Shore excursion: Puerto Princesa Island Hopping Tour

Honda Bay gives you a full day of sand, shallow water, and boat rides without sending you far from Puerto Princesa. The tour visits Cowrie, Lu-Li, and Starfish islands, with time for swimming, sunbathing, fish watching, and snorkeling.

I like the simple logistics: hotel pickup and lunch are included, and a guide stays with the group through the day. I also like the variety, from Cowrie’s beach to Lu-Li’s fish-viewing spots and Starfish Island’s marine life. The main caution is weather. Wind and rain can shorten the route or prevent access to a planned island.

Key points to know before booking

• Starfish Island is often the day’s highlight, especially if you want to see starfish in shallow water.
• Cowrie Island is best for lunch and beach time, not necessarily for serious snorkeling.
• Lu-Li Island suits swimming, photos, and fish watching, with plenty of time to relax.
• Snorkeling masks and equipment are extra, so bring your own or budget for a rental.
• Shared pickup is free only from select hotels in Puerto Princesa city proper, with an extra charge for hotels outside the area.
• The trip can change with the weather, and a minimum of two people is required to operate the booking.

A straightforward day on Honda Bay

The Puerto Princesa Island Hopping Tour is a classic coastal outing: ride from the city to Honda Bay, board a boat, and spend the day moving between small island stops. The stated duration is about eight hours, which gives you enough time to enjoy the water without rushing from one beach to the next.

At $100 per person, the value depends on what you want from a day trip. You are paying for shared hotel transport from eligible hotels, a driver and guide, the boat-based island-hopping program, and lunch. You are not paying for snorkeling equipment, tips, or pickup outside the city proper.

That makes the tour fairly convenient for someone who wants a planned day rather than arranging a van, boat, permits, and meals separately. It is less compelling if you already have transport and prefer to negotiate a private boat for a smaller group.

The group limit can reach 100 people, so this is not designed as a quiet private escape. The actual feel may vary by departure, but you should be ready for a shared outing with several boats and other day trippers at popular stops.

Getting from Puerto Princesa to Honda Bay

Pickup begins at D Lucky Garden Inn, then continues to other eligible hotels in the city. The vehicle is an air-conditioned minivan, a useful detail in Puerto Princesa’s heat. Pickup and drop-off are included only for hotels in the city proper. If you are staying farther out, ask about the extra charge before booking.

Some cruise passengers have also used the tour, with pickup arranged near the port. The practical point is to confirm your meeting place clearly, since the standard wording centers on hotel pickup. One cruise passenger reported being met after disembarking and taken by vehicle to Honda Bay, rather than making the trip by boat from the port.

Once you reach the bay, the boat carries you between the islands. The ride itself is part of the appeal. You get open-water views and a break from the city, though conditions can become rough when the wind rises.

Bring water sandals if you have them. They are useful around shallow water, sandy bottoms, and boat boarding areas. You should also pack sun protection, a towel, a change of clothes, and a dry bag for phones and other small items. Those suggestions are practical rather than supplied tour equipment, since snorkeling gear is not included.

Honda Bay: the day begins on the water

The first listed stop is Honda Bay, where the island-hopping portion gets underway. Swimming and snorkeling are the main activities, and admission is included.

This is less a single attraction than the setting for the rest of the day. The bay lets you see how quickly the scenery changes once you leave Puerto Princesa. You might spend part of the first hour getting comfortable in the water, taking photos from the boat, or checking the conditions before deciding how much swimming you want to do.

Snorkeling is available, but equipment must be rented separately unless you bring your own. That extra cost is easy to overlook when comparing tour prices. If you already own a mask and snorkel, pack them. If not, ask the guide or local operator where rental equipment is available before you enter the water.

The guide can also help when weather affects the route. On some days, wind and waves may limit the islands you can reach. A flexible attitude matters here. The coast guard may restrict the boat’s range in rough conditions, and one reported itinerary change meant Starfish Island could not be visited.

Cowrie Island: lunch, beach time, and a gentle first stop

Cowrie Island receives about two hours, making it one of the longer stops. The schedule allows time for lunch, swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing.

