HomeAsiaSoutheast AsiaPhilippinesPalawanBalabac Balabac Itinerary + Budget Travel Guide for first-timers By Marcos Detourista. Updated on January 1, 2020. Traveling to Balabac for the first-time? Here’s a detailed travel guide with sample itinerary, budget, spots to visit, where to stay & more. Balabac is one of the hidden places in the Philippines that’s worth a spot at the top of your bucketlist. These remote islands are located in the often skipped southern half of Palawan. It is so far south that Sabah in East Malaysia, Borneo Island is nearer to Balabac than Puerto Princesa. Is Balabac worth the effort to visit? If you’re a sun worshipper, then, it’s a big yes! See the photos below to find out why travelers are raving about its beautiful beaches and island views. Balabac has been getting a lot of attention lately in social media. So, visit soon before this paradise becomes hidden no more… before it joins the ranks of El Nido, Coron, and Puerto Princesa as the top tourist destinations in Palawan. Getting there from Puerto Princesa takes a full day, planning a trip is not straightforward, and there are many things you need to know before going. Traveling to Balabac for the first time? This detailed travel guide will make it easy for you to plan a trip. Read must-know tips, sample itinerary, where to stay, budget breakdown, places to visit and lots of extra travel tips. Follow me on Instagram See also: 12 Things to do in Balabac + Tourist Spots. Get started Balabac travel essentials Click below to compare rates & read reviews: Tours + discountsFlights Popular tours & discounts booked by other travelers: Balabac Tour A – Islands Balabac Tour B – Sandbars Balabac Tour C – Onok Island View all travel tips on: Balabac. How to go — Touchdown at Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS), located 1.5 hours south of Manila by plane. The islands of Balabac are located off the southeastern tip of Palawan Island & getting there will take one whole day if you go non-stop. The first leg is the land trip from Puerto Princesa to Rio Tuba in Bataraza, which takes around 4 to 5 hours. Then, a ferry ride to Balabac Island (poblacion). The sea journey from Rio Tuba to Balabac Island takes around 4 hours. If you want to travel by public transport, you will need to plan your trip around the once daily passenger boat departure. Ferry and shuttle/bus schedules are posted on the travel tips below. Go to Balabac to see the Philippines’ best beaches — Balabac is paradise! The islands here are, to put it simply, in a class of its own when it comes to beautiful beaches and mesmerizing sea views. They really are worth the effort (and money) to see. If you’re looking for a reason to venture to the southern half of Palawan and go off-the-grid, Balabac will not disappoint. Spend 5 days on a trip to Balabac — Considering the long journey from Puerto Princesa, you should plan at least a 5 or 6-day trip, especially if you want to go on the public boat. The first two days and the last day are mostly spent in transit, while the rest are whole day island tours. Scroll down for a sample itinerary that you can follow. Arranging the perfect island hopping tour is not easy — Reason #1: Many of the islands are privately owned and some of the owners have set strict rules on who can or cannot dock on their island. I’ll be discussing this in more detail later in the guide, but the takeaway is that you might have to go with different boat operators if you want to see all of the best islands in Balabac. Reason #2: The islands are spread far apart. It may take one hour or more to get from one island to the other. So, you need to manage your time well if you want to fit all the highlights in two days. If the weather is not good, you might have to skip some islands, especially those that require open sea crossings. Visit during the height of summer — Because of Reason #2 posted above, the best time to go to Balabac is during the dry season months of April and May when the sea is perfectly calm (most days). Prepare to rough it out — Expect basic accommodations, transport, and facilities in Balabac. There are no luxury resorts here or fancy restaurants. You have to camp at the beach if you want to stay overnight on smaller islands or stay at lodging house-type places in the poblacion. Most of the time, you will not have mobile internet access. Many of the islands do not even have cell phone signal. There are also no ATM machines, so bring enough cash to last the entire trip. Take necessary precautions before you go — Malaria is endemic in some of the islands in Balabac. Bring insect repellent and other means to ward off mosquitoes. Consult your doctor about necessary anti-malaria precautions needed, at least 2 weeks before your trip. There are also a lot of sand flies or “niknik” in some of the beaches. Be mindful of that too. Not all islands are infested with Malaria and sand flies, but remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Balabac tourist spots & things to do To give you a glimpse of what to expect in Balabac, here are highlights of my trip: 1. Visit Camiaran “Pink” Island — Yes, they exist! And you can find many pink sand beaches in the Philipines. I have been to a few, including Great Santa Cruz Island in Zamboanga City and Olanivan Island in the Sarangani Islands, Davao Occidental. Camiaran has the “pinkest” beach in the Philippines that I had seen so far. This small island is totally surrounded by sparkling sandy shores, one of the finest sand in Balabac and thriving coral gardens. It’s also a frequent nesting spot of sea turtles and birds. Camiaran “Pink” Island, in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Camiaran “Pink” Island, in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines 2. Enjoy snorkeling — The seas in Balabac are rich with marine life. If you want to see beautiful underwater views, the best spots are Sicsican Island and Pulau Bato (Nasubata Reef). Sicsican Island in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Nasubata Reef – Pulau Bato in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines 3. See Punta Sebaring Beach — Bugsuk Island is home to what may be the longest white sand beach in the Philippines. Many travelers who have stepped foot on Punta Sebaring agree that the sand is blinding white and powdery fine, even more so compared to White Beach in Boracay. Oh, and it is it’s over 3x to 4x longer! 