The Philippines, with its more than 7,000 islands, holds countless corners that can make your trip an unforgettable adventure. Breathtaking beaches, monumental waterfalls, rice terraces thousands of years old, cities with beautiful colonial architecture… You’ll never run out of things to do here.
But if you’ve landed on this guide it’s because you, like us, like to go further and are looking for one of those unique experiences still far from mass tourism, even if that means investing more time and giving up certain comforts. Island hopping in Balabac is one of those unforgettable adventures, and in this guide we’re going to go into detail so you can live it and add it to your list of epic moments in the Philippines.
Ready to set course for this beach paradise? Let’s get started!
Where is Balabac
Before we start revealing the secrets of this gem that amazed us so much on our first visit, let’s place it on the map so you know exactly what setting we’re in.
The so‑called “Balabac island hopping” really doesn’t necessarily mean stopping on Balabac Island (as of today we don’t think you’re missing anything there), but it takes this name because it’s the name of the municipality and the largest island in the archipelago. It lies in the eastern part of the Sulu Sea (also called the Jolo Sea) and is just a few kilometers from the border with Malaysia.
The gateway to Balabac is Puerto Princesa, the capital of the island of Palawan. It has an international airport and is accessible from other parts of the Philippines and from Palawan itself such as Port Barton and El Nido. You can read more about how to get there in How to get to Puerto Princesa. From Puerto Princesa you go overland to the south of Palawan (Buliluyan), where boats depart for Balabac.
Since the Philippines ends here, it’s popularly known as “The last frontier”: the last frontier. On this map you can see exactly where it is, with the points we talk about in this guide marked:
What to expect from island hopping in Balabac and how it works
This remote area of the Philippines is still light‑years away from the tourist infrastructure you can find in well‑known parts of the country such as, for example, El Nido, which is less than 600 kilometers away. Therefore, the first thing you need to be clear about is that you won’t find lots of luxuries, restaurants, resorts, or any other tourist business that comes to mind.
Also, although this kind of island hopping in Balabac has been happening for years, don’t expect guides with extensive experience catering to tourists. We don’t think that’s a bad thing; we just want to give you a heads‑up in case you had the wrong idea. It’s part of this adventure!
One of the strengths of this island hopping is precisely that—stepping out of what’s comfortable and living an adventure in pursuit of its other, and main, strong point: the jaw‑dropping beaches and places you’ll get to know here practically on your own. Tongues of white sand, beaches with crystal‑clear waters, and tiny islands of every shape that receive little more than a bit of local tourism.
Many travelers ask us whether it’s worth going only to Balabac and leaving aside places like El Nido or Coron. The question is, at the very least, difficult to answer and, of course, the answer will always be full of nuances and personal perceptions. For us, as we’ll tell you, Onok Island seems wild—in the best way—and one of the best we’ve seen in our lives (we’ve been in the Philippines for 15 years, just so you get the idea).
Island hopping around Balabac is also great fun and offers very good value for money (at least, as of today). However, we will say that the karst landscapes of the El Nido island hopping and Coron are truly incomparable.
On the other hand, since quite a bit of sailing time is required to reach places like Onok, you need to bear in mind that at certain times of the year boats are frequently canceled. So come aware that anything can happen. We don’t want to discourage you (quite the opposite!), but we do want to warn you that this is a destination that always has a large margin for the unexpected.
If you’re looking for a similar experience but with better services and more qualified staff, we definitely recommend doing the Coron–El Nido Expedition (or vice versa).
That said, how can you do island hopping in Balabac? As of today, there are two possible ways to do it. Although, from our experience in the area, only one is really worth it.
Island hopping from Balabac Island itself
As of today, we rule it out completely. It involves having to get yourself to Balabac Island, staying in one of its very few and very basic guest houses, and doing the tours from there. We believe it means more time, more effort, not much saving, and it deprives you of the lovely experience of sleeping on the islands included in the island hopping. Besides, given the few tourist attractions on Balabac Island, we don’t think this option is very appealing.
