Shore excursion: Puerto Princesa Island Hopping Tour

The sea is only a short ride from Puerto Princesa. This eight-hour Honda Bay outing gives you three island stops, time for swimming and sunbathing, and a buffet lunch without the hassle of arranging boats and transport yourself. I like the easy hotel pickup from select city hotels, and I like that the day includes plenty of unhurried beach time rather than a rushed photo stop at each island. The main drawback is that snorkeling equipment costs extra, and rough weather can shorten the route or cancel the trip.

You pay about $100 per person, which is fair if you value included transport, a guide, boat arrangements, and lunch. It is less appealing if you mainly want serious snorkeling, since one stop is better for relaxing than seeing fish, and busy island conditions can take some of the quiet out of the experience.

The essential points at a glance

• Three different island settings: Cowrie Island offers beach time and lunch, Lu-Li Island is good for swimming and photos, and Starfish Island is the most memorable stop for marine life.
• An eight-hour day: You have enough time for several stops, though transfers, loading boats, and shared transport take part of the schedule.
• Lunch is included: Expect a buffet meal, with picnic-style service in a cottage hut at Starfish Sandbar Resort.
• Bring or rent snorkeling gear: Masks and other equipment are not included in the price.
• Weather matters: Wind and rain can change the route, and coast guard rules may limit which islands you can reach.
• Shared transport and a large possible group: Pickup is by air-conditioned minivan from select hotels, and the maximum group size is 100 people.

What the Honda Bay day is really like

Honda Bay makes a practical escape from Puerto Princesa. You do not spend the day on a long road journey to reach the water. After pickup, you head toward the boat area and then spend the day moving between nearby islands.

The published timing adds up to about six hours at the stops, with the remaining time used for hotel pickup, transport, boat boarding, and movement around the bay. That is normal for a full-day island trip. You should not read the eight-hour duration as eight hours on a beach.

The day is built around simple pleasures: swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, taking pictures, and eating lunch near the water. You will not find a tightly programmed sightseeing tour with a long list of historical sites. This is a relaxed coastal outing, and its success depends heavily on the weather, sea conditions, and how crowded the islands are that day.

A guide stays with the group through the day. One especially praised guide was Ana, who was described as warm, attentive, and willing to take personal care with the lunch and the overall experience. That sort of service can make a shared excursion feel far more personal, though a particular guide cannot be guaranteed.

Getting from Puerto Princesa to the boats

Pickup is included from selected hotels in the city proper. The vehicle is an air-conditioned shared minivan, a useful feature in Puerto Princesa’s heat. If your accommodation is outside the city proper, you may need to pay an extra pickup charge, so check your address before booking.

The first pickup begins at D Lucky Garden Inn, followed by other city hotels. That means your own collection time may not be the first one of the morning. Shared pickup is convenient, but it also means you should expect some waiting while the driver gathers the group.

The tour information describes a short boat ride to Honda Bay. Some cruise passengers have instead met the guide at the port and taken a taxi to the bay, so the exact starting arrangement can depend on your booking and arrival point. If you are visiting Puerto Princesa from a cruise ship, confirm the pickup location and timing before paying.

The boat ride itself is part of the appeal. Honda Bay gives you a change of pace from town, with open water, small islands, and clear reasons to keep your phone ready. Still, boat conditions are not fixed. Wind can make the ride rough, and the coast guard may limit the range of the trip.

Honda Bay: the start of your island circuit

Honda Bay is the general setting for the day rather than a single island attraction. Once you are on the water, the group moves between several stops for swimming, snorkeling, and beach time.

This opening portion is scheduled for about an hour. It may include the first chance to get in the water or look for marine life, depending on the route and sea conditions. The guide can help explain the plan and direct you toward the available activities.

You should bring water sandals or another secure pair of shoes for getting on and off the boat. They are not listed as an included item, but the advice is sensible for a day around sand, shallow water, and boat edges. Bring sun protection and a dry bag if you have one. The supplied details do not promise that all beach equipment or personal drinks will be available.

Snorkeling equipment is not included. You can rent masks and related gear at the bay or on the islands, but the exact rental cost is not provided. If you already own equipment, bringing it can save money and avoid waiting while the group is fitted out.

Cowrie Island: the practical lunch stop

Cowrie Island usually receives about two hours, making it one of the longer stops. You can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and eat lunch here, so it functions as the day’s main base.

The beach is pleasant for relaxing, but you should set your snorkeling expectations carefully. Cowrie can be a nice place to sit by the sand and enjoy the water, yet it may not be the strongest stop for underwater viewing. If your priority is marine life, save some energy and time for Starfish Island.

Lunch is served as a buffet. Having food included is valuable on a full-day boat outing because you do not need to return to Puerto Princesa or search for a restaurant between islands. The meal is described as good and, at Starfish, it is served picnic-style in a cottage hut. At Cowrie, the lunch setting may be the main meal stop instead.

The included lunch helps justify part of the price, particularly for families or anyone who prefers a ready-made plan. It also means the schedule is not entirely yours. You will eat when the group eats, and the meal may take some of your beach time.

Lu-Li Island: swimming, pictures, and easygoing beach time

Lu-Li Island is scheduled for about two hours. The focus here is swimming, taking pictures, and sunbathing, rather than a formal attraction or guided activity.

This is the kind of stop that works best when you want a break from movement. You can get into the water, dry off in the sun, and take photographs without feeling pushed along after a few minutes. If you prefer active snorkeling at every stop, Lu-Li may feel a little light.

Conditions can change the character of the visit. In poor weather, the water may be less inviting, and the route may be adjusted. One person had a disappointing day after asking for a weather-related change, while another trip could not reach Starfish because wind led authorities to limit the boat route. That is an important warning: the island order and exact stops are not fully within the operator’s control.

