Shared Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour

The sea day starts with two easy island stops. This Honda Bay island-hopping tour combines swimming, hammocks, snorkeling, and a Filipino lunch at Cowrie Island, with hotel pickup available from select Puerto Princesa hotels. I like the simple plan: Lu-Li gives you time to relax, while Cowrie adds lunch and a larger swimming area. I also like the small maximum group of 15, which should make it easier to get help from the guide than on a large boat.

The main catch is the extra cost and planning around equipment. Snorkel gear is not included, and water shoes may cost extra, even if you expected equipment to be covered. You also pay a ₱150 government fee per person, and pickup is limited by hotel location.

Key points to know before you book

• Lu-Li Island is the quiet first stop: You can swim, stretch out on hammocks, or order a cocktail from the mini bar.
• Cowrie Island is the main event: Lunch, swimming, coconut water, water activities, and optional massages fill roughly two hours.
• The tour lasts six to eight hours: Traffic, hotel transfers, boat timing, and weather can affect the length.
• The group is capped at 15 people: This gives the shared tour a more personal feel without the price of a private boat.
• Bring or budget for water gear: Snorkeling equipment is not included, and a water-shoe rental stop may be part of the morning.
• The price is reasonable, but not all-inclusive: The $38 rate includes lunch, a guide, and selected hotel transfers, but not gear or the government fee.

A gentle Honda Bay day from Puerto Princesa

This is a classic sun-and-sea outing rather than a packed sightseeing tour. You spend most of the day on or near the water, with time to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and enjoy a relaxed Filipino lunch.

The tour begins at the meeting point in Barangay Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, or with pickup from select hotels. The exact pickup time is given to your hotel receptionist the day before. That system is useful, but you should check with reception rather than assume the van will arrive at a standard hour.

The full outing takes about six to eight hours. That includes hotel transfers, the ride to the boat, time on the islands, and the return journey. Transfer times are approximate, since traffic and the time of day can change the schedule.

I see this as a good fit if you want a full day outdoors without arranging a boat, guide, lunch, and transport separately. It is also a sensible choice for couples, families, and small groups that want a straightforward introduction to Honda Bay.

What the $38 price really covers

At $38 per person, the tour offers fair value for a shared day out. Your price includes lunch, a local guide, admission to the two listed island stops, and round-trip hotel transfers when your hotel qualifies.

The value improves if you are staying in Puerto Princesa and would otherwise need to organize transport to Barangay Sta. Lourdes on your own. A guide and lunch also remove two practical chores from the day. You do not need to compare boat operators at the pier or find a restaurant once you reach Cowrie Island.

Still, the price needs a few additions. The government fee is ₱150 per person. Snorkeling equipment is not included, so you must bring your own or rent it. Water shoes may also be an extra expense. One useful bit of advice is to wear water shoes if you have them. A rental stop may happen early in the day, and paying separately for shoes can feel unnecessary if you already expected them to be part of the package.

Hotel pickup is available only from select hotels. The stated limit excludes properties more than 10 miles, or 15 kilometers, from the airport. Astoria Palawan is specifically excluded from the normal arrangement and requires transfers to be booked separately.

That means you should check the pickup details before paying. A low tour price can lose some of its value if you need a costly taxi to reach the meeting point.

Lu-Li Island: hammocks, swimming, and a slow start

The first stop is Lu-Li Island, where you have about one hour. The pace here is easy. You can swim, stretch out in the hammocks, or order a cocktail at the small bar.

This stop works well as a warm-up. You can get used to the water, settle into the boat day, and choose how active you want to be. If you are not keen on snorkeling, Lu-Li gives you a perfectly good way to enjoy the island without turning the morning into a checklist.

The one-hour visit is also a useful limit. A small island with a bar and hammocks does not need half a day, and the short stop keeps the tour moving toward Cowrie Island. You get a taste of the bay without spending too long in one place.

Bring sun protection and something dry to sit on if you prefer not to use the hammocks. The supplied information does not promise changing facilities, lockers, or a detailed range of food and drinks, so it is best to treat the mini bar as a small convenience rather than a full refreshment stop.

Lu-Li may feel basic if you want a long list of activities. Its appeal is the opposite: a brief, relaxed island break with swimming and a place to lie back.

Cowrie Island: the longest stop and included lunch

Cowrie Island receives about two hours, making it the main stop of the day. This is where lunch is served, and the island has a generous swimming area plus other water activities.

The included Filipino lunch adds real value. You can eat without searching for a restaurant, and the meal breaks up the time in the sun. Since the menu is not specified, you should not book this expecting a particular dish or special dietary arrangement unless you confirm it in advance.

After lunch, you can swim, drink coconut water, sunbathe, or arrange a massage. The choice matters because not everyone in a group wants the same kind of beach day. One person can use the water, another can stay in the shade, and someone else can simply sit with a cold drink.

