Joiners Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour

Honda Bay’s appeal is simple: three small islands, clear water, white sand, and a full day away from Puerto Princesa’s streets. This joiner tour keeps the plan easy, with hotel pickup, boat transfers, an island lunch, and a guide to help you through the day.

I like the small maximum group of 10, which should make the boat and island stops easier to manage. I also like that the $38 price includes transport, entrances, lunch, and guide assistance. The main drawback is that snorkeling gear costs an extra ₱200, and the day depends on good weather.

Key things to know before booking

• Three distinct island stops: Cowrie Island has the white beach and the most developed facilities, Luli Island offers a sandbar setting and dive platform, and Starfish Island is the best choice for seeing fish.
• Hotel pickup is included: An air-conditioned van takes you from Puerto Princesa to the Honda Bay wharf and back.
• Lunch is part of the package: Your picnic meal is served on one of the three islands.
• Budget for extra fees: The environmental fee is ₱150 per person, while snorkeling equipment costs ₱200 per person.
• A full morning and afternoon: Pickup begins around 7:30 to 8:00am, with return to your hotel expected at about 4:00pm.
• Weather matters: If poor conditions cancel the trip, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

What the Honda Bay day is really like

This is a straightforward island-hopping day from Puerto Princesa. You are not signing up for a remote expedition or a quiet private cruise. You are joining a small shared group, riding in a van to the wharf, then moving between three popular island stops by boat.

That makes the tour a good fit if you want to see the main sights of Honda Bay without arranging transport, boat hire, entrance payments, and lunch on your own. It also suits a first visit to Puerto Princesa, when you may prefer a fixed plan over negotiating with boat operators at the wharf.

The advertised price is $38 per person. That is a fair package price because it covers the air-conditioned transfer, boat rides, licensed guide assistance, three island entrance fees, and lunch. You should still set aside money for the ₱150 environmental fee and ₱200 snorkeling equipment charge. If you bring your own approved equipment, you may avoid that rental cost, but the supplied information only confirms that rental gear is available for ₱200.

The tour is listed at about seven hours. Pickup is described as taking place between 7:30 and 8:00am, while the meeting information gives a 7:00am start time. Because those details do not match perfectly, confirm your exact pickup time before the day begins. Plan for a full morning and afternoon, with a return to your hotel at about 4:00pm.

From Puerto Princesa to the Honda Bay wharf

The day starts with a hotel pickup in an air-conditioned van. The guide meets you in the lobby, and you continue with the rest of the joiner group to the Honda Bay wharf.

This transfer is one of the package’s practical strengths. You do not need to find a tricycle, taxi, or public transport early in the morning, and you do not need to arrange parking at the wharf. The tour also suits people who prefer a clear meeting point and a guide to help with the handoff from road transport to boat.

If you choose to drive yourself, parking at the tour departure area has been described as easy to find. That gives you a second option, although the included van transfer is likely simpler for most people staying in Puerto Princesa.

The group limit is 10 people. That is small by shared-tour standards, though the boat and island areas may still have other groups arriving at the same time. You get the value of a joiner price without being placed in a very large tour group.

At the wharf, you board the boat for the island portion of the day. Boat transport between the three stops is included, so you do not need to pay separately each time you move from one island to the next.

Cowrie Island, the day’s main base

Cowrie Island is known for its white beach and clear blue water. It is also the most practical of the three stops, with more facilities than the smaller island settings.

You might find volleyball, bars, massage services, and places to sit here. Those extras make Cowrie a useful base for lunch and a break between swims. If part of your group wants to relax while another person wants to get in the water, this is probably the easiest island for everyone to settle into.

The beach is the main attraction. Expect a classic tropical island stop rather than a cultural visit. You come here for sand, swimming, open water, and a pleasant pause from the boat.

Cowrie can also feel less secluded because it functions as a developed stop on a standard island route. If your ideal island is completely quiet and untouched, this may not be your favorite part of the day. On the other hand, the facilities are valuable when you want shade, food, a massage, or a place to regroup.

The picnic lunch is served on one of the three islands, and Cowrie’s facilities may make it a likely or comfortable setting. The exact lunch menu is not provided, so do not book this expecting a particular dish or special dining experience. Think of lunch as a useful part of a long day outdoors.

Luli Island, sandbar and platform views

Luli Island brings a different mood. It is described as a large sandbar with a dive platform, giving you a place to relax, swim, and take in the open bay.

The sandbar setting is the reason to pay attention here. Water surrounds the exposed strip of land, so the feel changes with the tide and conditions. The supplied information does not give exact tide times, so your guide will be the best source for what the sandbar looks like during your visit.

The platform adds a little more fun for people who enjoy getting into the water. You should still judge the conditions for yourself and follow local instructions. The tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness, so expect some walking, boarding, and movement around the boat and islands.

