The Ultimate Balabac Island Hopping Guide: What to Pack, Expect, and Know Before You Go
Balabac is known as the last frontier of Palawan. A truly untouched tropical paradise where you can find white sand islands all to yourself. Tours here have only recently started gaining popularity, so if you’re choosing between the El Nido / Coron island hopping tours up north and Balabac, which is on the far South side of the island, this one’s the less-crowded, off-the-beaten-path option.
So, what exactly should you expect on a Balabac island hopping tour? How long should you go for, what should you pack, and how much does it all cost? Let’s get into it.
Which agency should I go with?
The agencies all generally take you to the same islands,The order might vary a little, but the route is pretty similar overall. All tours are weather dependent, so unless you hit strong currents, wind, or rain, you can expect to see a similar list of stops.
The biggest difference between agencies is basecamp. Basecamp is where you will sleep most nights. Since Balabac is far less developed (which is a big part of why it’s so special), your sleeping arrangements will most likely be in a tent. These tents usually come with a fan, mattress, and sheets to make your stay comfortable. There are some basic huts on some of the islands, but they were unavailable during our stay despite us requesting one in advance.
At basecamp, you’ll also find showers, a small sari-sari style shop with snacks, single-use toiletries, and alcoholic drinks if you want a beer at sunset.
How many nights should I book?
Given how remote Balabac is, we wanted to stay as long as possible to soak it all in, so we booked a 5 day / 4 night excursion, which is the longest option across all agencies. We spent 3 nights at our basecamp, and one unforgettable night on the infamous Onuk Island.
Staying overnight on Onuk meant we got to enjoy the island after the day tours left, just us and the ~10 residents who live there–an incredible way to experience the island.
If you can swing it, 4 days / 3 nights should be the minimum. You’ll want enough time to settle in, explore, and not feel rushed.
How do I get to Balabac?
Balabac is about a 5 hour drive south from Puerto Princesa. Once you’ve booked your tour, your agency will coordinate your pick-up from Puerto Princesa. Expect a very early wake up call – our shuttle arrived at 4 AM.
Shuttles usually do hotel pick-ups between 3:30 AM and 4:30 AM, so be up, ready, and somewhere visible or audible. It’s a bumpy ride, but 100% worth it.
Once you get to Buliluyan, you’ll board a large boat to another wharf where you’ll board a smaller bangka boat for all of your island hopping during the tour. Island hopping begins once you board the smaller bangka, so keep in mind that you won’t get to basecamp until after your tour for the day.
At the end of the trip, the process is reversed–you’ll boat back to Buliluyan and catch another shuttle back to Puerto Princesa. Sometimes there is a bit of a wait for a shuttle to become available, so check in with your guide and make sure you’re waiting in the right place.
Should I do a private or shared excursion?
After choosing your agency and dates, the next decision is private vs. shared excursion.
What’s the difference? Both visit the same islands on a similar timeline. The main difference is the boat set up. Shared tours include around 20 passengers on one bangka boat. A private tour is just you (and whoever you’re with), your captain, an anchorman, and your guide.
We chose a private tour and loved the flexibility. Our meals were made just for us, and we could shift our island schedules to avoid crowds and have sandbars to ourselves.
It was also the easier option for our dietary restrictions. We’re strict vegans, and we had no problem communicating this–every meal was prepared fully vegan. If you go with a shared tour, you’ll need to pick around the communal meals, but there’s typically rice, fruit, and steamed veggies offered.
How much does it all cost?
Pricing varies based on the agency, trip length, and whether you go private or shared.
We chose the most expensive option: a 5 day / 4 night private tour with a one-night stay on Onuk Island.
Total cost: ₱48,000 PHP / $860 USD for two people (₱24,000 / $430 per person).
If you choose a shorter or shared tour, expect a noticeable price drop.
For us, it was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience that was worth every single peso.
Packing List:
Balabac is hands-down one of our best travel decisions in Palawan. Here's our essential packing list to make your trip more comfortable - including all of the things we swore by, as well as a few we wished we packed:
Dry bag — You will get fully soaked on the bangka boats. Keep everything dry and safe inside.
Cash — Just enough for snacks, drinks, or shampoo on the islands. Don’t bring too much as there is nowhere secure to store it.
Ear plugs — The bangka boats are loud. You’ll be on board for up to 1.5 hours at a time.
Battery pack — There may be a place to charge your electronics at basecamp, but come prepared.
Bug spray — Go for a long-lasting formula that works against mosquitoes and nikniks. We love the lotion version by Proven–it doesn’t leak and doubles as moisturizer.
Sunscreen — Anything above SPF 5 is hard to find in remote areas. Stock up in Puerto Princesa.
Locks — Tent accommodations mean limited security. Use a small combo lock on your bag to keep your things more secure.
Travel towel — We like the ones from Nomadix, but anything fast-drying will work
With this packing list in mind, if you’re not already packing light (think small backpack), we highly recommend booking a hotel in Puerto Princesa that offers bag holds while you’re off in Balabac. The bangkas are relatively small and there’s no room for bulky luggage. Bring only what you need in a compact daypack, and leave the rest in town.
Some hotels will hold your bags after you check out, so you won’t need to pay for the nights you’re away. We stayed at the Alvea Hotel and had zero issues using their bag hold service.
Setting Expectations
Remote beaches come with basic facilities, and the simplicity that comes with being on a secluded remote island is part of the charm.
Tent camping is the norm here. There’s rarely Wi-Fi, no air conditioning, and no real phone signal, but that’s kind of the point. Most showers are tabo showers–a big bucket of clean water and a small scoop. Embrace it. Tabo showers made us feel more connected to nature than we expected.
As always, do your part to be respectful. Keep the islands clean. Be kind to the locals and to your fellow travelers.
You’ll probably notice some cats and dogs on the islands. Some are in rough shape. Given the isolation and limited infrastructure of the area, access to both human and animal medical care is extremely limited (the nearest vet being 12 hours away by a combination of boat and land transport).
If you’re a licensed vet or vet tech, even basic first aid can go a long way in places like this (but check the local laws before you do anything). I’ve linked a few animal welfare volunteer programs in Palawan and throughout the Philippines below if you want to get involved or donate.
Need an E-Sim? Check out Airalo — We use this for all of our travels, from the Philippines, China, Europe and beyond.
Let us know if there's anything else you want to know about Balabac!