Starfish Sandbar Resort: the day’s best marine-life stop

Starfish Island is the highlight for many people, and it is easy to understand why. The island is known for the chance to see numerous starfish in shallow water, making it more distinctive than a standard beach stop.

The scheduled visit lasts about an hour. Lunch is served in a cottage hut in picnic style, giving you a simple place to eat near the sandbar. Keep your expectations practical. A one-hour stop leaves enough time for pictures and a look around, but not endless swimming and snorkeling.

Please treat the starfish gently. The supplied tour information promises an opportunity to observe and get close to marine life, not to handle it. Your best contribution is to watch carefully and avoid disturbing the animals.

Starfish can be a favorite because the stop offers something you cannot get simply by sitting on any tropical beach. If weather prevents this island, the day can still include other good swimming and beach stops, but the trip loses its most distinctive feature.

Is $100 a fair price?

At $100 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day around Puerto Princesa. You are paying for convenience as much as scenery.

The price includes a shared air-conditioned minivan pickup and drop-off from eligible city hotels, a driver and guide, the boat-based island circuit, and buffet lunch. Those pieces add up quickly if you arrange them separately, especially if you are unfamiliar with local transport or have only one day available.

The value is strongest for you if you want a packaged day with a guide and do not want to negotiate boat arrangements. It also suits cruise passengers who need a structured excursion with transport connected to the port, provided the pickup details are confirmed.

The value is weaker if you are a confident independent visitor, already have your own transport, or care mainly about high-quality snorkeling. Equipment is extra, Cowrie may not impress snorkelers, and a large group of up to 100 people can make the day feel less intimate.

Group discounts are offered, though the exact discount is not stated. The tour requires at least two people per booking, so solo visitors cannot book it alone under the stated rules.

Weather, crowds, and the parts you cannot control

Weather is the biggest practical concern. The experience requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund if the operator cancels. If the trip runs but wind limits the route, you may receive a modified island circuit instead.

A gentle forecast is especially useful during the summer months, according to advice from a past participant. Even with a good forecast, conditions on the bay can change. Keep a flexible attitude and do not book this as your only chance to see one specific island if your schedule is extremely tight.

The maximum group size is 100 people. That is a large possible group for a beach and boat day. A friendly guide can keep things moving, but you should expect shared boat space, shared pickup, and more people at popular swimming areas.

Crowds also affect the mood. Honda Bay is an accessible day trip from Puerto Princesa, so the islands may feel organized for tourism rather than untouched. One stop may seem ordinary, while another feels special because of the starfish and marine life. The experience is best approached as an easy, social outing, not a private desert-island fantasy.

What to bring for a better day

Pack lightly, but bring the items that make beach time easier:

• Water sandals or secure footwear
• Swimsuit and a change of clothes
• Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
• A towel, if your hotel does not provide one for excursions
• Your own mask and snorkel if you have them
• Waterproof protection for your phone and valuables
• Cash for equipment rental, tips, or other personal costs

Snorkeling gear, masks, and other equipment are not included. Gratuities are also not included, so carry some cash if you want to thank the guide, driver, or boat crew.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can participate, but the supplied information does not give detailed accessibility arrangements. If you have mobility concerns, ask before booking because the day includes minivan transfers, boat boarding, beach movement, and swimming areas.

Who should book this Honda Bay trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want a straightforward full-day outing with the main decisions already handled. Families, first-time visitors, cruise passengers, and people who prefer a guide will appreciate the pickup, lunch, and several islands in one day.

It also suits you if your ideal day includes swimming, warm sand, photographs, and a relaxed look at marine life. You do not need to be an expert snorkeler to enjoy it, since swimming and sunbathing are central parts of the schedule.

I would hesitate if you want privacy, silence, or a carefully tailored itinerary. The shared format and possible group of 100 people are real limitations. I would also hesitate if your main goal is excellent snorkeling at every stop or if you cannot tolerate a weather-related change of plan.

The overall rating is 4.2 out of 5 from 27 ratings, which fits the experience well. The strongest praise centers on friendly guides, good organization, the food, beautiful scenery, and Starfish Island. The weaker points concern crowded stops, average snorkeling at Cowrie, and weather preventing the full route.

My verdict: book it for convenience and variety

Book this tour if you want to see Honda Bay without arranging every detail yourself. The included lunch, hotel transport, guide, and three-island route make it a useful one-day choice, especially when your time in Puerto Princesa is limited.

Go in knowing that the sea decides the final schedule. Bring your own snorkeling gear if possible, ask about pickup if you are outside the city proper, and choose a day with gentle winds when you can. If Starfish Island is open, it may become the memory you carry home. If it is not, the trip still offers a pleasant day on the water, but the value depends more heavily on your enjoyment of beaches, swimming, and shared group travel.

FAQ

How long does the Puerto Princesa Island Hopping Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, including hotel pickup, transport, boat travel, island visits, lunch, and return transfer.

What islands does the tour visit?

The planned stops are Cowrie Island, Lu-Li Island, and Starfish Sandbar Resort, with island hopping around Honda Bay.

Is hotel pickup included?

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

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch is included. At Starfish Sandbar Resort, lunch is served picnic-style in a cottage hut.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. Masks, snorkels, and other snorkeling equipment are not included. You need to rent equipment or bring your own.

Can children join the tour?

Yes, children can participate, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity can have a maximum of 100 travelers, so it may operate as a large shared excursion.

Does the tour require a minimum booking?

Yes. A minimum of two people per booking is required.

Can bad weather change the itinerary?

Yes. The tour requires good weather. Wind and rain can lead to cancellation, a different date, or a shorter route. Coast guard limits may also prevent access to a planned island.

Are tips included in the price?

No. Gratuities and tips are not included.