Revisiting Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

This is rather a long overdue post. So sorry travelistas! Been balancing many hats for the past few months and thank god for long weekends, I was able to catch up.

Yearly, I see to it to organize an out of town trip for my whole family, including my mom, aunt, brother, husband, and Akisha. Two years ago, it was in Bohol. Last year, it was Boracay. This year, it was the final frontier — Palawan.

Of course, I never go to Puerto Princesa, Palawan without seeking the help of my dear friend Charisse of La Tiara Tours. Since time immemorial, she’s the one handling our tours each time we were in Puerto Princesa or El Nido. For this trip, since we were with the not-so-young set, I decided to just tour them around the city and Honda Bay.

La Tiara’s whole day Honda Bay island hopping package is priced at Php 1,350 including lunch, but for those who would rather try it DIY style, here’s a step by step guide:

1. Rent a tricycle or van to Sta. Lourdes Wharf (about 20-30 minutes from the city proper). Price usually starts at Php 300 for a tricycle that can fit up to five pax, and Php 1,300 for a van that can fit around 10-12 pax.

2. At the wharf, the driver will assist you in getting a boat and paying the fees. Sta. Lourdes Wharf is one of the most organized wharves I’ve been to. Also, prices of boat rentals and entrance fees are standard so you don’t have to roam around haggling for the best price.

3. Choose a boat that will suit your needs. You have two options: three-cylinder engine or four-cylinder engine. I asked them what’s the difference and the lady at the counter said the four-cylinder boat is faster and can better withstand rough seas than the three-cylinder. Hmm, for some reason, I was actually not convinced. We got the three-cylinder engine. Here are the rates:

Three-cylinder engine boat (island hopping in any three islands) – Php 1,300 for six pax, additional pax is Php 216.67.

Four-cylinder engine boat (island hopping in any three islands) – Php 1,500 for six pax, additional pax is Php 250.

Entrance fees are as follows:
Pandan Island – Php 125
Luli Island – Php 60
Cowrie Island – Php 75 (there is a booth at the wharf where you can pay your fees at this resort)
Pambato Reef – Php 50 (closed during our visit)
Starfish Island – Php 50

We opted to go to Luli Island, Starfish Island, and Pandan Island since we haven’t been to the first two islands yet. During our last trip in Puerto Princesa way back 2010, we explored Pandan Island, Snake Island (now closed to the public), and Pambato Reef.

4. Pay the other fees, as follows:
Environmental fee – Php 40/pax
Terminal fee – Php 3/pax
Vehicle fee (for your van) – Php 12/vehicle

5. Proceed to your assigned boat, wear your lifevest and enjoy the views!

Note: If you’re doing it DIY-style, you should bring your own lunch, or you can eat at the restaurant of Pandan Island (prices are overrated though).

From the wharf, we cruised towards our first destination: Luli Island. The name of the island was coined after “lulubog-lilitaw” a Filipino word that means the island sinks at high tide and shows up at low tide. Way back 2010, the island was still at its bare form. Now, three years after, development on the island is in full swing.

The reception at Luli Island

Luli Island boasts fine off-white sandbar, a marine sanctuary, a floating cottage, and a plunge board for the more adventurous. You can also rent a cottage here and have your lunch.

The sandbar

The marine sanctuary at Luli Island is shallow and is just a few steps from the shore. There were a lot of colorful fishes and corals there but the visibility underwater is not too clear. This must be due to fish-feeding.

The marine sanctuary

A kayak for rent at Luli Island

For the adventurous at heart, there is a plunge board at Luli island where you can jump out into the sea. The board is at an elevated mini cottage near the sandbar.

At the other end is where the plunge board is

Our second stop was supposedly Starfish Island, but since it was already past lunch time and we were all starving, we told the boatman that we will just go sightseeing around the island and proceed to our last destination: Pandan Island.

Approaching Pandan Island

Pandan Island is one of the first developed islands in Honda Bay. Hubby, Akisha and I were able to check this island out three years ago and nothing much had changed since then.

Upon arrival, we paid the necessary fees at the restaurant (Php 125/pax entrance and Php 600 for the cottage). Good thing, my aunt, who is a senior citizen, was able to haggle the price and make her entrance fee free of charge. Mind you, if I remember it right, entrance fee to this island three years ago was only Php 50/pax.

