Shimizu Island

Surrounded by clear tropical water and dramatic limestone formations, Shimizu Island is one of the classic stops on El Nido's Tour A island-hopping route. Its small sandy coves sit beneath steep, vegetation-covered karst cliffs, while shallow reefs around the island make it particularly attractive for swimming and snorkeling. Current El Nido Tourism information continues to include Shimizu Island among Tour A destinations.

Compared with Big Lagoon, where the experience centers on kayaking through enclosed limestone scenery, Shimizu Island is more about getting into the water. Visitors typically come here to snorkel above coral areas, swim in the clear shallows, relax along the beach, and enjoy the surrounding Bacuit Bay scenery. El Nido Tourism itself promotes Shimizu as a snorkeling location and highlights its turquoise waters and limestone landscape.

Because Shimizu is part of one of El Nido's most established island-hopping routes, travelers should expect other boats and visitors, particularly during favorable weather and the main travel season. It is best approached as a scenic marine stop within a full-day island-hopping experience rather than as a secluded island where visitors stay for an entire day.

Best Time to Visit

The generally preferred period for El Nido island hopping is November through May, when calmer seas and clearer conditions are more common. Philippine tourism guidance identifies these months as the drier period for El Nido island-hopping activities and notes that rougher seas and cancellations are more likely from June through October.

Even during the drier months, good weather is never guaranteed. Conversely, visitors can still experience excellent days during the wetter season.

For Shimizu Island in particular, sea conditions matter more than the calendar alone. El Nido Tourism issues operational advisories based on PAGASA forecasts and Philippine Coast Guard guidance, and recent August 2026 advisories demonstrate that tours can be cancelled or restricted when conditions become unsafe.

Recommended period: November–May
Best conditions to look for: Calm seas, light winds and good underwater visibility
Greater chance of disruption: June–October

What to Expect

Shimizu Island is a small island-hopping stop, not a developed resort destination. Do not expect roads, restaurants, shops or extensive visitor facilities.

Tour boats approach from Bacuit Bay and normally anchor or moor offshore. Visitors then swim, snorkel or go ashore as conditions and local arrangements allow.

The beach can become busy when several Tour A boats arrive at similar times. Travelers looking for complete solitude should therefore adjust expectations; Shimizu's appeal comes primarily from its scenery and accessible marine environment rather than isolation.

Snorkelers may encounter coral in relatively shallow water, so care should be taken not to stand on, kick, touch or collect coral. Water shoes can be useful for boat transfers and rocky areas, but they should never be used as justification for walking across living reef.

A waterproof phone pouch or dry bag is useful because visitors should expect to get wet during boat transfers and water activities.

Getting There

Shimizu Island is reached by boat from El Nido and is currently included in the municipality's regular Tour A island-hopping itinerary. Current El Nido Tourism information lists Shimizu alongside other Tour A attractions, although actual stops and their sequence can change because of weather, crowd management or operational requirements.

Travelers should arrange island hopping through a legitimate tour operator and confirm the day's operating status before departure, particularly during unsettled weather.
Important Visitor Information

El Nido's marine tourism takes place within an environmentally protected setting. The El Nido Marine Reserve was formally declared a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System and became the El Nido Managed Resource Protected Area in 1998.

El Nido also collects an Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF). The regular current rate for non-Palawan-resident tourists is ₱400, with other rates applying to eligible categories. Because municipal fees can change, ToursPalawan.com should treat this as time-sensitive information rather than permanently embedding the amount in the destination description.

A recent August 2026 El Nido Tourism advisory listed the regular Tour A rate at ₱1,200 per person, with Shimizu Island among its stops. This should likewise be displayed only as a current/reference price because tour rates, inclusions and additional charges can change.

Travelers should confirm whether snorkeling equipment, meals, environmental fees and other charges are included in their chosen package.

Responsible Travel

Shimizu Island's reef environment is one of the main reasons people visit, so protecting it should be part of the visitor experience.

Avoid standing or walking on coral, touching marine animals, collecting shells or coral, feeding fish, or leaving any waste behind. Keep fins away from shallow coral when snorkeling, follow your guide's designated swimming areas, and use existing boat moorings where managed by operators rather than encouraging anchoring on reef.

Recommended For

Especially suitable for: Snorkelers • Swimmers • Couples • Families • First-time El Nido visitors • Nature lovers • Photographers • Island-hopping travelers

Consider carefully if: You are unable to transfer between boats and shallow water comfortably, cannot swim and are uncomfortable in open water, or require extensive accessibility facilities.