Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour

4 Oct 2008

Honda Bay is a group of small islands lined with fine white sand beaches. From the city to the east, we traveled approximately 12 kilometers. Packed with imagination of pristine sands and Puerto Princesa’s Honda Bay islets which have been so popular in swimming and snorkeling destination captured our hearts.

After having our lunch at Badjao Seafront Restaurant, we headed directly to Barangay Sta. Lourdes Tagbanua, this is the jump-off point for renting small pump boats to hop us over different islands.

Our tour guide advised us to bring in some snacks and water, he suggested to have a stop over in a nearby grocery store since the price at the wharf was a bit more expensive. He let us borrow his ice box to keep them cold. You can take your own food or buy the freshest catch from the local fishermen.

It was raining in Manila and we were glad to welcome the scorching heat of the sun. It was a fine afternoon. We should be done at least before 5 in the afternoon and be back in the wharf, so there off we went Hey! Honda Bay! There are some islands that require entrance fees, since some islands are protected and are privately owned that would require you have a permit to visit. The boat rental does not include the entrance fees, it’s okay and just minimal think of it as a donation while there are islands that you can go for free.

We were not able to stop in Pandan Island because it was a little crowded at that time our boat has no place to dock. The huts, cottages and hammocks are so inviting to see! Seems like the tourists all decided to spend the rest of their day in Pandan Island to relax and loosen up.

We decided to go to another Island since we do not have ample time to wait and stay. Next stop, Snake Island. Our boat guide encouraged us that the most beautiful island in Honda Bay is Snake Island. He asked us to get those breads ready out of our ice box and we’ll be feeding some fish. It was a close encounter with Nemo-big-wide-smile.

The long 2 kilometer stretch of sand bar was shaped liked a snake thus acquiring the name, Snake Island. We wanted to walk, run and enjoy the sand to it’s end but it’s really long! We just decided to have some photographs of one of the caretakers of the island, Doggie he’s a great swimmer too!

If you decide to take your lunch in the island, you could buy some fresh fish and grill them in the cottage. Inform your guide so they could better assist you.

Time runs fast, we need to get to our next stop, Starfish Island. The fine white sands and the clear water are so luring. The island is privately owned as we were handed a receipt with Dos Palmas printed on it, entrance is Php 50 each. There were fascinating cute shells scattered in the island with starfish shapes, I am not sure if they once stayed in the stone-shells because there were holes at the center. You may notice the tiny lagoon in the island too, and love how it settled. After few minutes of staying in the Island our boatman called us to get in the boat as the wind started to blow, signaling it will rain hard and the waves would be strong. We traveled away from the gray clouds where it’s raining for sure and returned to the wharf. My dad who did not swim in the islands got wet because of the rain. Haha! We were not able to have another stop in Pandan Island, but the glimpse of it made some stored memories clear.

Some other islets in Honda Bay: Bat Island, Cowrie Island, Lu-Li Island (from “lulubog-lilitaw”), Meara Marina, and Señorita Island.

Transportation:

Van Rental (from Pension house to Honda Bay boat terminal): Php 1500

Brgy. Sta. Lourdes Tagbanua Boat rental: Php 700

Terminal fee: Php 30 each

Snorkeling gears rental: Php 100 each

Click here for more photos.

38 Responses to Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour

Chared

August 21st, 2009 at 10:09 pm

Hi there,

I just want to commend you for your blog. Have been using it as reference for our stay in Puerto in November. Your detailed account of your trip has been very helpful. Especially with the entrace and boat fees because arranged tours in Puerto have become soooo expensive! So now, we’re also just thinking of hiring a van to get around. Thanks again!

Cheers,
Chared

Michelle

September 22nd, 2009 at 1:52 pm

Hi, I really appreciate your blog it was amazingly detailed. was able to contact Mang Danny na din. I am just so confused whether to go Honda bay island hopping or go to Dos Palmas. Definitely, will go to underground. I dont know which one should I drop city tour, honda or dos palmas. we only have 3 full days kasi. I have 2 kids kasi which they will appreciate the facilities in dos palmas. will i really miss so much if i dont go to honda bay, in exchange of dos palmas? thanks

ram

October 25th, 2009 at 7:16 am

Thanks a lot..laki ng natipid ko..nag book na ako ng package tour pero na cancel ko after reading your blog..nag compute ako and more than half na diffrerence sa price..

Charlo

November 20th, 2009 at 11:19 am

hi! ganda ng blog site mo! thanks! great help. planning to go to palawan by jan. wuhoo! tanong ko lang, ung 700 na boat rental, per person ba un o ung buong boat na? salamat.

Jeff

November 23rd, 2009 at 7:52 pm

Hi Guys, thanks a lot for your kind words. To God be the glory!

@Charlo, the boat rates are good for the whole boat, but there is a maximum seating capacity. I’m not sure how many though, our boat is relatively small it’ll seat a group of 6 comfortably.