4. Swim at Onuk Island — This ring-shaped coral reef/atoll is filled with sapphire blue waters that stretch up to 4 kilometers from end to end. There’s a tiny islet in the middle with a long sandbar that’s perfect for sun worshippers. Once you land on the beach, you cannot help but get awe-struck the view of the insanely vibrant waters that seem to go on and on as far as the eye can see. Onuk Island – Roughton Island in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Onuk Island – Roughton Island in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines 5. Go island hopping — Balabac is composed of over 30 islands and islets. Do not just visit the spots mentioned above because there are a many other beautiful beaches and sea views to enjoy here. One of the best parts of island hopping in Balabac is getting from one island to the next and feasting your eyes on sapphire, emerald, crystal, and deep blue waters. Many of the beaches are also blushed with a faint pink similar to Camiaran Island. If you’re lucky, you might even encounter dolphins that like to follow passing boats. Turquoise waters between Canabungan and Matangule Islands in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Canabungan Island in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Mansalangan Sandbar off the coast of Byan Island in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Candaraman Island in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Patawan Island in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Patongong Island in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines 6. Climb to the top of Cape Melville Lighthouse — The main island of Balabac is home to a towering Spanish-colonial lighthouse, constructed in the 1800s to light the treacherous strait that separates the Philippines from the neighboring country of Malaysia. The structure remains intact. You can go up to the top for a breathtaking view overlooking Balabac Strait. If the sky is clear, you might even get to see the peak of Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo Island. Melville Lighthouse view, in Balabac Island, Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Marcos at Melville Lighthouse, in Balabac Island, Balabac, Palawan, Philippines 7. Land tour of Balabac Island — If you’re staying in Poblacion, Balabac Island, there are a couple of interesting spots to visit that can be reached by land including Indalawan Falls and Indalawan Beach. Indalawan Falls, Balabac Island, Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Indalawan Beach, Balabac Island, Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Where to stay in Balabac? You can either choose to stay at the Poblacion in Balabac Island or on smaller islands. There are lodging houses available at the Poblacion, Sebaring, and Bugsuk Island. Onuk Island also offers accommodation on stilt cottages. For other islands, you may have to pitch a tent and camp on the beach. Only basic accommodations are available in Balabac. The only island that I had found worth camping is on Camiaran “Pink” Island. Otherwise, stay at the lodging houses if you want to enjoy basic creature comforts. Balabac hostels & lodging houses 1. MLK Lodging Budget backpacker | Poblacion, Balabac Fan single — PHP400 / room / night 2. JD Lodging (Sing and Swing) Budget backpacker | Poblacion, Balabac Aircon double — PHP1,000 / room / night Fan single — PHP300 / room / night Where to stay in Rio Tuba? There are a couple of lodging houses in Rio Tuba. Most of them are 10 minutes away from the pier by tricycle. If you are traveling to Balabac on the passenger boat, you may need to spend the night here for the mid-day boat departure the following day. Rio Tuba hostels & lodging houses 1. Three K’s Pensionne Budget backpacker | Rio Tuba Aircon triple — PHP 800 / room / night Balabac itinerary Here’s a sample do-it-yourself (DIY) itinerary that you can follow during your trip. Scroll down for the budget and list of expenses. 5 days Balabac itinerary Day 1 10am — Arrival in Puerto Princesa Airport 10:30am — Puerto Princesa Airport to San Jose Terminal tricycle transfer 12nn — Puerto Princesa to Rio Tuba shuttle 4pm — Check-in at Rio Tuba accommodation Rest in Rio Tuba Day 2 6:30am — Tricycle to Rio Tuba pier 7am — Start Balabac island hopping tour Patongong Island Patawan Island Mansalangan Sandbar / Anjela Sandbar Punta Sebaring Beach, Bugsuk Island Rest in Sebaring, Bugsuk Island Day 3 7am — Continue Balabac island hopping tour Canabungan Island Secam Island Snorkeling at Sicsican Island Candaraman Island Camiaran “Pink” Island Rest in Camiaran Island. Day 4 7am — Continue Balabac island hopping tour Melville Lighthouse Nasubata Reef / Pulau Bato Onuk a.k.a Roughton Island Arrival in Poblacion, Balabac Island Reserve a seat on the passenger ferry to Rio Tuba. Ask the boat operator if they can do this for you. The earlier, the better. Check-in at Balacac accommodation Rest in Poblacion, Balabac Island. Day 5 4am — Arrival at Balabac pier. Show up early to make sure your reserved seat will not be transferred to “waiting” passengers. 6am — Balabac to Rio Tuba ferry 10am — Rio Tuba to Puerto Princesa shuttle 3pm — San Jose Terminal to Puerto Princesa Airport tricycle 4pm — Arrival in Puerto Princesa Airport Balabac budget To help you set a budget, here are expenses you can expect to spend during your trip. Expenses breakdown Price Price per person. 