Palawan: Honda Bay Island Hopping Cruise

Three islands, one long day at sea. Honda Bay island hopping gives you a simple way to leave Puerto Princesa, reach white beaches in about 30 minutes, and spend the day swimming, snorkeling, and eating Filipino food. I like the included boat, lunch, entrance fees, and hotel pickup, all for about $40 per person. I also like that the shared format makes it easy to meet people.

The tradeoff is that this is a busy, commercial day rather than a quiet island escape. Snorkeling quality can vary, and one stop may be a floating pontoon rather than an actual island. If you have already visited El Nido or Coron, Honda Bay may feel less impressive.

Key points to know before booking

• Three named stops: The route includes Starfish Island, Luli Island, and Cowrie Island.
• A full nine-hour outing: Hotel pickup, van transport, boat travel, island time, lunch, and return transfer fill most of the day.
• Shared transport: The van can carry about 13 people, and you share the boat with other visitors.
• A practical price: The $40 rate covers lunch, boat transport, life vest, entrance fees, and terminal charges, but not the PHP 150 environmental fee.
• Snorkeling is not guaranteed to impress: Fish and marine life are part of Honda Bay, but water conditions, crowds, and site quality can affect the experience.

Leaving Puerto Princesa for Honda Bay

Honda Bay sits on the eastern shore of Puerto Princesa, making it one of the easier sea trips from the city. You do not need to arrange your own taxi, port transfer, boat, or island tickets. Pickup and return are included if your hotel is inside the city proper.

The day begins with a hotel-lobby pickup. The guide calls when the vehicle is on the way, so you should be ready rather than waiting in your room. Transport is shared, with a van group of about 13 people. That keeps the price reasonable, but it also means the morning may move at the pace of the whole group.

The distance from town to the islands is a major selling point. You can reach a very different setting without spending hours on an intercity transfer. The change is quick: city streets, a terminal, then a motorized boat across Honda Bay toward low islands, beaches, and open water.

The tour lasts nine hours, so think of it as a full-day activity, not a quick morning outing. Bring sunscreen, swimwear, and a waterproof bag. You will want somewhere safe for your phone, cash, and dry clothes because the day is built around water.

Starfish Island and the promise of marine life

Starfish Island is one of the three famous Honda Bay stops included in the route. Its name points to the sea life that gives the island its appeal, while the broader bay is known for fish, corals, and giant clams.

This is the sort of place where the life vest matters. Even strong swimmers should use it if the crew requires it, especially around boat traffic and snorkeling areas. A mask and snorkel are not included, so you need to rent them separately if you do not bring your own equipment.

The snorkeling experience is likely to be the main reason you choose this tour. Keep your expectations sensible. Honda Bay can offer fish and underwater views, but conditions are not fixed. Water clarity, tide, weather, and the number of boats all affect what you see.

One practical warning: the snorkeling area can feel crowded. A reported experience described one stop as a pontoon used for snorkeling, with a small swimming area and many people in the water. That does not make the stop worthless, but it changes the mood. You are not guaranteed a private reef or long, quiet swims.

If the marine life is active and the weather is clear, Starfish Island can be a pleasant first water stop. If the sea is cloudy or packed with swimmers, you may find the beach and open-water views more enjoyable than the snorkeling itself.

Luli Island, with sand and water sports

Luli Island is another scheduled stop on the Honda Bay route. The tour description presents the islands as places for white sand, swimming, underwater sights, and water activities. You should expect a mixture of free time and organized movement, not a guided nature walk or a long cultural visit.

The appeal here is easygoing. You can spend time in the water, sit on the beach, take photographs, or try available water activities. The exact activity choices are not specified, so check locally before paying for anything extra.

The name Luli Island is often associated with changing water levels, but the supplied tour details do not promise a particular tide display or special event. It is safer to treat this as a beach and swimming stop rather than book it for one exact natural feature.

The shared format shapes the experience. You will have a set amount of time at each stop, and the boat cannot leave until the whole group is ready. That can feel restrictive if you want to linger, but it also keeps the day organized across three islands.

For a first island outing from Puerto Princesa, Luli Island works well as part of the larger route. It gives you another setting after the marine stop. For a more secluded beach day, the commercial setup may disappoint.

Cowrie Island and the picnic lunch

Cowrie Island is the third named stop and often the place where the day feels most like a resort-style beach break. The package includes a picnic lunch, and the meal is one of the better-value parts of the price.

The food is Filipino in style and served as a buffet or picnic meal. One especially praised detail is the grilled fish, which was described as filling and delicious. Do not expect a restaurant meal with a long menu. Expect straightforward food designed to keep you going through a hot day in the sun.

Lunch matters because food near island stops can add up quickly. Having it included means you do not have to organize a separate meal while keeping track of the boat schedule. It also gives the group a natural pause between swimming and sightseeing.

You may find Cowrie Island better for relaxation than for serious snorkeling. The tour sells the whole day as a mix of beaches, underwater gardens, and water sports, but each stop has its own character. If the water sites are crowded or lack coral, a sunny beach, a plate of fish, and a clear horizon can still make the stop worthwhile.

Clear weather makes a real difference here. A sunny day gives you better views across the bay and more comfortable conditions for sunbathing. Bad weather would affect the main pleasures of the tour, so the experience depends more on the day’s conditions than a land-based city tour would.

What the $40 price really covers

At about $40 per person, this is a convenient package rather than a bare-bones boat ticket. The price includes:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within the city proper
• An English and Tagalog-speaking DOT-accredited guide
• A motorized boat
• Picnic lunch
• Life vest
• Island entrance fees
• Terminal and wharf fees

That list removes several small costs and planning tasks. If you booked a boat independently, you would still need to arrange transport to the port, pay entrance charges, sort out lunch, and manage the return trip. The package is useful if you value simplicity.

