El Nido is the gateway to the Bacuit Archipelago, a scattered collection of 45 islands that harbors some of the most spectacular natural scenery in the Philippines. Towering black marble and limestone cliffs rise vertically from impossibly turquoise waters, concealing hidden lagoons, secret beaches, and pristine coral gardens accessible only by kayak or small boat. The famous Tour A takes visitors through the Big Lagoon — where sheer karst walls enclose a shallow pool of electric-green water — into the intimate Small Lagoon through a rocky crevice, and on to the Secret Lagoon accessed by swimming through a tiny hole in the cliff face. Each lagoon reveals a different shade of blue-green, and the surrounding underwater world teems with sea turtles, reef fish, and vibrant coral formations just below the surface.

Pro tip: Book Tour C instead of the more popular Tour A if you prefer snorkeling — it visits the Helicopter Island reef and Matinloc Shrine, with far fewer boats and some of the best underwater scenery in El Nido.