TL;DR: “El Nido” is Spanish for “the nest”, after the edible swiftlet nests harvested from its limestone cliffs, and the town was called Bacuit until 1954. Many famous spots carry tour nicknames (Helicopter Island is officially Dilumacad; Snake Island is Vigan), while others such as Shimizu and Seven Commandos come from local stories.
Spend a day on an El Nido boat tour and you will hear a mix of Spanish, local and English names, sometimes two for the same place. Guides switch between them freely, which can be confusing when you are trying to match a booking sheet to a map. This guide focuses on the stories behind El Nido’s place names specifically for curious first-time visitors who want to understand what they are seeing on Tours A–D.
Our angle: we separate what is well documented from what is local storytelling, and we flag where an origin simply is not recorded. Place-name folklore spreads quickly in tourist areas, so honesty about uncertainty matters.
- Name Cheat Sheet
- 1–2. El Nido and Bacuit: The Town’s Two Names
- 3–5. Islands Named for What They Look Like
- 6–7. Names Born From Local Stories
- 8–10. The Big Islands of the Tours
- 11–12. Descriptive and Dual Names
- Why the Names Matter for Your Trip
- Which Tour Shows You Which Names
- How to Hear the Stories From Locals
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
Name Cheat Sheet
| Name you will hear | Other name | Origin type | Usually visited on |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Nido | Bacuit (former town name) | Spanish word, documented | — |
| Helicopter Island | Dilumacad Island | Shape nickname | Tour D / some Tour C |
| Snake Island | Vigan Island | Shape nickname | Tour B |
| Shimizu Island | — | Local story (Japanese surname) | Tour A |
| Seven Commandos Beach | — | Local story | Tour A |
| Las Cabañas Beach | Marimegmeg Beach | Commercial name vs local name | By tricycle from town |
1–2. El Nido and Bacuit: The Town’s Two Names
1. El Nido
The name is Spanish for “the nest”. It refers to the nests of swiftlets that cling to crevices in the area’s limestone cliffs. These nests, made largely of the birds’ hardened saliva, are the prized ingredient in edible bird’s nest soup, and harvesting them has long been part of the local economy. Locally the birds are known as balinsasayaw. If you visit caves on tour, our guide to swiftlets, bats and cave etiquette explains how to avoid disturbing them.
2. Bacuit
Before it was El Nido, the municipality was known as Bacuit, and it was renamed in 1954, as recorded in the municipality’s history. The old name survives in Bacuit Bay, the island-studded bay where nearly every boat tour takes place. The original meaning of “Bacuit” is not clearly documented in English sources, so treat any confident explanation you hear with caution.
3–5. Islands Named for What They Look Like
3. Cadlao Island
Cadlao is the large, steep island you see directly across the water from El Nido town and the biggest in Bacuit Bay. It is the backdrop of countless sunset photos. Its name’s origin is not reliably recorded, but the island itself is easy to explore: see our Cadlao Island guide for its lagoon and beaches.
4. Dilumacad, better known as Helicopter Island
From the shore around Corong-Corong and Marimegmeg, this island’s profile is said to resemble a helicopter, with a long low “body” and a raised “cockpit”. That nickname is now more widely used than its official name, Dilumacad. Divers know it for a tunnel swim-through. Our Helicopter Island guide covers what to expect.
5. Vigan Island, better known as Snake Island
At low tide, a long, curving sandbar emerges and winds across the water like a snake, which explains the nickname. The official name is Vigan Island (unrelated to the historic city of Vigan in northern Luzon). Timing matters: the “snake” is most visible at lower tides. See our Snake Island sandbar guide.
6–7. Names Born From Local Stories
6. Shimizu Island
Shimizu is a Japanese surname, which surprises many visitors. The widely repeated local account is that the island was named after a Japanese diver who died in the waters nearby. We have not found a primary written record of the incident, so guides’ versions vary in detail. Whatever its origin, Shimizu is a popular lunch and snorkelling stop; see our Shimizu Island guide.
7. Seven Commandos Beach
This beach’s name comes with a tale: seven soldiers (the “commandos”) were said to have been stranded or stationed here and survived on coconuts. Guides tell several variations, and there is no verified historical account. Today it is a palm-fringed stop on Tour A with a beach bar and good swimming. Our Seven Commandos Beach guide has practical tips.
8–10. The Big Islands of the Tours
8. Miniloc Island
Miniloc hosts the famous Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon, plus Secret Lagoon on its edge, as well as a long-established resort. Its name is often mentioned alongside Matinloc, its larger neighbour to the west, but we have not found a documented meaning for either name.
