How to Get to Balabac Palawan: The Easiest Way to get There (2025)

Balabac in Palawan was easily one of the biggest highlights of my entire time in the Philippines. The untouched islands, the marine life, the feeling of being somewhere really remote, it’s just something pretty special and definitely a place I’d recommend if you’re looking for something a bit more off the beaten path.

One question I kept getting after posting about it was: How do you even get there?

So I figured I’d put together this quick little guide on how to get to Balabac Palawan, share my experience, and hopefully clear up a few misconceptions, because trust me, the logistics aren’t as complicated as they first seem.

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A Mini Guide on How to Get to Balabac Palawan: The Easiest Way to get There (2025)

Things You Should Know Before Visiting Balabac Islands Palawan

Here are a few things I wish I had known before planning my trip to Balabac, or at least things that I only figured out while doing a bunch of last-minute research.

You can only visit Balabac on a tour
There’s no DIY way of doing this. The islands are remote and privately owned, so the only option is to join one of the 3–4 island hopping tours that operate in the area. Think of it like a more off-the-beaten-path version of the El Nido to Coron expeditions.
Balabac is very remote
Getting there can take up to 6 hours depending on your starting point, and once you’re out there, there’s barely any phone signal, no Wi-Fi, and basically no infrastructure. You’re sleeping on empty islands. I mean it, this is about as remote as it gets.
How to get to Balabac
Since it’s only accessible by tour, most companies will include a van pickup from Puerto Princesa. From there, you’ll drive a few hours to the southern tip of Palawan and hop on a boat to the islands. So no, you don’t have to figure out transport on your own, the tour takes care of everything.
It’s a very basic experience
And when I say basic, I mean basic. We slept in tents, there was no air conditioning, barely any proper showers, and it was hot and sweaty pretty much the whole time. It was full-on castaway vibes. That said, I actually loved it.

How to Get to Balabac Palawan – My Experience

Let me tell you a little bit about my experience visiting Balabac and how I actually got there. I did quite a bit of research beforehand, and honestly, it felt like a bit of a mission just figuring everything out. Compared to the well-established El Nido to Coron expeditions, the Balabac island hopping tours definitely aren’t as developed yet, so there’s way less information out there.

Originally, I had planned on booking with The Wander Walkers, which seems to be the most popular and highest-rated tour company running trips to Balabac. Unfortunately, they were fully booked for my dates, so I ended up going through The Balabac Girl, who had been recommended to me and overall, I had a pretty good experience.

One thing that makes planning easier is that every single Balabac tour I looked into included transport from Puerto Princesa. I haven’t heard of anyone having to arrange it themselves. So if you’re wondering how to get to Balabac, the answer is: you don’t really have to. It’s all taken care of in your tour package.

We got picked up right outside our hotel in Puerto Princesa at around 3 AM. Sounds brutal, I know, but it actually worked out great because there’s no traffic at that time, and I slept most of the way.

By the time we got to the island it was around 11 AM, which meant we had almost the whole day for snorkeling and island hopping right off the bat. So yeah, long morning but super efficient and worth the early wake up call.

How to Join a Balabac Island Hopping Tour

Alright, so we’ve established that the only way to visit Balabac is by joining a tour and the good news is, those tours usually include all your transport too. That means you don’t have to worry about how to get to Balabac, which honestly makes planning way easier.

But now let’s talk about how to actually book one of these Balabac island hopping tours. And here’s where it gets a little more complicated.

Tourism in Balabac isn’t super developed yet, which is part of what makes it so special, there’s barely any infrastructure, and it’s still totally off the beaten path. But that also means there’s no “book now” button or smooth online checkout process. At least not from what I’ve seen.

From my research and personal experience, you usually need to reach out directly to each tour company, ask about availability, and then book your spot via email, WhatsApp, or DM. It’s a bit old-school, but that’s how things work here.

Here are two companies I’d recommend:

The WanderWalkers

This is probably the most popular tour company in Balabac, especially among backpackers and international travelers. I originally wanted to go with them, but they were fully booked for my dates. Their reviews are amazing though, and they definitely run quality tours.

👉 Click here to get in touch with The WanderWalkers

The Balabac Girl

This is who I ended up booking with. She’s basically a tour promoter for a local operator, and you can just message her on Instagram or WhatsApp. My experience overall was great, we even stayed on Onuk Island, which not all tours include, and that was honestly one of the best parts.

👉 Click here to contact The Balabac Girl

Where to Stay in Balabac

This section is honestly kind of irrelevant, but since people kept asking me where to stay in Balabac, I figured I’d include it.

The reality is: you don’t book your own accommodation in Balabac. Since you can only visit as part of a tour, your accommodation will be included in your tour package. It usually depends on the operator and which campsites are part of the itinerary.

I stayed on Canibungan Island, where the campsite had a few different types of tents. I opted for the upgraded tent, which was more spacious and tall enough to stand up in, which I’d definitely recommend, especially if you’re traveling as a couple.

On Onuk Island, I had a smaller tent for just one night, and that was totally fine too. Just keep in mind, everything here is very basic.

Some tours also offer wooden A-frame huts instead of tents. I’ve stayed in similar ones in Malapascua before, and while they might look nicer, I honestly don’t think they’re better when it comes to airflow or heat.

I was pretty happy with the tents overall, but after three nights of sticky, salty, no-shower camping, I was definitely ready for a proper bed, an actual shower, and air-conditioning.

FAQs About How to Go to Balabac Philippines

How to get to Balabac from Puerto Princesa?

When you book a Balabac tour, van transfer from Puerto Princesa to Buliluyan Port is almost always included. That’s just how it works, there’s no need to figure it out yourself.

Is Balabac worth visiting?

I definitely think so, especially if you’re looking for a more off-the-beaten-path and less touristy side of the Philippines.

When is the best time to visit Balabac Palawan?

The best time to visit Balabac is during Palawan’s dry season, which runs from December to April. From my experience, sunshine vs. rain will totally make or break your trip out there.

Final Thoughts on How to Go to Balabac Islands Palawan

There really isn’t that much to say here since all Balabac tours include transportation from Puerto Princesa, but I’ve had so many people message me about it that I figured I’d write this quick guide to clear things up.

The transport I had was actually super smooth. I got picked up from my hotel in Puerto Princesa City by a shuttle service around 3AM, slept most of the way, and was dropped off at Buliluyan Port at the southern tip of Palawan. From there, we caught a boat out to the islands.

I hope this little guide on how to go to Balabac Palawan helped answer your questions and gave you a better idea of what to expect.