Quite possibly in a few years the island will develop to welcome tourism and the offer will make it a bit more worthwhile, but… not today.
On the other hand, since from Balabac you’ll also have to hire tours to see what’s truly beautiful and, if you go alone or as a couple, prices will be very high, you wouldn’t be saving much. That said, if there are several of you and you enjoy bargaining, it might interest you to knock a few pesos off. From our perspective, we don’t think it’s worth it, but we’re not all the same. We consider all the alternatives and then give you our honest opinion as always, but, well, that’s still our experience and opinion.
If you want to do it independently, vans and buses go to Buliluyan port from the Irawan Terminal in Puerto Princesa (5–6 hours). Once there, you have to take the boat to Balabac which, in theory, leaves at 9:00, costs 500 pesos, and takes a couple of hours.
Island hopping while sleeping on the islands around Balabac and organized from Puerto Princesa
This is where things get really interesting because everything is taken care of for you and the experience is completely immersive. To do this, all you have to do is book the tour in advance, get to Puerto Princesa, and they will take care of getting you to the south of Palawan (van to Buliluyan port), taking you island hopping, giving you accommodation, feeding you, and, once everything is over, dropping you back at your hotel in Puerto Princesa. Not only that— a tour like this includes all the fees for the different islands and saves you from making payments and keeping track of extra expenses.
In short, they put everything on a plate so you can go discover what really brought you here. This is our favorite way to do it and the one we recommend. There are different packages of 2, 3, and 4 days. In our case, we opted for the 4 days and 3 nights Balabac Expedition. Its price ranges between 11.000 and 14.500 pesos per person (we paid 12.500), which usually includes round‑trip transport from Puerto Princesa, the island hopping, all meals, water, all entrance fees to the different islands, ecotourism fees, and a guide on the bangka.
Continuing with the topic of prices for island hopping in Balabac, it’s also feasible to arrange it privately. Obviously, this usually comes out a little more expensive (about 4.000–5.000 pesos more per person), but it may be worth it if there are several of you. This way, you’ll have a bit more flexibility with schedules, although you don’t need to worry about “crowds”. For now, it will be hard to feel like you’re in a very touristy destination even on a shared tour.
The itinerary you receive before starting the tour is purely indicative and subject to (many) changes. It’s most likely you’ll visit places that don’t appear there, miss others that do appear, and do it all in a different order due to weather conditions or the opening/closing of some private islands. We’d tell you not to worry because, truly, everything you’ll see will be amazing.
Who to book the Balabac expedition with?
There are now roughly 25–30 agencies that sell these tours, but the ones that work in situ aren’t that many. That is, they operate more or less like a “subcontractor”. Unfortunately, the level of service, as we said, is still far from what’s offered in other tourist places like El Nido or Coron, and you need to be patient and understand that not everything works perfectly.
With that said, it’s important that you confirm all aspects of the tour: price, included fees, campsite, itineraries, number of people who usually go on the tour, etc. It took us a long time to choose. We also strongly recommend that you try to spend at least one of the nights on Onok Island, which is, without a doubt, the most beautiful of all the islands you’ll visit.
If you’re interested in doing it this way, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment and we’ll send to your email the information about the company we did it with and a few extra tips.
Also bear in mind that there are companies that do a mix of these two options: they organize a multi‑day island hopping for you but take you every night to sleep on Balabac Island. Having slept on one of the islands to be visited, we wouldn’t do it any other way.
Can you book the Balabac tour upon arriving in Puerto Princesa? Some travelers believe that in Puerto Princesa there are loads of agencies, as happens in El Nido or Coron, offering tours, and the reality is that there aren’t. Despite being the main access point to Palawan, it isn’t a tourist place and you won’t find people in the street offering you the Balabac expedition. In addition, the expedition starts at dawn (pickup is at 2–3 in the morning at your hotel in Puerto Princesa), so we recommend that you organize everything, if possible, weeks in advance. If you add to that the fact that logistics need to be coordinated, you need to be placed in a group, and there aren’t that many people doing them, the best thing is to arrange your trip in advance. As we said above, we can help you.
