotional photographs.

Secret Beach: the Tour C stop

Secret Beach is on Matinloc Island and belongs to Tour C, not Tour A. Current Tour C listings consistently include it among the route’s main stops.

A typical Tour C itinerary lists:

• Helicopter Island;
• Matinloc Shrine;
• Secret Beach;
• Talisay or Star Beach;
• Hidden Beach.

Exact stops vary slightly by operator, which is why you should check the itinerary before booking.

What makes Secret Beach special?

The idea is in the name. The beach is concealed behind limestone formations instead of lying open to the bay, and that gives the stop a sense of discovery an ordinary beach cannot replicate.

Tour C as a whole also faces outward more than Tour A. Instead of spending the day around the better-known Miniloc lagoons, you head toward El Nido’s outer islands, where Secret Beach and Hidden Beach sit among more exposed marine scenery.

Local guidance describes Tour C as especially suited to:

• snorkelling;
• remote beaches;
• a second island-hopping day after Tour A.

Do you have to swim to Secret Beach?

This is one detail I would check with your operator instead of relying on older blog posts.

Many older accounts describe reaching Secret Beach through a rock opening from the sea. Access arrangements, and how much they depend on the sea state, can change.

If access matters to you, for example because:

• you are not a confident swimmer;
• you are travelling with children;
• you have mobility concerns;

ask the operator directly before booking.

Can Secret Beach be skipped because of sea conditions?

Yes. Tour C is a more exposed outer-island route than Tour A, and operators can change the running order or skip stops when weather or sea conditions make them unsuitable.

So think of a tour itinerary as a planned route, not a contract guaranteeing five exact stops in every condition. Safety comes first.

Hidden Beach: another Tour C stop

Hidden Beach is also on Tour C. Current El Nido route listings name it as one of the standard outer-island stops, alongside Secret Beach, Helicopter Island and the Matinloc-area attractions.

What is Hidden Beach?

Hidden Beach is a sheltered beach framed by limestone formations. Compared with an ordinary exposed stretch of sand, the setting feels enclosed by the surrounding cliffs, and that is the main appeal.

Like Secret Beach, it gives Tour C its sense of finding beaches tucked into the limestone, not just cruising between open coastlines.

Hidden Beach vs Secret Beach

These two are easy to confuse because:

• both are on Tour C;
• both involve limestone;
• both feel concealed;
• both sit on the more remote outer-island route.

But they are separate stops.

Secret Beach

Think: concealed destination + dramatic access + Matinloc Island.

Hidden Beach

Think: sheltered beach enclosed by limestone.

You do not need to choose between them if your Tour C includes both. That is one of the route’s main attractions.

Secret Lagoon vs Secret Beach

This is the most useful comparison, because they are on different tours.

Secret Lagoon

Tour A. Choose it if your priority is:

• lagoons;
• Big Lagoon;
• first-time sightseeing;
• kayaking.

Secret Beach

Tour C. Choose it if your priority is:

• beaches;
• outer-island scenery;
• snorkelling;
• a more adventurous second day.

Which is better?

I wouldn’t choose the tour on the strength of these two individual stops. Ask instead:

Do I want the classic lagoon day or the outer-island beach day?

For a first El Nido tour, Tour A. For a second, Tour C.

Secret Lagoon vs Hidden Beach

Again, this is Tour A against Tour C. Secret Lagoon gives you a small enclosed lagoon; Hidden Beach gives you a sheltered beach.

If you love kayaking and limestone lagoons, Tour A is stronger.

If you prefer swimming, beaches and snorkelling, Tour C is probably the better fit.

Hidden Beach vs Secret Beach: is it a booking decision?

Because both are on Tour C, this isn’t a booking decision for most travellers. You can often see both on the same day.

The more important question is whether the particular Tour C you are booking currently lists both stops. Routes are not always identical between operators, so always read the actual stop list.

Which tour visits all three?

No standard lettered tour does. You generally need:

Tour A

for Secret Lagoon and Big Lagoon.

Tour C

for Secret Beach and Hidden Beach.

So if seeing all three matters, plan two island-hopping days. Fortunately, Tour A + Tour C is already one of the strongest combinations for a first El Nido trip.

The one shortcut is a speedboat combination. El Nido Tour A & C: Two Iconic Tours in One Day by Speedboat lists Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island and Seven Commandos Beach, rated 4.8 from 41 reviews, but its published stop list does not include Secret Beach.