3 people in group. Puerto Princesa Airport to San Jose Terminal tricycle — Charter rate per tricycle. PHP100 PHP33 Puerto Princesa to Rio Tuba shuttle — Fare per person. PHP450 Same Rio Tuba hostel — 1-night stay. Aircon room good for 3 people. Rate per room per night PHP800 PHP266 Tricycle to Rio Tuba pier — Fare per tricycle. PHP50 PHP17 Balabac island hopping tour 3 days — Up to 3 to 4 people. Full-board meals. Rate per group for the entire 3 days. PHP12,000 PHP4,000 Onuk Island day tour — Includes boat transfer from Balabac Island. Rate per person. PHP3,000 Same Balabac hostel — 1-night stay. Aircon room good for 2 people + 1 extra person. PHP1,300 PHP433 Balabac to Rio Tuba passenger ferry — Fare per person. PHP350 Same Rio Tuba to Puerto Princesa shuttle — Fare per person. PHP450 Same San Jose Terminal to Puerto Princesa Airport tricycle — Charter rate per tricycle. PHP100 PHP33 Puerto Princesa Airport terminal fee — Domestic flight. Per person. PHP200 Same Here are the budget estimates for the 5 days Balabac itinerary posted above. It includes accommodation, food, transport, and tours. Flights/airfare not included. Some meals are also not included and the first night accommodation in Balabac. Budget estimate per person 3 people in group Solo traveler Excluding Onuk Island PHP 6,232 PHP 14,300 Including Onuk Island PHP 9,232 PHP 17,300 As you can see, you’re really going to think twice if you want to include Onuk Island in your itinerary. It’s going to make your trip a lot more expensive. If you want to travel cheaper in Balabac, you have to go with a group. There are a number of boat operators that organizes packaged group tours, so contact all of them first before finalizing your plans. Make sure to ask them what spots are included in the package and what additional fees are needed to visit these islands. Especially if you are visiting Onuk Island. The island hopping rate that above is not the price that me and my travel buddies for during my first trip. I got this price from rates typically posted by other bloggers. Boat operators may ask for a higher price if you want to include the (direct) pick-up from Rio Tuba and far-away islands. Travel tips before you go Read below for more tips on how to plan a trip in Balabac. How to get to Balabac from Puerto Princesa via Rio Tuba Option #1: By public transport / passenger ferry 1. Touchdown at Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) in Palawan. 2. Ride a tricycle from the airport to San Jose Terminal in Puerto Princesa. Charter rate is PHP100 per tricycle, up to 3 to 4 people. If you want to do this cheaper, walk to the main road outside the airport rate and ride a tricycle to “Junction 1”. Tricycle fare is PHP8 per person. Then ride a jeepney to San Jose Terminal. Jeepney fare is PHP10 per person. 3. Ride a shuttle (van) to Rio Tuba. Travel time is around 4 to 5 hours. Shuttle fare is PHP450 per person. You may have to arrive in Rio Tuba, one day before to make sure that you will catch the next day passenger ferry to Balabac. 4. Ride a passenger ferry to Balabac. Travel time is around 4 hours. Boat fare is PHP350 per person. The ferries stop over at Bancalan Island pier, found nearer to Sebaring in Bugsuk Island, and make a final stop at Poblacion, Bugsuk Island. 5. To get around the other islands in Balabac, you will need to charter a boat and organize/join an island hopping tour. Option #2: By private transport If you want to maximize your itinerary. Charter a private boat and arrange pick-up at Rio Tuba pier. That way, you can start your island hopping tour straight from the pier and skip the once daily passenger boat. Rio Tuba – Balabac Island ferry schedule There is at least one departure from Rio Tuba to Balabac every day. If there are enough passengers, there may be additional departures available. The public boats have no fixed schedule and may depart from Rio Tuba between 9 am to 2 pm. The return boat departs from Balabac around 6 am. Reserve your slot on the passenger boat from Balabac at least one day in advance as the passenger boats tend to get full quickly during busy days. Even if you have made reservations, show up at Balabac pier as early as 4 am to avoid losing your reserved seat to “waiting” passengers. Puerto Princesa – Rio Tuba shuttle schedule Public buses and shuttles depart from San Jose Terminal in Puerto Princesa. There are daily trips from 4 am (first trip) to 9 pm (last trip) with one departing almost every hour. There’s no problem finding a shuttle on the return journey from Rio Tuba since there are a lot of transport operators waiting for arriving passengers at the pier. Balabac package tours & boat operators There are a couple of boat operators in Balabac that you can book for your island hopping tour. Many of them offer packaged tours that include full-board meals in addition to the boat charter. Here’s a list of boat operators that you can contact: Kuya Mark +63 998 163 3391 / +63 906 358 0748 | Boat/tour operator Rombo Balabac Adventure by Kuya Renato Principe +63 929 140 3125 | Boat/tour operator More info Kuya Fidel (+63) 918 2571 499 / (+63) 999 561 4998 / (+63) 995 933 3321 | Boat/tour operator Kilometer Zero PH by Kap Andong (+63) 920 421 4583 / (+63) 926 685 9095 | Boat/tour operator More info During our trip in Balabac, we booked with Kuya Mark Anthony, a former Philippine Navy guard who is offering island hopping tours around the islands. We really enjoyed exploring Balabac on a speedboat and a live-aboard Lancha/Lantsa (traditional wooden boat). He’s the only one offering transport on a speedboat, so it’s worth asking him for the package rates. Kuya Mark and his crew at Camiaran “Pink” Island, in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines On a Lancha (traditional wooden boat, approaching Camiaran “Pink” Island, in Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Our modified speed boat service in Candaraman Island, Balabac, Palawan, Philippines Are there ATMs in Balabac? There are no ATMs in Balabac so bring all the money you need to fund the entire trip around the islands. If you run out of money, there is a Palawan Pawnshop in the poblacion that offers Cash Card / ATM Withdrawal service. You can learn more about this on their