If you’re looking to explore untouched beaches, island-hop through neon-mint waters, and swim with sea turtles in the wild—Balabac, Palawan is the dream. But before you get too excited, know this: Balabac is remote, and the journey isn’t simple.
In fact, most travel blogs still point tourists to the wrong port, which can cause serious delays. I’m here to help you get it right based on my personal experience of booking this trip twice. This is your step-by-step guide on how to go to Balabac Palawan, with the insider tips you won’t find on generic travel sites. We also posted here the current tour package price this 2026.
Is it safe to go to Balabac Palawan?
Is it safe to go to Balabac Palawan? Yes, but Balabac DIY is not advised. Since 2023, more tour operators have been granted permits, making it safer than ever to travel with a legitimate group. We trusted Balabac Island Tours-Kamp Malaya (don’t confuse them with other “Malaya” operators) for both of our stays. They went above and beyond, and honestly, having local experts handle the logistics is the only way to ensure a safe, stress-free reset.
How to Get To Balabac Palawan
Step 1: Fly to Puerto Princesa
Your journey of how to get to Balabac Palawan starts at Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS).
- The Flight: Book daily flights via Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, or AirAsia.
- The Strategy: Book a morning flight so you have time to rest in the city. You need a one-day stay in Puerto Princesa before heading south.
- The Cash Rule: Have enough cash before you leave the city. There are zero ATMs on Balabac or the surrounding islets.
Step 2: The Protocol for Losing Yourself (The Tour)
Balabac is closer to Malaysia than Manila. It’s a group of 30+ islands with no malls and no commercial noise. Because it’s so far south, you need to research tour operators who offer all-inclusive packages.
Where we booked twice: Kamp Malaya 4D3N All-In (2026 Update)
Nope this is not a paid feature
- Rate: Php 13,799 / Head (Joiner Rate).
- The Essentials: RT Van (PPS-Buliluyan), RT Boat transfers, full board meals, and entrance fees.
- Accommodation: We booked months ahead to snag a room at Kamp Malaya’s basecamp on Sicsican Island. If rooms are full, they have tents—but regardless, be clear on your inclusions so you don’t have false expectations.
Step 3: The 3 AM Reality Check (The Correct Port)
This is the most critical part of how to get to Balabac Palawan:
🛑 DO NOT go to Port Rio Tuba. Old blogs still mention it, but it is no longer the jump-off point.
✅ The Correct Port is Port Buliluyan in Bataraza.
The drive takes 5 to 6 hours from PPS. Vans leave early—usually between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM. This is why you stay overnight in PPS; if you arrive at the airport late, you’ll miss the transfer.
Step 4: The Boat to the Edge
Once at Buliluyan Port, you’ll log your name in a small office.
- The Ride: 2 to 4 hours depending on the waves.
- Pro-Tip: Be dressed for island life before boarding. Put your dry bags, hats, and glasses on, and wear something you can swim in. Your main luggage will be stored under the boat; you won’t see it again until you hit the island.
What to Do Once You Arrive: The Must-Visit Spots
- Onuk Island: A private island with crystal-clear basins. It’s the spot for sea turtles and giant clams. Note: Ensure your tour includes Onuk, as it requires special permission.
- Punta Sebaring: Pristine white sand as fine as baby powder that stretches for kilometers.
- Candaraman Island: Famous for its sandbar and an abundance of starfish.
- Nasubata Reef: The ultimate snorkeling site.
Timing Your Visit and How Long to Plan Your Leave/Stay
Best time to visit Balabac Palawan: Aim for March to May (Summer) or late February to early June. Be wary when booking between June to October—the Habagat (monsoon) brings rough seas, typhoons and possible cancellations.
The Flight Buffer: Don’t Outrun the Ocean
This is where most people mess up their reset. They try to “optimize” their leave credits by booking a 6:00 PM flight out of Puerto Princesa on the same day the tour ends.
Don’t do it. Here is the reality of your final day:
- The Sea is the Boss: You’ll be traveling back from the islands to Buliluyan Port by boat in the morning. If the waves are choppy or the tide is low, your 2-hour boat ride becomes a 4-hour crawl.
- The Long Road Back: Once you hit land, you still have a 5 to 6-hour van ride back to Puerto Princesa. Even if you leave the port by noon, you aren’t hitting the city until 6:00 PM—and that’s assuming no flat tires or road delays.
- The Transition Period: You will be covered in salt, sand, and sunblock. You’ll be exhausted. Do you really want to spend those final hours stressing about a check-in counter?
