Shore excursion: Puerto Princesa Island Hopping Tour

Honda Bay packs three island stops into one day. This $100 island-hopping tour gives you a simple way to reach Cowrie, Lu-Li, and Starfish islands without arranging boats, food, and transport separately. I like the included lunch and the chance to swim, sunbathe, and see marine life at several different stops.

I also like the helpful guide service, with guides such as Ana earning especially warm praise for her care and cooking. The main drawback is the weather and crowd factor: rough seas can shorten the route, and Cowrie Island may feel less rewarding for snorkeling than the other stops.

Quick Take: What Makes This Honda Bay Day Trip Worth Considering

• Three island stops in about eight hours: You get a full day around Honda Bay rather than a short boat outing.
• Starfish Island is the highlight for many: The sandbar area offers the best chance to see starfish up close.
• Lunch is included: A buffet-style meal is served during the day, with a picnic setup at Starfish Sandbar Resort.
• Cowrie Island is best for beach time: Its white sand and swimming are appealing, but snorkeling may be modest.
• Hotel pickup is convenient inside Puerto Princesa city proper: Out-of-town hotels may require an extra charge.
• Bring or budget for snorkeling gear: Masks, snorkels, and other equipment are not included.

Starting From Puerto Princesa and Reaching Honda Bay

The tour lasts about eight hours, making it one of the easier full-day outings from Puerto Princesa. Shared pickup is offered from select hotels in the city proper, using an air-conditioned minivan with a driver and guide.

Pickup order matters. The first pickup is listed at D Lucky Garden Inn, followed by other hotels in the city. That means you should expect some waiting if your hotel is later on the route. It is not glamorous, but the air-conditioning helps, and shared transport keeps the price from climbing.

The boat trip itself begins at Honda Bay. The bay is close enough to Puerto Princesa for this to work as a practical shore excursion, including for some cruise passengers. If you arrive by ship, confirm the meeting point and timing before booking, since the standard description focuses on hotel pickup rather than a guaranteed cruise-port transfer.

The tour can accommodate up to 100 people. That is a large possible group, so do not book this expecting a private boat or a quiet, custom-paced day. The guide stays with the group, explains the island stops, and helps keep the day moving.

One Day, Three Different Island Stops

The appeal of this outing is variety. You are not spending the entire day at one beach. Instead, the boat moves between several small island destinations, each with a slightly different purpose.

The stated timing gives about one hour for the general Honda Bay area, two hours at Cowrie Island, two hours at Lu-Li Island, and one hour at Starfish Sandbar Resort. Actual time can change with weather, sea conditions, loading, and local boating rules.

You should also expect a relaxed beach day rather than a tightly planned sightseeing tour. Swimming, snorkeling, taking photos, eating, and sitting in the sun make up most of the experience.

Cowrie Island: Good Beach Time, Modest Snorkeling

Cowrie Island is scheduled as the longest stop, at about two hours. Lunch is served here in some arrangements, and you have time for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling.

This is likely the easiest place to settle into the day. You can eat, find a patch of sand, and get comfortable before moving on. If you prefer a beach break to constant activity, Cowrie gives you room to slow down.

The snorkeling is the weaker point. One account described Cowrie as a pleasant beach but not a strong snorkeling stop. That does not make it useless, especially if you want to swim or relax, but I would not choose this tour mainly for underwater variety at Cowrie.

Bring realistic expectations. The island is valuable as a beach and lunch stop, while Lu-Li and Starfish may offer more interest for fish watching and marine life. You might find that the best use of Cowrie is to enjoy the setting instead of spending the whole visit searching for fish.

Lu-Li Island: Swimming, Photos, and Fish Watching

Lu-Li Island receives another two-hour stop. The planned activities are swimming, taking pictures, and sunbathing, with the added chance to observe fish.

The name is often written as Lu-Li or Luli, so do not worry if you see both spellings. The island is presented as a scenic stop with time to enjoy the water rather than a place packed with formal attractions.

For many people, this is the most flexible portion of the day. You can swim for a while, take photos, then retreat to the beach when the sun gets strong. If you are not comfortable snorkeling, you can still enjoy the stop from the shore.

Snorkeling equipment is not included, so you will need to rent gear locally or bring your own if allowed. Masks and snorkels are specifically excluded, along with other equipment. Water sandals are also a sensible item to pack, based on practical advice from someone familiar with the outing.

The condition of the water and wind makes a difference. On a calm day, Lu-Li can be a pleasant fish-watching stop. On a cloudy or rainy day, the colors and visibility may be less impressive.

Starfish Sandbar Resort: The Day’s Most Memorable Stop

Starfish Sandbar Resort is scheduled for about one hour and is often the most distinctive stop. As its name suggests, the attraction is the chance to see starfish in shallow water.

You should treat the animals gently and follow the guide’s instructions. The pleasure here comes from seeing marine life in its natural setting, not from picking it up or crowding it.

This stop also includes a picnic-style lunch served in a cottage hut. The setup is simple, but it adds a pleasant local feel to the day. A buffet lunch is included overall, and food is one of the tour’s better practical benefits. You do not have to spend the morning arranging a meal or return to Puerto Princesa hungry.

The one-hour schedule can feel brief, especially if the sandbar is busy or the boat arrives late. Still, Starfish is the stop I would most want protected if weather or sea conditions forced changes to the route.