website. You can find ATMs in Rio Tuba, but you should still withdraw cash in Puerto Princesa or before your flight. Is it safe to travel to Balabac? Balabac has had a history of insurgencies/security concerns, but the situation there is far from the situation in some parts of ARMM. We did not feel scared for our security the whole time we were there. The islands are inhabited by peace-loving communities, both Christian and Muslim. I’m not saying that it is totally safe to travel in Balabac. Like any other place that you visit, travel discretely, be polite to people you meet and always err on the side of precaution. Should I be concerned with Malaria? As mentioned earlier, Malaria is present in some of the islands in Balabac, not all. It’s something NOT to be taken lightly, so follow precautions by a qualified medical professional. You will need to bring strong mosquito repellent lotion/spray. Make sure DEET (N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide) is one of the ingredients. Also bring additional layers of protection including mosquito repellent made with other active ingredients (like Citronella oil), mosquito nets (mosquitero) and thick full body coverups. If you do decide to take anti-malarial medications. The first dosage should start two weeks prior to your trip. Is it possible to go to Melville Lighthouse by land? Yes, this was how I was able to visit the lighthouse during my trip. Travel time from Balabac Poblacion to Melville Lighthouse was around two hours per way. Motorcycle (habal-habal) costs P1,000 per person, round-trip including a detour to Indalawan Waterfalls and Indalawan Beach. Half of the way was tolerable paved/gravel road, while the other was literally through woodlands, on very muddy paths. Melville Lighthouse is a lot more comfortable to visit by boat. In case you want to go by land, here’s the motorcycle driver I went with: Jason Corona (+63) 950 501 6180 | Balabac motorcycle driver Is Onuk Island worth visiting? The short answer is yes. I asked my travel buddies the same question and we all share the same sentiment. Onuk Island is without a doubt one of the most standout islands I had seen in my life but it’s NOT the most beautiful island in Balabac, in absolute terms. Onuk is the best for casual swimming + enjoying mesmerizing views of insanely inviting waters. The turquoise/sapphire color of the sea stays clear and vibrant for kilometers past the sandbar. Even if you do not get to visit Onuk, you will still be able to enjoy the view of vibrant seas that are just as beautiful when you cross from one island to another, including the approach to Canibungan Island. With regards to snorkeling, we enjoyed Sicsican Island better. Also, the sand at Onuk’s sandbar is not the finest nor whitest. The beach at Camiaran Island and Mansalangan Sandbar has finer sand. Yes, Onuk is extraordinarily beautiful but you’re probably not going to feel like you’ve missed out if you skip the P3,000 per person day tour charge. If you’re willing to pay, then go for it! If you want to spend the night on the island, the overnight package is P5,000 per person. Balabac Islands and Islets A partial list of islands and islets in Balabac. 1. Balabac Island — The main & biggest island. Site of the poblacion / town proper. 2. Bugsuk Island — Punta Sebaring Beach 3. Bancalan Island — A usual stopover on the Rio Tuba–Balabac Island passenger boat. 4. Candaraman Island — Popular beach camping site for packaged island hopping tours. 5. Camiaran Island — Also known as Pink Island and Comiran Island. 6. Pulau Bato Island — Rocky islet located at Nasubata Reef (atoll). 7. Roughton Island — Popularly known as Onuk Island. Onuk is the name of the grandfather of the family that currently occupies the island. 8. Patongong Island — Also known as Patunggong Island. 9. Patawan Island 10. Apo Island 11. Cardany Island 12. Canimeran Island 13. Sicsican Island 14. Mantangule Island 15. Pandanan Island 16. Ramos Island 17. Canabungan Island 18. Gabung Island 19. Byan Island — Mansalangan Sandbar / Anjela Sandbar. 20. Secam Island 21. Bowen Island 22. Lumbucan Island 23. North Mangsee Island 24. Salingsingan Island 25. South Mangsee Island— The southernmost island nearest to the Philippine-Malaysia sea border. Extra Balabac travel tips Avoid camping at Canibungan Island — This is where we camped during our first night. We now call it “mosquito island” because of the huge swarms of mosquitoes that feasted on our skin, even though we had bathed in mosquito repellent. They were so notorious, they can bite through thin clothing! Next day, we spent the night on Camiaran Island. It was paradise! No mosquitoes! We enjoyed cool island breeze the entire night :) Do not trash the islands — The beaches of many of the popular stopover spots in Balabac are already starting to get littered with garbage. Please do not help in making the situation worse. Most of the islands do not charge entrance fees to pay for staff to clean up after visitors. Even if they do, we should all be responsible for keeping our beaches and islands clean. Let us all help in maintaining this paradise for future generations to enjoy. Reminders for all visitors Dispose of garbage properly. If you see trash, safely pick them up and dispose of them properly. Do not touch and step on corals. Do not collect sand, stones, and corals. Do not pick-up sea creatures and leave it to die on the beach including starfish. If you are allowed to have bonfires at the beach, refrain from burning your trash, especially plastics. Avoid bonfires directly over sand as extremely hot temperatures may change its appearance. Also, make sure the fire is fully out before you leave. Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time. Where to stay in Puerto Princesa Puerto Princesa hotels & hostels See top rated resorts, hotels, hostels & pension houses in Puerto Princesa. Click below to check rates, discounts & guest reviews. 