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How many days to spend in Balábac
As we’ve already mentioned, we decided to do the 4 days and 3 nights Balabac expedition and, to be honest, although the “beds” weren’t comfortable, we would have happily stayed one more day exploring. Therefore, we believe that at the very least, you should do the 4 days and 3 nights.
Bear in mind that the tour itself starts around 2 in the morning on day 1, which means you’ll need to have arrived in Puerto Princesa the day before. You’ll arrive in Buliluyan for breakfast and, afterwards, you’ll start the Balabac island hopping proper. That is, you’ll have days 1, 2, and 3 entirely for island visits and you’ll leave after lunch on day 4. You’ll be back in Puerto Princesa around 20:00–22:00.
That said, if you don’t have that much time, the 3 days and 2 nights might leave you satisfied. But do tell them to include Onok Island in the program no matter what.
Possible itinerary for Balabac
Although we’ve already warned you that routes often change according to sea conditions, how the day is going, or even the mood of travelers or crew, this is a standard example of what island‑hopping companies in Balabac usually offer:
Day 1
3:00 -3:30AM pick up at the hotel/ Travel to Buliluyan port (5 hrs travel)
9:30AM- 4:30PM tour proper
Places to visit:
- Patawan Island
- Canibungan Island
- Onok Island
- Onok Island overnight
Day 2
8:30AM- 4:00PM tour proper
Places to visit:
- Giant clams watching
- Mansalangan (if low tide)
- Punta Sebaring
- Candaraman campsite – overnight
Day 3
8:00AM- 4:00PM tour proper
Places to visit:
- Starfish Sandbar
- Snorkeling Activity in Candaraman
- Timbayan Rock formation
- Sicsican Island (optional)
- Candaraman campsite- overnight
Day 4
7:00AM- 1:00PM tour proper
Places to visit:
- Tangkahan Island
- Canimeran Island
After tour, travel going back to Buliluyan port
2:00PM Departure from Buliluyan port
8:30PM Estimated Arrival in Puerto Princesa City
By the way, for some time now, what most operators do is take you by land to Buliluyan, where you have to take the public boat to Bancalaan Island (about 1 hour) and then your boat will be waiting there to do the Balabac island hopping.
Best time to go to Balábac
We always start from the premise that the weather in the Philippines isn’t an exact science and that it can rain when you least expect it and the sun can come out at moments when statistically the opposite would be expected. Also keep in mind that, being closer to Sabah (Malaysia) than to most places in the Philippines, the weather has little to do with what may be happening at the same time in other, even nearby, areas. You could be experiencing a whole week of rain in El Nido while in Balabac the sun is shining.
That said, and with the data on the table, the most advisable period to visit is from March to May. On these dates it’s much more likely to enjoy the endless cloudless blue sky you’ve seen in so many photos and, above all, much calmer waters that turn Balabac into a huge crystal‑clear swimming pool. This plays a key role here because rough waters can translate into total cancellations of navigation or route modifications that may mean you miss the crown jewel: Onok, since the stretch to reach it is quite long.
Theory also says that in the classic European holiday months like July and August it’s not exactly the best time, since there can be more rain and wind. But, we repeat, it isn’t an exact science and, for example, many of the tours at the end of July of this very year took place under a radiant sun and a totally flat sea.
All in all, you can go to Balabac year‑round, with the best dates being from December to May, when the Habagat wind (southwest monsoon) blows less strongly.
The Southeast Palawan Coast Guard is the competent authority that regulates when you can and cannot set sail in these waters. They announce possible closures on their Facebook page.
Islands to visit on the Balabac island hopping
Below, we’re going to tell you about the main islands you’ll visit during the Balabac island hopping. Keep in mind that the weather here is a hugely determining factor and can make your itinerary vary. Plus, we did a 4 days and 3 nights Balabac tour. If your visit is shorter, the number of islands visited will also vary.
As mentioned, if you need help with the Balabac island‑hopping company, you can leave us a comment and we’ll send you all the information so you can organize it.