Cowrie is likely to feel more active than Lu-Li because it has more space for swimming and additional water activities. At the same time, two hours is not a long time once you include lunch. If you want to eat slowly, swim, use an activity, and book a massage, you may need to choose your priorities.

I would treat the massage as an optional extra, not part of the tour price. The same applies to drinks and any activities that are not specifically included. The tour gives you access to the setting and lunch, but add-on spending can build quickly if you try everything.

Snorkeling and water shoes need careful planning

The tour is promoted around swimming and snorkeling, but equipment is not included. You need to bring your own mask and snorkel or pay to rent them.

That distinction is important. A shared boat tour can be good value, but renting gear for several people may change the final cost. Ask about the equipment arrangement before departure if snorkeling is a major reason for booking.

Water shoes deserve special attention. They are recommended for this type of island outing, and an early van stop may offer rentals. If you already own a pair, pack them. If not, budget for a rental and do not assume that selecting snorkeling equipment also covers footwear.

You should also bring a towel, dry clothes, sun protection, and enough personal drinking water for the transfers and boat time. These suggestions are practical preparation, not promised inclusions. The supplied details confirm lunch, but they do not list towels, drinks, or beach equipment as part of the price.

The best approach is to think of the tour as a guided transport and island package, then prepare your own beach kit around it.

Small-group boating without a private-tour price

The maximum group is 15 people. That is not a private experience, but it is small enough to keep the day from feeling like a crowd on a large excursion boat.

I like this size for a first visit to Honda Bay. You can ask the guide questions, get help with the schedule, and move between the van, boat, and islands with less confusion. Group tours also make sense if you are traveling alone or as a couple and do not want to pay for a private charter.

The pace will still be shared. You cannot decide to stay at Lu-Li for an extra hour, skip Cowrie, or change the boat route to suit your own schedule. If control and privacy matter most, a private option may suit you better, though the supplied price and details here are for the shared experience.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can take part, but the tour includes boat travel, swimming, and time in the sun. If anyone in your group needs special assistance, confirm the arrangements before booking because detailed accessibility information is not provided.

Pickup, timing, and weather rules

The meeting point is in Barangay Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, and the activity ends back there. Select hotels receive round-trip transfers, with the exact pickup time supplied through the hotel receptionist one day before departure.

This is convenient, but it is not door-to-door service for every hotel. Properties outside the stated transfer area are not covered, and Astoria Palawan requires separate transfer arrangements. Confirm your hotel status before you build the rest of your day around the tour.

The six-to-eight-hour duration is an estimate. Traffic affects the van ride, and weather can affect the boat schedule. The tour operates only in favorable weather. If poor conditions cause cancellation, you are offered an alternative date or an alternative tour.

You also have a useful safety net if your plans change. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who will enjoy this island tour most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a simple, affordable beach day from Puerto Princesa. It suits people who value transport and lunch being handled, enjoy a shared group setting, and are happy with a relaxed itinerary rather than a private schedule.

Families may appreciate the clear structure and the broad swimming areas, though children need adult supervision. Couples can enjoy the hammocks, cocktails, coconut water, and warm-weather setting without paying for a private boat.

It is also a good match for first-time visitors who do not want to negotiate directly with boat operators. The guide, transfers, admission, and lunch create a useful framework for the day.

I would hesitate if your main goal is serious snorkeling. The tour gives you time around the water, but equipment costs extra and the schedule is split between two stops, lunch, transfers, and group movement. I would also think twice if you dislike fixed schedules, shared boats, or possible rental stops.

Should you book the Honda Bay tour?

Book it if you want good basic value: a six-to-eight-hour outing, two island stops, lunch, a local guide, and possible hotel transfers for $38 per person. The small group limit, relaxed Lu-Li stop, and longer Cowrie visit make the day easy to understand and easy to enjoy.

Before booking, confirm three things: your hotel qualifies for pickup, you have a plan for snorkeling equipment, and you have budgeted ₱150 for the government fee plus any water-shoe rental. If those details are clear, this is a practical Honda Bay choice for swimming, sun, and a Filipino lunch without complicated planning.

FAQ

How long does the Honda Bay island-hopping tour last?

The tour lasts approximately six to eight hours, including transfers and island time. The exact duration can change with traffic and the time of day.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The tour visits Lu-Li Island for about one hour and Cowrie Island for about two hours.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and is served at Cowrie Island.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Snorkeling equipment is not included. You must bring your own equipment or rent it.

Is hotel pickup available?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are available from select hotels. Hotels more than 10 miles, or 15 kilometers, from the airport are excluded from the standard transfer service. Guests staying at Astoria Palawan must book transfers separately.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

The activity is subject to favorable weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose an alternative tour or another date.