Kristine

January 8th, 2010 at 5:13 am

Wat po no ni kuya danny prang mas mura offer n yn kesa sa nktxt q.thnxpo

ces tabujara

February 17th, 2010 at 4:35 pm

possible na na wag na mag van rental para mas matipid? could anyone please tell me pano mga way to go to underground river and honda bay kung commute lang. cecilia.orito@incoho.com

February 19th, 2010 at 5:34 pm

@Ces, kung dalawa lang kayo, I suggest get a package nalang from your hotel, it might not be the cheapest but it’s less hassle. But if you must insist, I saw several jeepneys in Sabang Beach so this might be the local means of transport of people and goods, not sure where their terminal is on the city.

jeanette orendain

March 2nd, 2010 at 8:08 am

hi. your blog is very informative. my family (with 2 kids) is scheduled for a palawan trip this march 29-31, 2010. May i know the contact number and person of your tour guide for the honda bay. I’ve already inquired about the honda bay trip in our hotel (legend palawan) and it costs P1,300 per head inclusive of the transpo, boat, lunch. Pero mukhang mas mura yun ginawa nio. Can you suggest for an itenarary for 3days 2 nights ( our flight is 9:20 am from manila and 4:45pm departure on mar 31)…. gusto rin sana namin ang day tour sa Dos Palmas, but i dont know if our time can still make it. I know that the following are the possible activities , city tour; honda bay; underground river tour and the day tour in dos palmas. thanks so much….

Anne

March 6th, 2010 at 3:01 am

Hi, pwede ko po ba mahingi yung number ni Mang Danny? I’m scheduled for a palawan trip on May 14-17, 2010 kasama yung friends ko.. And one of our plans is The Honda Bay tour.. nghahanap ako ng ibang alternative aside from tour packages, mahal kasi kapag package… Thank God at nakita ko tong blog mo… hopefully, matulungan mo kami.. first time kc namin sa palawan.. and very excited kming lahat.. =)

Belle

March 6th, 2010 at 11:47 am

Hi! Thanks for your blog on Palawan tours. My family with 2 kids are planning to go to Puerto for 3 days. I just got a family package for our transfers & accomodation only, we don’t have tour yet. I am looking for tour only, could you suggest any? Is it advisable, if we just hire a van, and we just pay for our entrances and lunch? What’s the number of Mang Danny, baka matulungan nya kami. Thanks a lot and God bless!

Rose Berenguer

March 10th, 2010 at 5:41 pm

Hi! Thanks for your very helpful blog. My family of 6 will go to puerto from March 22-25. may I have the number of Danny please? I’ll be saving a lot by not taking the 1200/pax Honda bay pkg. I hope to hear from you. Thanks.

KEVIN

March 17th, 2010 at 7:48 am

Hi! first kudos to this blog it is indeed helpful, I just have an inquiry though is there a huge possibility that the rates quoted in this blog would change during the peak season(summer) because we’re a group of 10 already negotiating for a tour package and based on this blog we would save more if we’ll do it the cowboy style but then again we’re worried that the rates might change once we’re there by MAY 14-17. Anyone who has any suggestions about this..please help us out…thanks

Dean

March 25th, 2010 at 4:06 pm

Can I also ask for Mang Danny’s Number? much appreciated

March 25th, 2010 at 7:18 pm

Dean, here’s Kuya Danny’s number -> 0910 666 1767

Sheng

April 5th, 2010 at 8:14 am

Hi, pwede ko po ba mahingi yung number ni Mang Danny?We’re scheduled for a palawan trip on May 13-16, 2010 kasama yung friends ko.. And one of our plans is The Honda Bay tour.. nghahanap ako ng ibang alternative aside from tour packages, mahal kasi kapag package…
thanks!

ralph

April 9th, 2010 at 10:49 pm

^^sheng,

we’ll be going to palawan on may 16-18., when do you plan to have the honda bay tour? we are also looking for alternate way to save.

emjee

April 22nd, 2010 at 7:28 am

hello,

ang ganda po ng blogs nyo ..great pics..pa help nmn po…my friend and I , planning to go in palawan around first wk of june2010..we’re planning to stay at 3d/2n..and do it on our own..hotel..i love ur itirenary..we will copy yours..ask ko lng kung anung lugar babaan nmin if we go to honday bay…we will take a bus/jeep para mura, and ganun din po sa underground river….and pagdating po nmin dun paanu po nmin ma re rent ung boat?..marami po b nag ooffer dun?..may mga taong po b n pwede tumulong or mag offer para maging guide nmin for that day?…thanks in advance. =)

April 22nd, 2010 at 8:15 pm

Hi emjee, maraming salamat sa pag appreciate mo sa blog namin, glad you liked it. Sa mga sakayan at babaan, sorry kasi di namin alam eh, pwede ka siguro magtanong tanong dun.

Sa Honda bay at underground river, may mga bangka na talaga dun at regulated ang rates, may pupuntahan ka lang na parang desk and dun ka magbabayad, sila ang mag didispatch ng bangka para sa inyo.