The Golden Rule: Allot an extra night in Puerto Princesa after your tour ends. Use that night to get a hot shower, a proper meal at Kalui or Kinabuchs, and actually look at the photos you took. Book your flight home for the next day. Giving yourself that 24-hour “decompression chamber” is the only way to ensure the peace you found in Balabac doesn’t evaporate the moment you hit traffic.
How to get to Balabac Palawan from Manila
There is no direct commercial flight or ferry that will drop you in Balabac. To get to Balabac from Manila, you are essentially performing a two-stage extraction:
- Air: Manila to Puerto Princesa (PPS).
- Land & Sea: PPS to Buliluyan Port (6 hours) and Buliluyan to the Islands (3 hours). Total travel time from your Manila doorstep to a Balabac sandbar is roughly 12 to 14 hours, provided you don’t hit delays. This is why we insist on the “Day 0” arrival in PPS.
Manila to Balabac Flight (The Myth vs. The Reality)
Search engines might tease you with a “Manila to Balabac flight,” but unless you are chartering a private plane to land on a private airstrip (like the one on Bugsuk Island), this does not exist for the average traveler. Your “flight to Balabac” is actually a Manila to Puerto Princesa flight. From there, the road takes over.
Manila to Puerto Princesa Flight
This is the easiest part of the journey.
- Airlines: Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and AirAsia run multiple loops daily.
- Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.
- Pro-Tip: Book the earliest morning flight possible. It gives you the afternoon in PPS to coordinate with your Kamp Malaya contact, withdraw all the cash you’ll need, and buy your “nik-nik” (sandfly) repellent.
The Intra-Palawan Grind: Travel Times from Other Palawan Areas (Coron, El Nido, and Port Barton)
If you are already in Palawan and moving south, do not underestimate the distance. You are traveling from the north/central region to the literal tip of the archipelago.
Coron to Balabac Travel Time
- The Reality: This is a mission. There is no direct boat or flight.
- The Route: You must first take a ferry (slow boat: 15 hours / fast craft: 5 hours) or a flight from Coron to Puerto Princesa.
- Total Time: Allot 2 full days. One day to get to PPS, and the next day (starting at 3 AM) to head to Balabac.
El Nido to Balabac Travel Time
- The Route: You have to travel south via land to Puerto Princesa first.
- The Ride: A shared or private van takes about 5 to 6 hours from El Nido to PPS.
- Total Time: Allot at least 24 hours. You’ll need to arrive in PPS in the afternoon, stay the night, and then join the 3 AM van to Buliluyan the following morning. Do not try to go El Nido → PPS → Buliluyan in one go; you will arrive at the port after the boats have already left.
Port Barton to Balabac Travel Time
- The Route: Similar to El Nido, you must go back to the PPS hub.
- The Ride: Port Barton to PPS is about 3 to 4 hours by van.
- Total Time: 1.5 Days. Reach PPS by the afternoon, rest, and prep for the early morning van to the south.
The reason these travel times are so long is that Balabac is protected by its own geography. The hours spent in a van or on a ferry are the price of admission to a place that hasn’t been ruined by convenience.
Quick Recap for you 2026 Balabac Trip
If you’re skimming, here are the non-negotiables for your 2026 trip. Save this, screenshot it, or send it to your group chat.
Is it safe? Yes. Stick to permitted tour operators (like Kamp Malaya) to avoid crocs (mainland) and maritime issues.
Best Time to Visit: March to May for glass-calm seas; late Feb to early June is the safe window.
Total Days Needed: 5-6 Days. (1 Arrival day, 4 Tour days, 1 Buffer/Departure day).
The “Port” Trap: DO NOT go to Rio Tuba. The only correct jump-off is Port Buliluyan.
The Money Rule:Zero ATMs. Bring all the cash you need from Puerto Princesa.
Booking Lead Time: 3–6 Months. Rooms at Kamp Malaya sell out fast; tents are the fallback.
The “How to Get There” Cheat Sheet
- Manila to Balabac Flight: Doesn’t exist. Book Manila to Puerto Princesa (PPS). It’s a 1.25-hour flight followed by a 6-hour van ride.
- Coron to Balabac: Expect a 2-day mission. You must fly or take a ferry (5–15 hrs) to PPS first, stay the night, then head south.
- El Nido to Balabac: A 16–18 hour journey. Van to PPS (6 hrs), overnight stay, then the 3 AM van to Buliluyan.
- Port Barton to Balabac: Roughly 13–15 hours. Van to PPS (4 hrs), overnight stay, then the early morning push to the port.
Balabac isn’t a destination you “squeeze in.” It’s a destination you commit to. The travel times are long because the payoff is huge—untouched sandbars, no signal, and the version of yourself you haven’t seen in years.
