Honda Bay Island: Island Tour with Lunch & Transfer

This Honda Bay trip gives you an easy way to leave Puerto Princesa behind for a day of swimming, sand, and boat rides. I like the hotel pickup and drop-off, which removes the hassle of reaching the bay terminal, and I like the simple mix of stops: snorkeling at Starfish Island, beach time at Luli Island, and lunch on Cowrie Island. The main drawback is that instructions may be brief at each stop, so you need to keep an eye on the meeting time and ask what to bring ashore.

The tour costs $54 per person and lasts about eight hours. That price covers transport, the boat, island entrance fees, lunch, and an English-speaking guide, though you still pay the P200 environmental fee per person and extra rental charges for snorkeling gear or a kayak. With a small group capped at 15 people, this is a practical choice if you want a prepared day out rather than arranging each boat and admission separately.

Key points before you book

• Starfish Island brings the main snorkeling stop: Plan to spend your most active water time here, with swimming and a chance to see starfish and other marine life.
• Cowrie Island is the lunch base: You get roughly an hour and a half for beach time, photos, swimming, and a buffet or packed meal, depending on the operator.
• Luli Island changes with the tide: Its shore can appear and submerge, giving this stop a different feel from a standard beach visit.
• Pickup is available from Puerto Princesa: Hotel collection is included, and pickup or drop-off can also be arranged at Puerto Princesa International Airport.
• Bring your own water gear if possible: Snorkel equipment is not included, and neither is kayak rental.
• The tour suits confident swimmers best: The experience is built around swimming and snorkeling, and it is not recommended for non-swimmers or people prone to seasickness.

A practical start from Puerto Princesa

Your day begins with a hotel pickup window between 7:00 and 8:00 AM. You are asked to wait in the hotel lobby, where the driver should meet you with a sign showing your name. That small detail matters in a city pickup, especially when several hotels are close together.

The drive to Honda Bay takes about 45 minutes. It is not a long transfer, but the early collection time means you should have breakfast before leaving or bring a snack. Water, sunscreen, a hat, and a towel belong in your day bag, not in your main luggage.

Pickup and drop-off are offered in Puerto Princesa and at Puerto Princesa International Airport. Astoria Hotel is an exception, with an additional charge noted for that property. If you are using the tour on arrival or before a flight, confirm the timing carefully, since the full day is scheduled to finish around 5:00 PM.

At the terminal, you check in before boarding the boat. The boat ride is included for the full island-hopping portion, as are the island fees. The group size is limited to 15 people, which should make boarding and getting back together easier than on a large public excursion.

Starfish Island: the day’s clearest water stop

The first island visit is scheduled for around 9:00 AM, after the boat leaves the Honda Bay terminal. Starfish Island is the place to focus on swimming and snorkeling. The water is described as clear, with starfish and marine life visible in the area.

I would treat the word snorkeling as a plan, not a guarantee of a long guided lesson. Snorkel rental is not included, so ask about equipment before the boat leaves or bring your own if you have it. The supplied details also list swimming for about an hour, which gives you enough time to get wet and look around, but not an unlimited amount of time.

If you are comfortable in the water, this is likely the most rewarding stop. You can swim, take photos, and look for starfish without needing to fill the whole day with structured activities. If you do not swim, the tour may be a poor fit. The activity is specifically not suitable for non-swimmers, even though the general format is described as accessible for children, seniors, and people with disabilities.

A useful habit here is to ask two questions as soon as you arrive: how long is the stop, and where should the group meet? One piece of direct feedback about the day praised the hotel transport and the guide’s friendly attitude, but noted that instructions about stop lengths and what to carry were not always clear. That is easy to manage if you ask early and keep track of your own belongings.

Cowrie Island: lunch, sand, and a slower pace

The schedule places Cowrie Island in the late morning, around 10:30 AM, with lunch at about noon. You have approximately 1.5 hours here for swimming, photos, relaxing on the beach, and eating.

Cowrie is the least rushed part of the day. After the first swim, you can dry off, sit on the sand, or use the time for a casual beach break. Some versions of the meal are packed, while others offer a buffet or food from local restaurants on the island. The exact lunch style depends on the operator, so do not expect one fixed menu.

The meal is part of the $54 package, which helps the value. You are not paying separately for a boat, three island visits, island admission, transport, and lunch. Still, the P200 environmental fee per person is extra, and snacks and bottled water are not listed as included. I would carry both, especially if you prefer a meal between the scheduled stops.

Cowrie is also the best place to use a camera without worrying about missing the next activity. The itinerary includes a photo stop here, and the beach setting gives you time for pictures, swimming, or simply doing very little. That unhurried hour can be welcome on a hot day.

Luli Island: a beach shaped by the tide

The afternoon visit is to Luli Island, scheduled for around 1:30 PM. You get about an hour for swimming, exploring, and resting on the beach. The island’s special feature is its changing shoreline. Parts of it emerge and submerge with the tide, so the appearance of the beach can differ during your visit.

That makes Luli more than another white-sand stop, but it also means you should not arrive with a fixed picture of what the island will look like. Follow the guide’s instructions about safe swimming areas and return times, particularly if the water is moving in.

Luli is a good final island stop because it offers a quieter change of pace after snorkeling and lunch. You can take more photos, swim again, or sit out the heat. The one-hour schedule is enough for a taste of the island, but it will feel short if you want a long, slow beach afternoon.