Patongong Island (also called Tangkahan Island)
Our first stop on the island hopping was practically the only one where the sun didn’t fully accompany us, but even so, it was clear we’d come to the right place.
Patongong Island is an island full of palm trees, with fine golden sand and a triangular shape that really favors swimming even when there are strong winds.
Tangkahan Island, first stop on our Balabac island hopping tour
Patawan Island
If we’d already started to feel the magic of the Balabac island hopping at the first stop, here on Patawan Island, it was impossible not to let out the first of many “Woooow!!”. Seen from the air, it’s recognizable by that very distinctive shape that suggests something different to each person. A boomerang, a shark fin, an Among Us little guy… Whatever you see, it’s spectacular. The sand here starts to be whiter, its waters are spectacular, and if you feel like snorkeling (they rent masks and fins), you’ll surely find some surprises on the reef right in front.
This was the island where our tour stopped for lunch on the first day and we were able to chat a bit with the couple who looks after it. They run not only the island but also the small resort that had just opened when we visited. Those rooms aren’t exactly cheap, but the spectacular views from its glass wall facing the sea are a good excuse to treat yourself. You can snoop here: Patawan Island Resort.
Canibugan Island
You approach the island in your bangka and start to make out its particular shape—one of those super‑elongated islands that you can cross from side to side in just a few steps. You keep getting closer and confirm that yes, the quality of its waters and sand certifies that you’re still on your epic Balabac island hopping.
Your bangka follows the route to the shore and suddenly… hello? You realize that unlike 99% of the country’s beaches, palm trees don’t rule here, as this island is full of something rare to see in the Philippines—pines! Maybe for you, coming from another part of the world, it won’t catch your attention so much, but for Filipino tourists, that and the swing that’s perfect for Instagram photos sure does.
Starfish Sandbar
One of the most famous sandbars on this island hopping is Starfish, and its very name already gives you a hint of what awaits you there. This sandbar, which will change in size and shape depending on when you visit, is usually frequented by horned sea stars, the classic starfish you’ll find in many places in the Philippines that looks like it’s sprinkled with chocolate chips across its body. Please be respectful of this animal and do not touch them under any circumstances. You could injure or kill them. If you want to take a photo, do it with an underwater camera and within their natural habitat.
As you probably already know, the appearance and depth of sandbars vary completely with the changing height of the tides. We recommend checking the tide table for the following days before the island hopping and making sure you’ll visit Starfish at low tide (or as low as possible). In our case, for example, they wanted to take us to the next sandbar at a time when it was high tide and, since we had this information, we pushed to adjust the visit to a lower tide. The experience changes a lot!
Travel safely in Balabac
We always stress the huge need to have the best insurance for traveling to the Philippines, and in this destination this recommendation makes even more sense. Balabac is one of those once‑in‑a‑lifetime experiences and you want to enjoy it knowing that if something happens, you’re in the best hands. From health issues like bites from disease‑carrying mosquitoes or cuts on coral while snorkeling, to incidents with your transport or luggage, the policy we’ve used for years takes care of all that and much more.
It has saved us thousands of euros, and you can get it here with a discount for coming from us:
Onok Island
The crown jewel. What the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, Onok Island is to the Balabac Island Hopping: the most iconic place. For many, it’s the main reason to come here and for some it’s even the best island in the Philippines. We have spent more than 15 years truly exploring the country and we’ve seen so many that it’s hard for us to choose just one, but without a doubt, it made it straight into the top of our favorites.
Onok is outrageously beautiful. White sand, crystal‑clear waters, palm trees, sandbanks that almost let you “walk on water”… Everything you expect to find on an idyllic island but dialed up to the max—a marvel of nature.
The bangka docks in a shallow area and right in front you find the iconic walkway that stars in one of the island’s most sought‑after photos. On that same walkway you’ll find a couple of huts: one semi‑open that’s usually where tours stop for lunch and another that’s the most coveted accommodation in Balabac. Sleeping there (we’ll tell you more about it later) gives you the unique chance to be alone at sunrise and sunset in this paradise. Many of the companies that do this island hopping offer this option, but it’s usually hard to secure because there are few spots, they’re in high demand, and the owner (a Filipino politician, as with many islands in the area) can close it at any time to host a private event.
