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

Starfish Island is the star of the plan, with shallow water, small sea creatures, and a picnic lunch on the shore. You’ll also get time at Cowrie Island, the stop most likely to win you over with its sunny beach setting, plus Luli Island’s swimming area. I like the simple mix of boat time, swimming, island scenery, and lunch, and I like that transport, island entrance fees, crew, and a licensed English-speaking guide are included.

The main caution is schedule control. One February departure reportedly missed Starfish Island altogether, spent about five hours waiting for lunch at Luli, and gave Cowrie only about 50 minutes. That may not be typical, but it shows why you should confirm the day’s order and bring snacks.

Key points to know before booking

• Three named islands: The advertised route includes Cowrie, Luli, and Starfish Island.
• A full seven-hour day: Hotel pickup begins around 7:00 am, with drop-off expected at about 3:00 pm.
• Lunch at Starfish Island: A picnic meal is included, but you must bring your own bottled water and extra snacks.
• Snorkeling gear is not included: Pack your own mask, snorkel, and water shoes, or expect to arrange gear separately.
• Extra environmental charge: Adults pay PHP 150, while those aged 18 and under and senior citizens pay PHP 120.
• Flexible booking terms: You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund and reserve now without paying immediately.

A seven-hour escape from Puerto Princesa

This is an easy way to turn a Puerto Princesa hotel stay into a full day by the sea. You begin with a hotel pickup in an air-conditioned van, transfer to the boat, and then spend the main part of the day moving between three islands.

I like the broad appeal. You can swim, look for fish and starfish, sit on the beach, and eat lunch without arranging several separate activities. The boat ride also gives the day a useful change of pace, instead of keeping you in one beach area from morning until afternoon.

Still, this is not a private island charter. Your experience depends on the day’s boat schedule, lunch arrangements, weather, and how well the group keeps to time. The published plan is clear, but one difficult departure had a very different rhythm, so I would treat the order of stops as flexible.

The tour is operated by Wild Expeditions Travel and Tours. An English-speaking licensed guide, boat captain, and crew are included. No individual guide names are provided, so you should not book this expecting a named specialist or a private host.

The early hotel pickup and boat transfer

Pickup is scheduled for 7:00 am, and you must be ready at least 15 minutes ahead of your assigned time. The driver will wait no more than 15 minutes after the scheduled pickup, so this is not the morning to arrive at the lobby at the last moment.

Your hotel name, full name, and contact number must be provided. Those details matter because the tour combines road transport and a boat departure, and a missed pickup can affect the whole day.

The air-conditioned van is a welcome part of the package. Puerto Princesa mornings can involve waiting and road travel before you reach the water, and a van transfer saves you from arranging a separate ride to the departure point.

Shed and terminal fees are included, as are the motorized boat and entrance fees for all three advertised islands. The separate environmental fee is not included. Budget PHP 150 for an adult, or PHP 120 for someone aged 18 or under and for a senior citizen.

Starfish Island and the included picnic lunch

Starfish Island gives the tour its most distinctive name and its most appealing promise. The shore is associated with starfish and other small sea life, so this is the stop to approach carefully. Look, photograph, and enjoy the water, but avoid handling marine creatures.

The lunch is planned for Starfish Island and is prepared by the tour team. That makes the meal part of the beach experience rather than a return to town for food. Several comments praised the food, and that is useful to know if you prefer a practical included lunch over choosing a restaurant during a busy island day.

There is one important warning here: the published route does not guarantee a fixed amount of time at each island. A February departure reportedly did not visit Starfish Island at all and spent a long wait around the lunch arrangements elsewhere. That is a serious mismatch with the advertised plan, even if it was an isolated operational problem.

I would bring snacks regardless. The instructions specifically tell you to bring bottled water and snacks, and the reported five-hour wait makes that advice more than a formality. A sandwich, fruit, and extra water can turn a delay from frustrating into manageable.

Cowrie Island, the most reliable beach highlight

Cowrie Island is likely to be the easiest stop to enjoy right away. The available comments give this island the clearest praise, with specific appreciation for its beauty and beach setting.

You can expect time for swimming, sitting in the sun, and taking photographs. The tour description also places Cowrie among the stops for seeing fish and enjoying a relaxed island atmosphere. If you want a classic beach break rather than a particular marine-life search, this may be your favorite part of the day.

The drawback is that stop lengths can change. On one reported departure, Cowrie received only about 50 minutes after a long delay at another island. Fifty minutes can be enough for a quick swim and a few photographs, but it is not enough for a slow beach afternoon.

Bring sandals or water shoes, and keep your camera protected. A waterproof camera is listed among the recommended items, and a regular phone should stay in a waterproof pouch if you take it near the water.

Luli Island and its swimming area

Luli Island is included for swimming and water activities. The description identifies a designated area for entering the water, making it a natural stop for anyone who wants more than beach photographs.

Bring swimwear and a change of clothes so you can stay comfortable after getting wet. A towel is also essential. The tour does not include a mask or snorkeling equipment, so pack your own if seeing fish is a priority.

