Balabac Island Hopping (Onuk Island and Sandbars)
About
This is Palawan at its wildest! Balabac sits at the far southern tip of Palawan, where powder-white sandbars and see-through turquoise water look almost unreal. Highlights include Onuk Island, Punta Sebaring, Candaraman Island and the Mansalangan and Starfish sandbars. Getting there is part of the adventure: tours leave Puerto Princesa around 3 AM for the long drive to Buliluyan Port, then boats take you across. Expect glamping tents, generator power only at night and zero mobile signal. Book a 4-day, 3-night accredited tour, bring cash, and go from December to May for calmer seas!
Go before 10 AM today. Rain likely after.
- 4 days, 3 nights recommendedTime to spend
- December to May; March to May for the clearest sandbar photos.Best time to go
- About ₱12,899 per personSplurge
- Ferry, then a boatNo car needed
What to do here
- Swim in Onuk Island's turquoise water
- Walk the Mansalangan and Starfish sandbars
- Visit Punta Sebaring and Candaraman Island
- Snorkel the reefs between stops
Know before you go
Saltwater crocodiles live near mangroves and marshes: stay in the swimming areas your guide picks and never swim at night.
A 2026 PIA report confirmed a problem crocodile was captured in Barangay Sebaring after an attack, so follow your guide's rules.
Boats sail only with Coast Guard clearance, and routes change in bad weather.
Bring cash and power banks: no ATMs, no signal and limited electricity.
No cars on the islands; tours handle every transfer from Puerto Princesa.
4-day, 3-night shared tours cost about ₱12,899–₱17,850 per person in 2026, and many add a ₱1,000 fuel surcharge. Onuk Island entrance is ₱1,500 per person (daytime only); Candaraman, Patawan and Sicsican charge ₱100 per person each (LakbayPinas, May 2026).
Balabac sits at the far southern tip of Palawan, where powder-white sandbars and see-through turquoise water look almost unreal.
Book a 4-day, 3-night accredited tour, bring cash, and go from December to May for calmer seas!
Where it is
Balabac, Palawan (tours leave Puerto Princesa for Buliluyan Port, Bataraza)
No car neededFly to Puerto Princesa. Accredited tours pick you up around 2:00–4:00 AM for the long drive to Buliluyan Port in Bataraza, then boats run to the islands. Public passenger boats run from Rio Tuba to Balabac town instead (about ₱450–₱500 per person each way).
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FAQ
How do I get there?
Join an accredited tour from Puerto Princesa; the van leaves around 3 AM for Buliluyan Port.
Is there mobile signal?
No. Buliluyan Port and the islands have no signal, and there are no ATMs, so bring cash.
Are there crocodiles?
Saltwater crocodiles live near mainland mangroves and marshes. Tours avoid those zones; never swim at night or near mangroves.
How much is Onuk Island?
₱1,500 per person entrance, daytime only (2026).