The Islands of Honda Bay - The Secret Heaven

The islands are fantastic for snorkeling and swimming. Starfish and Snake Islands offer more than the rest and are by far the most popular.

Snake Island, aptly named for its shape, offers a sugar-white beach and easy access for your boat, and Starfish, which has nothing to envy, offers, in addition, a cluster of five nippa huts for accommodation and a great restaurant with fresh food.

Snorkeling around both islands, especially at depths less than 3m, allows you to visualize the magnificent underwater flora and fauna of the Western Sulu Sea, which can easily rival the best in the world.

Quick Tips:

Honda Bay has several islands (Snake, Starfish, Bat, Arrecife, Loli, Frazer, Meara, Pandan , Bush, etc.), and if one wants to explore them properly, you really need to invest at least 2 to 3 days of your holiday time

Best Way To Get Around:

Access is quite easy from Puerto Princessa, and you can rent a tricycle, van, car or other means of transport to visit one or two islands in a day's excursion. As you can see in photo 3, we used a tricycle, on which four passengers were loaded (Spyros is 132kg, and I am 91kg), plus our Pilipino driver!!! We thought we could earn a place in the Guinness book of records, but we overtook other tricycles with a dozen Filipinos on them, plus baggage!! After a half-hour's journey, you reach the boat station.

Once at the boat station, you can rent a boat for a day or, ideally, get the boat to take you to Snake Island first and Starfish second, spending a night on Starfish and asking the boat man to get you the next day, spending the night in heaven!!

Starfish Island has a cluster of five nippa huts that you can rent for about 4 to 5€ per hut and night. Surprisingly, they are quite comfortable, with a shower, WC, and all the basic amenities. They are also spotlessly clean.

They are located next to the restaurant, and the only negative is the lack of adequate electricity, as the only sources of electricity on the island include a small wind generator (of the small yacht type) and few photovoltaic panels. On the plus side, a night on Starfish island with your loved one is an experience to remember for life.

Starfish Island has a seafood restaurant next to the cluster of its nippa huts. This serves probably some of the fresher seafood (and cheapest) in the Philippines. As for the menu, there is NO choice.

You will be served the catch of the day (probably caught less than an hour before it touches the grill), which will be served grilled or fried with rice or chips and the appropriate veggies and sauces. It's simple, authentic, and incredibly delicious.

The restaurant is never busy, and the staff (the owners of the accommodation and the restaurant) is friendly and helpful. It is not to be missed!!!