Island hopping in Port Barton! More and more travelers are going to travel to the Philippines and consider including Port Barton in their itinerary. Besides being a very laid-back town, you can enjoy beautiful beaches, waterfalls and, if you feel like it, discover nearby islands aboard a traditional boat, the bangka. With years of experience doing this kind of excursion, so you can decide whether this suits you, which one is best and how to do it, we’ve written this guide to island hopping in Port Barton.
Keep reading to discover the best tours in Port Barton and how to enjoy them to the fullest.
What is island hopping in Port Barton like? What is it?
Before getting into it, we should probably clarify what an island hopping tour is. It’s simply about going around the islands near Port Barton in a bangka, the typical boats of the Philippines. As the name suggests, you “hop from island to island” enjoying snorkel spots, beaches and sandbars. You’ll find plenty of information in Island hopping in the Philippines.
The size of the bangka depends on the number of passengers it will carry, but Port Barton tours are not usually crowded. They’re typically for 6 people and, therefore, small. Even so, you’ll also find bigger boats. As we’ll tell you below, we recommend doing a slightly more private island hopping and going in small groups.
You don’t need to worry about anything; the crew will tell you the best spots, how to make the most of them and, in addition, they’ll serve you a tasty lunch at some point during the trip.
There will always be a captain on board, one or two assistants making sure everything runs well and a guide. On Port Barton excursions the guides speak English, but you don’t need to worry much, since there are no cultural or historical explanations—just basic directions you’ll certainly understand. What’s more, due to the increase in Spanish-speaking tourism and because we’ve known them for years, many of them already speak a little Spanish.
As with the island hopping in El Nido and Coron, there are several types of tours in Port Barton, called A and B (there used to be 4, but after a typhoon in 2021 some snorkel spots lost interest and they were consolidated into 2). Each one visits different corners and focuses more on snorkeling, beaches or even waterfalls. Even so, unlike the first two, Port Barton tours are more similar to one another and it’s common for travelers to do just one of them, since the differences don’t usually justify several days of excursions. In addition, the stops can be tweaked a little on the fly.
Island hopping tours in Port Barton usually start at 9:00 and return to town around 16:00–16:30. However, if you do it privately, you can leave around 7:00 or 8:00 and you’ll find fewer people along the route.
Is island hopping in Port Barton recommended?
Yes, but with caveats.
Island hopping in Port Barton is a great activity. You’ll spend almost a whole day discovering pretty beaches and snorkeling; however, the landscapes are by no means comparable to those in El Nido and Coron. You won’t find huge karst rock walls here and, being 100% honest, the beaches you’ll see aren’t the most spectacular in the Philippines. Don’t get us wrong, but there are beaches in Port Barton that are every bit as good as the ones you’ll see on the tours without having to pay.
On the other hand—and unfortunately—many reefs in Port Barton are badly damaged. Since our first visit in 2015, when we were amazed by the marine life and the good condition of the corals, things have changed. That said, there are still things to see and, as we’ll tell you, turtles can be seen fairly easily.
Finally, tourism development has meant that at certain moments of the tour a lot of travelers gather and things have had to be regulated in some way. For example, now between Maxima and Exotic Island there are a lot of ugly black buoys that detract from a beautiful landscape. In this same place they also seem to be feeding a turtle and, sadly, the behavior is nothing like that of a wild animal. The fact that everyone jumps in at the same time to chase another turtle at Turtle Point also saddens us a lot and we don’t know what will happen in the future.
Don’t get us wrong, we’ve always had a great time doing island hopping in Port Barton and, if you have time to spare in your Philippines itinerary, we think it’s an excellent option to enjoy the beaches. That said, Port Barton excursions are by no means comparable to those in El Nido or Coron and they aren’t a substitute. If you’re short on time or don’t want to spend much, we suggest focusing on the other destinations and simply enjoying Port Barton and its beaches. We just want to be honest with you, but, obviously, tastes vary and many travelers write to us delighted with their Port Barton island hoppings.
Prices for island hopping in Port Barton—how much is it?
The price of island hopping in Port Barton is 1,500 pesos per person. This also includes snorkel gear rental (although we always recommend bringing your own, one like this) and lunch. Note that, although aggressive haggling isn’t typical in the Philippines, if there are several of you, you can negotiate a bit and get it for 1,300 pesos.
You can book it easily HERE.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to add the environmental fees, which are 200 pesos per person. So make it very clear with whoever you book what’s included and what isn’t, so you don’t get any surprises later. This fee is valid for 10 days, so if you plan to do another island hopping in Port Barton, you won’t have to pay more. Remember to keep the card.