Our favorite area is the opposite side to the huts, across the island. The first time we were in Onok most people didn’t make it that far and we were alone for most of the time. Plus, it’s the most beautiful swimming area.
Something we didn’t expect at all and hadn’t read about is the huge number of turtles that come close to the shore. First it was from the walkway connecting the huts, but hours later we saw several more on the beach on the opposite side. It was magical!
Entrance to the different islands on the island hopping usually costs between 100 and 150 pesos, while to enter Balabac you have to pay 1.500 pesos. If you stay overnight, 500 more pesos are added to the bill.
Candaraman Island
Those who decide to stay on the main island of Balabac and from there make getaways to different islands usually don’t get to the “good side” of Candaraman Island and end up visiting a beach that isn’t very exciting.
In our case, Candaraman was our base for three nights and thanks to that we had the chance to go and see the beach on its southwest corner, a perfect place to end the day with the sun about to set.
An airstrip for small planes is being built on the opposite side of the island. We’ll be keeping an eye on how this opening of the area by air progresses. Some people are scared about how the opening of hotels and resorts might affect it and others, on the other hand, see a chance to bring the Balabac island hopping to more people and, therefore, gradually bring more comforts as well.
Timbayan Rock Formation
The stop at Timbayan, although it was interesting, was perhaps the one that caught our attention the least in the whole Balabac island‑hopping route. The main attraction is seeing the large and peculiar rock formation where the island ends.
Although the beach is quite decent on both sides of the rocks and we insisted on taking a dip, we were told again and again that we couldn’t because it wasn’t safe. As we tell you in the safety section of the Balabac Guide, there are saltwater crocodiles on the main island that have many locals terrified. Most likely, as Timbayan is so close, that’s the reason why as of today you can’t swim here. In fact… If you take a look at photos of this place on Google Maps you’ll see a dead crocodile on the rocks.
Be that as it may, even without being our favorite place, it was a bonus we took with us and we enjoyed getting to know it. In addition, the route through the channel between Balabac Island and Ramos Island seemed very picturesque to us. It’s full of mangroves and stilt houses.
Sicsican Island
Onuk Island is our favorite island on this tour—no discussion. But as a place for “beach time and snorkeling”, watch out for Sicsican (also called Caxisigan Island). Our stop on this island was on the west side and then we crossed it through the interior until we reached the east coast, where there’s one of the camps where the different tour companies spend the night. We basically went to have lunch in one of its huts and when we finished they gave us free time. The rest of the group stayed on that same side, in front of the camp, but we went back to where the bangka had dropped us off and we had that beach all to ourselves.
We were super comfortable enjoying the fine sand and the shade of the palm trees and when we thought things couldn’t get any better, we discovered its amazing underwater world. Just a few meters from the shore and at very shallow depth, an endless array of corals of every color awaits you, along with fish of all sizes. Don’t miss it!
Secret Reef
We don’t know if the name is made up, but one of the stops on our island hopping was the reef between Candaraman and Sicsican. Although we maybe liked the latter island’s reef more, since it was at a shallower depth and could be done more comfortably, you won’t regret jumping into the water because we truly saw very healthy coral and lots of marine life.
Mansalangan Sandbar
The big sister of Starfish Island is far from the main area where the rest of the stops are and is usually visited at the start/end of the tour because of the time it takes to get there.
As we mentioned with the first sandbar, it’s very important to time the visit with low tide here, as at high tide you won’t see absolutely anything and you’ll simply be walking through a huge flooded area that in some spots reaches your hips. On the other hand, if you manage to get there at low tide, you’ll have the chance to see the more than kilometer‑and‑a‑half‑long sandbar that appears. A spectacular place if you go at the right time.
Canimeran Island
This was the last island of our Balabac expedition and we really didn’t expect much more from it than a place to have lunch before heading to Buliluyan port and then starting the journey back to Puerto Princesa.
