One fine weekend, my friends and I decided to head to Puerto Prinsesa for some beach loving and island hopping. With nothing but the sun, sand, and sea, and of course, the company of good friends and sinfully delicious food – the weekend was all we had hoped for and more!

Honda Bay Island Hopping

Start early (especially if it’s peak season), to make sure you don’t run out of boats!

From your hotel to Honda Bay wharf, it should take ~20-45 minutes, either via tricycle (~400-500 pesos one-way) or van (~1.7 pesos round trip). In our case, the van was cheaper AND more comfortable since we were a group of 6, and would’ve needed two tricycles (total cost of ~1.6-2k for tricycle)

On your way to the wharf, you can ask your driver to stop by Panz Mask and Snorkeling Shop to rent some gear (e.g. for snorkeling, free-diving, waterproof camera casings). As we were just heading to the beach for some fun, we skipped this!

Onwards to the wharf!

 

WOW. What a difference a few year makes! I remember when I first went Honda Bay Island Hopping, you’d just go directly to the beach and haggle with boatmen. Nowadays, everything is super legitimate – there’s a large tourist assistance center, a Philippine Coast Guard office, and a waiting area for those waiting for their boats / van pick ups! But best of all, the cost of the boats + all incidentals are clearly laid out for travelers to see, so good bye scams (but also goodbye haggling deals)!

In our case, we opted to do Luli Island (to chill), Pandad Island (for buffet lunch – so no need to pack your own food), and Inflatable Island (as a last stop!). Note that you pay for the boat, and island entrance fees separately

 

The boat was perfect for our group of five. Just remember to slather on A LOT of sunscreen, as the sun can be very unforgiving. Shades can come in handy too – so you won’t have to battle the glare from the sun <3

 

First stop? Lulli Island!

There’s a portion where you can swim – including a diving board for adventure seekers! Afterwards, there are nice huts with bars (like what you see in the photo below) – perfect for folks who’re craving for a nice margarita or Long Island Iced Tea by the beach

 

Our second stop? Pandan Island!

No photos here as my phone died – but the buffet lunch was nothing to write home about. You pretty much get soup, very lean crab, grilled fish, and bananas for dessert. Surprisingly, the beach isn’t great for swimming either – although there are areas where you can participate in water sports (e.g., banana boat and jet skiing)

We were really lazy at this point – so we just laid out our banig, and lay down by the beach for some ZZZzzzzz

 

Final stop? Inflatable Island

I twisted my ankle here – full disclosure! So, the inflatable island is pretty much what its name states. There’s an inflated island in the middle of the sea – complete with a jump pad where YOU lay down as close to the edge of the inflated “slide,” while someone then jumps down on the opposite end of that “slide.” Because of the force, you are then propelled into the air and promptly plop down into the sea

Sounds fun and looks fun! But when it was my turn… I was terrified!! Unfortunately, I think that terror translated to bad luck, because I landed wrong and ended up twisting my ankle…

Oh well – still an experience to remember! At least I can write about it?

 

For other Puerto Prinsesa beach experiences, check out:

• Nagtabon Beach: A guide to enjoying the touristy and not-so-touristy beaches of Puerto Prinsesa

 

For my other Palawan blogs, check out:

• Guide to Coron for first-time DIY tourists
• Everything you need to know about Coron, including what to do beyond island hopping (as a DIY tourist!)
• Eating my way through Coron – top picks!