Rates at Pandan Island

Of all the islands in Honda Bay, Pandan Island is one of my three favorites (Dos Palmas in Arreceffi Island and Snake Island, which is now closed to the public, are the other two) because of its pristine beachfront and rich marine life. This is where I first fell in love with snorkeling.

The beachfront at Pandan Island

Our cottage was huge enough to fit a family of 10. There is a separate grilling station at the back of the island, so don’t attempt to grill your food near cottages as it is not allowed. All cottages don’t have a garbage can, simply because you have to bring you trash with you when you leave to keep the island clean.

Cottage @Php 600

Umbrellas with tables and chairs at Php 400

The beach again

Aside from beach bumming, there are tons of activities that you can do within the island. You can bask under the scorching heat of the sun on their beach beds, snorkel, go fish feeding, kayaking, paddle boarding, drink and eat fresh buko juice (priced at Php 20 each), have a massage, or simply build sand castles at the shore. The island is also open for camping/overnight stays but the caretaker said it’ll be at your own risk since the guards will be out of the island in the evening.

Beach beds by the shore

After eating lunch, we started to snorkel around the marine sanctuary. At knee-deep water, we could already see big fishes in different colors swimming around. There were a few corals at waist-deep, and more varieties of fish further from where we initially stood.

Fishiesss

A coral from down under

Selfie?

At around 3:00 pm, we started our journey back to Sta. Lourdes Wharf where the van we rented c/o Charisse was waiting for us. It was a journey we will never forget. Palawan is indeed teeming with natural beauty up or down the surface. Here’s to our next Palawan trip! Cheers!

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Travel Plans for 2012

Influenced by the back-to-back action planning at the office, I was inspired to do my own planning for one thing I love – travel. In the year 2011, I, hubby and Akisha have been to different places across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Most of our travels are of course, courtesy of the local airlines’ promo fares. I wish promo fares now are still the same as last year. I remember I was able to book my whole family (6 adults and 1 child) for only P1.4k via Airphils. Now, P1.4k is not even enough for 2 pax. 

Anyways, in 2011, we’ve been to several places, mostly islands  and beaches, in the Philippines, including Bohol, Coron, Davao, Subic, Tagaytay, Pangasinan, Caramoan and Cebu. Next year, guess what? We are still on an island and beach phase!

First on our list is Dumaguete and Siquijor. I’ve been hearing good reviews about Siquijor and how romantic and serene  it is. So without a doubt, during the Cebu Pacific piso fare recently, I booked a ticket to Dumaguete, the gateway to Siquijor.

Coco Grove Beach Resort is perhaps the most famous beach resort in Siquijor. Based on the photos and the reviews I read from GTalk (a forum), the place is perfect for honeymooners. It is quiet and romantic, contrary to the nyth that it houses mythical creatures like Aswang, etc. It has a view of perfect sunset.

Photo from http://www.cocogrovebeachresort.com

After a laid back day in Siquijor, we plan to go to another famous destination in Dumaguete, Apo Island.

Photo from http://www.cocogrovebeachresort.com

Based from what I’ve read, it is in Apo Island where you could see pawikans. So I am sure I will enjoy snorkeling here.

Photo from Apo Island Beach Resort Facebook account

A trip we plan to share with the whole barkada is a Masbate escapade. Though Masbate is not as popular as Boracay or Coron, I’ve read that it also has pristine beaches and a majestic falls. 

Our first stop would be Bontod Reef, a sandbar about 15 minutes away from Masbate City. We plan to stay at the Rendezvous Hotel and rent a boat (I was told it is P500/boat) to Bontod Reef where we will spend a day of picnic lunch and beach bumming.

And what is a Masbate trip without a glimpse of Catandayagan Falls? It’s a falls that “falls” into the sea. 

Photo by earlouismd

We will also have an island hopping tour of Ticao Island where the famous luxury resort Ticao Altamar is.

My friend also wants to do whaleshark interaction in Donsol, which is about 3 hours by boat from Masbate City.

At the middle of 2012, we will set foot into the island of the world’s sweetest mangoes – Guimaras. We plan to stay in La Puerta al Paraizo or Raymen Beach in Alibuhod.