The first thing that caught our attention was the little group of peacocks that live on and roam the island. Then, after crossing to the other side, we found a super appealing beach with sand that turned a slight pink hue when the sun came out and beautiful, calm turquoise waters that were a grand farewell to this visit to Balabac. It also had an “apocalyptic” vibe with so many fallen palm trees. One of the best beaches? We don’t rule it out.
Where to sleep in Balabac
We already mentioned that tourist services in this archipelago are still light‑years away from those in other parts of the country—and not only in quality but also in quantity. Partly thanks to this, it’s possible to visit Balabac without coinciding with hundreds of other travelers.
If you choose to do the multi‑day Balabac Expedition, depending on the agency you go with and availability at that time, you’ll sleep in these camps:
Candaraman Campsite
This is a very basic, no‑frills campsite used by several expedition companies. Ours has a main hut with 5 rooms separated by nipa walls, a mattress on the floor, and a ceiling light shared with the room next door. Zero luxuries. There’s also the option to sleep in a tent.
The bathroom area is even less luxurious. You’ll find two toilets where, in addition to doing your business, you can shower using buckets of room‑temperature water. For meals there’s a shed with a large table where breakfast and dinner are served. That’s where from 18:00 in the evening you can charge your devices.
One of its strengths is its orientation, which will allow you to enjoy the sunset from the beach. This camp really has a lot of potential, but it’s quite neglected, and with a couple of tweaks it would become a much better place.
Sicsican Campsite
This is, as of today, the best‑managed camp—both for the cleanliness of the area and the care taken with decorative details. In addition, in its main hut they have a small store with a refrigerator (something you’ll rarely see during these days) and you can buy snacks and really cold drinks. As a curious fact, much of what’s sold here is produced in Malaysia, given this country’s proximity.
The rooms are small triangular cabins that are more private than those in Cadaraman, and the bathrooms are also more appealing in every way. They also have tents.
Onok Island Campsite
Without a doubt, enjoying sunset and sunrise on Onok Island and having the island for so many hours practically to yourself is what makes this accommodation the most sought‑after.
The stilt huts hide rooms with several mattresses, a tiny sink, a small refrigerator, and a charging area for electronic devices (from 18:00 to 22:30). There’s also the option to sleep on the island itself in a tent or in a kind of domes or igloos that were set up recently (things in Balabac are changing at breakneck speed).
Keep in mind that sleeping here has an extra cost of 500 pesos, that it isn’t easy to do unless you book in advance, and that even so, a last‑minute private event or rough seas can leave you on the doorstep. In our case, sleeping here was included in the cost of the expedition, but unfortunately, we couldn’t stay in the end. We’ll make up for it!
Punta Sebaring Campsite (Bugsuk Island)
Despite being quite far (a couple of hours’ sailing from Candaraman/Sicsican and even more from Balabac Island), this is one of the usual stops on the Balabac island hopping. In our case, although it was included in the itinerary, we didn’t manage to visit due to the waves. It’s usually visited after seeing the Mansalangan Sandbar, which is more or less on the way.
Since we haven’t visited it, we can’t tell you much, but we were told that it has a very beautiful beach, although, unfortunately, with plenty of sandlfies or nik nik. We’re including it here because there’s at least one Balabac expedition operator that has its camp there. Please, if you visit it, tell us your impressions.
Sleeping on Balabac Island
If you decide to stay on Balabac Island, whether because you’re going to do outings from there or because the company you’ll do the island hopping with doesn’t offer overnight on other islands, options are scarce and mostly simple:
– Sing & Swing (also called JD Lodge): Very simple accommodation like what you can find in many places in the Philippines. Rooms with private bathroom and old air conditioning, plus a 6/8-person dorm with a fan. Bare-bones but acceptable for what the area offers nowadays. The room costs 1.000 pesos and can’t be booked online, but you can write to this number: +639399377948 or via Facebook.
– Marloe Lodging House: A basic Filipino concept very similar to the previous one. Not many differences but somewhat cleaner and tidier. You can inquire via Facebook.