Tour A vs Tour C

Here is the decision in practical terms.

If you have only one day, which should you choose?

For most first-time visitors, Tour A.

Not because Secret Lagoon is better than Secret Beach or Hidden Beach, but because Tour A also gives you Big Lagoon, one of El Nido’s defining experiences. If you’re only going to spend one day on a boat in El Nido, it makes sense to start with the classic route.

See our Big Lagoon El Nido guide.

If you have two days

Do Tour A + Tour C. That gives you:

Day one

• lagoons;
• kayaking;
• Big Lagoon;
• Secret Lagoon.

Day two

• outer islands;
• beaches;
• snorkelling;
• Secret Beach;
• Hidden Beach.

The two days overlap in scenery (limestone, water, boats), but the rhythm is different enough that they do not feel like duplicates.

If you have three days

I would usually do:

1. Tour A
2. Tour C
3. Tour B

Tour B adds:

• Snake Island;
• caves;
• sandbar scenery;
• generally lower crowd levels.

That gives you more variety than looking for another “hidden beach” type of route. Our Tour A, B, C and D comparison covers all four.

Is Tour C worth doing after Tour A?

Yes, and this is probably the single most important point for anyone looking at Secret Beach and Hidden Beach. Tour A and Tour C are not redundant.

Tour A is mainly the lagoon day. Tour C is the outer-island beach and snorkelling day.

If you enjoyed Tour A but thought:

I’d like more beaches and snorkelling tomorrow,

Tour C is the obvious next choice.

Is Tour C better than Tour A for snorkelling?

Generally, yes. Tour C is commonly regarded as the strongest of the standard lettered routes for snorkelling and remote beaches. That doesn’t guarantee perfect visibility, which depends on:

• sea conditions;
• sunlight;
• recent rain;
• waves;
• tide;
• the exact stop the operator uses.

But if time underwater matters more to you than kayaking through lagoons, Tour C deserves serious consideration.

Is Tour C rougher than Tour A?

It can be. Tour C goes farther toward the outer islands, which means more exposure to open water. If it is windy or the swell is stronger, the ride may feel noticeably rougher than the more sheltered Tour A route.

This matters if you:

• get seasick;
• are travelling with young children;
• dislike longer boat transfers.

Bring your usual motion-sickness medication if you know you need it, and take it before you feel sick.

What happens if Secret Beach or Hidden Beach is inaccessible?

Your guide may change the route. This is normal island-hopping reality: operators can modify or skip stops in poor conditions.

You shouldn’t read that as a bad tour. A captain who avoids an unsafe access point is doing exactly what you want them to do.

The better question when booking is:

What are your usual alternative stops if the weather prevents access to one of the Tour C beaches?

That tells you more than demanding a guarantee no responsible operator can make.

Shared Tour C or private Tour C?

If Secret Beach and Hidden Beach are major priorities, a private tour becomes more interesting.

Shared Tour C

Best for:

• solo travellers;
• couples;
• budget travellers;
• people happy with a fixed route.

Shared Tour C prices are currently published at around ₱1,200–₱1,700 per person, depending on operator and inclusions.

Private Tour C

Consider it if:

• you’re a family;
• you’re a larger group;
• photography matters;
• you hate large tour groups;
• you want more flexibility over timing.

The main upgrade is not a luxury boat. It is control over the day: you may have more say over the route order, how long you stay at each stop and when you have lunch, within local rules and marine conditions.

GetYourGuide has no standalone private Tour C with a review record, so our pick is on Viator: El Nido Palawan Private Tour C, with Lunch, from about $159, rated 4.8 from 29 reviews (checked October 2026). Its itinerary lists Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island, Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine and Talisay Beach, and it includes the ₱400 environmental fee and pickup near town; snorkelling gear and kayak rental are extra.

Does private mean you can guarantee Secret Beach access?

No. A private boat cannot negotiate with the sea, and weather and safety still decide.

What a private trip can give you is more flexibility when several routes or arrival times are possible. That is useful, but it should not be sold as a guarantee of access.

How much does Tour C cost?

Current shared-tour prices are around ₱1,200–₱1,700 per person, depending on operator and what is included.

The El Nido Eco-Tourism Development Fee is currently ₱400 per person and valid for 10 days, so you pay it once even if you do Tour A and Tour C on separate days. The Tour C listing we recommend lists it as an extra, together with the Matinloc Shrine entry fee (₱300; some operators quote ₱200).