Lunch on Port Barton tours usually consists of grilled fish and meat, some vegetable dish (normally ensaladang talong, i.e., grilled eggplant), rice and fruit. It’s accompanied by a soft drink and water. If you want beer or other drinks, you’ll usually find a small stall, but keep in mind you’ll pay for it separately. If you’re vegetarian/vegan or have any food intolerances, let them know the day before so they can prepare your meal.
Tours in Port Barton: private or shared?
As in many places in the Philippines, in Port Barton you have the option to book online or go to any agency, pay the per‑person price and be grouped with other travelers, or you can pay for a whole boat and do it privately.
What are the advantages of doing a private tour in Port Barton? Basically, you can choose the route you want to follow and how to do it. That is, you can choose which stops, how long to spend at each one and, most importantly, avoid the places with more people.
And while it’s true that the number of tourists on Port Barton island hoppings isn’t comparable to El Nido, in recent years we’ve noticed a significant increase. Having done them both ways (private and shared), we now recommend booking a private tour, obviously accepting that it’s more expensive.
How much is a private tour in Port Barton?
They’re not cheap, but it can be worth it if there are quite a few of you.
The prices for private tours in Port Barton are:
- 6,000 pesos for 2 people (3,000 per person)
- 6,000 pesos if there are 3 people (2,000 pesos per person)
- 1,500 pesos for each additional person from the 4th onward
- Children aged 1 to 9 pay 750 pesos
As you can see, if there are only 2 of you, it’s considerably more expensive than a shared tour. Therefore, we suggest looking for other travelers, and for that we created our calendar of excursions in the Philippines.
And, of course, as anywhere in the country, the service also depends on who you book with. Some companies make a greater effort to make your island hopping in Port Barton unforgettable, serving tastier food or, most importantly, trying to avoid crowds at the stops. We’ve trusted the same family for years and can tell you they’re great, and they also have a brand‑new boat of their own, which is great.
If you want the contact for our favorite Port Barton island hopping, leave us a comment and we’ll send you the information as soon as possible.
Tips for doing island hopping in Port Barton
Here are some personal recommendations after several Port Barton island hoppings under our belts:
- The best time to do the excursions in Port Barton is from December to May, when it’s the dry season in Palawan. If you come at another time it doesn’t mean it will definitely rain; there’s simply a higher chance of rain or rougher seas. Even so, it’s rare for Port Barton to be affected by typhoons.
- If you’re going to do a private tour in Port Barton, try to leave a bit earlier than the rest, around 7:30 or 8:00. Check the possibility with the agency or the guide.
- Always bring a dry bag like this one to protect your valuables and electronic devices. You never know if a wave will splash while you’re on the boat.
- Don’t forget to bring some cash to pay for any extra drinks you might have. Don’t worry, your belongings won’t be stolen on the boats while you’re snorkeling.
- Remember to use biodegradable sunscreen or simply a shirt with sun protection factor, so we don’t damage the corals.
- Please, avoid the “party boats”. Unfortunately, on our last tour in Port Barton we had to endure the nuisance of blaring music from a huge boat with a slide. At several points along the route, when we were enjoying the peace of nature, they would show up and strip the place of all its charm. It certainly doesn’t seem like responsible tourism to us, nor aligned with what you look for in this kind of excursion. We can see how these tours are becoming trendy in the Philippines and it seems a real shame.
- Please be careful and always travel with good medical insurance like ours, so you’ll be attended to if needed and transported to Puerto Princesa. Here’s a 5% discount.
Where to stay for the tours in Port Barton
Since Port Barton island hopping tours depart right from the town beach, our suggestion is that you stay in town. Here are some recommendations:
- Something budget: Hashtag Tourist Inn
- Mid‑range: Sol’s Inn
- A bit of luxury: Parrots Boutique Resort
Remember that you’ll find more recommendations in Where to stay in Port Barton.
Which is the best island hopping in Port Barton?
As we mentioned above, you’ll find several tours in Port Barton. These are the stops that are usually made:
By the way, in case you read it somewhere outdated, unfortunately it’s no longer possible to visit German Island. The island is private and does not accept island‑hopping visits. It’s a pity because it’s truly beautiful, but you can always dream about it from afar.
