Honda Bay Island Hopping
It's Time to Start Your Adventure
Hit the beach in style on this tour of Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa. Honda Bay is just one of many islands that are located in Palawan Islands touted as the Philippines’ Last Frontier for its rich marine biodiversity..
I highly recommend Honda Bay as a Palawan tourist destination, How ever many visitors over look Honda Bay when they visit Palawan. It is so close and makes for a great day out.
Honda Bay can be visited all year round, however, the best time to go there is during the dry season between November and early May.
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How to Get to Honda Bay
Travelling to Honda Bay from Puerto Princesa, Palawan city proper will take approximately 30 minutes.
You can take a jeepney from Puerto Princesa City to the wharf for about 50 pesos each way. Where you catch it depends on where you’re staying, so ask at your accommodation where the jeepney will be passing by and wave it down when you see it.You can also hire a trike to bring you there, just make sure that you negotiate the fare before hand. Around 250p each way.
Register at the Wharf
From Santa Lourdes Pier, register at the local tourist association to rent the boat.
Contrary to many island hopping tours in the Philippines where you negotiate directly with the boat owner, island hopping in Honda Bay is a bit different. The boat owners organized themselves and created a cooperative so they can all benefit equally from tourism. So when you register they will assign a boat to your group and the prices and packages are fixed.
If you’re alone or in a small group you can easily find people to share a boat with and split the cost. The Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour is a popular attraction, there are always a lot of people at the wharf.
The next step, once you have registered, is to pay for the boat, the islands’ entrance fees, and the environmental fee (the same as the one for the underground river, you only have to pay it once, so don’t forget to keep the receipt). You’ll also need to decide which islands to visit, as prices are not the same depending on which island you visit.
Palawan Islands
Cowrie Island is one of the places you’ll visit during your Honda Bay Island Hopping tour. It has tourist facilities such as small shops and a restaurant, there are places where you can just enjoy the beach, swim in the emerald waters, and relax.
- Entrance Fee: Around P100
- Environmental Fee: P40 – P150 (depending on the port you departed from — Sta. Lourdes Port or Honda Bay Wharf)
- Cottage Rental Fee: P200 – P250
- Boat Rental Rate: P700 – P800 per person (good for 6 persons, going directly to Cowrie Island); P1500 (good for 6 persons, perfect for those who want to DIY their trip and include other stops)
- Others: P100 – P150 (snorkel gear rental)
You can hire a tricycle from the city to Sta. Lourdes Port or Honda Bay Wharf for approximately P500-P600, round trip. Get the number of the driver so that he can pick you up after your trip.
Luli Island got its name because its sandbar appears and disappears (lulubog and lilitaw), depending on the tide. This is part of the Honda Bay Island hopping tour you can do from Puerto Princesa city. It has powdery cream-colored sand and clear emerald waters perfect for swimming and chilling out.
- Entrance Fee: Around P70
- Environmental Fee: P40 – P150 (depending on the port you departed from — Sta. Lourdes Port or Honda Bay Wharf)
- Cottage Rental Fee: P200 – P250
- Boat Rental Rate: P700 – P800 per person (good for 6 persons, going directly to Luli Island); P1500 per person good for 6 persons, perfect for those who want to DIY their trip and include other stops)
- Others: P100 – P150 (snorkel gear rental)
You can hire a tricycle from the city to Sta. Lourdes Port or Honda Bay Wharf for approximately P500-P600, round trip. Get the number of the driver so that he can pick you up after your trip.
Unlike what many people thought about it, starfish island in actually not star-shaped; the name “starfish island” was given to the majestic place because starfishes of varied sizes and colors are found in this place and in fact, this island is actually a sandbar.
Even tourists, both local and foreign find it interesting seeing various starfishes all at one place. It would take about 15 minutes of boat ride from the Pambato Reef.
This island is also known by locals as “Tabuan Island”. It is a small island with few cottages that are available for picnicking. Its main island is made up of pristine white sand that is surrounded by greenish waters. and a few palm trees grow.
- Entrance Fee: Around P50
- Environmental Fee: P40 – P150 (depending on the port you departed from — Sta. Lourdes Port or Honda Bay Wharf)
- Cottage Rental Fee: P600
- Boat Rental Rate: P700 – P1000 per person good for 6 persons, going directly to Pandan Island); P1500 per person (good for 6 persons, perfect for those who want to DIY their trip and include other stops)
- Others: P100 – P150 (snorkel gear rental)
You can hire a tricycle from the city to Sta. Lourdes Port or Honda Bay Wharf for approximately P500-P600, round trip. Get the number of the driver so that he can pick you up after your trip.
The Island was called Isla Pandan or Pandan Island, simply because of the fact that the island is home to a lot Pandan trees,
On the eastern shore of Palawan lies what could be the most precious gem of Honda Bay – Isla Pandan. Prepare to be in awe as you explore this highly sought-after destination in this part of the island.
- Entrance Fee: Around P150
- Environmental Fee: P40 – P150 (depending on the port you departed from — Sta. Lourdes Port or Honda Bay Wharf)
- Cottage Rental Fee: P800-P1500
- Boat Rental Rate: P700 – P1000 per person (good for 6 persons, going directly to Pandan Island); P1500 per person good for 6 persons, perfect for those who want to DIY their trip and include other stops)
- Others: P100 – P150 (snorkel gear rental)
You can hire a tricycle from the city to Sta. Lourdes Port or Honda Bay Wharf for approximately P500-P600, round trip. Get the number of the driver so that he can pick you up after your trip.
Honda Bay tour do it yourself
Jeepney from downtown PP to Santa Lourdes pier: 50 pesos
Mask and snorkel rental: 150 pesos
Boat: 1300 pesos per person for 6 people – 3 islands and 1 snorkelling point
Lunch buffet: 150 to 200 pesos per person, depending on the island – There are cheaper options for lunch on Starfish Island.
Entrance fees: 320 (total) per person for Starfish, Lulli and Cowrie Island, and for the reef. Add 1250 pesos per person if you want to go to Pandan Island.
Environmental fee: 150 (it’s the same as for the underground river, you just pay once for both)
It’s much cheaper to visit Honda Bay on your own rather than via a tour operator, Once you’re at the pier it’s the same. It’s even better to not do a Honda Bay tour and to do it yourself, as you get to choose how long you stay at each place.
Honda Bay Island, what to bring
Sunscreen and a hat – Swimsuit and beach towel – Water shoes (flip flops, reef shoes)
Water and snacks
Camera – Waterproof cellphone case
Small denominations ( currency )
It is better to get there early in the morning
Honda Bay can get really crowded
