Shore excursion: Puerto Princesa Island Hopping Tour

Honda Bay gives you an easy day beside the water without leaving Puerto Princesa far behind. In one outing, you visit Cowrie, Lu-Li, and Starfish islands, with time for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling rather than racing from one photo stop to the next.

I like the practical setup: hotel pickup and lunch are included, and your guide stays with the group through the day. I also like the variety, from Cowrie’s beach to Lu-Li’s fish viewing and Starfish Island’s namesake marine life. The main caution is weather. Wind and rain can change the route, and some stops may be shortened or skipped.

Key points to know

• Three island stops: Cowrie, Lu-Li, and Starfish islands each offer a different reason to get off the boat.
• Starfish Island is the highlight for many: It is the best stop for seeing starfish and enjoying shallow water.
• Snorkeling gear costs extra: Masks, snorkels, and other equipment are not included, so budget for rental or bring your own.
• Lunch is included: Expect a buffet or picnic-style meal, served at a cottage hut or island dining area.
• Pickup is limited: Free shared pickup applies to hotels in Puerto Princesa city proper. Out-of-town hotels cost extra.
• Weather controls the day: Rough seas may limit the islands you can reach, especially Starfish Island.

A full day on Honda Bay

This is a straightforward island-hopping day, not a luxury cruise or a private yacht outing. You ride from Puerto Princesa to Honda Bay, then move between several islands by local boat. The total program lasts about eight hours, which gives you enough time to swim and rest without making the day feel rushed.

The tour has a maximum group size of 100 people, so the actual feel can vary. A smaller departure may be relaxed, while a busy day can feel more like a popular beach outing. That matters if you prefer quiet coves and personal service. The guide remains with the group, though the boat and island areas may be shared with other groups.

The price is about $100 per person. I see the value mainly in convenience. You are paying for transport, a driver and guide, boat arrangements, hotel pickup from eligible locations, and lunch. The cost is less compelling if you already have your own transport, prefer to arrange a private boat, or plan to rent everything separately.

For a first visit to Puerto Princesa, the package is easy to understand. You get one full day on the water, three named island stops, and a meal without having to piece together several bookings.

Starting with Honda Bay

The first portion takes you into Honda Bay, the main setting for the day. The bay is close enough to Puerto Princesa for this to work as a simple shore excursion, rather than an exhausting transfer to a distant island group.

Your first hour is set aside for island-hopping activities such as swimming and snorkeling. This is a useful warm-up because you can get comfortable with the boat, the water, and the day’s pace before settling in at the longer stops.

Do not assume that snorkeling gear comes with the booking. Masks, snorkels, and related equipment are not included. You can rent equipment at the bay, as one cruise passenger did, or bring your own if you have it. Water sandals are a smart choice, and bringing your own drinking water is also sensible.

The bay portion is weather-dependent. A gentle forecast gives the boat a better chance of following the planned route. If wind builds or rain arrives, the coast guard may limit how far boats can go. The tour may then use alternative stops or leave out a planned island.

Cowrie Island: beach time and lunch

Cowrie Island is the longer stop, with about two hours set aside for lunch, swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing. Its appeal is simple: a pleasant beach, room to stretch out, and an easy break after the boat ride.

I would treat Cowrie as a beach stop first and a snorkeling stop second. The water may be enjoyable, but it is not necessarily the strongest snorkeling location of the day. If your main goal is underwater viewing, save some energy for Lu-Li and Starfish Island.

Lunch is included and is described as a buffet. Depending on how the day is arranged, it may be served at Cowrie or later in a cottage hut at Starfish Sandbar Resort. The meal gives you a proper pause instead of forcing you to carry snacks through the whole outing.

Food quality can depend on the day and the setup, but the inclusion itself adds real value. You do not need to leave the islands to find lunch, and the meal is part of the shared schedule. If you have special dietary needs, confirm them before booking because no special arrangements are stated.

Cowrie can feel less memorable than the other islands if you are judging every stop by its snorkeling. It works better as a place to swim, eat, and enjoy the beach.

Lu-Li Island for pictures and fish

Lu-Li Island gets about two hours, giving you plenty of time for swimming, photographs, and sunbathing. The name is often associated with the island’s changing appearance with the tide, but the supplied tour details do not promise a particular tidal sight, so I would focus on the activities clearly offered.

This is the stop where fish watching gets particular attention. You may find shallow water and marine life close enough for a good look, especially if conditions are clear. Snorkeling gear is still your responsibility, and you should not expect equipment to be waiting for you as part of the package.

Lu-Li is a good middle stop because it breaks up the day. After Cowrie’s beach and lunch, you can return to the water, take photos, or simply sit in the sun. The two-hour allocation is generous enough for people who want to do different things. One person can swim while another stays dry and takes pictures.

The drawback is that island conditions are not guaranteed. Weather, tides, and local operating limits can affect what you see. Keep your expectations flexible, especially if you are booking this mainly for snorkeling rather than for a general day by the sea.

Starfish Island and the picnic lunch

Starfish Island is the most distinctive stop on the route. As the name suggests, it is the place to look for starfish in the shallow water. Several details make it the likely favorite for anyone who wants a memorable marine-life encounter.

You may see starfish close to shore, but treat them gently and follow the guide’s instructions. The point is to observe them in their setting, not to handle them for a photograph. Clear water and calm weather will make a difference to how much you can see.

The schedule allows about an hour here. That is shorter than the time at Cowrie or Lu-Li, so you should make the most of it. Use the first few minutes to find the main viewing area, then leave time for photographs and a quick swim if conditions permit.