9. Matinloc Island
Matinloc is a long, narrow island on the western side of Bacuit Bay. It is known for the Matinloc Shrine, a hilltop shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary that was later abandoned and is now a tour stop with sweeping views, and for Secret Beach, reached through a small rock opening. Visitors usually see it on Tour C.
10. Pinagbuyutan Island
Pinagbuyutan is the island with the dramatic, pointed limestone peak that appears in many El Nido postcards and drone shots. The meaning of its name is not documented in reliable English sources. For how it compares with nearby Entalula, see our Pinagbuyutan guide.
11–12. Descriptive and Dual Names
11. Secret Lagoon, Hidden Beach and Secret Beach
These are straightforward descriptive names coined for tourism. Secret Lagoon (Tour A, on Miniloc) is entered through a small hole in the rock; Hidden Beach and Secret Beach (Tour C) are tucked behind limestone walls. Because the names are generic, check which island a tour actually visits rather than relying on the label.
12. Marimegmeg Beach vs Las Cabañas
Many visitors only know “Las Cabañas”, the commercial name associated with resort development and the zipline area. Locally the beach is also called Marimegmeg. If a tricycle driver hesitates at one name, try the other.
Why the Names Matter for Your Trip
- Booking clarity: Tour sheets may list Dilumacad, Vigan or Marimegmeg instead of the nicknames you saw online.
- Navigation: Map apps sometimes show only the official name.
- Respect: Using local names is a small courtesy that guides and boat crews notice.
- Geology context: Many names reflect shapes carved by limestone erosion; our Bacuit Bay geology explainer shows how those shapes formed.
For broader trip planning, the Philippine Department of Tourism site is a useful official starting point.
Which Tour Shows You Which Names
El Nido’s standard island-hopping routes are labelled A to D, and each one strings together a different set of these named places. Routes can change with weather and local regulations, but the typical pattern looks like this:
- Tour A: Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon on Miniloc, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island and Seven Commandos Beach. This is the tour with the most “story” names.
- Tour B: Snake Island (Vigan), Pinagbuyutan, Entalula and caves such as Cudugnon. Best for sandbar views and shape-based nicknames.
- Tour C: Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Hidden Beach and Helicopter Island in some versions. Expect more swimming and more rugged scenery.
- Tour D: Gentler beaches and coves closer to town, often including Cadlao’s lagoon area and sometimes Helicopter Island.
If one name in this guide catches your interest, check the tour sheet before you book, because operators sometimes swap stops on rough days. Our Big Lagoon guide explains timing and kayak rules for Tour A’s most popular stop.
How to Hear the Stories From Locals
Boat crews are often the best storytellers, but they are also busy anchoring, cooking lunch and keeping groups safe. A few simple habits help:
- Ask during quiet moments, such as the ride between stops, rather than during docking.
- Ask “What do you call this island?” before asking about the tourist nickname; you may hear a name not printed anywhere.
- Expect different versions of the same tale from different crews. That variation is part of how oral history works, not a sign that someone is wrong.
- Tip crews who go out of their way to share context; it encourages guides to keep these stories alive.
Treat the stories as living local heritage rather than fixed fact. The places themselves are protected within a managed marine area, so follow crew instructions, avoid standing on coral, and take all rubbish back to town.
Key Takeaways
- “El Nido” means “the nest”, after swiftlet nests in the cliffs; the town was Bacuit until 1954.
- Helicopter Island is officially Dilumacad; Snake Island is officially Vigan Island.
- Shimizu Island and Seven Commandos Beach come from local stories without firm written records.
- Several island-name meanings (Cadlao, Miniloc, Matinloc, Pinagbuyutan) are not reliably documented.
- Learn both names for key spots to avoid confusion on tour sheets and maps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does El Nido mean?
El Nido is Spanish for “the nest”, referring to the edible swiftlet nests found in the area’s limestone cliffs.
What was El Nido called before?
The municipality was called Bacuit and was renamed El Nido in 1954. The old name survives in Bacuit Bay.
What is the real name of Helicopter Island?
Helicopter Island is officially called Dilumacad Island. The nickname comes from its helicopter-like silhouette seen from the shore.
Why is it called Snake Island?
Vigan Island earned the Snake Island nickname from a long, curving sandbar that appears at lower tides and winds across the water like a snake.
Why does Shimizu Island have a Japanese name?
The common local account says it was named after a Japanese diver who died nearby, but no primary written record has been widely published.
Are Las Cabañas Beach and Marimegmeg Beach the same?
Yes. Las Cabañas is the commonly used commercial name, while Marimegmeg is the local name for the same stretch of beach.
Featured photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).
About the Author
This guide was compiled by the El Nido Hotels Ranking editorial team, with input from local operators and ongoing on-the-ground updates.