Kayak use is an extra cost. The same applies to snorkeling gear if you do not bring your own. This affects the real price of the day: the advertised fare covers the main outing, but not every optional water activity.

Luli also carries the biggest schedule warning. One reported departure spent around five hours there while waiting for lunch space. The complaint was not that the island had too much to do, but that the wait left very little time for the other stops. If you prefer a tightly timed sightseeing day, ask before departure how lunch and island rotation will be handled.

Swimming, snorkeling, and marine life

The day is built around getting into the water. You may swim with fish, look for starfish near the shore, and see other small sea creatures in the island shallows.

The tour does not provide snorkeling masks and fins, so bring your own equipment if you want to spend serious time looking underwater. This is one of the easiest details to overlook when comparing prices. A tour can look inexpensive until you add rented equipment, environmental fees, and optional kayaking.

You should also pack long sleeves. One satisfied participant specifically advised covering up to avoid getting burned. Sunscreen, a hat, and a shirt that can get wet are sensible additions, though the official packing list places the strongest emphasis on swimwear, beachwear, water shoes, and a change of clothes.

Do not enter the water while intoxicated. The activity also asks you to present valid identification. These are simple rules, but both matter on a boat and at active swimming areas.

What the $41 price covers

At $41 per person, this is priced as a convenient full-day package rather than as a bare boat ticket. You receive round-trip air-conditioned van transfers, the motorized boat, entrance fees for Cowrie, Luli, and Starfish, a picnic lunch, shed and terminal fees, and the services of the guide, captain, and crew.

That bundle has real value if you are staying in Puerto Princesa and want someone else to coordinate the road transfer, boat, island access, and meal. The price is less attractive if you already have transport, own a boat, or plan to spend only a short time at one island.

Add PHP 150 for the adult environmental fee. Then consider whether you need snorkeling gear or a kayak. The tour becomes better value when you use the included lunch and transport, and less of a bargain if you must pay for several extras on top.

The schedule is also part of the value calculation. A seven-hour day with three island names sounds generous, but the actual enjoyment depends on receiving reasonable time at each stop. For this reason, I would ask for a clear morning briefing about the order of islands and lunch timing.

How to pack for a comfortable day

Pack light, but do not leave out the practical items. Your most useful bag will include:

• Swimwear and a change of clothes
• Towel and sandals
• Water shoes
• Snorkeling gear, if you have it
• Bottled water and snacks
• Camera or waterproof camera
• Sunscreen and a long-sleeved top
• Valid identification

Water shoes are especially useful if the shoreline is rocky or uneven, though the supplied details do not specify the surface at each island. A waterproof bag will protect dry clothing and electronics during the boat ride.

The instructions list both snacks and bottled water as your responsibility. Take that seriously. The included lunch does not remove the need for drinks and backup food, especially if the group’s meal time shifts.

Who will enjoy this island day most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a straightforward introduction to Honda Bay without arranging transport, boat access, entrance tickets, and lunch separately. It suits people who enjoy a mix of swimming, photographs, casual snorkeling, and beach time.

Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the flexible range of activities. A person who does not want to swim can sit by the shore, while others use the water. The environmental fee also has a lower listed rate for those aged 18 and under and for senior citizens.

You should be more cautious if you need a precise timetable, guaranteed long stops, or a particular island as the main purpose of your day. The missed Starfish stop and long lunch delay reported on one departure show that the advertised sequence can fail.

This is also not ideal if you expect a highly personal guide-led experience. The guide is licensed and English-speaking, but names are not supplied, and one difficult account described a guide who gave little interaction. Other departures were described as well organized, so the level of guidance may vary.

Booking decision: a convenient day with a real schedule risk

Book this tour if you value convenience and want three named islands, lunch, van transfers, and boat transport in one package. Cowrie Island, the chance to see starfish, and the simple beach setting make the plan appealing, and the included services keep the day easy to arrange.

Before paying, make sure you understand the environmental fee and bring your own water, snacks, and snorkeling gear. On the morning of the tour, ask which island comes first, how long lunch will take, and whether all three stops are still planned.

My call is a cautious yes for flexible visitors who can handle a changing schedule. If seeing Starfish Island is non-negotiable, or if losing several hours to a lunch wait would spoil your day, choose only after confirming the operating plan directly.

FAQ

How long does the Honda Bay island-hopping tour last?

The tour lasts about seven hours, with hotel pickup scheduled around 7:00 am and hotel drop-off expected at approximately 3:00 pm.

Which islands are included?

The advertised stops are Cowrie Island, Luli Island, and Starfish Island.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Round-trip pickup and drop-off by air-conditioned van are included. You must be ready at least 15 minutes before the designated pickup time.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic lunch is included and is planned for Starfish Island.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

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

Is kayaking included?

No. Kayak use is listed as an additional expense.

Is the environmental fee included in the price?

No. The environmental fee is PHP 150 for adults and PHP 120 for people aged 18 and under and senior citizens.

What language does the guide speak?

The live guide service is provided in English.

Can I cancel the tour for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.