From Puerto Princesa: Honda Bay Island Hopping Full-Day Tour

Honda Bay is an easy place to try island hopping in a single day. This seven-hour outing takes you from Puerto Princesa to Cowrie, Luli, and Starfish islands, with time for swimming, snorkeling, beach lounging, and a picnic lunch. You do not need to arrange separate transport, boat hire, or entrance tickets.

I like the simple package: hotel pickup, boat transport, three island fees, lunch, and crew service are included for $41. I also like the chance to see starfish near shore and swim among fish without committing to a longer trip. The main caution is time management. The schedule can feel uneven, and the day depends heavily on how well the operator handles pickup and the order of the islands.

Key points to know

• Three islands in seven hours: Visit Cowrie, Luli, and Starfish Island before returning to Puerto Princesa around 3:00 pm.
• Lunch at Starfish Island: The guide and crew prepare a picnic meal as part of the tour.
• Bring your own water and gear: Bottled water, snacks, mask, and snorkeling equipment are not included.
• Cowrie is the scenic favorite: It is the stop most likely to appeal to you if you want attractive shore time and a relaxed swim.
• Luli has a swimming and jump area: It is useful for water time, but it may feel sparse if you expect many activities on land.
• Pickup needs precision: Be ready at least 15 minutes early, since the driver waits no longer than 15 minutes after the scheduled time.

What the Honda Bay day looks like

Your day begins with hotel pickup at about 7:00 am in Puerto Princesa. The transfer is by air-conditioned van, which matters in the Philippine heat and saves you from arranging a separate ride to the departure point.

You need to provide your full name, hotel name, and contact number when booking. On the morning itself, be ready at least 15 minutes before the stated pickup time. The driver is scheduled to wait no longer than 15 minutes, so this is not the outing for a slow breakfast or a last-minute search for sandals.

The boat portion is by motorized banca or similar local craft, with a boat captain and crew handling the crossing. Exact stop times are not stated, and the order can vary. That flexibility is normal for a day at sea, but it also means you should not expect every island to receive an equal share of the day.

The planned return is around 3:00 pm. In practice, your useful day runs from early morning until midafternoon, leaving the evening free for Puerto Princesa restaurants, a massage, or a quiet hotel night.

Starfish Island and the picnic lunch

Starfish Island is the most distinctive stop because of its shallow shoreline and marine life. The main attraction is the chance to spot starfish near the edge of the water, along with small fish and other sea creatures.

You should treat the starfish gently. Look, take photographs, and avoid handling them unless the local guide specifically gives instructions. The appeal here is not a long list of attractions. It is the simple pleasure of wading in clear shallows and seeing small marine life close to shore.

Lunch is served as a picnic on Starfish Island. It is prepared by the guide and crew and is included in the price. This keeps the day moving and means you do not need to search for a restaurant between boat rides.

I would still bring snacks and your own bottled water. They are specifically excluded from the package, and a warm day of swimming can leave you thirstier than expected. Pack food that travels well and keep it in a dry bag if you have one.

The island stop combines three practical needs: eating, swimming, and a chance to rest. That is useful, but it can also create a crowding problem if several groups arrive at once. If the picnic area is busy, your lunch break may take longer than expected.

Cowrie Island for the prettiest shore time

Cowrie Island is likely to be your favorite stop if you want the most attractive mix of beach scenery and water time. One of the strongest positive reactions attached to this outing focused on Cowrie, and that matches the way the island is presented in the schedule: it is a central stop rather than a quick photo pause.

Use the time here for swimming, sitting by the shore, and taking photographs. You may also find suitable spots for snorkeling, but remember that mask and snorkeling equipment are not included. You can bring your own set or ask about renting equipment locally, though rental availability and price are not provided.

Cowrie is also where you will notice the value of having boat transport already arranged. Honda Bay island hopping is not simply a matter of walking from one beach to another. The boat connects the islands, and the crew manages the practical work of loading, crossing, and returning to the port.

The drawback is that attractive stops can receive too little time. A recent account described only about 50 minutes at Cowrie after a long wait elsewhere. That is not presented as the standard schedule, but it is a useful warning: if you care most about Cowrie, ask the guide early how the hours will be divided.

Luli Island and the jump area

Luli Island is included for swimming and its marked water activity area. The stop may appeal to you if you enjoy getting straight into the sea rather than spending the whole day on the sand.

The island is less about sightseeing than simple recreation. You can swim, use the water entry point, and take a break from the boat. The supplied details do not promise a long list of facilities or organized activities, so set your expectations accordingly.

This is the stop where the tour’s balance matters most. If the boat spends too much time here, you may feel that the day lacks variety. One account described a very long wait at Luli before lunch and a lack of things to do. That does not prove every departure will run that way, but it gives you a practical question to ask at the start: What time are we leaving Luli, and when is lunch?

Luli can work well as a short swimming stop. It is less convincing as the place to spend most of an island-hopping day. If you prefer active swimming to beach views, you may be happy here. If you want several scenic shorelines, you will want the guide to keep the group moving.

Snorkeling, swimming, and what to pack

The tour is built around water time, but equipment is not included. Bring a mask, snorkel, and fins if you already own them. The tour information also recommends water shoes, which are a sensible choice for entering shallow areas and walking along uneven shorelines.

