Honda Bay Island Hopping Puerto Princesa: Complete Guide
Most travelers in Palawan make a beeline for El Nido, and with good reason. But if you are spending time in Puerto Princesa, Honda Bay island hopping is one of the best half-days you can spend in the Philippines. Pristine islands, excellent snorkeling, dramatically fewer crowds than El Nido, and a marine park teeming with life.
Where Is Honda Bay?
Honda Bay is a protected bay located approximately 12 kilometers northeast of Puerto Princesa City. It is home to a cluster of small coral islands, sandbanks, and reef systems spread across a protected marine park. The most-visited islands include Cowrie Island, Luli Island (a sandbar that submerges at high tide), Pandan Island, and Starfish Island.
The Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour
The Honda Bay island hopping tour visits 3-4 islands over a half-day, typically departing around 8 AM:
- Cowrie Island — the most developed island in Honda Bay, with excellent snorkeling along the reef. Sea turtles are regularly spotted here.
- Luli Island — a magical sandbar that appears and disappears with the tides. At low tide, a white sand island materializes from turquoise water. At high tide, only the tips of the palm trees sit above the waterline. Snorkeling around Luli is excellent.
- Pandan Island — a larger, quieter island popular for swimming and beachcombing. The water around Pandan is shallow and warm.
- Starfish Island — named for the enormous cushion starfish (chocolate chip sea stars) that cover the shallow sandbars. The snorkeling here is excellent, with diverse coral and abundant marine life including clownfish, parrotfish, and resident starfish.
Honda Bay vs El Nido
Honda Bay and El Nido offer genuinely different experiences. Honda Bay islands are lower and flatter without the dramatic limestone karst scenery that defines El Nido. The marine life in Honda Bay is arguably denser and more accessible to casual snorkelers, with shallower reefs and calmer water. Honda Bay tours are significantly cheaper and shorter — ideal as a half-day addition to a Puerto Princesa itinerary. If you are doing both Puerto Princesa and El Nido on the same trip, do Honda Bay for the snorkeling, then head north to El Nido for the lagoons and karst scenery.
Getting There
From Puerto Princesa City, take a tricycle or jeepney to Sta. Lourdes Wharf (about 12-15 km northeast of the city center, 30 min, PHP 150-250 by tricycle). Most organized tours include transfer from your hotel.
Costs and What Is Included
Honda Bay island hopping tours cost approximately PHP 800-1,200 per person for a half-day shared group tour, including boat, life jacket, and basic snorkeling equipment. Environmental fees (PHP 150-200 per person) are paid separately at the wharf. Book the Honda Bay island hopping tour on PANA.PH for a hassle-free experience.
Combining Honda Bay with the Underground River
Honda Bay island hopping combines perfectly with a Puerto Princesa Underground River day tour — do the Underground River tour on Day 1 and Honda Bay on Day 2 morning. This gives you the full Puerto Princesa experience before heading north to El Nido for island hopping.
Practical Tips
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen — mandatory in the marine park
- Bring your own snorkel mask if you have one — tour operators provide basic masks but the fit is often poor
- Go early — boats depart around 8 AM and the islands are most peaceful before 11 AM
- Do not pick up or handle the starfish at Starfish Island
- Bring cash — cottage rentals and island restaurants are cash-only
Final Thoughts
Honda Bay consistently exceeds expectations. The Luli Island sandbar experience in particular — walking on a strip of white sand in the middle of turquoise water, knowing it will be underwater again by this afternoon — is pure Palawan magic. Book the Honda Bay island hopping tour on PANA.PH and make the most of your time in Puerto Princesa.