– Batalla’s Lodging House: One of the newest hostels on the island, with modern air-conditioning units, but also more “pricey”. It’s 1.500 pesos per night for the double. You can book by phone (+63 9085505823) or by Facebook message.
– Balabac Eco Resort: travelers tell us the service is so-so, but the room in “dome geometric “style with air conditioning, gorgeous private beach, speed boat to reach the different islands in no time, high-speed Starlink wifi… A future magnet for Honeymoons in the Philippines. You can take a look here: Balabac Eco Resort.
Useful tips for the Balabac island hopping
Now that we’ve told you everything you need to know about what awaits you on the Balabac expedition, we want to end this guide with some tips that will make your experience even better:
Wet luggage: The bangkas that do the Balabac island hopping are small compared with those usually found on the Coron–El Nido or Coron–Coron expeditions. If you add to that the fact that a large part of this adventure takes place on the open sea, assume you’ll get wet and that water will come into the boat. Then you’ll ask yourself, “What do I do with my luggage?”. Our recommendation here is to arrive in Balabac with the bare minimum and leave the rest of your things in Puerto Princesa.
We’ve been staying for years at Golden Pension, a central hotel run by a super friendly family. If you stay there, you can leave your belongings in their care without a problem. We left there, among many other things, our two laptops and, when we returned, everything was just as we’d left it. Not only that, they’ll take you to and pick you up from the Puerto Princesa airport for free. You can take a look and book from here: Prices and availability for Golden Pension in Puerto Princesa.
By the way, although we don’t want it to turn into a competition, the place where you’ll get the least wet on the boat is the area closest to the captain. Really—there were moments when full waves were coming in, and this is where the water hits you the least.
Coverage: Coverage here is totally unreliable. If you need to make a video call or handle any online paperwork, this isn’t the right place. There are places like Canimeran where you’ll see the antenna in the distance and you might receive a WhatsApp every X hours, and other places like Onok Island where, even in the middle of nowhere, we were able to send a video. Comparatively, we felt Smart worked better than Globe, but without much notable difference.
Money: There are no ATMs on any of the islands, nor on Balabac itself. Bring cash to cover whatever expenses you need. If you do an expedition like ours, a few pesos will be enough for drinks beyond the water included (and for a tip for your guides if you consider it). Otherwise, you’ll also have to pay fees and outings. We paid for the expedition in situ before starting and in cash.
Nik-nik: Although this isn’t the area of the Philippines where you’ll find the most, on some islands you might come across the pesky sandflies—those little bugs that don’t seem to do anything while you’re on the beach but remind you the next day when everything itches. If you’re someone they’re attracted to or you react strongly to their bites, don’t forget to apply a layer of coconut oil to ward them off.
Food: If you’re going to join one of the Balabac expeditions, all meals—from when they pick you up until they drop you back in Puerto Princesa—are included. Drinking water, too. Even so, at the camps you can buy drinks, including the odd beer. If you have any allergies/intolerances or are vegan or vegetarian, we recommend that you mention it before making your booking and when you arrive at the camp, which is where you’ll have most of your meals. They’ll adapt to you, although don’t expect major adjustments. Otherwise, meals are usually fairly abundant and sometimes include fresh seafood. If you can bring a snack from Puerto, you might appreciate it at some point.
What to pack: In our super guide to What to bring to the Philippines you already have lots of clues about what can be useful for the Balabac island hopping as well. Some of our basics would be:
- Dry bag: It will be your best friend when the waves come into your bangka again and again and you want to keep things like your passport, camera, or drone well protected. In some places in the Philippines you can buy them, but if you want to bring one from home already, have a look at this: Dry bag for travel.
- Power bank: Electricity at the expedition camps is limited to certain hours of the day, and when you’re visiting the islands you’ll surely burn through a lot of your phone’s battery to capture this paradise with hundreds of photos and videos. If you don’t want to run out of battery, it can be very useful to have an external one like this: Portable battery for travel.
