Seven Commandos Beach

Seven Commandos is the broadest and easiest of El Nido's tour beaches - a long stretch of white sand backed by coconut palms on the Palawan mainland side of Bacuit Bay, with room to spread out and shallow water that stays swimmable through the tide. The name comes from a local story about soldiers who came ashore here, and nobody offers a very firm version of it. What makes it distinctive today is that it is developed in a way the other stops are not: beach bars sell cold drinks and fresh coconuts, hammocks and swings hang between the palms, and there are chairs and shade to rent. Tour A finishes here in the late afternoon for that reason, and the beach turns busy for an hour and then empties as the boats leave. Late in the day, with the sun going down over the karst, it earns its place on the circuit.

What you actually see

• The palm-backed sand - the widest beach on the circuit.
• The beach bars - drinks, coconuts and shade for hire.
• The shallow swim - clear water off the whole beach.
• The bay view - karst islands out across the water.

When to go

November to May. Late afternoon, when Tour A arrives and the light is best, though that is also the busiest hour.

Honest expectations

It is commercialised compared with the lagoons - expect vendors and prices well above El Nido town. Busy when tour boats converge, near-empty otherwise.

Nearby

The Big and Small Lagoons and Shimizu Island precede it on Tour A; El Nido town is twenty minutes back.