1. Treffpunkt 5300 Hostel Budget backpacker | Puerto Princesa See rates & reviews 2. Charm Guest House Budget backpacker | Puerto Princesa See rates & reviews 3. Subli Guest Cabins Budget | Puerto Princesa See rates & reviews 4. Hibiscus Garden Inn Budget | Puerto Princesa See rates & reviews 5. Greenspace Palawan Hotel Mid-range | Puerto Princesa See rates & reviews 6. Microtel by Wyndham Mid-range | Puerto Princesa See rates & reviews 7. Sunlight Guest Hotel Mid-range | Puerto Princesa See rates & reviews 8. Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel Splurge | Puerto Princesa See rates & reviews 9. Hotel Fleuris Palawan Splurge | Puerto Princesa See rates & reviews 10. Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa Splurge | Puerto Princesa See rates & reviews Don’t stop here Did you find this travel guide helpful? Share your trips & tag #detourista. Follow updates on: Instagram @detouristaHQ Facebook m@detourista Pinterest See more Palawan blog tips & travel guides: 12 Things to do in Palawan + Tourist Spots El Nido Itinerary + Travel Guide Check out these pages for more inspiration on places to go in the Philippines & beyond: 32 Things to do in The Philippines + Tourist Spots Philippines Beaches 16 Beautiful Countries in Asia Philippines Waterfalls Don’t leave yet. There’s more! Singapore Itinerary + Budget Travel Guide for first-timersHong Kong Itinerary + Budget Travel Guide for first-timersBohol & Panglao 2023 - Travel Budget & Sample ItineraryBoracay Itineray + Travel Budget Guide Discover more blogs and travel tips in: Balabac Southeast AsiaPhilippinesPalawanAsia See all places Find more posts about:FeaturedItineraryPinoy Travel BlogTravel GuideBudgetTourist Spots Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.Comments Daniel says May 31, 2017 at 10:44 pm What are the islands included in the Balabac island hopping package? Reply Marcos Detourist says June 1, 2017 at 12:57 am Kindly check the itinerary posted above for by recommended islands to visit in Balabac. You can ask the tour operators posted for current rates. Reply Andrea Blanco says December 2, 2021 at 8:56 pm This blog is very helpful, well writen and informative. It really made us all think to visit this place. Reply Roman says June 4, 2017 at 5:21 pm Hi Marcos . You write in Balabac Trip Guide for First-Timers By Marcos Detourist. Updated on May 30, 2017 about the best time visiting the islands: the best time to go to Balabac is during the dry season months of April and May when the sea is perfectly calm (most days). But later you wrote: The sea waves were indeed rough, which is why I really advise a visit in Balabac during the height of the summer months when the sea is perfectly calm. Please explain what months are better to visit these Islands ?In April and may or in the summer ? Reply Marcos Detourist says June 5, 2017 at 12:16 pm In the Philippines, the dry season (“summer” as we popularly call it) starts from March to early June. April and May are the hottest months a.k.a the “height of summer.” You can still expect rainy days / rough seas during this time but the chances are not as high as other months. Reply Neriza Fantilagan says August 9, 2017 at 1:20 am I like you na..this is the most detailed balabac itinerary i have seen…good job! Reply Marcos Detourist says August 19, 2017 at 10:17 pm Thanks Neriza. I spent a lot of time and effort to come up with this guide. I truly appreciate your kind words. Reply judy says October 30, 2017 at 2:28 am this is such a huge help marco…this is going to help a lot of people who want to go to that paradise. thank you so much! Marcos Detourist says November 7, 2017 at 12:56 pm My pleasure Judy Marcos Detourist says November 17, 2017 at 10:22 pm Thank you for the comment too! Nick Dio says November 27, 2017 at 2:45 am Very informative. Thank you. Reply Sarah says April 10, 2018 at 11:06 pm Sir do they give a discount on onuk island coz i have two kids do they also have to pay the 3000 pesos? Reply Marcos Detourista says April 11, 2018 at 5:17 am Hi Sarah. I don’t know what rates they charge for kids. Reply Cay Selyn says April 30, 2018 at 9:39 am Hi Sir Marcos. Thank you for sharing your itinerary as we also planning to visit Balabac next year pa naman po hehe. I would like to ask po sana if may idea ka po, on Balabac Island hopping tour, yung boat rate na namentioned nyo is 12,000 good for 3 days naman na po. My question po is pang ilang pax po ang pwede po? If ever po 10 pax kami, lalabas pa din po bang 4000/ day ung pinakarent po namin? Baka sakali lang po may idea ka po. Thanks again. God bless. ? Reply Marcos Detourista says May 3, 2018 at 12:09 am Hi Cay, if you’re in a big group, your expenses should be lower. I suggest that you check rates with the tour operators directly. I’ve listed them in the guide above. Reply Jess says May 22, 2018 at 3:59 pm Thank you very much for the detailled itinerary. Well written and absolutely informative :-) Reading this post made me feel like I NEED to see this place. Do you have any references about exploring Balabac in november? Reply sheng says June 1, 2018 at 8:03 pm Hello Marcos, this blog entry is everything! Thank you for taking the time in putting it all up! I have all the reasons now to go to Balabac. I have gone to PPS, Coron, & El Nido at least twice but Balabac as seen in pictures, is indescribable. Would you recommend going there during holy week? More power to you! Reply Marcos Detourista says June 4, 2018 at 10:06 pm Thanks Sheng. Yes, holy week is okay to visit. Reply Ruth Cañuto says October 13, 2018 at 7:12 pm Hi! What month did you visit? Reply [email protected] says October 14, 2018 at 11:03 am Wow!!! This is very helpful. I am from Palawan but living in U.S. now for many years. Ive been wanting to visit Balabac. Reply Kharla camille Naperi Cabate says October 15, 2018 at 2:45 pm Good day! Is the boat owner you rented in Balabac can be reached through FB? Thank you Reply Marcos Detourista says November 18, 2018 at 3:49 pm I recommend that you search “Balabac tour packages” on Facebook. There are many operators now offering packaged tours to