Puerto Princesa Honda Bay Island Hopping: A Complete Guide
Puerto Princesa Travel Guide
Honda Bay island hopping is Puerto Princesa’s easy beach day — a short drive from the city to a cluster of small islands for swimming, snorkelling and a beachside lunch. Here is what to expect, which islands you will see, and how to book. Compare Honda Bay tours on Puerto Princesa Tours.
What is Honda Bay island hopping?
Honda Bay is a sheltered bay just north of Puerto Princesa, dotted with small islands and reefs. A typical tour picks you up from your hotel, drives you to the wharf, and sets off by boat to visit a few islands over the course of a half to full day, with stops to swim, snorkel and relax on the sand. It is the gentle, sun-and-sea counterpoint to the Underground River, and one of the most popular things to do in the city — starting from around $37.
The islands you might visit
Island line-ups vary between operators and are sometimes rotated to give the reefs a rest, but the regulars include Luli Island (short for “lulubog-lilitaw”, meaning it appears and disappears with the tide), Cowrie Island with its beach bars and hammocks, Pambato Reef for snorkelling over a protected coral garden, and Starfish Island, named for the starfish once common in its shallows. Your guide will confirm the day’s stops, which depend on conditions and the current conservation arrangements.
What is included and what to rent
Most Honda Bay tours include hotel pickup within the city, the boat and crew, a guide, the island entry fees and a picnic or beachside lunch. Snorkelling gear is usually not included — you rent it at the wharf before departure, along with aqua shoes or fins if you want them. Bring cash for the rental and any drinks or extras on the islands, plus reef-safe sunscreen and a dry bag for your valuables. Check each tour’s inclusions on its listing before you book.
Honda Bay vs the Underground River
These are the two headline day tours in Puerto Princesa, and they complement rather than compete. The Underground River is a UNESCO cave adventure inland; Honda Bay is a relaxed day of islands and snorkelling on the coast. They run in opposite directions from the city, so do them on separate days — the river when you are fresh, Honda Bay for a slower, sunnier day. Our 3-day itinerary slots both in comfortably.
Best time and tips
Go in the dry season (roughly November to May) for the calmest seas and clearest water. Start early to beat the midday heat and the crowds, and keep valuables in a dry bag on the boat. If you are prone to seasickness, the crossings are short but a tablet does no harm. When you are ready, compare the Honda Bay options and book on the Puerto Princesa Tours homepage.
A typical day on Honda Bay
Most tours follow a similar rhythm. You are collected from your hotel in the morning and driven the short distance to the wharf, where you board a traditional outrigger boat. From there the day unfolds island by island — an hour or so at each to swim, snorkel and relax — with a beachside lunch somewhere in the middle. Snorkelling over the reefs is the highlight, and the calm, shallow water suits confident and nervous swimmers alike. You are usually back in the city by mid to late afternoon, leaving the evening free for dinner or a firefly cruise.
Marine life and snorkelling
Honda Bay’s protected reefs, especially around Pambato Reef, shelter colourful corals and reef fish, and the water is generally clear and calm in the dry season. Take only photos and keep off the coral — the bay is managed for conservation, which is why island line-ups sometimes rotate. Reef-safe sunscreen helps protect it, and a simple underwater case for your phone captures the fish.
Private or group, and is it worth it?
Group joiner tours are the affordable, sociable option and perfectly good for a first visit; private tours cost more but give you your own boat, pace and choice of islands, which suits families, groups and anyone short on time such as cruise passengers. Either way, Honda Bay is well worth a day: it is easy, inexpensive and a genuine tropical-island experience within reach of the city, and it balances a Palawan trip that might otherwise be all caves and countryside.
Other things to do near Honda Bay
Honda Bay sits close to several of the city’s other attractions, which makes it easy to pair with a half-day elsewhere. On the way to or from the wharf you can stop at the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre, Mitra’s Ranch or the Baker’s Hill gardens, or continue into the city for the Baywalk and museums. Some visitors combine a morning of island hopping with an afternoon city tour, though a full island day is usually enough on its own.
How to book Honda Bay island hopping
The simplest way is to book a tour that includes hotel pickup, the boat, the guide, island fees and lunch, so the only thing left to arrange on the day is your snorkel-gear rental at the wharf. Booking ahead secures your spot in peak season and lets you compare inclusions and cancellation terms before you commit. Group joiner tours keep costs low, while a private boat suits families or anyone wanting to set their own pace. Compare the Honda Bay options on the homepage and reserve the date that fits your itinerary.
A few tips travellers often miss
Start early to enjoy calmer water and quieter beaches before the midday crowds arrive. Bring more cash than you think you need for gear, drinks and island fees, since card payment is rare out on the water. Protect your phone and camera in a dry bag, wear a rash guard if you burn easily, and pack a change of clothes for the drive back. And do not rush lunch — the beachside meal is part of the charm of a Honda Bay day, which is a day made for slowing down.