Even if we list them, the reality is that the tours get mixed and, if it’s a good guide, they’ll choose the best stops from each one—in other words, a combined tour with all the highlights. From our experience, and given the damage the corals suffered with the 2021 typhoon, the best would be Turtle Point, Starfish Island, Wide Reef, Fantastic Reef and Maxima Island. If your guide is cool (our contact surely is), they’ll take you to Peña Plata, which has an incredible beach.
So here you can relax a bit and not scrutinize every spot like we think is important in El Nido and Coron. That said, we want to tell you a little about the stops so you understand what they’re like and see whether they suit you. These are the places that are normally visited on the tours in Port Barton:
Maxima Island and Exotic Island
The islands of Maxima (also called Albaguen) and Exotic (Cayoya) are the farthest stop on Port Barton island hoppings, so we recommend going there first and enjoying them before everyone else arrives. That said, it’s best to listen to your guide, who does these tours every day and knows how things are at any given time.
They’re two pretty islands separated by a very shallow channel that you can walk across, as the water rarely goes above chest or hip height.
Depending on the fees your agency has paid, you can go to one or the other, but the usual base is Exotic. Here you’ll have free time to stroll along its long beach and take a dip in the turquoise waters around it. There are also a few huts to shelter from the sun or, if you’re visiting later, to stay and have lunch.
Unfortunately, on our last visit to these islands, we saw a small green turtle circling around the bangkas stopped in the channel. It approached people and stayed at the surface the whole time, which is not at all normal behavior for these animals. After asking around, we found out that people are feeding it every day, altering its routines. We ask that you please don’t chase it at any time and, if you can, make people aware that this is a harmful activity.
Turtle Spot
If you’ve never seen turtles and it would make you happy, you can make this stop on your Port Barton island hopping the Turtle Sanctuary or Turtle Spot. Located in a channel between Inaladelan Island (German Island) and Double Island, it’s normal to find a couple of turtles swimming here. Usually the boat stops in the middle of the sea and people jump in to look for them with the guide.
The problem? Everyone goes at the same time (it’s usually the first stop), they crowd together and it looks more like a turtle chase than anything else. Our advice is to try to go after visiting Maxima and Paradise, when there are fewer people. That way you’ll have a nicer and, of course, more responsible experience.
Capsalay Island
The new addition to Port Barton island hoppings is Capsalay Island, a huge island to the northeast of town. As you’ll see on the map, it’s super long, so the boat simply stops at the prettiest stretch of beach, where they have a small camp to cook your meal.
In recent years, depending on what you’ve visited, you may or may not stop here, so you decide what you feel like most. Sometimes the lunch stop is on Maxima or Exotic, but we think Capsalay’s beach is prettier.
Twin Reef
There are lots of reefs around Port Barton and we encourage you to spend a while with mask and snorkel. Although, as we mentioned above, the corals aren’t in great condition, there is still some marine life. Twin Reef is a good alternative, but you also have Fantastic Reef nearby and, in fact, both are usually visited.
If you’ll allow a tip, we’d opt to visit just one and ask our guide which one they think is better at the moment. Nothing beats local knowledge to guide you.
By the way, if, like us, you’re a snorkel fan, we recommend you don’t miss our article Best snorkel sites in the Philippines.
Starfish Island Port Barton
To finish island hopping in Port Barton, this small sandbar a few minutes from town is usually visited. Although it’s not at all comparable to Kalanggaman or White Island in Camiguin, some of the best sandbars in the Philippines, this little stretch of white sand will give you the chance to see Chocolate Chip sea stars up close, i.e., the starfish with black spots. Please don’t touch them or take them out of the water and, if you see someone doing it, let them know that this kills them.
If your tour doesn’t include this spot, as we tell you in Things to do in Port Barton, you can also visit Starfish Island on your own by kayak.
Overnight island hopping in Port Barton
Want to do something special? Another option is to spend a night on a paradise island camping (bonfire included) and, the next morning, do one of the tours around Port Barton we’ve mentioned. This is known as an overnight tour.
In this case, the guide will suggest which island to spend the night on; the usual choices are Maxima, Calipayan, Giligans or Peña Plata (all beautiful). The price is around 4,500–5,000 pesos per person for the tour, food (dinner, breakfast and lunch), drinks (water, rum and cola), snorkeling and fees. It will also depend on how many people you are.
Map of island hopping in Port Barton
To make it clearer, here’s a map with the island hopping routes in Port Barton:
This is just a small part of our Port Barton Guide; don’t hesitate to check it if you’re planning your trip to this corner of Palawan.
If you have questions or need a contact to do your island hopping in Port Barton, we’ll see you in the comments!
