How To Get To Balabac Island Palawan
Wondering how to go to Balabac Palawan? We’ve got you covered. Balabac is a remote set of islands in the south of Palawan not frequently visited by tourists when compared to El Nido or Coron, mainly due to the lack of tourism infrastructure. However, that's exactly why you need to go. This isn’t an over-hyped tourist town, it's a set of remote islands waiting to be explored, with some of the most beautiful sandbars in the world.
This guide explores how to get to Balabac, the different routes and the most efficient vs cheapest ways, from Puerto Princesa to Balabac, Manila, El Nido and Coron. It’s not the easiest journey however those who are brave enough to take it will be heavily rewarded! Most tourists opt to do a guided tour which will include transport from Puerto Princesa to Balabac Islands, however you can also save some money and do the journey yourself. Read on to find out everything you need to know about how to get to Balabac Palawan.
Contents
Explore hidden gems, top spots, restaurants and more - instantly available in Google Maps. Download over 300 pins for FREE!
Palawan Regions
Palawan is home to some of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the world - not just the Philippines. Tourists travel from all over the world to witness the limestone cliffs, crystal clear water and perfect white sand beaches for their own eyes, only to be in disbelief when they arrive. The Philippines is a large collection of over 7,000 islands which can make them difficult to navigate at times, especially as a budget traveller, because the tourist infrastructure isn’t as good as other countries in South East Asia such as Thailand. However this is exactly what adds to the beauty, the feeling of being off the beaten track and exploring areas that feel like they’re back in time.
Where Is Balabac?
Balabac is the perfect example of this, a remote set of stunning islands in the south point of Palawan, where not many tourists venture but those who do are seriously rewarded with some of the most beautiful natural attractions in the world. Think desert islands, sand bars, starfish and more!
How To Get To Balabac Palawan? The Different Routes
Puerto Princesa To Balabac Island
Puerto Princesa will likely be the starting point for most tourists visiting Palawan, being the main city on the island and well connected to other major cities such as Manila, Cebu and Davao. In order to get from Puerto Princesa to Balabac it will require a combination of overland and ferry transports. There are two main options to get from Puerto Princesa to Balabac:
Option 1: via Buliluyan Port
The first step is to get to Buliluyan Port which is a 7 hour drive from Puerto Princesa via bus or private taxi. The public bus runs only once per day leaving at 8:30am from Irawan Bus Terminal in Puerto Princesa City, the journey takes roughly 7 hours and brings you directly to Buliluyan Port. Alternatively, if there is a group of you or you’re travelling as a family, it might make more sense to travel in a private taxi and split the cost.
Once you have reached Buliluyan Port, you’ll now need to take a boat to the Balabac Islands. Currently, this can’t be booked online and there is no fixed ferry schedule, so it’s best to check with your accommodation as the locals will know boat times and prices.
Steps
Bus to Buliluyan Port (7 hours, ₱910)
Boat to Balabac Islands (1-3 hours)
Option 2: via Rio Tuba Pier
The next option to get to Balabac from Puerto Princesa is via Rio Tuba Pier, you’ll firstly have to board the bus (or private taxi) to Rio Tuba Pier. Currently this is not available to book online however it runs from Irawan Bus Terminal twice a day at 8:30am & 10:30am.
Next you have a choice of getting a direct boat from Rio Tuba Pier which again you can’t pre-book and leaves once per day between 9am & 2pm, welcome to island life! This means by choosing this option you’ll most likely need to spend the night in Rio Tuba or get an early morning private taxi from Puerto Princesa.
Alternatively, from Rio Tuba Pier, you can get a tricycle to Buliluyan Pier, which is closer to Balabac, and get a boat from there.
