Honda Bay island hopping via SotoGrande Palawan
Puerto Princesa City is a pleasant layover before heading to other destinations in Palawan. While you’re here, one of the top tourist attractions to visit is the Honda Bay islands.
It is my second time here in Honda Bay, which I’ve visited prior to the pandemic. This year, I went on a Honda Bay tour c/o SotoGrande Palawan, the newest hotel resort in Puerto Princesa City.
SotoGrande Palawan is a good base for your island hopping tour since it is only 1 km away from Honda Bay wharf and the hotel can also offer you their tour services so you can enjoy the activity hassle-free. Alternately, you can also head to the wharf on your own and charter a boat.
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Exploring Honda Bay islands
I was part of the media staying at SotoGrande Palawan for their grand opening this August 2023. After a filling breakfast at the hotel, we hopped on the van for a short ride to the wharf. From there, we visited the three islands in Honda Bay: Starfish Island, Luli Island, and Cowrie Island.
Starfish Island
Our first stop is Starfish Island. As its name suggests, Starfish Island is known for its abundance of starfish that dot the sandy seabed. The shallow waters also make it a good spot for swimming and wading.
There were cottages for rest and picnicking and a market stall that sells fresh seafood, including different kinds of fish, mollusks, and even sea urchins. We didn’t get to see starfishes – according to the locals, they have moved to deeper parts of the sea.
We relaxed and took pictures at the island before heading to our next destination.
Luli Island
Luli Island, short for “lulubog, lilitaw,” is a sandbar that disappears during high tide and reappears during low tide. The island has seen developments since the last time I visited – there are now stilt cottages and hammocks set over the water, a perfect spot for your social media feed.
Aside from taking pictures of the sandbar, you can also snorkel here to see fishes and even taklobo (“giant clams”). You can fish feed if you’ve bring bread or other food.
My companions took to the sea to see the marine animals, while I stayed in one of the cottages to just soak up the setting (and also since it was raining). In my previous visit, I was not impressed with Luli Island and so to see it developed to offer more amenities was a nice surprise indeed.
Cowrie Island
Cowrie Island is one of the most developed and popular islands in Honda Bay, offering various amenities such as cottages, a restaurant that sells seafood and fresh fruits shakes, and watersports such as kayaking. It’s also a family-friendly spot, since the beach starts shallow, making it ideal for swimming with kids.
This is typically where most tourists spend the most time at. We stayed here the longest to enjoy a delicious boodle-style lunch with barbecue and various seafood, as well as fresh fruit shakes. Then we had a leisurely swim in the beach front.
Overall
We had an enjoyable tour of the Honda Bay islands. I expected huge crowds since it was a long weekend, but there were actually fewer people possible due to the fact that it was already the ber-months. Despite the gloomy weather at the time, we had a nice time exploring the islands, taking pictures, and going for a swim.
The tour service provided by SotoGrande Palawan Hotel was also top-notch. It was easy, hassle-free, and convenient — we only had to bring ourselves to enjoy Honda Bay.
Book your stay at SotoGrande Palawan
You can book your stay at SotoGrande Palawan, which is located in close proximity (1 kilometer) away from Honda Bay wharf.
Book discounted rooms at SotoGrande Palawan here.
The hotel can also arrange a packaged tour to Honda Bay for you, which includes transport, boat tour, and lunch. Alternatively, you can also arrange the tour yourself by heading to the wharf and registering for the tour that you like best. Food and drinks can be brought at the islands, with meals available at both Starfish Island and Cowrie Island.
Here are tips when visiting Honda Bay:
- What to bring: Waterproof bag or drybag, sunscreen, snorkeling gears and/or fins, and cash in case you want to purchase additional drinks or snacks. You may also want to bring a towel or change of clothes.
- When to visit: Honda Bay can be visited all-year-round. The best time to visit Honda Bay is during the dry season, from November to May. The ber-months are considered the off-peak season, so you may encounter smaller crowds but also inclement or gloomy weather.
Honda Bay island hopping is a great way to experience the natural beauty of Puerto Princesa. Whether you’re sunbathing on a sandbar, sunbathing on a sandbar, or enjoying a picnic filled with seafood and local Palawan delicacies, Honda Bay is sure to leave you with fun memories.
What to read next:
Visiting Palawan? Check out the rest of our guides in Palawan:
Puerto Princesa:
- Guide to Puerto Princesa Underground River
- Island Hopping in Honda Bay
- Best Resorts and Hotels in Puerto Princesa
Coron:
El Nido:
Balabac:
Port Barton:
- Travel Guide to Port Barton + 3 Days Itinerary
- Top Things to Do in Port Barton
- Island Hopping in Port Barton
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Katherine Cortes is a long-time backpacker and a freelance writer/editor. She likes beaches, snorkeling trips, and relaxing staycations (preferably with bath tubs!).