Towards the third quarter, we will finally have a glimpse of the wonders of Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental. Since we are only two, we might tag other friends or joiners so that we can save on boat rental which is P6,500 at a minimum, going to Apo Reef, the next thing to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Photo by PinoyCaravan

Here’s a sneak peak of the underwater world in Apo Reef.

Photo by PinoyCaravan

And finally, we will stay for a night in the solitary Pandan Island Resort.

I hope we could still get tickets for El Nido, Siargao, Cagayan de Oro or Laoag towards the end of the year or early 2013. Of the four, i highly prioritize El Nido, which has long been a dream vacation of mine.

edit: Finally, we have tickets for El Nido! 

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Day 3: Honda Bay Island Hopping

It was our last day in Puerto Princesa and we didn’t wanna leave the city without seeing the famous islands of Honda Bay. As some would say, save the best for last.

Sis Tiara (Cha) of Girltalk helped me arrange our Honda Bay tour and Dos Palmas day trip. She texted me the night before that the shuttle would pick us up from the pension house at around 7:30 am. So we had early breakfast again and waited for our shuttle. At around 7:45 am, the shuttle arrived. We were a group of 10 in the van, with 2 foreigners onboard.

At about 8:30 am, we had already reached the wharf. We waited for our boat and departed at about 9:00 am. The first two islands we saw were the Bat and Cowrie Islands. We just passed by those islands because our guide says the beach there are not that nice.

The next stop was the Pambato Reef. I must say, this is the scariest moment of my life as we had to pass through a floating bamboo bridge over the water with no island around. As I am afraid of heights and depths, I am really trembling while crossing the bridge towards the floating kubo. The boatman assisted me when he saw that I was damn nervous. But the scary challenge was worth it. At first I didn’t want to snorkel because again, I am afraid. So hubby tried it first. He went up to the kubo with a big smile on his face. He was so eager to show me his underground photos so I envied him and asked a boatman to assist me while I was snorkeling. Alas! This is the first time I snorkeled! And now I am getting addicted to it. The corals were not that astonishing but the fishes were so cute! And it was really wonderful to see whats’s under the calm sea.

After an hour in Pambato Reef, we headed to our next destination, Snake Island. En route to Snake Island we saw the Starfish Island. Snake Island is a mile long sand bar with a shape like a snake because it is where the waters of opposite currents meet. The island is popular for snorkeling, fish feeding and beach bumming. So we wasted no time and hit the beach as soon as we put out stuff in our cottage.

The fishes here were bigger and more colorful. My baby and I enjoyed feeding the fishes with bread that we bought from the wharf at Php 15 per pack. My husband enjoyed taking underwater photos once again. I was getting really addicted to snorkeling that I would like a snorkel and mask for Christmas, aside from the underwater digicam!

While we are swimming, our tour guide prepared our lunch and called everyone up at 12 noon. The food includes squid, shrimps, grilled pork and fish and fried chicken. We ate without fork and spoon so that we could really feel the island life. I ate a lot! The food was so yummy. After eating, we were given another hour for swimming and we left for the next destination.

Our last destination was Pandan Island. Here, there were big cottages, umbrellas, tables, even a bar and restaurant that offers halo-halo and fresh buko juice and a la carte lunch like grilled fish and pork belly. I like this island more than Snake Island because it has the feel of a resort where there were more trees to keep you from the harmful rays of the sun. It also has shower rooms. The sand here is finer than  in Snake Island. The sand in Snake Island is like in Dos Palmas, white but not powdery. In Pandan Island, the sand is closest to Boracay’s, only a bit coarser and darker. I wish I could stay here longer. On our next Palawan trip, I’ll surely visit Honda Bay again and try Underground River.

After we all get sunburned, we headed back to the wharf and bid goodbye to the beautiful islands of Honda Bay. On our way to the wharf, the rain fell really hard. It made me panicked once again but thankfully we arrived safe.

After our Honda Bay Tour, we were brought back to our pension house. Liberty Park Pension was so lenient with check out times that we even got to shower and rest for a while before going to the airport for our 7:35 pm flight to Manila.

At 7:00 pm, we boarded the plane and officially ended our Palawan trip. I really do hope I could get back again and explore the other places in Palawan.

For more photos, click here