Most travelers who fly into Puerto Princesa are there for one thing: the Underground River. And fair enough — the UNESCO-listed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is one of the Philippines' most remarkable natural attractions, a navigable underground river that winds through a cave system rich with stalactites and wildlife. But Puerto Princesa has a second act that many visitors miss entirely, and it is sitting 12 km away in the bay that curves around the city's northern edge.
Honda Bay is an island-dotted body of water with some of the clearest water and most accessible snorkeling in Palawan. Five main islands, each with its own personality, are arranged within a two-kilometre radius — close enough to visit several in a single day trip, far enough from the city that the water is genuinely clear and the atmosphere genuinely unhurried. This guide covers everything you need to plan the perfect Honda Bay day trip.
Getting to Honda Bay
From Puerto Princesa City, the journey to Honda Bay's departure point takes about 30 minutes. Head to Santa Lourdes Wharf (also called Honda Bay Wharf), 12 km north of the city centre.
The easiest option is a tricycle from your hotel or the city centre, which costs PHP 150–200 for the whole vehicle (negotiate before boarding). Tricycles hold up to three passengers comfortably. Alternatively, some guesthouses arrange shared van transfers for groups.
If you are coming from the city terminal, a jeepney to Santa Lourdes costs around PHP 20 and takes 40–45 minutes — cheaper but slower and involves a walk to the wharf from the road. Given that most visitors are on a day trip with limited time, the tricycle is worth the extra cost.
At the wharf, island hopping tours are booked directly with boat operators or through your hotel. No advance reservation is strictly necessary on most weekdays — just arrive at the wharf by 8am and you will find operators ready to go. Weekends and holidays during peak season (November–May) can get busy; arriving early ensures a good boat and group.
How Tours Work
Honda Bay tours operate on a simple model: a bangka (outrigger boat) carries your group between islands, with 30–60 minutes at each stop for swimming, snorkeling, and beach time. The standard package covers three to four islands and takes five to six hours.
All-in pricing: PHP 1,500–2,000 per person in a shared group tour, typically including: bangka hire, life jacket, snorkel gear, entrance fees for the islands visited, and a simple lunch of grilled fish, rice, and vegetables served on one of the islands. It is one of the better-value day trips in Palawan given everything included.
Private boat charter: PHP 3,000–5,000 for the whole boat (8–10 person capacity), ideal for families or groups who want to control their own schedule and stops.
The Five Islands
Luli Island — The Disappearing Sandbar
Luli stands for "lulubog-lilitaw" — Filipino for "sinks and rises" — which describes exactly what happens here. At low tide, a long white sandbar extends from the island's beach, stretching into the bay like a pointing finger. At high tide, the sandbar disappears entirely underwater, leaving just the main island. Timing matters: arrive at or near low tide for the dramatic sandbar walk, when you can wade across warm ankle-deep water with blue bay on both sides. A few small thatched-roof structures sell cold drinks and coconut. The snorkeling off the tip of the sandbar (at any tide) is decent — sea grass and small reef fish in 2–4 metres of clear water.
Starfish Island — Wall-to-Wall Sea Stars
The shallow waters around Starfish Island are carpeted with enormous cushion sea stars (Culcita novaeguineae) — red, blue, brown, and speckled, some the size of dinner plates. Wading in the knee-deep water and watching sea stars in every direction is genuinely surreal. The beach itself is pleasant white sand with palm trees, a small snack bar, and calm clear water. Children absolutely love this island.
Important: do not remove sea stars from the water. This is the rule, it is enforced, and violating it harms the animals — sea stars can die from temperature shock if held out of water. Look at them in the shallows without touching, or snorkel over them to observe from above. The island has a PHP 20 environmental fee.
Pandan Island — The Resort Stop
Pandan Island has a small private resort with the best facilities in Honda Bay: a proper beach bar, sun loungers, changing rooms, and a restaurant that serves fresh seafood. Day visitors pay an entrance fee of PHP 200–300 but get use of the facilities. The water here is clear and calm, and the snorkeling around the resort's edges (away from the mooring area) turns up good reef fish and occasional small reef sharks in the deeper sections beyond the drop-off. Pandan is the comfort stop — if someone in your group needs shade, a cold drink, and a proper toilet, this is your island.
Snake Island (Bat Island) — The S-Shaped Sandbar
Snake Island earns its name from the remarkable shape of its sandbar: a long, S-curved strip of white sand that snakes through the bay for nearly half a kilometre. Photographed from above, it looks exactly like a snake lying across the water. At low tide you can walk the entire length of both curves, with warm bay water lapping both sides. The snorkeling from the tip of the sandbar, where the sand drops into a coral garden, is excellent — particularly good for spotting octopus and nudibranchs in the rocky sections. Note: there are no actual snakes here; the name is purely about the sandbar's shape.
