Honda Bay Tour: My first time in Luli Island, Starfish Island and Cowrie Island

Puerto Princesa City, known as the "City in a Forest," is more than just a starting point for exploring Palawan. It's a destination in its own right, offering an escape from stress with its stunning natural beauty.

One of the city's most popular attractions is Honda Bay, a collection of islands just a short distance from the city center. These islands are a haven for adventure seekers, offering crystal-clear waters and pristine beaches. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, from snorkeling and swimming to sunbathing and simply relaxing on the white sand.

I'm sharing with you my very first visit to Honda Bay, located on the outskirts of Puerto Princesa.  I had the pleasure of experiencing a Honda Bay tour organized by SotoGrande Palawan, the newest hotel resort in the city. It served as the perfect starting point for our exciting island-hopping journey across Palawan.

SotoGrande Palawan, the newest hotel resort in Puerto Princesa, provided us with a convenient home base for exploring Honda Bay. Located just a short distance of 1KM from the wharf, the hotel offers comfortable accommodations and hassle-free tour services. For those who prefer exploring on their own, you can easily head to the wharf and arrange a boat charter to begin your adventure.

I went to SotoGrande Palawan for their grand opening in August. We had breakfast at the hotel before going to the wharf to start our island hopping adventure. We visited three beautiful islands: Starfish Island, Luli Island, and Cowrie Island. Each island was different and amazing!

Starfish Island 

Our first stop was Starfish Island, famous for its many starfish that usually cover the sandy seabed. The shallow waters here are perfect for swimming and wading, making it a great spot for visitors. However, during our visit in the -ber months, we were told by the locals that the starfish had moved to deeper waters, so we didn’t see any.

On the island, there are cozy cottages for picnics, which was convenient as there is also a market stall offering fresh seafood. You can find a variety of fish, mollusks, and even sea urchins for sale. Although we missed the starfish, the island still had plenty to offer!

Luli Island

Luli is named aptly by the locals as "Lulubog-Lilitaw" due to the sandbar's tendency to disappear whenever it is high tide, and reappear when it is low tide. They have a few things going on in this island, like different cottages, hammocks, and I have a feeling that once you come here when its summer, it is so picturesque and serene. Plus points for the marine life here, you can snorkel and find colorful fishes as well as giant clams.

I loved Luli Island more than the other two islands we went to, as I found myself regretting that I didn't bring a book to curl up to and read while in one of the cottages. 

Cowrie Island

Cowrie Island was our final stop, where we had an awesome "Boodle" lunch. It's the most developed and popular island in Honda Bay, with lots of amenities like cozy cottages, a restaurant serving delicious seafood and refreshing fruit shakes, and watersports like kayaking. 

It's also perfect for families, with a shallow beach that's ideal for swimming with kids, as the beach gently sloped, making it easy for everyone to enjoy the water. We spent some time relaxing on the beach, enjoying the beautiful views, and trying the fresh seafood. It was a perfect way to end our island hopping adventure!

Price of Island Hopping at Honda Bay

Whether you're traveling solo, with friends, or with family, Honda Bay promises a day filled with unforgettable experiences.