Compare the total cost, not the headline price. Ask whether your quoted rate includes:

• lunch;
• snorkelling mask;
• drinking water;
• the ETDF;
• any site fees, including Matinloc Shrine;
• hotel transfer;
• kayak, if relevant.

Are there separate entrance fees for Secret Beach and Hidden Beach?

Current local listings do not publish separate entrance fees for either beach. Matinloc Shrine, on the same route, does charge one.

That is not the same as guaranteeing that no local charge can ever apply, so ask your operator for the full amount you will pay for the day.

Is Secret Lagoon included in the Tour A price?

Tour pricing and inclusions vary, and some operators bundle more fees into their headline rate than others. On the Tour A listing we recommend, the ₱400 environmental fee, the ₱200 Big Lagoon entry fee and kayak rental are paid on top of the tour price.

The lowest advertised Tour A price can therefore end up costing more once local charges or rentals are added. Use the same rule for every El Nido tour:

Compare the amount you pay for the day, not the number shown first.

Which is best for photography?

All three are photogenic for different reasons.

Secret Lagoon

Best for:

• enclosed limestone;
• an unusual lagoon setting;
• tighter landscape compositions.

Secret Beach

Best for:

• dramatic hidden-beach context;
• limestone and water;
• a sense of discovery.

Hidden Beach

Best for:

• larger beach-and-cliff scenery;
• tropical landscape photographs.

Photography conditions depend enormously on crowding, sun angle, weather and tide, so don’t assume the most famous stop will produce your favourite photographs.

Which is best for swimming?

I’d lean toward Tour C overall. Secret Beach and Hidden Beach fit naturally into a day where swimming and snorkelling are more central. Tour A has plenty of water time too, but kayaking and lagoon sightseeing play a bigger role.

If your ideal island day is swim → snorkel → beach → swim again, choose C.

If it is kayak → cliffs → lagoon → beach, choose A.

Which is best for children?

Tour A is usually the easier first choice for families, because it is the most established first-time route.

Tour C can involve:

• longer transfers;
• more exposed sea;
• beach access affected by conditions.

That doesn’t mean children cannot enjoy Tour C. Older children who are confident swimmers may love it. For younger children, ask the operator specifically about:

• current access to Secret Beach;
• life jackets;
• swimming requirements;
• group size.

A private tour may make sense for families because you can move at a more manageable pace.

Which is best for non-swimmers?

Probably Tour A. Big Lagoon is explored mostly by kayak, and the route as a whole depends less on being a confident swimmer.

Tour C is more rewarding if you’re comfortable entering the sea, snorkelling and swimming around beach stops. That said, life vests are included on both listings we recommend, and a non-swimmer can still enjoy Tour C. Just check current access arrangements for any stop where swimming may be necessary.

What should you bring?

For either Tour A or Tour C:

• swimwear;
• rash guard;
• reef-safe sunscreen;
• hat;
• sunglasses;
• secure water shoes;
• waterproof phone pouch;
• small dry bag;
• towel;
• cash;
• water if needed.

For Tour C specifically

I’d be especially sure to bring:

Motion-sickness medication

if you are susceptible.

Water shoes

for moving between boat, shore and rocky access points.

Waterproof phone protection

because the interesting parts of these stops are usually exactly where a dry phone is hardest to keep.

Can you visit Secret Beach independently?

Not realistically for the ordinary visitor. Secret Beach is a Tour C boat stop, not an attraction you reach on your own, and the same applies to Hidden Beach.

You need boat access, which usually means:

• shared Tour C;
• private Tour C;
• a custom private boat.

These are offshore El Nido attractions, not beaches you reach by hiring a scooter.

Can you combine Tour A and Tour C in one private day?

Some operators sell combinations, such as the speedboat Tour A & C day above or the El Nido Private Combo Tour (rated 4.8 from 1,529 reviews), which mixes Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon and Shimizu Island with Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island and Cadlao Lagoon. Don’t assume that merging the two full routes is a good idea, though.

There are good reasons A and C exist separately:

• different geographic areas;
• travel time;
• site access;
• daylight;
• lunch;
• marine conditions.

Trying to squeeze every famous stop into one day can mean more boat time + shorter stops + a worse experience.

I’d rather do one good Tour A than a rushed “A + C greatest hits” itinerary where you barely experience anything.

How do Secret Lagoon, Secret Beach and Hidden Beach fit into a Coron + El Nido trip?

