Seatours Palawan — Attraction in El Nido

PLEASE READ IF YOU DON’T WANT YOUR VACATION RUINED.

Seatours Palawan is by far the worst tour company I’ve ever hired.

Let me start by saying that once they saw this negative review they tried to ‘buy us’ by offering a full refund if we took down the review from Google and trip advisor (that’s why they had 5 stars to begin with, because they probably they buy people off; but not me!)

From the start, they asked for an advance deposit for Tours A, B, C, D, and Sunset but took days to confirm receipt—even when the bank had already done so. Only after we insisted did they ‘find’ the payment.

Day 1 - Sunset Tour We arrived at their office excited, but that quickly changed. The receptionist was rude, barely made eye contact, and showed no customer service skills. When we asked about the tours, she sarcastically pointed at a wall poster and dismissed our weather concerns with, “I can’t predict the weather.” She later mocked us with staff members.

Our guide was equally unprofessional—he didn’t introduce himself, barely spoke, and lazily took us to the nearest beach to watch the sunset. After the tour, their office was closed, and no one was available to take us back. The guide had to pay for our transport from his own pocket.

Day 2 - Tour A We hoped for a better experience, but the same rude receptionist greeted us. They rushed us to pay for snorkel rentals without letting us properly check the gear.

Our new guide wasn’t rude but was completely unprepared—he didn’t explain anything at the stops and abandoned us during snorkeling. This was unsafe for inexperienced swimmers. At lunch, he insisted we eat on the boat because the beach was “too crowded.” We later realized they were just too lazy to set up a proper beach lunch.

The crew of five barely did anything; most of them slept. Worse, they openly made jokes about us in Tagalog. We also rented a GoPro from them, but it didn’t work, ruining our first snorkeling experience. When we complained, they refunded the fee but never apologized.

Once again, we had to beg for transport back to our hotel.

Day 3 - Tour B We didn’t request the same guide, hoping for a better one, but they assigned him anyway. When we asked about the GoPro they promised, the receptionist casually said, “Oh, the battery isn’t working.” Again, we had no way to record our snorkeling day.

They continued rushing us to pay for snorkel rentals, and once in the water, most of the gear fogged up, making them unusable.

At lunch, the guide tried the same boat-lunch excuse, but this time we demanded to eat on the beach. Later, he dropped us near a cave full of sea snakes and sea urchins, left us alone, and stayed on the boat. This was reckless and unsafe. We also saw many fish we wanted to learn about, but no guide was there to educate us.

Filing a Complaint & Refund Request We debated continuing with them or demanding a refund. At the office, we submitted a written complaint. The receptionist mocked us by reading it aloud sarcastically and laughing with staff. She refunded the remaining tours but ridiculed us when we asked for ₱200 back for defective snorkel gear.

As we left, we could still hear them talking about us, but we were just relieved to be done with them. Thankfully, H Hotel helped us book the rest of our tours with Discover El Nido, which turned out to be incredible! Their guides were professional, fun, knowledgeable about marine life, and even had a karaoke on the boat, making our final days unforgettable.

DO NOT HIRE SEATOURS PALAWAN! They ruined three days of our trip. They likely pay for Google ads, but don’t let that fool you—your time and money are valuable. Instead, book with Discover El Nido for a stress-free and...

We booked Seatours Palawan based on its stellar reviews but were left incredibly disappointed. After an amazing TAO Expedition from Coron to El Nido, we were excited to see what El Nido had to offer, but this private combination tour (A + C) was far from ideal.

We paid ₱14,000 + ₱2,000 tip for a tour that fell short at every turn. On the morning of the tour, we were told our original itinerary couldn’t proceed due to weather restrictions. We asked to switch to a half-day tour but were told we’d still have to pay the full-day rate. Trusting their expertise, we agreed to continue, but we should have seen the red flags from the start.

At the Playa, the kayak provided to transport us to the cargo boat had a broken seat. While we can laugh about it now, it was a sad and frustrating moment at the time. That cargo boat turned out to be what we were stuck with for the entire day—a boat clearly not intended for tours. Despite the hefty price we paid, we were placed on a painfully slow boat that had us lagging far behind other tour boats, even ones from the same company.

When we finally arrived at the Big Lagoon, the weather was beginning to turn. While we enjoyed our time there, the guide suggested having lunch at 10:30 AM—extremely early for a full-day tour. The lunch provided was mediocre at best, a far cry from the amazing meals we’ve experienced on other private tours.

After lunch, the weather worsened significantly. At the Secret Lagoon, we witnessed a terrifying moment when another tourist nearly got swept away by massive waves while exiting. Instead of assisting or ensuring safety, the guides were laughing, which was shocking and unprofessional. It felt like the entire situation was out of their control.

The return trip to El Nido was the final blow. It took nearly two hours due to the unsuitability of the cargo boat for tours. By this point, we were just relieved the day was cut short, as continuing in those conditions could have been disastrous.

While our guide and boatmen were kind and tried their best, the lack of proper planning and concern for safety from the company itself is inexcusable. For a company that touts its reputation, this experience felt unsafe, poorly managed, and unworthy of the premium price tag.

I wasn’t going to leave a review, but I hope this saves someone else from making the same mistake. I cannot recommend Seatours Palawan for private tours—they clearly don’t prioritize quality, safety, or guest experience. Save your money and find a company that does. 3 stars is...

Unforgettable 3D2N Coron to El Nido Sea Expedition with Team Dugong!

I recently had the most incredible experience on a 3-day, 2-night sea expedition from Coron to El Nido, and I can’t recommend it enough! This wasn’t just a tour—it was an adventure filled with breathtaking sights, delicious food, fun activities, and the warmest people who made it truly unforgettable.

A huge shoutout to Team Dugong, who went above and beyond to ensure that every moment was special. From the start, they made us feel so welcome, and their energy and enthusiasm were contagious. They turned a simple sea journey into an experience filled with laughter, stories, and friendships.

The food on board was phenomenal! Chef Kuya Koys spoiled us with delicious, freshly prepared meals that were honestly some of the best I’ve had while traveling. Every meal was a feast, and you could tell that a lot of love and effort went into preparing them. There was always more than enough for everyone, and each dish was such a delight.

One of the things I appreciated most was how much Team Dugong prioritized our safety, especially during snorkeling. They always made sure that someone was nearby, either swimming alongside us or following us with a kayak. Knowing that there was always someone looking out for us allowed me to fully enjoy the experience without any worries.

Kuya Elmer was such a kind and welcoming presence throughout the trip. He made it a point to talk to everyone, get to know us, and make sure we were all comfortable. Whether it was answering our questions, making sure we had everything we needed, or just sharing stories, he truly made us feel at home.

The trip was packed with fun activities, and I loved how Team Dugong always kept the energy high. We played lots of games that made the bonding experience even more special. And of course, one of the absolute highlights was the incredible fire dance by Kuya Irving—such an amazing performance that left us all in awe!

What made this expedition truly unforgettable was the sense of community we built on board. It wasn’t just a sea adventure—it felt like we created a little family with everyone. We laughed together, shared stories, and made memories that I will cherish forever.

I will surely miss this experience, but I will treasure every moment we shared. If you’re considering a sea expedition from Coron to El Nido, this is the team you want to be with! Thank you, Team Dugong, for making this one of the best experiences of my life. Until next time!

Bonus: We had the...