Honda Bay Island Hopping a Twenty-Minute Bangka Trip from Puerto Princesa City

On prices: the figures on this page were gathered in September 2026 and are given as bands rather than current quotes. Rates, fees and timetables change every season - check with the operator before you book.

Honda Bay Island Hopping

Honda Bay island hopping is the day trip you book when you are stuck in Puerto Princesa for a night. It is not the reason you fly to Palawan. The islands are pleasant sandbars and snorkelling stops a twenty-minute bangka ride from the Santa Lourdes Wharf, but they lack the towering limestone drama of El Nido or the lakes of Coron. The value is proximity and price: a full-day loop costs 1,500 to 2,000 PHP per person and fits neatly into a transit day before a flight or a van north. If you are already heading to El Nido or Coron, skip Honda Bay. If you have a day to kill in Puerto Princesa, this is your best option.

What a Honda Bay Tour Actually is

A Honda Bay tour is a gentle, shallow-water circuit. You take a van from your Puerto Princesa city hotel to the Santa Lourdes Wharf, pay the environmental fee in cash, and join a shared bangka. The boatman visits three or four stops. This is not an adventure. It is a picnic with swimming. The water is calm, the travel times between islands are short, and the facilities are basic. You will see sea stars in seagrass beds, not sharks on walls. The entire experience is designed for accessibility, not awe.

The Standard Island Circuit

Your boat visits Cowrie Island, Luli Island, Starfish Island, with Pambato Reef as a snorkelling stop. Cowrie Island has a restaurant, restrooms, and picnic huts. Luli Island is a sandbar that disappears at high tide, hence its name from "Lulubog-Lilitaw." Starfish Island is named for the numerous echinoderms in its shallow seagrass beds. Pambato Reef is a floating platform with a roped snorkelling area. The coral here is partially degraded near the platform but healthier further out.

The Friction Points

Palawan’s logistical quirks apply here. You must pay every fee in cash: the environmental fee at the wharf, plus individual island entry fees (75 PHP for Cowrie, 70 PHP for Luli, 50 PHP for Starfish). Snorkel gear rental is an extra 150-200 PHP. Lunch is not included; you bring your own or buy a cooked meal at Cowrie Island. Boat departures can wait for a full load. Budget for these add-ons and have small bills ready.

Honda Bay Tour

Book your Honda Bay tour through your hotel or a travel agency in Puerto Princesa city. You can also book direct at the Santa Lourdes Wharf, but this adds uncertainty. A shared tour means joining a group on a bangka that holds 6 to 15 people. A private boat rental costs 1,500-3,500 PHP for a group of 6-8, varying with the number of islands and boat size. Either way, the price covers the boat and captain only. You are responsible for all fees and gear.

Getting to the Wharf

The wharf is 12 km north of the Puerto Princesa city centre. A van transfer from your hotel takes 20-30 minutes. You can also take a tricycle. Arrive by 8:30 AM to secure a spot and avoid the worst of the crowds, which swell on weekends and Philippine holidays.

What to Bring

Bring cash for all fees. Pack a picnic lunch and plenty of water, though food is available for purchase at Cowrie Island. Wear swimwear under clothes and bring a dry bag. Reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard are advisable. Do not expect reliable phone signal once you leave the wharf.

Cowrie Island

Cowrie Island is the main hub of any Honda Bay tour. It has the most developed facilities: a restaurant, restrooms, shaded picnic huts. This is where most boats stop for lunch. You can rent kayaks or banana boats here. The beach is narrow and man-made, with imported sand. The entry fee is 75 PHP per person. It functions as a convenient base but feels more like a day-use resort than a natural island. It is crowded by midday.

Starfish Island

Starfish Island is a shallow sandbar surrounded by seagrass beds. The water is knee-deep, allowing you to walk and spot numerous sea stars on the bottom. This is the gentlest stop, ideal for children or non-swimmers. The entry fee is 50 PHP per person. There are no facilities beyond basic shade structures. The experience is simple: wade, look, take pictures. It is a pleasant interlude but not a destination in itself.

Luli Island

Luli Island is a sandbar that submerges at high tide, which is the origin of its name: "Lulubog-Lilitaw" (sinks and emerges). You walk on it only during low tide. At high tide, it is a snorkelling spot. The entry fee is 70 PHP per person. There are no permanent facilities. Its charm is its transient nature, but this also means your experience is entirely tide-dependent. Check the tide schedule with your boatman to manage expectations.

Who Should Skip Honda Bay

Skip Honda Bay if you are on your way to El Nido or Coron. The island-hopping tours in Bacuit Bay and around Coron Island offer vastly more dramatic scenery, deeper snorkelling, and a greater sense of adventure. Honda Bay’s shallow, calm waters cannot compete with the limestone karsts of El Nido or the wreck diving of Coron. It is also not for travellers seeking remote lagoons or healthy coral gardens. The value is solely for those with a spare day in Puerto Princesa.

The Right Traveller for This Trip

This tour suits families with young children, elderly visitors, weak swimmers, anyone who wants a low-effort day on the water. It is the correct choice for a layover day before a flight from Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) or a next-day van to El Nido. It is a pleasant diversion, not a highlight.

When to Go and What to Avoid

Visit from November to May for the calmest seas and clearest water. The summer months of March to May bring intense heat but reliable boat conditions. Avoid the southwest monsoon (habagat) from June to October, when tours may be cancelled due to rough seas or choppy conditions that reduce visibility. Tours run year-round but are subject to weather cancellation. Confirm with your operator the morning of your trip.

The Biggest Mistake

The most common mistake is comparing Honda Bay to El Nido. They are different products for different needs. Do not book Honda Bay expecting the same experience. The second mistake is not budgeting for the add-on costs. The advertised tour price is a base; the environmental fee, island entry fees, and gear rental add hundreds of pesos per person. Come prepared with cash.