El Nido Island Hopping: What to Bring in 2026 — The Complete Boat Day Checklist
You’ve booked your island hopping tour. Your bangka departs at 7 AM. What exactly do you need to pack — and what should you leave behind at the guesthouse? After a full day on the water in the Bacuit Archipelago, the difference between the right kit and the wrong kit becomes painfully obvious. This is the definitive, practical checklist for an El Nido island hopping day, built from the experience of the most common mistakes first-time visitors make.
Table of Contents
The Complete Island Hopping Packing List
☀️ Sun Protection (Non-Negotiable)
- Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 50+ — apply before boarding and reapply every 90–120 minutes. Standard sunscreens containing oxybenzone are prohibited in many El Nido marine areas and damage coral. Mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) are reef-safe. Brands: Stream2Sea, Raw Elements, Badger.
- Rash guard / UPF swim shirt — provides SPF 50+ protection while snorkeling without the sunscreen consumption. A long-sleeve rash guard on your back and shoulders is the single most effective sun protection item on the water.
- Wide-brim hat — for time on the boat deck between stops. Foldable, packable hats work well. Secure with a chin strap in wind.
- Polarised sunglasses — with a strap/retainer so they don’t fall overboard. Polarisation cuts glare off the water and lets you see coral and fish from the surface.
- SPF lip balm — lips burn fast on the water and are easily forgotten.
💧 Water & Hydration
- Reusable water bottle, 1.5–2L — most boats provide a small supply of bottled water, but it’s rarely enough for a full day in the heat. Bring your own large insulated bottle. Refill from the boat’s water supply if available.
- Electrolyte sachets or tablets — you sweat continuously in tropical heat and sea air. Plain water doesn’t replace electrolytes lost. Nuun, Hydralyte, or simple oral rehydration sachets prevent afternoon headaches and fatigue that many visitors mistake for seasickness.
🤿 Snorkel Gear
- Your own snorkel mask (strongly recommended) — rental masks are available on the boat but they often leak, fog easily, and rarely fit well. A mask that fits your face precisely makes an enormous difference to the snorkeling experience. Mid-range masks (₱800–₱2,500) from dive shops in El Nido town are far better than boat rentals.
- Fins (optional but worthwhile) — boat-provided fins are usually mismatched, too large, and uncomfortable. Bringing your own compact travel fins significantly improves mobility in the water. Open-heel adjustable fins are easiest to travel with.
- Anti-fog solution — a drop of baby shampoo or commercial anti-fog gel rubbed on the inside of the lens, then rinsed lightly, prevents fogging. Alternatively: spit.
- Snorkel vest/flotation device — available on boats for non-swimmers; ask the crew if you’re not a confident swimmer. Using one is entirely normal and allows you to enjoy the reef without anxiety.
🌊 Waterproofing & Dry Storage
- Dry bag (10–20L) — essential. Bangka boats splash, beach landings involve wading, and passing rain squalls happen. Keep your phone, wallet, camera, and any electronics inside a sealed dry bag at all times on the boat. Roll-top dry bags from Decathlon or Sea to Summit are reliable and affordable.
- Waterproof phone case — a separate case lets you use your phone for photos at the water’s edge without risking a total loss. Universal waterproof pouches (₱200–₱500 at El Nido dive shops) work adequately for snorkeling at surface depth.
- Ziplock bags (large) — for documents, extra cash, snacks, and any items that don’t fit in the dry bag. A ₱10 ziplock bag has saved many a ruined passport.
🍱 Food & Snacks
Most shared tours include a simple lunch (grilled fish, rice, vegetables) cooked on a beach stop. Private charters may include or exclude lunch depending on your arrangement — confirm when booking. Either way, bring your own snacks for the boat:
- Energy bars / granola bars — compact, non-perishable, easily eaten on the boat
- Fresh fruit — bananas, mangoes, and lanzones are all available cheaply at the El Nido market the morning before departure. Bring enough for the whole boat and share.
- Crackers / biscuits — for motion sickness sufferers; plain crackers settle the stomach
- Nuts or trail mix — high energy density for a long active day
What NOT to bring for food: Glass containers (dangerous if broken on the boat), highly perishable items (no refrigeration on standard bangkas), or anything with strong smells that could attract insects at beach stops.
💊 Medications & First Aid
- Motion sickness tablets — if you’re susceptible, take Dramamine or meclizine at least 30 minutes before boarding, not after you feel ill. Ginger chews or Sea-Bands wristbands are natural alternatives.
- Pain relief — paracetamol or ibuprofen for sunburn headaches or minor injuries
- Antihistamine — for jellyfish stings and insect bites; hydrocortisone cream also helpful
- Antiseptic wipes or cream — for minor coral scrapes (which can infect quickly in tropical water)
- Plasters/bandages — reef cuts and boat-boarding scrapes are common
- Seasickness bag — crew usually has these; no shame in asking
💰 Cash & Documents
- Cash (pesos) — you’ll need:
- ₱200 Environmental User Fee per person (collected at the port before boarding)
- ₱200–₱400 per person for each lagoon entrance fee (Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, etc.)
