Snake Island (Vigan Island)
El Nido, Philippines
A rocky, jungle-clad islet with a long white tail of powder-soft sand stretching all the way to the mainland, Snake Island—officially known as Vigan Island—is one of El Nido’s most photogenic islands. It’s particularly striking at low tide, when a cavalcade of different shades of blue frames the brilliant white sandbar.
The basics
The only way to reach Snake Island is by boat, and the most popular way to do this is on El Nido island-hopping Tour B—the “caves and coves” circuit. The sandbar is only visible at low and medium tides, and looks best when the tide is low. But even if it’s underwater, you can still hike up to the summit of the main islet for views of the forested hills and across the bay, or take a stroll through the coastal mangroves.
Things to know before you go
Snake Island is a good choice for social media mavens and photographers, especially if you love drone photography.
Most tours spend 1–1.5 hours on Snake Island.
To join any El Nido island-hopping tour you’ll need to be able to climb out of a boat and wade through shallow water, so they’re not wheelchair accessible.
How to get there
Snake Island (Vigan Island) sits about 8 miles (13 kilometers) southwest of El Nido, across Bacuit Bay. Although the sandbar connects it to the mainland when the tide is low, there are no roads on this section of the mainland, so a boat is essential. Most travelers visit on El Nido island-hopping Tour B.
When to get there
Snake Island is open year-round, but aim to time your visit around low tide to see the sandbar at its best. The narrow sandbar can get extremely crowded at weekends, particularly during the peak Easter, Lunar New Year, Christmas, and New Year seasons: Aim to visit midweek if you can, or consider a private tour.
El Nido island-hopping Tour B
From sculptural limestone cliffs to postcard-perfect white sand beaches, the Bacuit Archipelago’s islands and islets are at least as beautiful as Ha Long Bay, and the Tour B circuit is one of the most popular ways to discover them. Highlights include Cudugnon Cave, a land cave; Cathedral Cave, a sea cave with sculptural stalactites; and a selection of islets, generally Pangalusian, Pinabuyutan, and Snake islands.
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