Balabac, Palawan. Reply Roushan says November 12, 2018 at 7:10 pm Going tom on a private tour. So excited. I hope my expectations are met. Will be there 4d3n or maybe 4n if i will enjoy it. Reply Safaa says December 29, 2018 at 2:56 pm Hi Marco, Thanks for letting me discover this incredible place. I’m trying to book it for my trip in February. Do you know if it’s possible to book in advance the island hopping package with Kuya Mark Anthony? I can’t reach him – his number seems not working. Thanks for your help :) Reply Paw Jacinto says January 7, 2019 at 1:44 pm Just booked a PSS flight this year. My friend and I are planning to go to Balabac. Very nice guide you put up here. We hope to maximize the trip, even if we just have four days for the tour. High five bro! Reply Lysa says January 10, 2019 at 9:25 pm Hello, do you know if it is possible to travel to Balabac from Borneo? thank you in advance Reply Marcos Detourista says January 11, 2019 at 11:01 am No. It’s not possible since there are no immigration border crossing between Balabac (or Palawan for that matter) and Borneo (both on the Malaysia & Indonesia side). The best way is flying from Kota Kinabalu to Manila first. Reply Cecille says January 20, 2019 at 8:32 am This is very informative! ? Thank you! Reply Bryant says February 19, 2019 at 12:40 am Hi! I just wanted to know if English is widely spoken in this part of the Philippines? Reply Marcos Detourista says February 20, 2019 at 5:56 am Yes Bryant. You should have little to no problems communicating with the locals. I advise that you travel with a local guide. Reply Nawie says March 9, 2019 at 9:03 am Thank you sa blog mo :) It made me think to visit Balabac. Kuddos! ? God bless on your future travel ☺ Reply Oriane says April 16, 2019 at 5:46 pm Hi Marcos, thanks for the detailed information of your post ! We are planning a trip in Palawan with a friend, we have 3 full days to spend there. Do you recommend to go to Balabac islands even with such little time (with are hesitating with Coron island). And one more question, how did you book the camp night on the different islands? does it come with the islands hopping boat tours or you had to book it yourself? Thanks in advance for your help. Reply Marcos Detourista says April 20, 2019 at 4:56 am Hi Oriane, the boats tours are usually day trips. 3 days is not enough time to visit Balabac. Coron would be perfect for a short trip! Reply April says April 24, 2019 at 12:37 pm Hi, you said that Onuk Island is NOT the most beautiful island, in absolute terms. Which island is the best for you? Reply Marcos Detourista says April 25, 2019 at 2:56 pm Hi April, Considering the quality (whiteness/fineness) of the sand, the best is Bugsuk Island (specifically in Punta Sebaring Beach). Considering how beautiful the surrounding waters look, it’s Onuk. Hope that helps :) Reply sushil says July 17, 2019 at 2:02 pm hi Marcos ,this has been a wonderful post thank you for the detailed information ,i am sure a lot of people are getting help and information ,i will be on a trip to Balabac with my family(2 adults and a child 13) from the 14 th of jan2020 leaving Puerto Princessa for about three days if someone is planning a trip around then we can connect/ share the boats etc thank you Reply Jared dela Cruz says July 23, 2019 at 12:29 am Your post and your pictures are all wonderful. Thank you for inspiring me to put Balabac high on my travel bucket list. I am hoping I can visit the place soon. Reply Saita says September 11, 2019 at 6:05 pm Hi there! in the year 2014 I wanted to go to Balabac Island.Everybody told me ,”don´t do it,ist not save”. But now I want go again for sure.My question is, is it recommendet to go end of November there?Or is it to stormy and rainy? Thank you for reply best regard Saita Reply Saita says September 12, 2019 at 4:34 pm Hi there. Is it worth to visit Balabac Island (and the rest) on November? Or is it too stormy and rainy? thank you for reply Saita Reply Ryan says September 19, 2019 at 5:02 pm Do i need to bring my own tent or there is one i can rent? Reply Marcos Detourista says September 27, 2019 at 12:00 am Best to check with your tour operator if they provide tents Reply Kyle Caytiles says December 2, 2021 at 12:38 pm This blog is very detailed, it is a big help for those who are interested in going to balabac. Reply Aleja Macapas says December 2, 2021 at 12:45 pm This travel blog is really informative for it provides the prices and the must know tips in going to Balabac island. There is also a sample itinerary provided as well as where to stay hotels, budget breakdown, places to visit and extra travel tips. Reply David Cosio says December 4, 2021 at 11:56 am Thank you so much for the detailed itinerary, Well written and absolutely informative hope someday im gonna visit this place with my family and friends. Reply Ariate, Joseph Keanu A. says December 4, 2021 at 12:45 pm Thanks to this! It provides a lot of information of what to expect to the place and it can give a lot of information that can help those people that are planning to go to this place. Reply Rafael Belarmino says December 5, 2021 at 10:12 am The blog I read is detailed for it discusses the budget breakdown, different hotels to stay at, tourist spots and even extra travel tips in going to Balabac Island. Reply Andrea Blanco says December 5, 2021 at 10:26 am This blog is very helpful, well written and informative. It really made us all think to visit this place. Reply Mark Amat says December 5, 2021 at 10:30 am The blog is very helpful it makea me want to come to balabac. Everything you needed to visit balabac is in this blog, aside from the website for being free to use. Even the prices for the lodging and time & date for the activities were posted in this blog. Reply Annnne says November 26, 2022 at 1:39 pm Wow thanks for this article, so helpful!! Reply Alejandro Martin Rodriguez says February 18, 2023 at 1:00 pm Hi, how are you? We are 2 Spanish friends, right now we are in Siquijor and we were thinking of going to