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A natural emerald lagoon on Miniloc Island, Big Lagoon is the signature sight of Bacuit Bay in El Nido, Palawan. Sheer limestone cliffs rise from jade water and close around a sheltered basin. The setting feels cathedral-like and almost entirely silent.

The lagoon sits inside the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area. Only a narrow gap in the rock gives access, so the light shifts from deep green to luminous turquoise as you glide inside. Visitors explore by paddle. Kayaks and small outrigger boats are the usual way in, and motorised craft are kept out. That keeps the soundscape to dripping stone, birdsong and the soft push of a paddle. Early morning is the quietest time, before the day boats arrive and the water holds the cliffs in a perfect mirror.

The lagoon is a highlight of the classic Tour A island-hopping route. A separate environmental fee of about 200 pesos applies on top of the municipal tourism fee. Swimming is permitted, and the clear, calm water rewards a slow float beneath the walls. Reef-safe sunscreen is advisable, and so is respect for a fragile ecosystem.