The 8 Boat Tours in Puerto Princesa That Earn Their Price

1.Firefly Watching Bay Cruise with Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 175 reviews · 4 hours · from $34Our pick

You’ll cruise Puerto Princesa Bay at dusk, eat a local-style dinner aboard a motorboat, then transfer to a smaller boat near the mangroves. Guides such as Dong, Dodong, Edward, and Kail add natural-history stories and humor while you look for fireflies and bioluminescent plankton. Hotel pickup, drop-off, boats, dinner, and a life vest are included.

“Just be sure you can handle different boat transfer situations.”

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2.Swim with Whale Sharks Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 93 reviews · 6.5 hours · from $60

From Puerto Princesa, you’ll cruise with an English-speaking guide and crew who use local fishing reports and bird activity to search for wild whale sharks. You’ll get snorkeling gear, lunch, hotel pickup, and several chances to enter the water, though sightings depend on sea conditions and the animals’ natural movements.

“Even thought we didn’t see any whale sharks, I love my group and the people.”

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3.Firefly Watching Paddle Boat Tour & Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 47 reviews · 4 hours · from $27Best value

You’ll start with hotel pickup, dinner at Swag Restaurant, and a short boat ride from Baywalk before entering the river by paddle boat. An English-speaking guide explains the fireflies’ role in the ecosystem. Bring insect repellent, breathable clothes, and patience for a rain-or-shine evening under dark mangrove trees.

“Great evening activity. The guide was excellent, food was good, and the boat trip accords the bay way lovely and relaxing”

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4.Jungle Firefly Watching Boat Tour & Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 39 reviews · 4 hours · from $32

Leave Puerto Princesa around 4:30 PM for a local dinner, then ride 45 minutes to a darker village for a paddle-boat trip through mangroves. An English or Tagalog guide explains fireflies and conservation. The tour usually ends between 8 and 10 PM, depending on tides and weather.

“Pilotka organizacja świetliki ogólnie całe miejsce super”

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5.Honda Bay Island Hopping Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 30 reviews · 9 hours · from $40

Spend nine hours island hopping from Puerto Princesa to Starfish Island, Luli Island, and Cowrie Island. You will travel by motorized boat, swim or snorkel, enjoy a Filipino picnic lunch, and meet other tourists in a shared group. Hotel pickup, guide, boat, entrance fees, and life vest are included, but snorkeling gear and the PHP 150 environmental fee cost extra.

“It was a good experience with the weather being on our side. Sunshine without any clouds so perfect for sunbathing & relaxation. The views of the horizon were stunning, mountainous Philippines. I would recommend this tour for what it offers. Lunch was filling and delicious, especially the BBQ fish!”

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6.Iwahig Firefly Watching & River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 21 reviews · 3 hours · from $38

You’ll ride a quiet boat along Iwahig River as fireflies flicker in the mangroves beneath the night sky. This three-hour trip includes hotel pickup, a guide, safety briefing, and an optional buffet dinner with live music. Bring insect repellent, wear light clothing, and keep your camera flash off.

“Seeing the fireflies was amazing, and the boat guide was great - knowledgeable, funny and really good at spotting fireflies. Travelling down the river in the dark with only fireflies showing up was an amazing experience. However, the transport was a mess. There was already a large pickup window which was missed, without any notification from the organiser. There didn't seem to be great records of who was going, leading to confusion. On arrival, it was again unclear what was happening and where to go. There is little to do at the dock apart from the boat tour. Still a worthwhile trip!”

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7.Iwahig River Cruise and Firefly Watching Tour in Puerto Princesa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $36Top rated

Head south from Puerto Princesa to Iwahig Eco Park for an evening river cruise among mangroves and fireflies. Hotel pickup, an English and Filipino-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, parking, and dinner are included, though dinner must be selected when booking. Expect about 60 to 90 minutes of road travel and a total outing of roughly 2 to 4 hours.

“I was picked up at the hotel and driven to Iwahig. Travel time was so 30-45 min. First there was a delicious dinner where I was served beach crabs for the first time. This was followed by an entertaining tour of the mangroves with fascinating exRead moreAuto-translated”

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8.Shared Underground River with Mangrove Paddle Boat & LUNCH

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 3 reviews · 8 hours · from $56

Spend eight hours visiting Puerto Princesa’s UNESCO Underground River, riding a paddle boat through its limestone cave, and eating a buffet lunch. A community guide leads the mangrove trip and shows you how Tamilok woodworms are taken from branches. Wildlife may include monkeys, lizards, snakes, and birds.

“Mediocre. I posti incredibili ma le guide mettevano molta fretta e non abbiamo potuto goderci a pieno il nostro tour.”

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