Honda Bay Island Hopping from Puerto Princesa

Honda Bay and the wharf at Santa Lourdes

Honda Bay is a wide, sheltered bay on the eastern coast of Palawan, just north of Puerto Princesa city. It is dotted with small coral islands, sandbars and mangroves, and its calm water makes it one of the gentlest island hopping areas in the Philippines. Boats leave from the wharf at Santa Lourdes, about thirty to forty minutes by road from the city.

At the wharf your guide handles the boat registration and fees while you put on sunscreen and get ready. The boat rides between islands are short, usually ten to twenty minutes, so even travellers who dislike long sea crossings enjoy the day. The environmental fee is paid locally, and snorkel gear and water shoes can be rented at the wharf.

Luli Island

Luli Island takes its name from a local phrase that means sinking and rising, because much of the island disappears at high tide and reappears as the water drops. At low tide a wide white sandbar stretches into the bay, and the water around it is shallow and clear enough to see fish from the surface.

Most boats spend about an hour here, with time to swim, snorkel along the edge of the reef and walk the sandbar. It is a favourite with children, who can splash safely in knee-deep water. Visit timing depends on the tide, so your guide may change the order of islands to catch Luli at its best.

Cowrie Island

Cowrie Island is a small, palm-fringed island with soft white sand, shady huts and a clear, gently sloping beach. It is often the lunch stop on Honda Bay island hopping tours, with tables in the shade and space to rest after swimming. The water off the beach stays shallow for a long way, which makes it a relaxed place for a swim after lunch.

The picnic lunch usually includes grilled fish or chicken, rice, vegetables and fruit. Halal-certified food is limited in Palawan, so tell us your dietary needs when booking and we pass them on; seafood and vegetarian choices are easy. Extra snacks and drinks can be bought on the island. Plan around an hour and a half here.

Starfish Island and reef snorkelling

Starfish Island is known for the sea stars that live in its shallow, sandy waters, along with sea urchins and small reef fish. Please look but do not lift or touch them, as handling harms them. Nearby reefs in the bay, such as the coral shallows around Pambato, are among the best snorkelling spots of the day.

Over the reef you see corals, giant clams and schools of fish in calm water just a few metres deep. Life vests make snorkelling easy for beginners, and your guide watches from the boat. Use reef-safe sunscreen and avoid standing on coral. Which islands are visited depends on tides and local rules on the day.

Puerto Princesa: how to get there and best time to visit

How to get to Honda Bay: fly to Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS), about one hour twenty minutes from Manila or one hour fifteen from Cebu. This tour picks you up from hotels in the city within about five kilometres of the airport, so there is no need to arrange your own transport to the wharf.

The best time to visit Honda Bay is the dry season, December to May, when the bay is calm and sunny. Because the bay is sheltered, trips often run when the open sea is rough, but from June to November storms can still cancel boats. Honda Bay pairs well with the Underground River day trip on another day of your stay.