HTH, Jeff

lisbeth

May 13th, 2010 at 8:57 pm

nice blog. now i know how much the island entrances are.
to emjee:
going to honda bay: mag hire ka ng tryk or multi cab. im not sure kng meron jeep na pumupunta ng honday bay pier.
sa honda bay, maraming boat namahire.
going to underground: punta kau sa san jose terminal (sakay kau ng multi-cab/jeep na ppuntang new market/san jose). dun may mga jeep going to sabang. i dont know the trip schedule. sa sabang pier, maraming boat dun na papuntang underground (may office dun, kukuha kau ng permit at dun din bayaran ng boat). six person per boat. kapg pinakage nyo underground, 1500 each, pero pag mghaggle ka, u can get it 1300 (try topstar travel, the cheapest daw to e) sa underground, d kailangan ng guide kc ung boat man ung guide sa cave.

ann

May 15th, 2010 at 1:02 pm

hi…i like ur blog…i will use this as our reference for our travel this june…we will have a 3D/2N stay in there…seems ur sked perfectly fits…

janjan

May 26th, 2010 at 4:55 pm

hey there! thank you so much for the info. me and my friends will be in palawan on june 13-15. we’re so excited. we talk about it most of the time. your post is such a big help coz we’ve been thinking to go island hopping in honda bay on our own.

kiall

May 30th, 2010 at 2:12 pm

hi! I’d be in puerto prinsesa this july 9-12. I’d be alone. hehe. can I join a group who would be there on those same days? on the 10th, sa underground river sana ako. then by the next day, honda bay naman. i understand na mahal ang boat trip pag ako lang mag-isa. hmmm. if my mga interested makipagpartner up, kindly email me po. kiall20@yahoo.com

pwede po ba malaman ang rates?hehe. thanks po.

aisha

June 1st, 2010 at 2:15 pm

wow! great blog! i was able to contact kuya danny also, he replied asap. my mom, my niece and i are going in september. we’re still making plans, your blog has been a great help. thanks a lot!

Laya Gonzalez

June 2nd, 2010 at 2:24 am

Hi, san ba pwede mag stay malapit dito sa honda bay? we’re gonna be at puerto princesa kc by september. thanks! great blog.

harriet

June 17th, 2010 at 3:44 pm

hi! pede ka po ba mag.suggest ng matutuluan sa puerto princesa? we’re going there in july 2 and we’re a group of 21 kaya mejo hirap maghanap ng hotel/pension house that would fit in our budget. thanks!

June 17th, 2010 at 4:13 pm

Hi Harriet, you may check out Puerto Pension Inn, that’s where we stayed when we were in Puerto Princesa.

June 18th, 2010 at 2:11 pm

Hi Jeff, thank you for your response. I’ve checked puerto pension inn and it is nice. by the way, may i ask your opinion about casa linda? it got good reviews. pasok din kasi siya sa budget namin since it is cheaper than puerto pension inn. and may idea ka ba if okay ung isabel mansion? in-offer kasi siya samen ng isang local dun who gave us quotations for the tour and accom package. i’ve been trying to find its site and reviews about the place but can’t find any. thanks!

June 18th, 2010 at 4:43 pm

@Harriet, i’m so sorry I’m not familiar with Isabel Mansion or Casa Linda. Maybe you can ask Kuya Danny what would he recommend. Hope you have a great trip.

Ricky

June 19th, 2010 at 11:44 am

sarap talagang magbakasyon sa Palawan…

Girlie D. Villamor

July 6th, 2010 at 2:10 pm

hi…is the duchess pension house is near the airport…thanks

July 15th, 2010 at 2:25 pm

Hi everyone…

Im going to Palawan in August… as backpacker…

For Island hoping and Underground River…

How much is the fee per pax?

Any entrances charges?

Please advice me…

phua.kc@live.com

Krys

July 15th, 2010 at 2:43 pm

hello! i would just like to ask about kuya danny. is he a tour guide? do we have to give him a tip or may porsyento na siya sa binibigay nya na offers? thank you!

thunderboy

July 17th, 2010 at 1:27 pm

hi im going to puerto prinsesa next week. can you suggest good restaurants where we can eat and if possible how much it will cost per person. kahit estimate lang. thanks

nisa cantuba

July 25th, 2010 at 8:29 pm

Plans to go to Puerto this august, 3d 2n, advice me of the budget hotel and only plans to go honda bay island particualrly snake, starfish, luli and pandan

lorein

August 4th, 2010 at 4:11 pm

hi! nice blog, very informative..just want to ask if 700 pa rin yung rent sa boat kahit two lang kami? thanks..

FRANK

August 19th, 2010 at 2:03 pm

hi….. talagang magANDA ang honda bay sana kung may pera lang ako gusto ko sanang maka ponta jan sa puenta prinsesa at maranmasan ko namang magtour jan…….at pls addme ha……………

Gina

August 31st, 2010 at 8:02 pm

Thanks for all the information =) it helped me a lot in planning the trip with my hubby. We’re set to go there on Sept. 7th till 11th.

I’ve already made arrangements with Danny the Driver =) and we’re looking for van-mates going to Sabang (on route to the Undergraound River) to split the transpo charges – we’re looking at Sept 10.

Please let Kuya Danny know asap.

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