Lunch may be served in a cottage hut in picnic style at Starfish Sandbar Resort. This is a more informal arrangement than a restaurant meal, but it fits the outing. You sit, eat, and return to the boat without turning lunch into a long indoor stop.

Starfish Island is also the stop most vulnerable to weather restrictions. On a windy day, the boat may not be allowed to go there. That happened on one departure when rough conditions reduced the route. If Starfish is the reason you are booking, check the forecast and understand that no operator can promise the full route in unsafe conditions.

What the guide and transport add

The package includes a driver and guide, plus shared hotel pickup and drop-off by air-conditioned minivan from selected hotels. That is useful in Puerto Princesa, where a morning pickup saves you from arranging separate transport to the departure area.

The first pickup is scheduled at D Lucky Garden Inn, followed by other hotels in the city. That means your pickup time may depend on where you are staying and how many other stops are scheduled. Ask for the exact time rather than assuming every hotel leaves at the same hour.

Free pickup applies to hotels in the city proper. If your hotel is outside that area, an extra charge applies. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included for those outlying locations, so check this before paying if you are staying beyond central Puerto Princesa.

The tour can also work for people arriving by cruise ship, but the supplied details are clearest for hotel pickup. Some cruise passengers were met at the port and taken to Honda Bay by car rather than by a boat directly from the ship. If you are arriving by ship, confirm the meeting point and return timing before booking.

Guide quality can shape the day. Ana received especially warm praise for staying attentive and even helping prepare the meal. Other departures had helpful guides who explained the islands and stayed with the group. You should still view this as a shared tour, not a private guiding service.

Swimming, snorkeling, and marine life

The day is built around water activities, but you control how much time you spend in the water. You can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, or stay on the beach. That makes the outing suitable for mixed groups where not everyone wants the same level of activity.

Bring or rent your own snorkeling equipment. The tour does not include masks or snorkels, and equipment rental is an extra expense. If you have your own gear, check that it fits well before leaving your hotel. Poorly fitting equipment can waste a short stop.

The quality of snorkeling varies by island and weather. Cowrie is better viewed as a beach stop, while Lu-Li can be useful for fish watching. Starfish Island offers the clearest special feature, but the route may not reach it in rough conditions.

You may also hear suggestions about bringing bread to feed fish. I would not make that central to your plan. The important preparation is your own water shoes, sun protection, towel, swimming clothes, and snorkeling gear if you have it.

Weather is the biggest variable

This is an outdoor trip, and Honda Bay can change the plan. The tour requires good weather. If the operator cancels because conditions are poor, you are offered another date or a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, you are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.

That protection applies to an operator cancellation. Your own booking is otherwise non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. I would avoid booking this on the final day of a cruise or immediately before an important flight unless you have room for disruption.

Rain alone does not always make an island day impossible, but overcast skies and rough water can reduce the experience. One departure continued in poor conditions, while another had its route limited by wind. The sensible move is to check the forecast, ask the guide about sea conditions, and accept that safety takes priority over a fixed list of islands.

The best conditions are gentle winds and a clear forecast. You will get better photographs, calmer boat rides, and a stronger chance of reaching the full route.

Who will like this tour most

I would recommend this experience to you if you want a simple, organized day on the water and do not want to arrange transport, a boat, lunch, and island access separately. It suits couples, families, and mixed-age groups because you can choose swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, or photography at each stop.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can participate, but the tour still involves boat transfers and water activities. If you have mobility concerns, ask the operator about boarding and beach access before booking, since specific accessibility details are not provided.

This is less suitable if you want an intimate private outing, silent beaches, or serious snorkeling at uncrowded reefs. The maximum group size is 100, and Cowrie Island in particular may feel ordinary if you have already seen better snorkeling elsewhere in Palawan.

It is also not ideal for a rigid schedule. The weather can alter the route, and shared pickup adds time at the beginning and end of the day.

Is the $100 price fair?

At $100 per person, the price is reasonable when you use the included services. Hotel pickup from an eligible city hotel, air-conditioned minivan transport, a guide, boat arrangements, and buffet lunch remove much of the practical work. For a first day in Puerto Princesa, that convenience has value.

The price feels weaker if you have to pay an extra pickup charge, rent snorkeling gear, and miss Starfish Island because of weather. Those costs and limits do not make the tour poor, but they affect what you receive for the money.

Group discounts are available, though the amount is not stated. If you are booking for several people, check the final price before comparing it with a private boat. A private option may offer more control, while this tour gives you an easier fixed plan.

Should you book the Honda Bay island-hopping tour?

Book it if you want a convenient, full-day introduction to Honda Bay with three possible island stops, lunch, and transport handled for you. Starfish Island is the strongest reason to go, while Lu-Li adds fish watching and Cowrie provides a useful beach and lunch break.

I would book with a flexible attitude about the route. Bring water sandals, sun protection, and your own snorkeling gear if possible. Confirm your pickup location, ask about extra charges outside the city proper, and check the weather before committing.

Skip it if you need a private, quiet boat day or if your schedule cannot tolerate weather changes. For most people with one open day in Puerto Princesa, though, this is a practical way to get out on Honda Bay without turning the arrangements into a project.

FAQ

How long does the Puerto Princesa island-hopping tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, including transport, boat travel, island stops, activities, and lunch.

Which islands are included?

The planned stops are Cowrie Island, Lu-Li Island, and Starfish Island or Starfish Sandbar Resort. Weather and sea conditions can change the route.

Is hotel pickup included?

Shared pickup and drop-off 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 can rent gear separately or bring your own.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, generally as a buffet or picnic-style meal served at an island cottage or dining area.

Can children join the tour?

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

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. The route may also be shortened if conditions are rough but the tour still operates.