Your packing list should include:

• Swimwear and a change of clothes
• Towel and sandals
• Water shoes
• Camera or waterproof camera
• Your own snorkeling equipment
• Bottled water and snacks
• Beachwear and sun protection, including long sleeves

Long sleeves are especially practical. A day on open water exposes your shoulders and arms for hours, and one positive account specifically advised wearing them to avoid sunburn. You may not notice the heat while swimming, so cover up before your skin turns red.

Keep your phone and camera protected from splashes. A waterproof pouch or dry bag is more useful than a regular backpack. The boat ride, wet swimsuits, and beach transfers create plenty of chances for water to reach loose belongings.

Intoxication is not allowed. That rule is sensible on a boat and around swimming areas. Plan for a clean, alert day in the sun.

What the $41 price really covers

At $41 per person, this is a reasonable package if you want convenience. The price includes round-trip air-conditioned van transfers, a motorized boat, entrance fees for all three islands, the picnic lunch, shed and terminal fees, and the services of a licensed tour guide, captain, and crew.

Those inclusions remove several small costs that can otherwise complicate a day out. You are not paying separately for a ride from your hotel, the boat crossing, or entry at Cowrie, Luli, and Starfish. Lunch is also handled for you.

The price does not include the environmental fee. Adults pay 150 Philippine pesos, while people aged 18 and under and senior citizens pay 120 pesos. Kayak use is also extra, and so are masks and snorkeling gear.

That makes the final cost slightly higher than the headline price. Still, the package is a better fit for you if you value a ready-made day and do not want to negotiate transport or boat arrangements yourself. It is less compelling if you already have a private boat, your own vehicle, and a strong preference for choosing exactly how long to stay at each island.

The current rating is 3.4 out of 5 from 13 ratings, so I would book with realistic expectations. The strongest points are the scenery, food, and three-island format. The weak points are inconsistent pickup handling, guide engagement, and possible delays that reduce time at the islands.

Guide service and the risk of a slow day

A licensed English-speaking guide, boat captain, and crew are included. The guide’s role is important here because much of the tour’s quality comes from simple decisions: keeping pickup organized, explaining the plan, managing lunch, and making sure the group does not lose too much time at one stop.

The available details do not provide guide names, so you should not expect to select a particular guide. Service may feel quiet rather than highly narrated. One low-rated account described a guide who stayed silent and apart from the group, while another person reported not being collected or contacted at all.

Those are serious concerns, especially because the tour starts early. Confirm your hotel name, full name, and contact number carefully. Keep your phone available around pickup time, and ask your hotel desk to help you identify the vehicle if needed.

Once the boat leaves, the day should be straightforward, but good communication still matters. Ask for the rough plan before the first stop. If lunch is delayed or the group waits for space, politely ask how much time remains at Cowrie and Starfish. You cannot control the sea or island capacity, but you can make sure the schedule is not disappearing without explanation.

Who will enjoy this island hopping trip

This tour suits you if you want a low-planning day by the sea. It works well for couples, families with older children, and first-time visitors who prefer an organized outing over arranging a private boat.

You will probably enjoy it most if you like swimming, snorkeling, simple picnic meals, and short visits to several islands. The day offers variety without requiring a long overnight trip or complex planning.

It is also a practical choice for a short Puerto Princesa stay. The tour occupies one full day but returns around 3:00 pm, leaving part of the afternoon and evening open.

You may want another option if you need a tightly controlled timetable, private service, or long stays at each island. This is a shared excursion, and the schedule can be affected by pickup delays, lunch arrangements, and the pace of the group.

It may also disappoint you if your main goal is extensive snorkeling. The package promises the chance to swim with fish and see starfish, but it does not include snorkeling equipment or promise a specialist marine guide. Bring your own gear if that part of the day matters to you.

Practical booking advice before you go

Choose swimwear that you can comfortably wear under a change of clothes. You will want dry clothing for the van ride back to Puerto Princesa.

Pack sandals for general use and water shoes for shore entry. A towel, waterproof camera, snacks, and bottled water are all specifically useful here, not just optional extras.

Budget the environmental fee in addition to the $41 tour price. If you want to kayak or need snorkeling gear, ask about those costs before departure because they are not included.

The booking terms are flexible: you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. The stated tour language is English.

Should you book the Honda Bay tour?

Book it if you want a fairly priced, organized introduction to Cowrie, Luli, and Starfish Island, and you are happy to trade some control for convenience. The included boat, van, island fees, lunch, and crew service make the $41 starting price sensible.

I would book it with two safeguards: confirm the pickup details and bring your own water, sun cover, and snorkeling equipment. At the start, ask how much time the group expects to spend at each island.

If Cowrie’s shore scenery and Starfish’s marine life are your priorities, do not accept a vague answer about timing. The best version of this day gives you three distinct island stops, a good picnic, and plenty of water time. The weaker version loses hours to waiting and leaves you wishing the boat had moved on sooner.

FAQ

What time does the tour begin and end?

Hotel pickup is scheduled for about 7:00 am, and hotel drop-off is approximately 3:00 pm. The activity lasts about seven hours.

Which islands are included?

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

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic lunch at Starfish Island is included in the tour.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Masks and snorkeling gear are not included, so bring your own equipment if you want to snorkel.

What extra fees should I expect?

The environmental fee is separate. It is 150 Philippine pesos for adults and 120 Philippine pesos for people aged 18 and under and senior citizens. Kayak use is also not included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a change of clothes, a towel, sandals, water shoes, a camera, waterproof camera protection, snorkeling gear, bottled water, and snacks.