Is Balabac Worth Visiting? My Honest Review (2025)

One of my favorite experiences during the three months I spent in the Philippines was, without a doubt, visiting the Balabac Islands in Palawan.

If you haven’t heard of Balabac before, it’s a group of remote islands located in the far south of Palawan and home to some of the most untouched beaches and marine life I’ve seen anywhere in the country.

I did a full 4-day, 3-night tour around the Balabac Islands and had an incredible time. In this short travel guide, I’ll try to answer the question is Balabac worth visiting by sharing my first-hand experience and honest opinions.

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Is Balabac Worth Visiting? My Honest Review (2025)

Is Balabac Worth Visiting? My Quick Answer

Let me start by saying this: I had such a unique and unforgettable time in Balabac. I’m saying that upfront because I’ll also mention a few things I didn’t totally love, but overall, I absolutely loved the experience.

So yes I do think Balabac is worth visiting. It was honestly one of the most magical places I’ve ever been. I stayed on remote islands with insanely clear water, swam with turtles super close at Onuk Island (that’s one of the Balabac islands), ate some of the best Filipino food of my trip, and met the kindest people. The nature I saw out there was something else and easily some of the most untouched and beautiful I’ve seen in the Philippines.

If you’re after a more remote, off-the-beaten-path vibe, far from the usual El Nido-style mass tourism, then Balabac is without a doubt one of the best places to go in the Philippines.

What You Should Know About Balabac Philippines

Before we get into the rest of the article, I want to give you a quick breakdown of a few things you should absolutely know before visiting Balabac. 

From my experience, there’s really not a lot of information out there, especially when it comes to how to book a tour, how to get there, and what to expect. And to be honest, the organization and communication from most tour companies was… questionable at best. So here’s what I wish someone had told me:

First off, you can only visit Balabac via tour. There’s no DIY option for staying on your own, these are remote, privately owned islands. It’s kind of like a more off-the-beaten-path version of the Coron-to-El Nido expedition.

Balabac is very remote. There’s barely any phone signal, and you’ll be relying on your tour agency for everything from food, water, transport to accommodation. There are no towns, no hotels, no supermarkets. Nothing. Just you and nature (and your group).

Also, Balabac is basic. Like, really basic. I was honestly a little shocked at how rustic it was. We slept in tents most nights, and the campsites were as bare bones as it gets. It was hot, salty, sweaty, mosquito-filled, and there was barely any water for showering. So yeah, don’t expect luxury. This is a raw, remote, adventure-style tour through and through but I still had an amazing time here.

What I Really Liked About Visiting Balabac Palawan

  • The nature here is honestly unbeatable. I was obsessed with all the palm trees, uninhabited islands, and untouched white sand beaches, it’s just stunning.
  • Meeting the turtles on Onuk Island was such a highlight. There were so many (even more than I’ve seen in the Gili Islands), and they swam super close to the shore. I’ll add some photos since it was really special.
  • Freediving here was incredible. If you’re into it, you’ll love it, but even if you’re not, the snorkeling is amazing and super beginner-friendly.
  • The blue waters! The different shades of blue were insane. I never got tired of just sitting on the boat and cruising past tiny islands with the most beautiful water I’ve ever seen.
  • The group tour itself was actually really fun. Ours was a mix of international and Filipino travelers, and it was amazing to make new friends and swap stories.
  • It felt great to explore a different side of the Philippines. El Nido and Coron are gorgeous, but they’ve gotten super touristy. Balabac still feels raw and off the beaten path and I loved that.
Is Balabac Worth Visiting? My Honest Review (2025)

What I Didn’t Like About Balabac Philippines

  • A lot of the tour companies just aren’t great. Communication can be a mess, the guides often don’t speak English, and things feel pretty disorganized, so make sure you book with the right one.
  • Everything felt a bit makeshift. Compared to El Nido or Coron, where tours are super streamlined and professional, the Balabac tours felt a lot more rough around the edges.
  • Trash was still an issue. I know this is a widespread problem across the Philippines, but it was frustrating to see plastic waste even on the most remote islands. How does it even get there?
  • It was almost too remote for me. After three nights of sleeping in hot, sweaty tents right on the beach, I was more than ready for AC, a shower, and a real bed.
  • For how basic everything is, I actually think it’s kind of expensive. When you compare the experience in Balabac to similar trips in Coron, what you get here doesn’t totally match the price tag.
  • Transportation from Puerto Princesa to Balabac takes a long time (5 hour bus journey as well as 1 hour boat ride to get to the campsite)

Who Should Visit Balabac Palawan

I’ll be honest, while writing this, I was a bit on the fence about whether Balabac is really worth it. I definitely had some issues during the trip, but looking back now (and scrolling through my photos), the good memories win.