The island works well as a base for the middle of the day. You can eat, find a place to sit, and take a proper break from the boat. The beach is the main attraction here, with enough time to enjoy the sand instead of taking only a quick photo and leaving.

The buffet lunch is included. It has been described as a satisfying part of the day, and one guide, Ana, was specifically praised for taking personal care with the meal and even cooking it herself. You should not assume Ana will be your guide, but the tour’s strongest personal touches come from the guide and crew rather than from luxury facilities.

Cowrie may not be your best stop for snorkeling. If underwater viewing is your priority, keep your expectations measured. The water and beach can still make the stop worthwhile, but you may find the swimming and lunch more rewarding than the fish life.

The information supplied for the schedule also mentions a picnic-style meal served in a cottage hut at Starfish Sandbar Resort. Since lunch is associated with both Cowrie and Starfish in the day plan, confirm the exact lunch location with your guide on the morning of the tour. In either case, expect a casual buffet or picnic setup rather than a restaurant meal.

Lu-Li Island: photos, swimming, and fish watching

Lu-Li Island, also written as Luli or Lu-Li, receives about two hours. The planned activities are swimming, taking pictures, sunbathing, and watching fish.

This is a good stop for a slower pace. You can swim for a while, dry off, and then spend time taking photographs instead of treating the island as a quick transfer point. The scenery is different enough from Cowrie to make the three-stop plan feel more varied.

Lu-Li is also the place to focus on fish watching. The experience is not built around a long guided marine biology session, so you should think of it as casual observation in clear, shallow water. A mask makes a big difference, but you will need to bring or rent one.

If your group includes people who do not want to snorkel, Lu-Li still offers something to do. Sunbathing and photography require no special equipment, and the two-hour allocation gives non-swimmers time to enjoy the stop without feeling left behind.

The drawback is that island conditions can change with the tide, weather, and crowd levels. The tour promises access to the stop when conditions allow, but no coastal excursion can guarantee the same water quality or exact activities every day.

Starfish Island: the most memorable marine-life stop

Starfish Island is the stop most likely to make the day feel special. Its name is not just decorative. The shallow water can offer close views of starfish, and the stop is a strong choice for anyone who wants to see marine life without signing up for a technical snorkeling trip.

One person described Starfish Island as the favorite stop after seeing many starfish. That matches the island’s main appeal: it offers a clear, easy-to-understand wildlife experience. You can look down into the water, take photographs, and enjoy the setting even if you are not a confident swimmer.

The schedule gives Starfish about one hour, shorter than Cowrie or Lu-Li. That may be enough for a focused visit, but you should not expect a long, unhurried beach session here. If the island is your top priority, ask your guide about the route and sea conditions at the start of the day.

Starfish Island is also the stop most vulnerable to weather-related changes. When wind is strong, the coast guard may limit the route. If Starfish is removed from the day, the operator may offer another island or adjust the plan, but the replacement will not necessarily provide the same starfish experience.

Lunch is casual, not a restaurant experience

Lunch is included as a buffet, with a picnic-style arrangement described in a cottage hut. This is exactly the sort of meal that fits an island day: practical, relaxed, and served close to the water.

I would value the included meal mainly for convenience. You do not need to leave the island to find food, and the schedule leaves room for eating without turning the day into a series of rushed stops. One strong guide experience involved Ana personally preparing lunch, though guide assignments are not guaranteed.

The meal should not be the reason you book this excursion. The islands and water are the main event. Food quality can vary with the day, and a casual buffet will not suit someone expecting a polished dining setting.

If you have dietary needs, the supplied information does not specify available alternatives. Ask before departure rather than assuming the buffet can accommodate every request.

Guides can shape the whole day

The guide is important on this excursion because the tour has several moving parts: hotel pickup, transfer to the bay, boat boarding, equipment rental, island timing, lunch, and weather decisions.

The most praised guide experiences involve people who remain with the group and offer help throughout the day. Ana received especially warm praise for her care, cooking, and pride in presenting the area. Another guide was praised for providing useful information and staying helpful from start to finish.

