Shimizu Island | El Nido

Shimizu Island is a prominent limestone island in El Nido, Palawan, recognized as one of the best snorkeling sites in the Bacuit Archipelago. It is a standard stop on the "Tour A" island-hopping itinerary and is frequently used as a lunch location due to its shaded beach.

Visual Characteristics

The island is defined by massive, jagged limestone cliffs that tower over small pockets of white sand. The surrounding water is vibrant turquoise and exceptionally clear. Below the surface, the island is fringed by diverse coral reefs and steep underwater rock faces that host a high density of marine life.

Location & Access Logistics

Address: Bacuit Bay, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines.

Access: Reachable only by boat from El Nido town or Corong Corong Beach.

Transport:

Boat: Motorized outrigger boats (bangkas) anchor in the shallow waters near the beach.

Travel Time: Approximately 35–50 minutes from El Nido town.

Entry: Requires a valid Eco-Tourism Development Fee (ETDF) permit, which is standard for all El Nido tours.

Historical & Cultural Origin

The island is named after a Japanese diver with the surname Shimizu. According to local lore, a group of divers was exploring the underwater caves in the area; unfortunately, Shimizu did not resurface. His body was later found in a cave on this island, and it was named in his memory.

Key Highlights & Activities

Snorkeling: The primary draw. The waters are filled with variety of reef fish, including parrotfish, damselfish, and clownfish.

Beach Picnic: Many tour operators set up lunch here, grilling seafood and meat on the boat or shore to be served under the shade of the cliffs.

Swimming: The shallow areas near the beach are calm and suitable for leisure swimming.

Photography: The vertical karst walls meeting the clear water provide classic El Nido landscape shots.

Infrastructure & Amenities

There is no permanent infrastructure on Shimizu Island. It remains in its natural state. All supplies, including food, water, and snorkeling gear, are brought by the tour boats. 4G/5G cellular coverage is very weak or non-existent due to the surrounding limestone mountains.

Best Time to Visit

Dry Season (December to May): Provides the best water clarity and safest boat travel.

Midday: This is when most tour boats arrive for lunch, so expect the beach to be crowded between 11:30 and 13:30.

Early Morning: Private tours can arrive earlier to enjoy the snorkeling spots before the group tours arrive.

Rules

No Single-Use Plastics: Strictly enforced on all tours.

Marine Preservation: Do not step on or touch the coral.

Waste Management: All trash must be returned to the boat; no littering is permitted on the island.

Safety: Watch out for boat propellers when snorkeling in the anchoring areas.

Nearby Landmarks

Secret Lagoon: 1.0 km West.

Big Lagoon: 2.0 km Northwest.

Seven Commandos Beach: 3.5 km North.