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To answer quickly, yes, it is safe to visit Balabac. The coastguard is very active in monitoring the tours and the sea. We published previously a blogpost about safety in Balabac entitled “Is Balabac Safe?” to give the best explanation to people asking the question. Here’s some additional details.
Is Balabac still safe? We encounter more and more people ask this question since they saw news about children being eaten by crocodiles. The answer to your Balabac safety concerns lies with this question: where in Balabac are you going?
Balabac has 32 islands! Click here to see more about its location. The biggest one is mainland Balabac where the main town is. This is where most of the crocodile incidents are sited. So go look at google maps and see which destinations are around mainland: Melville Lighthouse and Timbayan Rock formation (a crocodile was spotted here according to one of the boatman locals). This is the very reason why we don’t bring our guests to mainland.
Meanwhile, other destinations close to the mainland (Ramos Island where you can find the rock formation), Sicsican Island and Candaraman Island) have only sightings but no attacks. We have brought hundreds of people and to be honest, even the most adventurous ones who wanted to see a crocodile saw none. But this does not disregard the fact that even the owners/caretakers of these islands have seen crocodiles.
Dengue mosquitoes (aedes aegypti mosquito) prefers to feed off of humans and thrives more around human settlements (towns and cities) than in unpopulated islands. They can only be carrying the virus if they bit a human with dengue already. The risk here is in the mainland where the population is.
While there is mosquito in other islands and in our campsite, we never had cases of dengue fever in the destinations where we are visiting. Just bring an insect repellent against itchy bites from mosquitoes and sand flies.
It was only in the past that Malaria was a problem in Balabac but only in the mainland, where the mountainous area is. There is no need to get Malaria shots when doing your tour with us.
There has never been an incident of kidnapping or tourist assault in Balabac, even years before when the Coast Guard was not active in patrolling Balabac. Starting 2022, the the Coast Guard has been roving in Balabac waters to make sure that safety is provided to both locals and guests.
So, you know how to answer the question.
If you are going to the mainland Balabac, there is higher risk. But if you are just visiting the undeveloped islands like Onok, Punta Sebaring and Candaraman and the sandbars, then you can ease your mind from the worry.
EXCELLENT224 reviews onVerified
Kasia GMarch 17, 2025It was a great time with The Wanderwalkers! We chose a 4D3N Tour. Everything was perfectly organized. We always had all the information we needed, and everything happened on time. The whole trip was very well planned.Our guide, Jeremy, was fantastic 🫶. Very professional. He took care of every small detail to make sure everyone was happy. The rest of the crew was great too.The place at Punta Sebaring was a perfect choice. The cottages were comfortable, there were many hammocks, and just a few steps away were beautiful sunrises and a local village.The Balabac Islands are like paradise. We have seen many Philippine islands, but these are the best.One of the biggest highlights was Onuk Island. It made the greatest impression, and it was wonderful to be there ahead of crowded, spending lots of time exploring its beauty.Thanks again to the organizers, Jeremy, and the whole crew for a fantastic time. I would love to do it again! 🌺🐚🌴Verified
Julie MMarch 13, 2025Different, A change of scenery, meet great people, beautiful islands and turtles Our trip was amazing, it’s a experience to live. Everything was great, people, island, camp, food and also our guide Jeremy. It’s a thing to live once in a lifetime, we have unforgettable memories. Thanks youVerified
Nico RMarch 12, 2025Paradise in the South of Palawan This boat tour is a must-see for every traveler in the Philippines. Arriving to get to base camp is an adventure in itself. You can see from noon from the first day and the entire second and third day with one of the most beautiful places in the world. Abandoned islands, few/no tourists, starfish, turtles and crystal clear waters. Onok Island was the highlight and the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. The group (consisting of Australians, French, Lithuanians and Germans) made the trip an unforgettable experience.Verified
VivianMarch 5, 2025Pure paradise! Our 4 day expedition to Balabac was the highlight of our Philippines trip. The whole trip was well organized from start to finish and you didn't have to worry about anything anymore. The whole community at the camp and the other visitors are super nice and very dedicated, you feel very welcome. Especially our guide Jeremy did a great job and tried to get the best out of the 4 days. As a vegetarian you have no problems and the portions were always more than sufficient for everyone. You can't expect a luxury holiday as the conditions in the camp are very simple, but you really experience pure paradise as it's really much nicer than in all the pictures and without the mass tourism, as in many other places in Palawan :)Verified
Andrew BFebruary 21, 2025Best time in Balabac The best experience in Balabac4 days 3 nights spent with the best team and new friends Balabac is a piece of heaven in the Philippines. Everything was fantastic, from the bus transfer to the activities, to the beaches and the food. Jeremy and the team were the best, they were our guides, chefs and photographers. The best crew! We had a group of 11 which was a great size, we stayed in the hut which I highly recommend. The food was incredible as well, 3 meals a day were provided (Filipino Power!!) and there is even a bar where snacks are available.Some highlights were swimming with sea turtles, starfish, the most beautiful beaches, sand bars and coral reefsThank you Jeremy and everyone on site at camp for making the trip so memorable for usVerified
Alexandra NogueiraFebruary 20, 2025Great experience ! This Balabac trip was a great experience that I can only recommend. The beaches were the best we have ever seen and the crew on the boat as well as on the camp made the experience unforgettable. Special shoutout to Mark and his mom that were super friendly to us !Verified
Kyra HFebruary 19, 2025Great. Great. This was really one of the coolest things in my life to do. Hugely enjoyed and lucky with the weather, just after the typhoon when it was refurbished. Very nice staff. All a bit primitive, but of course you choose that and that makes the trip complete.Verified
Sina MFebruary 10, 2025Oh, hell! We stayed 4 days (3 nights) on the road and loved it! You already know when booking that you have to leave luxury and knickknacks behind. But that's exactly what makes this tour special. We had great people in the team and had a great time! Camp Punta Sebaring is located on a beautiful and quiet beach from which you can admire the sunrise. Unfortunately, we were very unlucky with the weather except in one day. The attached pictures are therefore almost all from Onok Island, as we were there on the last day in sunshine. Our team leader was also very cool. The food was always fresh and prepared with love. We would recommend this tour to anyone!Verified
EvaspielbergerFebruary 7, 2025Unforgettable island hopping We did the 4 day / 3 night tour with wanderwalkers. It was an unforgettable experience. I came with my friend, we were put in a group with 7 others, with whom we quickly became friends. The accommodation is very basic (small bamboo cabins with mosquito net and electricity from about 17:00-23:00), yet we slept there better than ever. Toilet and shower work with bucket principle, you should take toilet paper yourself. The people at the punta sebaring camp are so friendly and helpful, you feel really welcome. The food was really good, there was a different breakfast every day and for lunch and dinner always a selection of fish/seafood, meat and vegetables. And, of course, plenty of rice. The island hopping was incredibly beautiful. Almost on all islands we were alone with our group. The water is so clear, you drive through all sorts of blues. We have seen many starfish and on Onok Island we have snorkeled with several turtles. The boat crew was great, especially our guide Marc. For me, one of the best travel experiences ever. Can I recommend everyone to do the tour as soon as possible before mass tourism comes.
[…] is the best time to visit Balabac? This is another tricky question we get asked a lot next to “Is Balabac safe?”. Straight out, the answer is during the Summer months of March, April, and May. However, not all […]