Balabac to see if we have more luck with the weather. Do you think there would be a possibility of getting a company from Rio Tuba to start the tour from there or is it better to get to Balabac and look for other travelers to do the cheaper tour? thanks, very good blog Reply Marcos Detourista says March 16, 2023 at 4:19 pm For a hassle-free trip, you should get in touch with an agency prior to going. Reply Chris says March 22, 2023 at 1:53 pm Hi guys, did you end up going? Can you maybe give some feedback on the situation for 2023 and the most recent prices? Reply Tin says March 28, 2023 at 8:44 pm Hi, I found your page really helpful. Im planning to go to Balabac in April and I work and travel at the same time. I just want to ask if wifi is common in the hostels/hotels in Rio tuba or if there is mobile internet available and which network carrier do you think works best in the area? I am planning to stay there overnight from Puerto Princesa before taking a passenger ferry to Balabac mainland and might need to do some work during that time. Appreciate your response. Reply Marcos Detourista says June 18, 2023 at 11:40 pm SMART po yung malakas signal sa Balabac Reply
Daniel says May 31, 2017 at 10:44 pm What are the islands included in the Balabac island hopping package? Reply
Marcos Detourist says June 1, 2017 at 12:57 am Kindly check the itinerary posted above for by recommended islands to visit in Balabac. You can ask the tour operators posted for current rates. Reply
Andrea Blanco says December 2, 2021 at 8:56 pm This blog is very helpful, well writen and informative. It really made us all think to visit this place. Reply
Roman says June 4, 2017 at 5:21 pm Hi Marcos . You write in Balabac Trip Guide for First-Timers By Marcos Detourist. Updated on May 30, 2017 about the best time visiting the islands: the best time to go to Balabac is during the dry season months of April and May when the sea is perfectly calm (most days). But later you wrote: The sea waves were indeed rough, which is why I really advise a visit in Balabac during the height of the summer months when the sea is perfectly calm. Please explain what months are better to visit these Islands ?In April and may or in the summer ? Reply
Marcos Detourist says June 5, 2017 at 12:16 pm In the Philippines, the dry season (“summer” as we popularly call it) starts from March to early June. April and May are the hottest months a.k.a the “height of summer.” You can still expect rainy days / rough seas during this time but the chances are not as high as other months. Reply
Neriza Fantilagan says August 9, 2017 at 1:20 am I like you na..this is the most detailed balabac itinerary i have seen…good job! Reply
Marcos Detourist says August 19, 2017 at 10:17 pm Thanks Neriza. I spent a lot of time and effort to come up with this guide. I truly appreciate your kind words. Reply
judy says October 30, 2017 at 2:28 am this is such a huge help marco…this is going to help a lot of people who want to go to that paradise. thank you so much!
Sarah says April 10, 2018 at 11:06 pm Sir do they give a discount on onuk island coz i have two kids do they also have to pay the 3000 pesos? Reply
Marcos Detourista says April 11, 2018 at 5:17 am Hi Sarah. I don’t know what rates they charge for kids. Reply
Cay Selyn says April 30, 2018 at 9:39 am Hi Sir Marcos. Thank you for sharing your itinerary as we also planning to visit Balabac next year pa naman po hehe. I would like to ask po sana if may idea ka po, on Balabac Island hopping tour, yung boat rate na namentioned nyo is 12,000 good for 3 days naman na po. My question po is pang ilang pax po ang pwede po? If ever po 10 pax kami, lalabas pa din po bang 4000/ day ung pinakarent po namin? Baka sakali lang po may idea ka po. Thanks again. God bless. ? Reply
Marcos Detourista says May 3, 2018 at 12:09 am Hi Cay, if you’re in a big group, your expenses should be lower. I suggest that you check rates with the tour operators directly. I’ve listed them in the guide above. Reply
Jess says May 22, 2018 at 3:59 pm Thank you very much for the detailled itinerary. Well written and absolutely informative :-) Reading this post made me feel like I NEED to see this place. Do you have any references about exploring Balabac in november? Reply
sheng says June 1, 2018 at 8:03 pm Hello Marcos, this blog entry is everything! Thank you for taking the time in putting it all up! I have all the reasons now to go to Balabac. I have gone to PPS, Coron, & El Nido at least twice but Balabac as seen in pictures, is indescribable. Would you recommend going there during holy week? More power to you! Reply
[email protected] says October 14, 2018 at 11:03 am Wow!!! This is very helpful. I am from Palawan but living in U.S. now for many years. Ive been wanting to visit Balabac. Reply
Kharla camille Naperi Cabate says October 15, 2018 at 2:45 pm Good day! Is the boat owner you rented in Balabac can be reached through FB? Thank you Reply
Marcos Detourista says November 18, 2018 at 3:49 pm I recommend that you search “Balabac tour packages” on Facebook. There are many operators now offering packaged tours to Balabac, Palawan. Reply
Roushan says November 12, 2018 at 7:10 pm Going tom on a private tour. So excited. I hope my expectations are met. Will be there 4d3n or maybe 4n if i will enjoy it. Reply
Safaa says December 29, 2018 at 2:56 pm Hi Marco, Thanks for letting me discover this incredible place. I’m trying to book it for my trip in February. Do you know if it’s possible to book in advance the island hopping package with Kuya Mark Anthony? I can’t reach him – his number seems not working. Thanks for your help :) Reply
Paw Jacinto says January 7, 2019 at 1:44 pm Just booked a PSS flight this year. My friend and I are planning to go to Balabac. Very nice guide you put up here. We hope to maximize the trip, even if we just have four days for the tour. High five bro! Reply
Lysa says January 10, 2019 at 9:25 pm Hello, do you know if it is possible to travel to Balabac from Borneo? thank you in advance Reply
