A Mini Guide to Onok Island Balabac: Everything You Need to Know 2025

Onok Island or Onuk Island, I’ve seen both spellings, is a tiny, beautiful island in Balabac, a remote group of islands in the far south of Palawan, Philippines.

It’s small, with powdery white sand, swaying palm trees, and some of the clearest, bluest water you’ll ever see. The marine life around the island is incredible and I honestly haven’t seen this many turtles up close anywhere else, not even in the Gili Islands.

Even though Onok Island is only accessible as part of a Balabac island hopping tour, I wanted to write a quick guide anyway, since so many of you asked me how to get there and what it’s really like.

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A Mini Guide to Onok Island Balabac: Everything You Need to Know 2025

Onok Island – My Experience

I want to start this mini guide with my experience, because I think that gives you a much better idea of what to expect, what it’s really like, and whether it’s worth it.

So first things first: Onok Island is only accessible via a Balabac island hopping tour. These are usually 4-day, 3-night trips, kind of like the El Nido to Coron expeditions.

What I didn’t know before going is that not all tours actually stop at Onok Island, and even fewer let you stay overnight. Luckily, mine did and I’ll link the contact below in case you’re looking for one that includes it.

I stayed on Onok Island for one night and honestly, it was the highlight of my entire Balabac trip.

The locals climbed up a palm tree and grabbed us fresh coconuts, cracked them open right there, it was both hilarious and amazing to watch. We had such a good time just relaxing on the beach and for dinner we had freshly caught fish. The island is remote, there’s only one family living on it, and you really feel like you’re in paradise.

But the absolute highlight for me was the turtles. They come so close to shore to feed on the seagrass, and they’re incredibly calm. I had multiple turtles swimming around me in shallow water, no feeding, no chasing, nothing. They were just there. It was one of the most natural, peaceful snorkelling experiences I’ve had in the Philippines.

What to Expect on Onok Island (Onuk Island)

Staying on the Island
Staying overnight on Onok Island is definitely very basic. It was just our group, about 10 people, camping in a bunch of tents. There was a shower and a couple of toilets, plus the pier where the boats dock, and that’s pretty much it. Super simple, but peaceful.
Snorkeling on Onok Island
The snorkeling here is honestly incredible. We had so much free time that I spent hours just snorkeling off the beach. There were so many corals, schools of fish, and more turtles than I’ve ever seen anywhere else, Gili Islands included. And the best part was, I was completely alone in the water. No other tourists, just me and the turtles. That’s something you rarely get in the Philippines.
Dinner on Onok Island
Dinner was such a treat. We had grilled vegetables, rice, loads of fruit, and freshly caught fish. We literally watched the locals go out with their fins and spearguns and come back with two massive fish (don’t ask me what kind, they were just huge). They grilled them right there, and it was such a proper island feast. So good.

Other than that, there’s not much to “do”, which is kind of the point. We arrived around midday and left the next morning around 11 a.m., so we had plenty of time to hang out and snorkel. Especially after 4 p.m., when all the day tour groups left, it felt so quiet and remote. Definitely a unique experience.

How to Get to Onuk Island Palawan

Onok Island is super remote, it’s part of Balabac, so the only way to visit is by joining one of the Balabac island hopping tours.

From what I’ve seen, not every tour actually includes a stop at Onok Island, and almost none offer the chance to stay overnight. That’s what really sets the tour I did apart. In fact, it might be the only one that lets you actually camp on the island, which I think is a huge highlight.

I booked my tour through The Balabac Girl, that’s her Instagram handle, and honestly, everyone just knows her by that name. She organizes Balabac trips and made the whole experience super easy. Thanks to her tour, we got to spend the night on Onok, and it was incredible.

The easiest way to get in touch is to just send her a message on Instagram or WhatsApp. She’s really responsive and will send you all the details you need. If staying on Onok Island is something you want to do, I definitely recommend going through her.

Tips for Visiting Onok Island

Bring mosquito repellent. We didn’t have major issues, but Balabac in general can get bad for mosquitoes.
Sort out a mask and snorkel beforehand. Once you’re on the island, there might not be any available. And trust me, the snorkeling is a major highlight.
Snacks and water. Our tour covered food and drinks really well, but it’s always smart to bring a few extras, just in case.
Bring a flashlight or headlamp. The island gets super dark at night, and finding your way to the toilet without light is a challenge.
Have some cash on you. It’s nice to be able to tip the locals or have them grab you a fresh coconut from a tree.
Sunscreen, and lots of it. It gets brutally hot and sunny out there.
Turtles are usually right off the pier. Just walk down the stairs into the water and you’ll likely spot them. If you swim further out, there are other snorkel spots where we saw giant clams too which was honestly amazing.

FAQs About Visiting Onok Island Philippines

Where is Onuk Island located?

Onok Island (sometimes spelled Onuk Island) is part of Balabac, a remote group of islands in the far south of Palawan, Philippines.

How to go to Onuk Island Palawan?

As far as I know, the only way to visit is by joining a Balabac island hopping tour. Most tours are around 4 days and 3 nights, kind of like the El Nido to Coron expeditions.

Is Onuk Island worth visiting?

I think so. It’s one of the most remote islands I’ve ever been to, and the snorkeling is absolutely stunning.

Can you stay on Onok Island?

Yes, but only with certain tour groups. If you book your tour through The Balabac Girl, you’ll likely be able to spend the night on Onok Island itself.

Final Thoughts on Onok Island Palawan

To wrap this up, I’d say Onok Island was the highlight of my Balabac island hopping trip.

It’s just stunning. Think white sand, swaying palm trees, and ridiculously clear water. But the real highlight was the marine life.

I was obsessed with the snorkeling here, especially how many turtles I saw just hanging out in shallow water. It honestly blew my mind. I’ve snorkeled and dived in the Gili Islands too, where you see lots of turtles, but they usually swim off fast. In Onok, they just chilled. No one else was around. No twenty tourists chasing one poor turtle. Just me, floating above them.

So yes, Onok Island is 100% worth it and it was hands down the highlight of my trip.