If you’re combining El Nido with Coron, don’t spend too many days chasing small variations of the same El Nido experience. A strong first-time structure would be:

Day 1

Arrive in El Nido.

Day 2

Tour A:

• Big Lagoon;
• Secret Lagoon.

Day 3

Tour C:

• Secret Beach;
• Hidden Beach;
• outer islands.

Day 4

Travel toward Coron.

Then use Coron for completely different headline attractions:

• Kayangan Lake;
• Barracuda Lake;
• Twin Lagoon;
• wreck snorkelling.

That gives the trip much more variety than doing all four El Nido lettered tours before moving on.

Ferry or expedition after Tour C?

This is where the route decision becomes particularly relevant. Once you’ve done Tour A and Tour C, you may have one of two reactions.

Reaction one

That was enough island hopping. I want to reach Coron quickly.

Take the ferry.

Reaction two

This is exactly why I came to Palawan. I want more remote islands.

Look at a multi-day El Nido-to-Coron expedition. It travels through the islands between El Nido and Coron and does more than transfer you between the two towns.

See our El Nido to Coron: ferry, boat or expedition guide.

Common mistakes

1. Thinking Secret Lagoon and Secret Beach are the same place

They aren’t.

2. Booking Tour A for Secret Beach

Secret Beach is on Tour C.

3. Booking Tour C for Secret Lagoon

Secret Lagoon is on Tour A.

4. Assuming Hidden Beach is another name for Secret Beach

They are separate Tour C stops.

5. Choosing a route based on one supporting stop

Compare the whole day.

6. Trusting an old itinerary without checking your operator

Stops vary. Small Lagoon, for example, used to be on Tour A and has been a Tour D stop since 2018.

7. Assuming every advertised stop is guaranteed in rough conditions

Marine conditions can change the day.

8. Assuming every “secret beach” search result refers to El Nido

It doesn’t necessarily. Plenty of destinations have a beach with the same name, so keep El Nido in the search when you are planning.

Frequently asked questions

Is Secret Lagoon the same as Secret Beach?

No. Secret Lagoon is on Tour A. Secret Beach is on Tour C.

Is Hidden Beach the same as Secret Beach?

No. They are two separate beaches, both commonly visited on Tour C.

Which tour is Secret Lagoon on?

Which tour is Secret Beach on?

Which tour is Hidden Beach on?

Can I visit all three in one day?

Not on the normal shared lettered tours. Secret Lagoon is on Tour A, while Secret Beach and Hidden Beach are on Tour C. A speedboat A & C combination covers Secret Lagoon and Hidden Beach but does not list Secret Beach.

Should I do Tour A or Tour C?

For a first visit, Tour A. If you have a second island-hopping day, Tour C.

Is Tour C worth doing after Tour A?

Yes. Tour C focuses more on beaches, snorkelling and outer-island scenery, and it is a natural second water day after Tour A.

Is Secret Beach guaranteed on Tour C?

It may be listed, but weather and sea conditions can force operators to change stops on Tour C.

Is Hidden Beach good for snorkelling?

Tour C as a whole is one of the stronger El Nido routes for snorkelling, although conditions and the exact snorkelling spots vary.

How much is Tour C?

Current published shared rates broadly range from ₱1,200 to ₱1,700 per person for Tour C, depending on operator and inclusions, plus the ₱400 environmental fee and the Matinloc Shrine fee if they are not included.

How long does Tour C take?

Treat it as a full-day excursion. The Tour C listing we recommend runs 6 to 8 hours.

Is Tour C crowded?

Local comparisons put Tour C at medium to high crowd levels: usually busy, but less defined by crowds than the flagship Tour A.

Final verdict

The names make this much more confusing than it needs to be. Remember one simple rule:

Secret Lagoon = Tour A

Secret Beach + Hidden Beach = Tour C

If you’re visiting El Nido for the first time, I would not choose between them. Do them in sequence.

Start with Tour A for Big Lagoon, kayaking and the classic limestone-lagoon scenery. Then do Tour C for Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, snorkelling and the more remote outer-island feel. That gives you two different island-hopping days, not two versions of the same route.

Once you’ve done both, I’d think carefully before automatically booking Tour B, Tour D and yet another standard boat day. If Coron is next, this may be the better moment to turn north.

Compare the ferry with the El Nido-to-Coron multi-day expeditions. After Secret Lagoon, Secret Beach and Hidden Beach, the next step doesn’t have to be another lettered tour. It can be the islands between El Nido and Coron themselves.