Steps
Bus to Rio Tuba Pier (5-6 hours)
Direct Boat from Rio Tuba to Balabac (3-4 hours) OR tricycle to Buliluyan Port (35 mins) & public boat to Balabac (1-3 hours)
As you’ll notice, both routes aren’t amazing and require multiple connecting modes of transport which is why most travelers choose to go with an organised tour to Balabac. However if you’re on a budget and looking for adventure, you can definitely travel DIY. Most tours also run from Puerto Princesa and put a high additional fee on getting to Balabac, you could ask them to pick you up from Buliluyan Port which would save you some money.
El Nido To Balabac Island
El Nido is one of the most famous tourist destinations in all of the Philippines, known for its boat tours and limestone cliffs. In order to get from El Nido to Balabac, you’ll first have to get to Puerto Princesa which is the main hub of Palawan. In order to do so, the easiest option is via shared van with other tourists taking 5 hours, however public buses also run which take 2 hours longer.
This is a very popular route with tourists all year round so we recommend booking in advance on 12Go, especially in the high season which is November to April. From Puerto Princesa to Balabac, you can follow the steps further up this blog.
Steps
Puerto Princesa to Balabac Island via Buliluyan Port
Explore hidden gems, top spots, restaurants and more - instantly available in Google Maps. Download over 300 pins for FREE!
Coron To Balabac Island
Coron is a beautiful island to the north of Palawan, surrounded by some of the best diving spots in the world, hidden lagoons and crystal clear waters. In order to get to Balabac from Coron, you’ll have to first get to Puerto Princesa which is best done by ferry (cheapest) or by flight (fastest).
The total journey time when getting to Puerto Princesa via vans & ferry can take 15-16 hours which is a long travel day! 12Go offers a shared van package which includes the cost of the ferry, for ease we recommend this option if you’re on a budget.
Alternatively, if you can spend more, a flight from Busuanga Airport (Coron) to Puerto Princesa will take roughly 1 hour, however tickets are limited and it's a very popular route meaning very high prices.
From Puerto Princesa to Balabac Island, you can follow the steps further above this blog.
How To Get To Balabac Island From Manila
Similarly to El Nido and Coron, you must first get to Puerto Princesa from Manila in order to reach Balabac. The best way to do this is via internal flight which will take roughly 1 hour & 20 minutes and is a common flight path with many flights scheduled, this means you should be able to get a good deal if your schedule is flexible.
From Puerto Princesa to Balabac Island, you can follow the steps further above this blog.
Tours To Balabac Island
In general, most tourists organise tours to Balabac Island which include the island hopping boat tours, accommodation, food and transport in the package. This is a convenient option however you can also explore Balabac more DIY via making your own way, getting public transport and staying in a homestay.
Personally, as budget backpackers, we would prefer to do it ourselves however we highly recommend the tours for families and tourists on holiday with a shorter time in the Philippines, the travel day is long and could waste multiple days of your holiday!
Top Tips For Travelling The Philippines
If you’re visiting the Philippines here are our top travel tips:
Book flights in advance - they can become expensive if you leave it last minute… oh and check your luggage allowance to skip expensive check in fees at the airport. Don't forget your Apple Airtags to track your bags
Agree on taxi prices upfront - when getting into a tuk-tuk, tricycle or taxi, make sure you agree on a price or they have a meter, so many tourists get ripped off with a huge price tag at the end of the ride.
Take it slow - don't feel the need to see all the islands, we recommend picking a few and doing them properly. See the island in full, find some locals and sing Karaoke..
Embrace the chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!
For a checklist of what's needed to pack for your trip, read: Philippines Packing List
Travel Tools To Help You Plan
These are some of the travel tools we love and use daily, by booking through our links you support our blog and help us grow, thank you.
Thank you for reading and enjoy your Philippine adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
For our Filipino friends: Maraming salamat sa pag babasa, hangang sa susunod nating pag kikita, mamimiss namin kayo, mabuhay ang pilipinas! Salamat
*Some links in this article are affiliate meaning we may earn a small commission with no extra cost to you! It helps grow the blog so thank you for supporting us.
.png)