You should budget extra for the PHP 150 environmental fee per person. Mask and snorkel hire are also separate, as are aqua shoes. These extras are not huge, but they mean the headline price is not the final amount.

The price is strongest for someone staying in Puerto Princesa who wants one organized sea day. It is less attractive if your main goal is high-quality coral snorkeling. For that, the trip may feel expensive if the water is crowded or the reef is not visible.

The rating of 3.9 from 30 ratings reflects that mixed value. The sunny views, easy transport, and lunch can make the day feel worthwhile. The commercial setup, inconsistent guiding, and weaker snorkeling can make it feel like a costly series of swims.

Shared vans, boats, and the pace of the day

This is not a private charter. You travel in a shared van, with about 13 people in the vehicle, then join a motorized boat for the island route. That arrangement helps create a social atmosphere, and you may find it easy to chat with people from different countries.

The downside is limited control. Pickup delays, slow boarding, and different swimming speeds can affect the schedule. If you are running late, the whole morning becomes more stressful. Be in the lobby early, with your bag packed and your swimwear ready.

The guide is supposed to support the group in English and Tagalog. However, guide attention may not always be consistent. One reported experience found the guide was not present in the van or boat for much of the time and offered little information about what happened next. I would treat this as a reason to listen carefully at the port and confirm the order of stops, lunch time, and meeting point.

You should also expect a practical, group-tour style of management. The guide may focus on getting everyone through the route rather than explaining every island in detail. If you want history, marine biology, or long commentary, this may feel light on information.

The shared setup has a positive side too. You are not paying for a private boat, and the group can make the day more sociable. For solo visitors, that can be a real benefit. For couples seeking privacy, it is a clear compromise.

Snorkeling, swimming, and the limits of Honda Bay

Honda Bay is home to fish, corals, and giant clams, so the tour has a genuine marine-life focus. Still, the existence of marine life does not guarantee a memorable snorkeling session at every stop.

Some conditions are outside the operator’s control. Wind, rain, tides, water clarity, and crowd levels all matter. A sunny day can produce wonderful views and comfortable swimming, but clear skies alone do not guarantee good underwater visibility.

One specific criticism is important: some snorkeling areas may have little visible coral. Another concern is crowding around a small pontoon. If you are an experienced snorkeler comparing this with El Nido or Coron, Honda Bay may seem basic.

That does not make it a poor choice for everyone. If you are new to snorkeling, enjoy swimming, or mainly want a day on the water, the activity can still be fun. The life vest gives less confident swimmers extra support, while the islands provide places to dry off and relax.

People prone to seasickness should think twice. The day includes van travel, port time, and a motorized boat, and the tour itself says it is not suitable for those who commonly feel ill at sea. Bring only what you need, secure loose items, and keep your waterproof bag close.

Who will enjoy this nine-hour island day

I would recommend Honda Bay for a first-time visitor based in Puerto Princesa who wants an easy, all-in-one excursion. It suits you if you enjoy swimming, simple beach stops, Filipino lunch, and meeting other people without arranging each part yourself.

It also works for solo visitors. A shared van and boat give you company, and the included logistics remove the awkwardness of organizing a boat alone.

Families may appreciate the life vests, hotel transfer, and clear structure, although the long day and boat ride may not suit young children who struggle with heat or water travel. The supplied information does not specify child pricing or age rules, so confirm those details before booking.

I would be more cautious if you have already visited El Nido or Coron. The scenery and snorkeling at Honda Bay may feel modest by comparison. You may still like the convenience, but you should not expect the same scale or variety.

This is also not the best match for someone seeking quiet beaches, private time, or a detailed guided nature experience. The group format and commercial stops are part of the deal.

Booking details that can save you trouble

Your hotel must be inside Puerto Princesa city proper for standard pickup and drop-off. An additional charge may apply outside that area, so confirm your address before paying.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those terms are useful if your plans may change, but you should still check the available start time for your date.

Bring swimwear, sunscreen, and a waterproof bag. Plan for the PHP 150 environmental fee, plus rental costs if you need a mask, snorkel, or aqua shoes.

Alcohol and drugs are not allowed. You should also be prepared for a full day in sun and open water, with limited control over the schedule.

Should you book Honda Bay island hopping?

Book it if you want the simplest way to spend a sea day from Puerto Princesa. The $40 package covers the main practical costs, the grilled fish lunch gets deserved praise, and clear weather can bring beautiful horizon views and a relaxing beach day.

Skip it if your priority is untouched beaches or excellent coral snorkeling. Honda Bay can be crowded, one stop may be a pontoon, and the guiding may feel thin. If you choose to go, bring your own snorkel gear if possible, arrive early in the hotel lobby, and treat the trip as a shared beach-and-swimming outing rather than a premium reef expedition.

FAQ

Where does the Honda Bay island hopping tour take place?

The tour operates from Puerto Princesa on Palawan’s eastern shore and visits islands in Honda Bay.

Which islands are included?

The route includes Starfish Island, Luli Island, and Cowrie Island.

How long does the tour last?

The full activity lasts about nine hours, including pickup, transport, island visits, lunch, and return to your hotel.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included for hotels within Puerto Princesa city proper. An additional charge may apply outside that area.

How many people share the van?

The van is described as carrying about 13 people.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic lunch is included, with Filipino food served during the day.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Mask and snorkel rental costs extra. Aqua shoes also require a separate rental fee.

Is the environmental fee included?

No. You must pay an environmental fee of PHP 150 per person.

What languages does the guide speak?

The live guide service is available in English and Tagalog.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.