Weather Can Change the Entire Route

Honda Bay is a weather-dependent outing. The tour requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund if the operator cancels.

The more complicated situation comes when the tour runs but the sea is rough. Strong wind can limit the boat’s range, and coast guard rules may prevent the group from reaching every planned island. One account described missing Starfish Island because of wind, with the guide offering other options.

That is important. A boat tour is not the same as a city museum visit. Even a good operator cannot control the sea. If the forecast looks poor, ask the guide what stops are realistic and what substitute plan is available.

Rain also affects the experience. A gray, wet day can make swimming and sunbathing much less appealing. One person chose not to continue with a private island tour in poor weather and felt the outing should have been canceled. This is a fair warning: the cancellation policy is useful if the operator calls off the trip, but a marginal-weather day may still go ahead.

Food, Guides, and the Human Side of the Tour

The guide is a major part of this experience. The strongest praise has gone to guides who stay involved throughout the day, explain the islands, help with timing, and pay attention to small personal details.

Ana was singled out for going well beyond basic guiding duties and even personally cooking a delicious lunch. That kind of care can turn a standard beach outing into a more personal day. You should not assume Ana will be assigned to your group, but her example shows the level of service the operator can provide.

The included driver and guide also make this useful for a first visit to Puerto Princesa. You do not need to negotiate transport to the harbor, find a boat operator, or arrange lunch on your own. For a shore excursion, that simplicity has real value.

The meal is buffet-style, with picnic seating at Starfish and lunch served at Cowrie in some schedules. It is not a restaurant tour, and the exact menu is not specified, but having food included is a clear convenience.

Tips and gratuities are not included. Keep some Philippine pesos available if you feel the crew or guide deserves extra thanks.

Is $100 a Fair Price?

At $100 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day near Puerto Princesa. The value depends on what you would otherwise need to arrange.

The price includes shared hotel pickup and drop-off from select city hotels, an air-conditioned minivan, the driver and guide, the boat-based island hopping, admission to the listed stops, and lunch. Snorkeling gear is extra, and out-of-town pickup may also cost more.

For a solo visitor, couple, or family that wants an organized day, the package can be reasonable. You are paying for convenience as much as for the islands. That matters when you have limited time or are arriving by cruise ship.

The value is less obvious if you dislike group tours or want long snorkeling sessions. A maximum group size of 100 means the day can feel busy, especially at popular beach stops. Cowrie may also seem underwhelming if your priority is fish and coral rather than swimming and sand.

Group discounts may be available, so families and larger parties should check the final per-person price. A minimum of two people is required for booking.

What to Pack for a More Comfortable Day

The basic packing list is simple, but a few items matter.

• Bring water sandals or sturdy footwear for getting in and out of the boat and walking near the shore.
• Pack your own mask and snorkel if you have reliable gear. Otherwise, budget to rent equipment.
• Carry sun protection and a change of clothes for the ride back.
• Keep valuables to a minimum. This is a beach and boat day, not a place for bulky luggage.
• Bring cash for gear rental, extra drinks if needed, and gratuities.
• Pack a waterproof pouch for a phone or camera if you plan to take photos near the water.

You may also want an old piece of bread for fish feeding, as one practical tip suggests, but follow local guidance before feeding marine life. Protecting the animals matters more than getting a close-up photograph.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most?

I would recommend this excursion to someone who wants a straightforward full-day beach outing with transport and lunch handled. Families can benefit from the easy logistics, though children must be accompanied by an adult.

It also suits cruise passengers who want to see more than the port area, provided the pickup arrangement is confirmed in advance. The guide service can be especially useful when you have only one day in Puerto Princesa.

You may want a different plan if you need guaranteed access to every island, dislike shared groups, or care most about serious snorkeling. Weather can shorten the route, gear costs extra, and Cowrie is better for beach time than underwater exploration.

The tour is also a good match for people who value variety. In one day, you get a boat ride, several island settings, swimming, fish watching, lunch, and a chance to see starfish. None of these activities lasts forever, but together they make a satisfying introduction to Honda Bay.

Should You Book the Puerto Princesa Island Hopping Tour?

Book it if you want an organized way to see Honda Bay’s main island stops in one day, especially if you are staying in the city proper and appreciate included transport and lunch. The best parts are the friendly guide service, the relaxed beach time, and the chance to see starfish at Starfish Sandbar Resort.

Before paying, check the weather forecast, confirm pickup if you are outside the city or arriving by cruise ship, and plan to rent or bring snorkeling gear. I would also accept that the route may change in rough seas.

At $100, this is a convenience-focused tour rather than a bargain boat trip. For a first visit to Puerto Princesa, that tradeoff can be worthwhile. For a quiet, private, highly specialized snorkeling day, it probably is not the right choice.

FAQ

How long does the Puerto Princesa island-hopping tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

Which islands are included?

The planned stops are Cowrie Island, Lu-Li Island, and Starfish Sandbar Resort in Honda Bay.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch is included, and the schedule describes a picnic-style meal served in a cottage hut at Starfish Sandbar Resort.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Snorkeling gear, masks, and other equipment are not included. You need to bring your own or rent equipment separately.

Is hotel pickup included?

Shared pickup and drop-off are included for select hotels in Puerto Princesa city proper. Hotels outside the city proper may require an extra pickup charge.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If the operator cancels the experience because of poor weather, you will be offered another date or a full refund. The tour also requires a minimum of two people per booking.