3-day Balabac tour: Island hopping & starfish sandbar

Island hop through Balabac's waters and stand on the starfish sandbar

A 3-day private tour from Puerto Princesa to Balabac with round-trip boat transfer, two nights in a beachfront nipa hut, and guided island hopping across Onuk Island, Crocodile Watching at Patawan, and the Starfish Sandbar. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included each day, and a live English-speaking guide leads the tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Balabac and island visits

• Pick-up from Puerto Princesa
• Arrive at Buliluyan Port
• Depart to Beach Camp
• Lunch at Beach Camp
• Visit Canimeran Island
• Visit Tangkahan Island
• Return to Beach Camp
• Dinner at Beach Camp

Day 2: Island hopping and wildlife watching

• Breakfast at Beach Camp
• Visit Onuk Island
• Lunch at Onuk Island
• Visit Giant Clam Area
• Crocodile watching at Patawan Island
• Visit Starfish Sandbar
• Return to Beach Camp
• Dinner at Beach Camp

Day 3: Return to Puerto Princesa

• Breakfast at Beach Camp
• Transfer to Buliluyan Port
• Depart for Puerto Princesa
• Arrive at Puerto Princesa

The experience

The pickup happens at 2am from Puerto Princesa so you can reach Buliluyan Port by morning and board the boat by 9:30am. The crossing takes you to a beach camp where you'll stay in a native nipa hut room for two nights. Day one sets the rhythm: lunch arrives when you do, then you visit Canimeran Island and Tangkahan Island before returning for dinner.

Day two is the main event. You start with breakfast at 7:30am, then spend the morning at Onuk Island, have lunch there, and move on to the Giant Clam Area for a quick visit. The afternoon brings crocodile watching at low tide on Patawan Island, followed by the highlight: two hours on the Starfish Sandbar starting at 2:30pm. The starfish are visible in the shallow water, and you walk among them before heading back to camp for dinner.

Day three reverses the route. Breakfast comes at 5:30am, then a shared van takes you from the beach camp to Buliluyan Port at 6:30am. The boat departs at 7:30am and arrives back in Puerto Princesa by 2pm. All meals across the three days are included, as are the boat transfers and island entrance fees.

What’s included

• Round-trip boat transfer between Puerto Princesa and Balabac.
• two nights' accommodation in a beachfront nipa hut.
• island entrance fees.
• all meals (lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast, lunch and dinner on day two, breakfast on day three).
• live English-speaking guide throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesUp to age 80

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Natural Arts Travel and Tours

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so the guide and boat are yours alone: the pace stays yours and the stops don't shift around other groups. The early pickup and boat schedule mean you lose a night's sleep in Puerto Princesa, which is the trade-off that gets you two full days in the islands instead of one.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What time does the pickup happen from Puerto Princesa?

The pickup is at 2am from Puerto Princesa, arriving at Buliluyan Port by 7:30–8:00am so you can board the boat to Balabac by 9:30am.

What islands do you visit on the 3-day tour?

Day one includes Canimeran Island and Tangkahan Island. Day two covers Onuk Island, the Giant Clam Area, Patawan Island for crocodile watching, and the Starfish Sandbar.

What meals are included each day?

Day one includes lunch and dinner. Day two includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Day three includes breakfast before the return journey to Puerto Princesa.

Where do you sleep during the tour?

You stay in a native nipa hut frame house with air conditioning, two people per room, for both nights of the tour.

How do you get back to Puerto Princesa on day three?

A shared van takes you from the beach camp to Buliluyan Port at 6:30am, then the boat departs at 7:30am and arrives in Puerto Princesa by 2pm.