Balabac is perfect if you’re looking to explore a less touristy, off-the-beaten-path corner of the Philippines. It’s raw, remote, and completely different from places like El Nido or Coron.

It’s also great for people who love nature and don’t need the comfort of a hotel room. The whole experience is more of a castaway-style adventure with camping on beaches, grilling fresh fish, and being completely off-grid.

That said, I wouldn’t call myself super outdoorsy. I can handle a bit of camping, but after three nights in a hot, sweaty tent, I was definitely ready for a real bed, a cold shower, and some AC. So if you’re like me, it’s doable, but you might not want to stay longer than a few nights.

Is Balabac Worth Visiting? My Honest Review (2025)

How to Book a Balabac Island Hopping Tour

I did quite a bit of research on different Balabac tours and talked to several operators to figure out the best deal for myself (whether I actually got the best deal is another story).

Unfortunately, it’s not a simple “book and go” situation since there are only a handful of tour companies that organize trips to the islands, and most of them operate through email or WhatsApp. At least that’s how it worked for me.

I couldn’t find any super professional website where you just click a button and instantly book a spot. I think it’s just not at that stage yet in terms of tourism infrastructure. But I’m sure over the next 10 years or so, it’ll all get more developed.

For now, the easiest way to book is to message one of the tour companies directly. Below are the ones I’d personally recommend:

Is Balabac Worth Visiting? My Honest Review (2025)

The WanderWalkers

I didn’t end up doing the Balabac tour with them, but I originally wanted to but unfortunately, they were fully booked on my dates. That said, they have a great reputation, their reviews are amazing, and they’re probably the most popular company among backpackers.

Click here to book with them

Balabac Girl

We booked through “The Balabac Girl” (that’s her Instagram handle), who’s a promoter for a larger tour operator. I had a good experience overall, she was super friendly and really tried to make sure we had a great time. The snorkel gear and diving setup were especially impressive. The only downside was the campsite we stayed at wasn’t quite as nice as the one WanderWalkers uses.

Click here to message Balabac Girl

Is Balabac Worth Visiting? My Honest Review (2025)

FAQs About Is Balabac Worth Visiting

How do you get to Balabac Palawan?

Since you can only visit Balabac through organized tours, most of them include van transport from Puerto Princesa. It’s a long trip and usually takes around 6 hours by van and then a boat.

Where are the Balabac Islands?

The Balabac Islands are a group of very remote islands at the southern tip of Palawan, Philippines. Closer to Malaysia than most of Palawan’s tourist hotspots, they’re far off the typical travel radar.

What’s better, Coron or Balabac?

They’re honestly so different that it’s worth doing both if you have time. I had completely different experiences in each place. But if I had to pick just one, I’d go for the Coron to El Nido expedition because it just felt more well-rounded overall.

When is the best time to visit Balabac Palawan?

The best time to visit Balabac is during Palawan’s dry season, which typically runs from December to April. Outside those months, the sea can get too rough and tours might get canceled.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Balabac

Yes, I do think Balabac is worth visiting. The nature here is untouched and just absolutely beautiful. I loved that it felt like I was going somewhere not everyone else was going, you know? After seeing how crowded El Nido’s island-hopping tours can get, it felt refreshing to be somewhere that still flies a bit under the radar.

That said, this is a very basic experience. The tents are basic. So are the mattresses, blankets, and pillows. Showers? It’s just a big water tank in the open with a pipe at the bottom. After three nights on Balabac, I was more than ready to go home and take a proper shower.

But overall, if you’re up for roughing it a little and want raw nature and quiet beaches, Balabac delivers. Onuk Island was a personal highlight for me, especially seeing the turtles. I hope this guide helped answer the question is Balabac worth visiting, or at least gave you what you need to make up your own mind.

Check Out My Other Palawan Guides

Best Beach Resort in El Nido Palawan: My Honest Hotel Review

Beaches in El Nido Palawan: My Top El Nido Beaches

Restaurants in El Nido: Where to Eat in El Nido Palawan

How to Get to El Nido Palawan: My Full Guide on How to Get to El Nido

Is El Nido Worth Visiting?: My Honest Review

El Nido or Siargao: My Honest Comparison

El Nido Itinerary: My 4 Days in El Nido Travel Itinerary

Best Time to Visit El Nido: When to Visit El Nido Travel Guide

Where to Stay in El Nido Palawan: My Favorite Areas & Hotels

Port Barton Restaurants: Where to Eat in Port Barton

Is Port Barton Worth Visiting?: My Honest Review

Port Barton Beaches: My Favorite Beaches in Port Barton

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