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.
May 22-25 (Thu-Sun) | May 24-27 (Sat-Tue) | May 25-28 (Sun-Wed) | May 27-30 (Tue-Fri) | May 29-Jun 1 (Thu-Sun) | May 31-Jun 3 (Sat-Tue)
Jun 1-4 (Sun-Wed) | Jun 3-6 (Tue-Fri) | Jun 5-8 (Thu-Sun) | Jun 7-10 (Sat-Tue) | Jun 8-11 (Sun-Wed) | Jun 10-13 (Tue-Fri) | Jun 12-15 (Thu-Sun) | Jun 14-17 (Sat-Tue) | Jun 15-18 (Sun-Wed) | Jun 17-20 (Tue-Fri) | Jun 19-22 (Thu-Sun) | Jun 21-24 (Sat-Tue) | Jun 22-25 (Sun-Wed) | Jun 24-27 (Tue-Fri) | Jun 26-29 (Thu-Sun) | Jun 28-Jul 1 (Sat-Tue) | Jun 29-Jul 2 (Sun-Wed) .
Jul 1-4 (Tue-Fri) | Jul 3-6 (Thu-Sun) | Jul 5-8 (Sat-Tue) | Jul 8-11 (Tue-Fri) | Jul 10-13 (Thu-Sun) | Jul 12-15 (Sat-Tue) | Jul 15-18 (Tue-Fri) | Jul 17-20 (Thu-Sun) | Jul 19-22 (Sat-Tue) | Jul 22-25 (Tue-Fri) | Jul 24-27 (Thu-Sun) | Jul 26-29 (Sat-Tue) | Jul 29-Aug 1 (Tue-Fri) | Jul 31-Aug 3 (Thu-Sun).
Budget accommodation for backpackers:
Hostel Privado (with free luggage keeping service)
Mid-range accommodation:
Jazer Neariah V2025-08-20Verified Well spent vacation Best travel and tours! We enjoyed our stay even though the weather is not so favorable. The team who assisted us (shout out to Jeremy!) were very accommodating and super fun. Balabac is a place where you can relax from the city life. Ariel R2025-08-19Verified Balabac Group of Islands Absolutely great experience immersed in nature and island life. Highly recommended. Great team they have in Punta Sebaring!! Well done.... ariana s2025-08-17Verified Just book the trip Solid experience. The boat crew was awesome... Daryl , I miss you ! 😂 if youre reading this, thanks for making this a great experience even for the solo traveler. The food was AMAZING, the weather was great, the waters amazing and the locals I met were very kind. I learned alot about the islands from conversing with people that live there, it was interesting. Altogether 10 out of 10. My advice is bring a book, download movies to your phone or just bring something you enjoy for downtime . This is a RELAXED venture, so dont expect all these crazy activities. It was a great way to step away from my "on the Go" travels. Weng2025-08-15Verified Best campsite in Balabac Our experience with WanderWalkers was absolutely memorable, and I have zero regrets about booking with them. From the very beginning, the communication was seamless. All guidelines and reminders were so organized and helpful, and they were incredibly flexible when I needed to add my brother to my solo booking just a few weeks before the trip.Once the tour started, our guide, Jeremy, was a true professional. He took such great care of us, always prioritizing our safety above all else. The campsite was a dream - we had a gorgeous beach with super fine sand all to ourselves. The food was great: tasty, plentiful, and always included fresh fruits and veggies. Our TP hut was reasonably comfortable and I appreciate that there were plenty of clotheslines to dry our wet clothes.It was a surprise that there were comfort rooms with flushing toilets and bidets, but I loved it! Their small store was really handy when my sandals broke and I needed a replacement.Lastly, the dogsssss! I love all of them!I’m definitely coming back 🥰 Miriam2025-08-12Verified I highly recommend it One of the best experiences we’ve had in the Philippines. If you’re looking for untouched places, relaxation, peace, and nature, this is the place for you. The team that organized our tour was excellent, and our guide Darell was amazing too! Kristina T2025-08-11Verified The Best 4 Days of My Life – A Piece of My Heart Stays in Balabac ❤️ I have no words to truly describe my experience on this tour. I’ve left a piece of my heart there. I think these were the best four days of my life, and if I could, I would stay there forever.The camp was simply wonderful – I don’t even know where to start. The places we visited were the most beautiful I have ever seen, with the most stunning beaches I’ve ever set foot on. And trust me, I’ve been to many beaches in my life, but nothing compares to this.The most important part? The people at the camp were AMAZING! So kind, so helpful, always smiling and making us feel at home. The food was absolutely delicious – so good that my fiancé was looking for the chef to kiss his hands (haha!). We had everything: delicious meals, coffee all day, breathtaking views from our little cabin, and the best company.Our guide, Darel, was fantastic – so helpful, knowledgeable, funny, and always making sure we had the best time possible. He answered all our questions and knew everything about the area. The boat crew was also incredible – such kind people and so good at what they do.We met the most wonderful people during this trip, and leaving the camp to return to Puerto Princesa made me so sad… I realized we had been to paradise and then left (haha!). I truly hope I can come back one day.If you’re thinking about doing this tour – don’t think, just book it now!Thank you for everything – this was the best experience of my life! Vee F2025-08-03Verified Review for The WanderWalkers and Daryll Totengco Big thanks to The WanderWalkers for making our Balabac trip smooth, safe, and unforgettable! Everything was well-organized — from the transfers to the island-hopping — and it made the whole experience feel effortless.Special shoutout to Daryll Totengco, our guide, whose warm energy, patience, and passion made the trip even more memorable. He kept the group engaged, made sure everyone was comfortable, and added a personal touch to every moment.If you’re planning to explore the beauty of Balabac, I highly recommend going with WanderWalkers — and if you’re lucky, you’ll get Daryll as your guide!10/10 experience. Will definitely join again. Ma Victoria P2025-07-14Verified UNFORGETABLE Memories. From start to finish balabac package tour exceeded our expectations. The tour service was well organized with genuine care from the crew. They made sure that we are safe, comfortable and well fed. We are thankful for them, if you plan to go to Balabac I highly recommend the #TheWanderWalkers to be your tour guide. Anya M2025-07-14Verified Beautiful beaches without the crowds The most incredible experience. The island life was unforgettable, the islands are beyond beautiful and so quiet. Each place was amazing with onuk being a particular highlight as swimming with turtles was a bucket list item for our group. We loved exploring all day relaxing back on sebaring in the evenings, we found our hut reasonably comfortable and slept well. As listed on booking facilities are basic but were more than we expected as there was a block with flushing toilets and showers, though these weren’t open the whole time they were a welcome surprise as we had been expecting bucket showers. We loved the food and it was plentiful. The people were fantastic and so friendly too, our guide Jeremy was brilliant and would always point out cool things when snorkeling. Thank you to the wonderful walkers team! Go361600389952025-07-11Verified The best island experience! Kudos to the whole team and a big shout out to Daryll and the boat crew. The food was also very good, well seasoned and abundant! We are very happy with our experience.Load more
[…] 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 […]