- Power strip: Maybe this won’t be necessary in your case, but we’ll leave the idea here. We travel with cameras, drones, phones, power banks, laptops… It would be unfair to take all the available outlets in the common area of the camps, so we always carry our “cube power strip”. We occupy a single outlet but can charge everything at once and even share it with other travelers. We use this one: USB cube outlet.
- Mosquito repellent: Another essential that shouldn’t be missing. In any sari sari you can buy the classic Off.
- Mask and snorkel: You know we always recommend traveling with your own snorkeling kit. It’s more hygienic, the gear will be of much higher quality, you’ll save money, and it’s not something that takes up too much space in your backpack. This is the one we’ve been using for years: Quality snorkeling gear.
- Reusable steel bottle: Another thing we’ve been traveling with for years. Ideal for having fresh water in the middle of a hot day and ideal for refilling throughout the Philippines for free without having to buy bottles that generate plastic waste. We’re using this one right now and we’re super happy with it: Good reusable bottle.
- Sunscreen: You’ll be absorbed by the beauty of the place and, even on cloudy days, the sun is strong. Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen so you don’t regret it the next day when you’re sunburned. Please get one that isn’t harmful to coral and marine animals, like this one: Eco sunscreen.
- Clothing: We’re not going to go into much detail here because it’s obvious that the swimsuit is the key piece. But we do want to recommend that you bring something warm in case you get days of bad weather or if it cools down at night. Better safe than sorry!
- Biodramina (with caffeine): if you don’t bring it from home, you can buy Bonamine in any Filipino pharmacy. It makes you drowsy, but it’s effective if you get very seasick on boats. Some stretches can feel long, so taking half a tablet might be useful.
- Shampoo/soap: you won’t be given any of that and you won’t find it. It sounds basic, but it’s better not to forget it.
Travel insurance: We can’t imagine traveling anywhere in the Philippines without it and even less here. A cut on coral, some food that didn’t agree with you, the bite of a mosquito carrying diseases… you don’t want to be stranded in Balabac. We’ve been using this travel insurance for the Philippines for years (you already know it saved us more than 22.000 euros in Manila) and you also have a 5% discount if you get it by clicking here.
Frequently asked questions about Balabac in the Philippines
To wrap up, we want to answer the most common questions travelers who want to visit Balabac usually ask us:
Is Balabac dangerous?
Not at all. It has a bad reputation because quite a few years ago there were piracy issues, but now it’s just another tourist destination in the Philippines and you don’t have anything to worry about. Filipinos are also afraid of saltwater sharks, but honestly, there are hardly any, and if there are, it’s in remote areas of the region. There hasn’t been any case of an attack on a tourist and, to be honest, it would seem extremely rare for it to happen.
How to get to Balabac?
You can go independently from Puerto Princesa to Buliluyan port and there take the boat to Balabac, but the truly beautiful part isn’t on Balabac Island itself, it’s on the surrounding islands. That’s why it’s much better to arrange an excursion that departs from Puerto Princesa where you don’t have to worry about anything. This way, you’ll also sleep on uninhabited islands, which is much more interesting.
Can you go to Balabac independently?
You can, as we say, go to Balabac Island and there hire day tours, but unless there are several of you, it usually isn’t worth it, and the town of Balabac isn’t particularly pretty either. For this reason, it’s much better to go with a tour organized from Puerto Princesa that includes all the transport, meals, fees, and routes around the islands. It won’t cost you more and it’s more convenient. If you want, we can give you a contact.
What’s the best time to go to Balabac?
The sea will be calmer between the months of March and May, when there are also more chances of less rain and fewer tour cancellations. That said, you can go to Balabac all year. If you can do it between December and May, it will be better.
How many days to spend in Balabac?
From our experience, the best thing is to do the 4 days and 3 nights Balabac tour. If you can’t spare that much time, do at least the 3 days and 2 nights one. And if you can, spend one of the nights on Onok Island.
All set to enjoy the Balabac island hopping? You’ll love it! If you have questions or want more information, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment below and we’ll be happy to help.