- Tip for captain and crew: ₱200–₱500 per boat (not per person) is customary
- Drinks and snacks purchased at beach stops
- Tour booking confirmation — printed or on phone (but in the dry bag)
- ID — some lagoon entry points require ID verification; a photocopy is sufficient
📷 Camera & Photography
- Waterproof/underwater camera — a GoPro or similar action camera is ideal for El Nido island hopping; the lagoon photography from underwater looking up at the karst walls is extraordinary
- Extra batteries and memory cards — charging is not available on the boat; a full day of photography drains a GoPro battery
- Floating wrist strap — for any camera or GoPro used in the water; if it slips, it floats rather than sinks
- Lens cloth — salt spray and sunscreen smudges on camera lenses; keep one accessible
👚 Clothing & Comfort
- Swimwear — you’ll be in and out of the water all day; board shorts or a one-piece that dries fast
- Light cover-up / sarong — for time on the boat between swims; also useful for modest dress at beach stops near local communities
- Water shoes or reef shoes — protect feet at rocky beach landings and when walking on coral rubble. Lightweight neoprene shoes are ideal; Crocs work adequately.
- Spare dry clothing in the dry bag — for the journey back to town after a wet day; arriving at your guesthouse dry is a minor luxury worth having
- Light fleece or windbreaker — the boat can be surprisingly cool at speed; air conditioning on return journey feels cold when you’re wet
🌿 Environmental Responsibility
- Reef-safe sunscreen only — already mentioned but worth repeating; this is a legal requirement in El Nido’s marine protected areas
- Reusable water bottle — reduces single-use plastic waste on the islands
- Reusable bag for rubbish — take all your waste back to town; leave nothing on beaches or in the water
- No touching coral or sea life — leave starfish in place, don’t pick up shells, don’t handle fish or turtles
What to Leave at Your Guesthouse
- Valuables you can’t afford to lose — passport (bring a photocopy), laptop, expensive jewellery
- Heavy DSLR cameras without proper waterproofing — salt spray is aggressive; only bring camera equipment you can properly protect
- Glass bottles — dangerous on wooden boats and beaches
- More cash than you need — bring exactly what you’ll use plus a small buffer
- Anything that can’t get wet — if it can’t go in the dry bag, leave it behind
Pre-Departure Morning Routine
The night before your tour:
- Withdraw enough cash (ATMs can be unreliable mornings of departure)
- Pack your dry bag and lay out everything you’re bringing
- Charge all cameras and devices fully
- Set your alarm for at least 90 minutes before departure
The morning of your tour:
- Apply sunscreen before leaving your guesthouse (give it 20 minutes to absorb before water contact)
- Take motion sickness medication if needed (30+ minutes before boarding)
- Eat a light breakfast — not too heavy, not empty
- Fill your water bottle
- Arrive at the port 20–30 minutes early to pay the Environmental User Fee
Quick Reference Checklist
| Item | Essential? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+ | ✅ Yes | Apply before boarding; reapply every 2 hrs |
| Rash guard | ✅ Yes | Best sun protection while snorkeling |
| Hat + sunglasses with strap | ✅ Yes | Polarised lens ideal |
| Dry bag | ✅ Yes | For phone, wallet, camera |
| Water bottle (1.5–2L) | ✅ Yes | With electrolyte sachets |
| Snorkel mask (own) | ✅ Recommended | Much better than boat rentals |
| Cash (pesos) | ✅ Yes | EUF ₱200 + lagoon fees + tip |
| Motion sickness tablets | ⚠️ If susceptible | Take 30 min before boarding |
| Snacks / fruit | ✅ Recommended | Long day; boat snacks are minimal |
| Water shoes | ✅ Recommended | Rocky beach landings |
| Waterproof camera | Optional | GoPro ideal; phone in waterproof pouch |
| Fins (own) | Optional | Better than boat rentals |
| Spare dry clothes | ✅ Recommended | For the journey back |
| Light fleece / windbreaker | Optional | Boat speed + being wet = cold |
| First aid basics | ✅ Recommended | Antiseptic, plasters, antihistamine |
Related El Nido Guides
- El Nido Island Hopping Complete Guide: Tours A, B, C, D
- El Nido Private Bangka Charter Guide
- El Nido Snorkeling Guide: Best Spots
- El Nido Turtle Watching Guide
- El Nido Photography Guide
A well-packed boat day is a great boat day. The Bacuit Archipelago is extraordinary under any circumstances — but it’s even better when you’re not sunburned, dehydrated, or fishing your phone out of the sea floor.