This is another stop where clear timing matters. The guide may be friendly and willing to join in a game of beach volleyball, as happened during one reported outing, but entertainment is not a substitute for knowing when the boat leaves. Keep your watch or phone nearby, and ask exactly where to regroup.

Returning to the terminal by late afternoon

The boat is scheduled to return to the Honda Bay terminal at about 4:30 PM. From there, the vehicle drive back to Puerto Princesa takes you to your hotel or the airport, with the overall day ending around 5:00 PM.

The timing works well for a full day in Puerto Princesa, but it is not a quick half-day activity. I would avoid booking a separate late-afternoon commitment unless you have plenty of margin. Boat and road schedules can be affected by conditions, and the published plan already fills most of the daylight hours.

The included transfer is one of the strongest practical reasons to choose this tour. You do not need to find your own way to Honda Bay in the morning, negotiate separate transport after the boat returns, or manage island fees at each stop. For a first visit to Puerto Princesa, that simplicity can be worth a good part of the price.

What the $54 price really covers

At $54 per person, the tour offers reasonable value if you want a bundled day. Included items are:

• Roundtrip hotel transport in Puerto Princesa
• Boat service for the island-hopping route
• Island entrance fees
• Buffet or packed lunch, depending on the operator
• An English-speaking local guide

You still need to budget for the P200 environmental fee per person. Snorkel equipment and kayak rental are also extra, so the advertised price is not the final cost if you need both activities.

The small-group limit of 15 people adds value. You are not promised a private boat, but the group is limited enough to make the day more manageable. If you want more control over the pace, the experience can be upgraded to a private tour. That option makes the most sense for families, couples, or groups that care about their own timing and space.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Palawan plans are still shifting, though you should still check the available start time before committing.

What to pack for the island stops

Pack lightly, but pack for water. The useful list is short:

• Swimwear
• Towel
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Water
• Snacks
• Camera

A dry bag or waterproof pouch is a sensible addition for phones and money, though it is not specifically listed as provided. Keep valuables to a minimum because you will move between boat, beach, and water several times.

Do not count on the tour supplying snorkel gear. It is specifically excluded, as is kayak rental. Smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed. The islands are for swimming, sitting on the beach, photos, and lunch, not for turning the boat into a party platform.

Who should choose this Honda Bay tour?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want an uncomplicated introduction to Honda Bay and prefer one booking to several separate arrangements. It suits people who enjoy swimming, casual snorkeling, beach time, and a fixed day plan. Families and older visitors may appreciate the included transport and the small group, provided everyone who plans to enter the water can swim safely.

It is less suitable if you are prone to seasickness. The day includes the drive to the terminal, boat travel between islands, and several hours around open water. If you know boats trouble you, bring only remedies that are appropriate for you and check with a medical professional if needed.

Non-swimmers should choose another activity. The tour information specifically excludes them, and the best parts of the day depend on entering the water. Strong swimmers will get more from Starfish Island and the two beach stops.

The tour also may not suit someone who wants a carefully narrated cultural program. The emphasis is on scenery, swimming, lunch, and free time. The guide is there to assist and share information, but the schedule is not presented as a long historical or educational talk.

Small details that can improve the day

Ask the guide for the timing and group meeting point at every island. One direct account praised the pickup, return transfer, and the guide’s good mood, including a long game of volleyball, but found the instructions about stop duration and what to carry less clear. That is useful advice: enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, but do not wait for every detail to be announced.

Bring enough water for the full day, since water is listed among the items to bring rather than an included service. Eat breakfast before pickup, and carry a snack for the early part of the route.

If snorkeling is your priority, ask about rental equipment before arriving at Starfish Island. If lunch quality matters to you, ask whether your booking uses a packed lunch or a buffet. Both are included in the information, but the meal format can vary.

Finally, leave room for the tide. Luli Island’s shore changes during the day, and the precise feel of the stop depends on the water level. That is part of its appeal, but it also means the beach may not look exactly as expected.

FAQ

How long does the Honda Bay island tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours. A typical schedule begins with hotel pickup between 7:00 and 8:00 AM and returns you to Puerto Princesa around 5:00 PM.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is available from hotels in Puerto Princesa and Puerto Princesa International Airport. Astoria Hotel has an additional charge noted in the tour information.

Is transportation to Honda Bay included?

Yes. Roundtrip hotel transport is included, with an estimated transfer time of about 45 minutes to Honda Bay.

Which islands does the tour visit?

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

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and may be a buffet or a packed meal, depending on the operator. Food may also be available from local restaurants at Cowrie Island.

Are snorkeling equipment and kayaks included?

No. Snorkel rental and kayak rental are not included in the price.

Is there an extra environmental fee?

Yes. The environmental fee is P200 per person and is not included.

Is the tour suitable for non-swimmers?

No. The activity is not suitable for non-swimmers. It is designed around swimming and snorkeling at the islands.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also available.

Should you book the Honda Bay island tour?

Book it if you want a straightforward full-day island outing with transport, a boat, island fees, lunch, and a small group arranged in advance. The strongest points are the easy pickup, the three-stop route, and the mix of active snorkeling with slower beach time.

Skip it if you do not swim, often feel seasick, or want a highly flexible private day without a set schedule. For the best experience, bring water and sunscreen, arrange snorkel gear ahead of time, and ask the guide about each stop’s timing. At $54, it is a fair package for a first look at Honda Bay, especially if convenience matters more to you than complete control.