Cowrie Island — Best Snorkeling in Honda Bay
Cowrie Island has the best snorkeling of the five, with a reef that extends from the beach's edge in water clear enough to see individual coral branches from the surface. The reef hosts good populations of butterflyfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish, and the occasional sea turtle cruising the outer edge. There is also a small resort on Cowrie with day-use facilities and a restaurant. This is usually the final island on most tour itineraries, with lunch served here — grilled fish still warm from the grill, eaten at a table inches from the water, is the defining Honda Bay memory for most visitors.
What to Bring
Honda Bay tours provide snorkel gear and life jackets, but bringing your own mask is worth it for fit and hygiene. Essentials:
- Cash — PHP 1,500–2,500 depending on tour package. No card machines at the wharf or on the islands.
- Reef-safe sunscreen — chemical sunscreens bleach coral. Bring mineral-based (zinc oxide) or a rashguard, which is the better solution.
- Change of clothes — you will be wet. Having dry clothes for the tricycle ride home is a quality-of-life improvement.
- Water and snacks — lunch is included in most packages, but bring water for the boat rides between islands. The sun in Palawan is intense even with cloud cover.
- Waterproof bag or dry sack — for phones, cameras, and anything that should not get wet during boarding and disembarking from the bangka.
Best Time to Go
Morning departures (8am) are strongly recommended for two reasons. First, the sea is calmer in the morning — afternoon winds can chop up the bay and make bangka rides between islands uncomfortable. Second, arriving at each island before the crowd of afternoon day-trippers means you often have Starfish Island or Luli Island to yourselves for the first hour.
Timing your visit to Luli Island at low tide is the main logistical challenge. Check tide charts for Puerto Princesa before your visit (NAMRIA publishes Philippine tide tables at namria.gov.ph). A morning low tide aligns perfectly with an 8am departure. An afternoon low tide means either starting late (and hitting the afternoon chop) or doing Luli Island last. Worth planning around.
Honda Bay vs. El Nido Island Hopping
Honda Bay is not El Nido. The scenery lacks El Nido's dramatic limestone karsts and the water is not quite as impossibly turquoise. But Honda Bay is 30 minutes from Puerto Princesa city and costs PHP 1,500–2,000 all-in, versus El Nido's four-hour flight or boat transfer and PHP 1,200–1,800 just for the tour (before accommodation and flights). For travelers spending one or two days in Puerto Princesa before or after the Underground River, Honda Bay offers genuine Palawan beauty without rerouting the entire itinerary.
Combining Honda Bay with the Underground River
The classic Puerto Princesa two-day itinerary: Day 1, Underground River (book permits weeks in advance through your guesthouse — they are strictly limited and sell out). Day 2, Honda Bay island hopping. Both are half-day activities that leave time for city exploration — the Palawan Heritage Centre, the Butterfly Garden, and the night market at Rizal Avenue are all worth the effort.
Budget
Honda Bay is one of the most affordable full-day experiences in Palawan. Total spend for the day: tricycle PHP 150–200 each way, tour package PHP 1,500–2,000 all-in (including lunch, snorkel gear, entrance fees). Optional cold drinks on the islands PHP 50–100. Total day spend: PHP 1,800–2,400 per person. Family groups benefit from private boat charters (PHP 3,000–5,000 for 8–10 people) which work out cheaper per person for groups of six or more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book Honda Bay in advance?
Not for most of the year — simply arrive at Santa Lourdes Wharf by 8am and join a group. Weekends during peak season (December–April) and Holy Week are the exceptions; arrive early or ask your hotel to confirm with an operator the evening before. The Underground River, by contrast, requires advance permits — book that one weeks ahead.
Can I see the starfish without snorkeling?
Yes. Starfish Island's sea stars are in the shallows — water 30–60 cm deep that you can wade through without even getting your chest wet. Non-swimmers can participate fully in the Starfish Island stop. The same applies to Luli and Snake Islands, where the sandbar walks are the main attraction and require no swimming at all.
Is Honda Bay safe for children?
Very much so. Honda Bay's islands have shallow, calm water ideal for children. Life jackets are provided for all passengers. Starfish Island is particularly popular with families for obvious reasons. Pandan Island has facilities (changing rooms, toilets) that make logistics easier with young children. The bangka crossings between islands are short (10–20 minutes) and usually calm in the morning.
What is the best island in Honda Bay?
Cowrie Island for snorkeling, Luli Island for the disappearing sandbar experience, and Starfish Island for the sheer novelty of wading through hundreds of enormous sea stars. Most tours cover all three. If pressed to choose one stop for the best overall experience, Cowrie Island's combination of good reef snorkeling and a solid beachfront lunch setting edges it ahead.
Can I visit Honda Bay on my own without a tour?
You can charter a private boat directly at the wharf and visit islands independently, but the all-in group tour is such good value (PHP 1,500–2,000 covering transport, snorkel gear, lunch, and entrance fees) that doing it independently rarely saves meaningful money unless you are a group of 8+ and want total schedule flexibility. The logistics of negotiating boat hire, paying separate island entrance fees, and arranging lunch independently add complexity for minimal savings.