You should use the guide as your practical source of information. Ask where to rent a mask, which island offers the best swimming that day, and whether weather has changed the route. If the sea is rough, the guide can explain the available options.

Tips are not included. Gratuities are optional, but if your guide handles transport changes, equipment arrangements, and group coordination well, you may want to budget for one.

Weather is the main variable

Honda Bay is not a weather-proof attraction. The tour requires good conditions, and rain or strong wind can affect the route, the boat ride, and your time in the water.

Overcast skies do not automatically ruin the experience. A day can still be enjoyable if the sea remains calm enough for swimming and boat travel. Heavy rain or rough water is different. It can reduce visibility, make beach time less pleasant, and prevent access to Starfish Island or another planned stop.

The formal policy allows a different date or a full refund if the operator cancels because of poor weather. If the minimum number of travelers is not met, you are also offered a different date or experience, or a full refund. The booking itself is otherwise non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons, so choose your date carefully.

I would avoid placing this tour on the one day of a short Puerto Princesa stay if you have no backup plan. If you have several days, check the forecast and keep some flexibility. The tour is best when the sea is calm and the sun is strong enough for swimming, though very hot conditions make shade and water important.

Who will get the most from this tour

This outing suits you if you want a full day outdoors with a simple structure. Families, couples, first-time visitors to Puerto Princesa, and cruise passengers can all appreciate having transport, a guide, lunch, and boat arrangements handled together.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can take part, but the day includes boat travel, swimming, and time in the sun. You should be comfortable with those basics or plan to spend more time on the beach and in the cottage areas.

The tour also works for mixed groups. Swimmers can use the water, while others can sunbathe, take photos, watch fish, and enjoy the beaches. It is less suitable if you want a private, quiet trip or serious snorkeling in uncrowded water.

A booking requires at least two people. The maximum group size can reach 100, so ask about group arrangements if personal attention is important to you.

Is $100 a fair price?

At $100 per person, the tour offers solid convenience rather than exclusivity. Hotel pickup from an eligible city hotel, an air-conditioned minivan, a guide, the boat trip, island access, and lunch are bundled into one day.

The price makes more sense if you are starting from scratch and would otherwise need to arrange transport to Honda Bay, find a boat, organize island stops, and buy lunch. It makes less sense for a group that can split the cost of a private boat or for someone who already has reliable local transport.

Remember the add-ons. Pickup outside the city proper costs extra, snorkeling masks and equipment are not included, and tips are separate. These expenses may not be large, but they affect the final value.

The rating of 4.2 from 27 ratings suggests a generally positive experience with some uneven days. The strongest elements are the guides, the included lunch, and the chance to see Starfish Island. The weakest points are crowding, limited snorkeling at Cowrie, and weather-related changes.

Should you book the Puerto Princesa Island Hopping Tour?

Book it if you want a convenient Honda Bay day with three named island stops, plenty of swimming and sun time, and a good chance to see starfish. I would choose it for a first visit when I wanted the basics handled and did not need a private boat.

Think twice if you dislike group tours, want guaranteed access to every island, or are booking mainly for serious snorkeling. Bring your own mask if possible, confirm pickup details, check the forecast, and ask where lunch will be served.

For most visitors with a free day in Puerto Princesa, this is a practical introduction to Honda Bay. Just treat the route as weather-dependent and the experience as a relaxed island outing, not a luxury cruise or a remote beach escape.

FAQ

How long does the Puerto Princesa Island Hopping Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, including shared hotel pickup and drop-off for eligible hotels, transport to Honda Bay, boat travel, island stops, and lunch.

Which islands are included?

The planned stops are Cowrie Island, Lu-Li Island, and Starfish Island, along with time island hopping around Honda Bay. Weather and sea conditions can change the route.

Is hotel pickup included?

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

Is snorkeling equipment included?

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

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch is included. The meal is served in a casual, picnic-style setting, with the schedule associating lunch with Cowrie Island and a cottage hut at Starfish Sandbar Resort.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number of travelers is not reached, you are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.