Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour
Swimming with Starfish in the Philippines
Did you know, if you were to visit every single island in the Philippines, one day at a time, it would take you over 20 years???
To start off this story, let me give you one bit of advice : Do not go to the Philippines during their rainy season!! You're better off saving your money and going somewhere you know will be better weather. The reason I say this is because we all want to visit the Philippines for the same reason, to swim in their incredibly blue, crystal clear oceans, with turtles and starfish, and tan on their white sand beaches under the beautiful Philippine Sun. You will not get this in June/July!! Instead you'll be stuck with non-stop rain and grey skies, which reflect on the water (which you'll notice in the images below). You're lucky that you can learn from MY mistake! For the sake of this story, let me tell you about a tour that would've been ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, in any other month of the year.....
Thinking of visiting Palawan on your trip to the Philippines? Besides from the underground river tour, the Honda Bay Island Hopping tour is something you definitely shouldn't skip out on whilst you're there! Stopping at 3 different incredible islands, this tour is a great option to get a taste of the stunning Philippine Islands if you don't have a lot of time to explore them all.
Look at them rain clouds!!
Getting to Honda Bay (where the tour begins), you'll be picked up by minivan from your accommodation and dropped off at the harbour, where you'll hope on a little speed boat such as the one above and head to the 3 stunning islands! The entire duration of the tour is around 7-8 hours depending on the weather, ours was probably 6 because we gave up and headed back after it pouring for over 2 hours!! The tour costs roughly $30 US depending on where you buy your tickets, and includes pick up, boat transfers, lunch and entrance fee to the Islands. It doesn't include snorkels or water shoes which they stop at a little shop to hire them if you want to. There is also an environmental fee of $3 US which is extra too.
1. Luli Island
Your first stop, a nice start to a gorgeous day out on the water, where you can snorkel amongst stunning coral reef and bath on white sands.
2. Starfish Island
Pambato Reef, nicknamed "Starfish Island" for obvious reasons, is an even better area to snorkel with some incredible fish such as parrot fish and spadefish. Most tourists love to pick up and hold the starfish, taking advantage of their placid nature. I preferred however to leave them be, and get some great photos simply chilling with them on the sand!
3. Cowrie Island
Lunch time!! A delicious buffet lunch with traditional philipino dishes is served, including great vegetarian options too. During our time at Cowrie Island it was literally pouring sideways. Luckily I'm a pluviophile and love the rain, it was super cozy under the shelter with a cup of coffee and a beautiful view. During summer I've heard its the best place to swim in the blue waters and relax on the hammocks on the sand.
After Cowrie Island, you'll head back to the wharf of Honda Bay, where the minivan will be waiting to take you back to your accommodation. Tours like these ar exhausting especially when they start super early in the morning, but this one is a great way to get a little taste of a couple of the the stunning islands surrounding Puerto Princesa without breaking the budget.