Marcos Detourista says January 11, 2019 at 11:01 am No. It’s not possible since there are no immigration border crossing between Balabac (or Palawan for that matter) and Borneo (both on the Malaysia & Indonesia side). The best way is flying from Kota Kinabalu to Manila first. Reply
Bryant says February 19, 2019 at 12:40 am Hi! I just wanted to know if English is widely spoken in this part of the Philippines? Reply
Marcos Detourista says February 20, 2019 at 5:56 am Yes Bryant. You should have little to no problems communicating with the locals. I advise that you travel with a local guide. Reply
Nawie says March 9, 2019 at 9:03 am Thank you sa blog mo :) It made me think to visit Balabac. Kuddos! ? God bless on your future travel ☺ Reply
Oriane says April 16, 2019 at 5:46 pm Hi Marcos, thanks for the detailed information of your post ! We are planning a trip in Palawan with a friend, we have 3 full days to spend there. Do you recommend to go to Balabac islands even with such little time (with are hesitating with Coron island). And one more question, how did you book the camp night on the different islands? does it come with the islands hopping boat tours or you had to book it yourself? Thanks in advance for your help. Reply
Marcos Detourista says April 20, 2019 at 4:56 am Hi Oriane, the boats tours are usually day trips. 3 days is not enough time to visit Balabac. Coron would be perfect for a short trip! Reply
April says April 24, 2019 at 12:37 pm Hi, you said that Onuk Island is NOT the most beautiful island, in absolute terms. Which island is the best for you? Reply
Marcos Detourista says April 25, 2019 at 2:56 pm Hi April, Considering the quality (whiteness/fineness) of the sand, the best is Bugsuk Island (specifically in Punta Sebaring Beach). Considering how beautiful the surrounding waters look, it’s Onuk. Hope that helps :) Reply
sushil says July 17, 2019 at 2:02 pm hi Marcos ,this has been a wonderful post thank you for the detailed information ,i am sure a lot of people are getting help and information ,i will be on a trip to Balabac with my family(2 adults and a child 13) from the 14 th of jan2020 leaving Puerto Princessa for about three days if someone is planning a trip around then we can connect/ share the boats etc thank you Reply
Jared dela Cruz says July 23, 2019 at 12:29 am Your post and your pictures are all wonderful. Thank you for inspiring me to put Balabac high on my travel bucket list. I am hoping I can visit the place soon. Reply
Saita says September 11, 2019 at 6:05 pm Hi there! in the year 2014 I wanted to go to Balabac Island.Everybody told me ,”don´t do it,ist not save”. But now I want go again for sure.My question is, is it recommendet to go end of November there?Or is it to stormy and rainy? Thank you for reply best regard Saita Reply
Saita says September 12, 2019 at 4:34 pm Hi there. Is it worth to visit Balabac Island (and the rest) on November? Or is it too stormy and rainy? thank you for reply Saita Reply
Ryan says September 19, 2019 at 5:02 pm Do i need to bring my own tent or there is one i can rent? Reply
Marcos Detourista says September 27, 2019 at 12:00 am Best to check with your tour operator if they provide tents Reply
Kyle Caytiles says December 2, 2021 at 12:38 pm This blog is very detailed, it is a big help for those who are interested in going to balabac. Reply
Aleja Macapas says December 2, 2021 at 12:45 pm This travel blog is really informative for it provides the prices and the must know tips in going to Balabac island. There is also a sample itinerary provided as well as where to stay hotels, budget breakdown, places to visit and extra travel tips. Reply
David Cosio says December 4, 2021 at 11:56 am Thank you so much for the detailed itinerary, Well written and absolutely informative hope someday im gonna visit this place with my family and friends. Reply
Ariate, Joseph Keanu A. says December 4, 2021 at 12:45 pm Thanks to this! It provides a lot of information of what to expect to the place and it can give a lot of information that can help those people that are planning to go to this place. Reply
Rafael Belarmino says December 5, 2021 at 10:12 am The blog I read is detailed for it discusses the budget breakdown, different hotels to stay at, tourist spots and even extra travel tips in going to Balabac Island. Reply
Andrea Blanco says December 5, 2021 at 10:26 am This blog is very helpful, well written and informative. It really made us all think to visit this place. Reply
Mark Amat says December 5, 2021 at 10:30 am The blog is very helpful it makea me want to come to balabac. Everything you needed to visit balabac is in this blog, aside from the website for being free to use. Even the prices for the lodging and time & date for the activities were posted in this blog. Reply
Alejandro Martin Rodriguez says February 18, 2023 at 1:00 pm Hi, how are you? We are 2 Spanish friends, right now we are in Siquijor and we were thinking of going to Balabac to see if we have more luck with the weather. Do you think there would be a possibility of getting a company from Rio Tuba to start the tour from there or is it better to get to Balabac and look for other travelers to do the cheaper tour? thanks, very good blog Reply
Marcos Detourista says March 16, 2023 at 4:19 pm For a hassle-free trip, you should get in touch with an agency prior to going. Reply
Chris says March 22, 2023 at 1:53 pm Hi guys, did you end up going? Can you maybe give some feedback on the situation for 2023 and the most recent prices? Reply
Tin says March 28, 2023 at 8:44 pm Hi, I found your page really helpful. Im planning to go to Balabac in April and I work and travel at the same time. I just want to ask if wifi is common in the hostels/hotels in Rio tuba or if there is mobile internet available and which network carrier do you think works best in the area? I am planning to stay there overnight from Puerto Princesa before taking a passenger ferry to Balabac mainland and might need to do some work during that time. Appreciate your response. Reply