Luli is less about facilities than Cowrie. You may find it a better place for a slow swim or a relaxed pause, but do not expect the same range of services. If your priority is a calm island setting and a clear change from the main beach stop, Luli fills that role well.

Starfish Island, the best stop for fish

Starfish Island is the stop to prioritize if your main aim is seeing marine life. Fish are the focus here, and this is where snorkeling equipment becomes useful.

Snorkeling gear costs an additional ₱200 per person. That is an important extra because the tour price does not include it. If you want to spend meaningful time looking beneath the surface, include the rental fee in your budget.

The information supplied does not promise a particular species count or guaranteed wildlife sighting. Conditions can change, and the quality of your swim will depend on the water and weather that day. Still, the island’s purpose is clear: this is the stop for getting into the water and looking for fish.

If you are not comfortable snorkeling, you can still enjoy the boat ride and island surroundings, but you may get less from this particular stop. The tour is best for people who are happy to swim or at least want the option to do so.

Bring practical beach gear, such as swimwear, sun protection, and a dry change of clothes. Those items are not listed as inclusions, but they make sense for a day built around beaches and boat transfers. The supplied details do not confirm whether towels or lockers are provided, so do not assume they are included.

Lunch, guide support, and the value of convenience

The picnic lunch is included, which matters on a seven-hour outing. You do not need to leave the route to find food, and you can keep your day focused on the islands.

A licensed guide provides assistance throughout the trip. The guide is also the person to ask about the order of stops, meeting times, local conditions, and where to find the included lunch. No guide names are provided, so you should not book this expecting a particular host.

The value here comes from removing small tasks. Transport is arranged, the boat is arranged, island entry is covered, and lunch is waiting somewhere along the route. You pay extra for the environmental fee and snorkeling equipment, but the core day is packaged clearly.

I would compare this price with the cost and effort of arranging a private boat. A private option may offer more control over timing, but this tour gives you the main Honda Bay stops for $38, with a maximum of 10 people. For a solo visitor, couple, or small group, that is likely the more sensible choice.

The main compromise is flexibility. A joiner trip follows a shared schedule, so you cannot simply stay longer at your favorite island or skip a stop because you prefer another. If you want a custom route, you will need a different kind of boat arrangement.

Who will enjoy this Puerto Princesa tour

This experience is a good match for you if:

• You want to see Cowrie, Luli, and Starfish islands in one day.
• You prefer hotel pickup instead of arranging transport to the wharf.
• You are comfortable sharing a boat and following a set schedule.
• You want lunch and entrance fees included in one price.
• You have moderate physical fitness for boat boarding, walking, and swimming.
• You would like a small group rather than a large coach tour.

It may be less suitable if you want a private boat, a very quiet island, or a tightly controlled schedule. It is also not ideal if you do not want to swim and have little interest in beaches, since the day is built around time on the sand and in the water.

The tour has received a 5.0 rating from three available ratings, with strong praise for the staff’s organization, clear communication, transport, and overall enjoyment. One detailed account valued the island visits, lunch, local information, boat ride, and access to equipment for swimming with fish. Those are the parts I would consider most important when judging the trip: it delivers a complete day rather than just a boat transfer.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

Confirmation is provided when you book. The tour is near public transportation, and pickup is offered from your hotel. If you drive yourself, parking has been described as easy to find.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local time.

Good weather is required. If the operator cancels because conditions are poor, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. This is worth remembering when planning your final days in Puerto Princesa. Do not schedule the island day so tightly that a weather change leaves you with no alternative.

Should you book the Honda Bay island tour?

I would book this tour if you want an efficient, reasonably priced day covering the three main Honda Bay stops. The combination of hotel transfer, boat rides, lunch, entrance fees, and a 10-person maximum gives you a useful balance of convenience and value.

Book it especially if Starfish Island’s fish, Luli Island’s sandbar, and Cowrie Island’s beach facilities all sound appealing. Budget the ₱150 environmental fee and ₱200 snorkeling rental, confirm the exact pickup time, and prepare for a full outdoor day.

I would skip it only if you need a private itinerary or dislike shared schedules. For everyone else, this is a practical way to experience Honda Bay without turning the morning into a transport puzzle.

FAQ

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

The tour lasts approximately seven hours. Pickup begins in the morning, and you are expected back at your hotel at about 4:00pm.

What time is hotel pickup?

Hotel pickup is listed between 7:30 and 8:00am. The meeting information also lists a 7:00am start time, so confirm your exact pickup time when booking.

Which islands are included?

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

Is lunch included?

Yes. A picnic lunch is included and is prepared on one of the three islands.

Is transportation included?

Yes. An air-conditioned van transfer from your hotel to the wharf is included, along with boat transfers between the islands.

Are island entrance fees included?

Yes. Entrance to Cowrie Island, Luli Island, and Starfish Island is included.

How much are the additional fees?

The Puerto Princesa environmental fee is ₱150 per person. Snorkeling equipment costs ₱200 per person.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.